Treasure Jesus.

It might well be said the offer is better than the offering...

In repenting before the Lord, King David realized God was more interested in a man who was humbled and offered himself than He was interested in the offering itself (ref. Psalm 51:16-17). Or perhaps what God spoke to Hosea is even more to the point: "I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings." (Hosea 6:6 NLT)

Here's the deal; a gift given without a heart surrendered means nothing. A life surrendered means much. A gift given from a life surrendered ... an act of worship from a worshiper ... a testimony of trust from a friend ... well, now, that's something to behold. God does not want a disconnected man of duty; God wants a love driven disciple.

The engaged heart isn't simply going through the motions. The engaged heart is responding to God. The Apostle Paul said, “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7 ESV)

Jesus seems to indicate that giving is an act of joyful faith. It's joyful in its emotional output. It's trusting in God's future provision. (In other words, we can let go now because we believe God will provide then.) Jesus said, “Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” (Luke 6:38 ESV)

The bottom line is that God wants to have lordship over our hearts, and He does not want stuff to be our idols or our lord. Jesus said, “Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Luke 12:33-34 ESV) See that? Your heart follows your treasure. Whatever you treasure will have your heart.

Treasure Jesus. When we offer self, offerings follow.

What is your generation known for?

Your generation...

We love to find generational identifiers. I was a teenager in the eighties, so I'm often drawn to reminisce by things like big band hair, passing notes, cassette tapes, Member's Only jackets, Cabbage Patch Kids (which in my case really caused me to be interested in Garbage Pail Kids stickers), "The Breakfast Club", scratch and sniff stickers, the always-wanted-but-never-had Trapper Keeper, Air Jordan or Reeboks pumps, Mustangs and Camaros, and a host of other too-typical things to pass up.

Do you ever think of your generation in terms of their spiritual bent? Can your generation be generally thought of as receptive to God or unreceptive?

In the Apostle Peter's Pentecost sermon, he said, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation." (Acts 2:40b ESV) Instead of "crooked", the King James Version uses the word "untoward". The New American Standard Bible chooses to translate that word as "perverse". The Holman Christian Standard Bible uses the word "corrupt".

All those words are fair. That generation was crooked because they were not on the path to God through Jesus. That generation was untoward because they were not moving toward God through Jesus. That generation was perverse because they were seeking a way to God NOT through Jesus. Because that generation was refusing to come to God through Jesus, they were corrupt in their religion.

When that crowd heard Peter preach the exclusivity and necessity of Jesus, some cried out "What must we do to be saved?" (see verse 37).

Peter's answer: "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself." (Acts 2:38-39 ESV)

It is my humble opinion that my generation can be characterized as generally refusing Jesus. My generation is not toward Him. It is my general observation that the generation before mine, if not the two, and every generation since, and most before have been, by that standard, corrupt, untoward, crooked and perverse.

I would humbly say to each and EVERY generation, seek Jesus; save yourselves from your crooked generation. Repent, and believe the gospel in the name of Jesus Christ and be forgiven of our sins.

Go the straight way.
Go the pure way.
Go the direct way.
Go the right way.
Run to God through Jesus, the Christ.

Whatever fond memories of our generation we may hold, if those fond memories are not primarily connected to Jesus, we haven't been toward Him. Friends, let us save ourselves from these untoward generations and turn to Jesus.

Are sports an idol in your life?

NOTE: I wrote this several years ago originally, and was going to post it on 3/09/2020, but held off as sports began to grind to a halt. I decided to let the burn fade, but it's a great discussion.

A believer CAN be a sports fanatic, but caution; caution, I say, CAUTION!

A lot of folks claim a lot of things do not interfere with their spiritual transformation, but, IF we are honest with ourselves, those things might be true hindrances. Many times, we claim those hindrances are part of our freedom in the Lord. Many times, we will claim our license as freedom from the Law. We'll say, "I'm not under the Law!" While that's true, we are not bound by the law and we are to be led of the Spirit, it cannot be an excuse for license!

Apparently, the people in Corinth were doing whatever they wanted to do and using the whole "All things are lawful for me because I'm not under the law" argument. The Apostle Paul addressed it: "'All things are lawful for me,' but not all things are helpful. 'All things are lawful for me,' but I will not be enslaved by anything." (1 Corinthians 6:12 ESV) The greater wisdom recognizes not everything is helpful and some things are enslaving!

Whether it's watching a professional team, your favorite college or your own child's school or recreation league team, we can be too caught up in sports. We can hurt our testimony. We can be enslaved by habits, attitudes and allegiances to sports.

Now, believers --and, note, I'm talking to people who are concerned about embodying the life of Christ and living out the gospel-- how can we know we are going too far? NOTE: if you don't care a bit about walking with Jesus, sharing the gospel and raising up disciples, (a) don't read any further and (b) remove the label "believer" from your life. NOTE #2: the questions that follow may be painful.

Have you ever HAD to watch or play a sport that made you miss serving God or gathering with the people of God? Does that happen regularly?

Have you ever screamed rudely at other players, the TV, another team's child (eek!) or parent, cursed or acted in a way that might diminish your testimony because of sports?

Have you ever let sports rule your schedule?

Have you ever let a win or a loss own your emotions for an inordinate amount time?

Have you ever gotten in a real, heated argument about your team or a play or a call?

Do you give more money to chasing sports than you do to supporting ministry and missions?

Do you regularly talk more about your favorite teams than you do your redeeming Savior?

Does the way you yell from the stands / recliner mirror the way you worship the Lord from the pew?

Would you rather be seen wearing your team's logo or be seen bearing the cross of Jesus?

Would you drive as far and spend as much to share Jesus with someone as you do to see a game or take your child to a game?

Does sports help us rest, grow, become more like Jesus? Is it a pleasant distraction? Does it tenderize and humble us toward God and others?

I am NOT advocating we become nervous ninnies, fretting over every little thing. What I am saying is that we be willing to take fearless inventories about various areas of our lives and make sure we are not embracing something in such a fashion that it has become a hindrance to our personal transformation or to our witness. All things ought to come under the spiritual purview of our walk with Jesus.

I draw much instruction and challenge from these verses:
"Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the LORD!" (Lamentation 3:40 ESV)
"Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!" (2 Corinthians 13:5 ESV)
"When I think on my ways, I turn my feet to your testimonies;" (Psalm 119:59 ESV)
"Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." (Psalm 139:23-24 ESV)
"Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults." (Psalm 19:12 ESV)

I remember that my flesh fails, but God is always able to restore me! Whenever I take a fearless moral inventory, or allow God to examine me, and WHEN I find areas not currently yielded to God or things that I clearly need help with, I am tempted to despair, but I remember, God is good, God is just, God is full of grace and mercy and God intends to shape me into the image of His Son. I remember Psalm 40:12-13 quite often: "For evils have encompassed me beyond number; my iniquities have overtaken me, and I cannot see; they are more than the hairs of my head; my heart fails me. Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me! O LORD, make haste to help me!" (ESV)

I can't wait till the isms are wasms.

The schisms of isms...

I engage with the bondages and issues of racism and classism on a very often basis, and in the most practical and daily ways. The former being more familiar in our public discourse, but the latter being the most pervasive ill, meaning, quite simply, it affects more people.

Since I've said the isms are schisms, let me clearly state the definition of schism: "a split or division between strongly opposed sections or parties, caused by differences in opinion or belief."

There are MANY more isms I could put beneath the prism of our view, but racism and classism are enough isms to create the allomerism to crystallize our views. (I ought to throw in some thoughts on cronyism, but too many isms will make your willingness to read a wasm.)

Let me say it plainly... IN THE BODY OF CHRIST, classism and racism should not exist(ism). Two kinds of people in the world, and Christians are commanded to love both kinds. There are those under the blood and those not under the blood. Those are the only designations that matter!

Consider these fine verses: “And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, ... There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. ... For God shows no partiality. ... Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment. ... So Peter opened his mouth and said: ‘Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.’ ... For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. ... A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” (Acts 17:26, Galatians 3:28. Romans 2:11, John 7:24, Acts 10:34-35, Romans 10:12, & John 13:34 ESV)

Now, let me say four quick things about these two isms, and I'll leave my beloved readers to wrestle with the Holy Spirit over these things.

Racism / classism ignores the dignity of individual.
Racism / classism offends the imago dei of the person.
Racism / classism undermines our unity in Christ.
Racism / classism impedes the mission of the Church.

A million words could be written...
... what we need the powerful effect of one...
REVIVAL!

What reason do we have for joy?

What reason?

"About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them," (Acts 16:25 ESV)

In jail for the gospel, Paul and Silas sing. Have you ever thought about why?

There was an unseen Presence in the cell with them, and that Presence comforted them and gave them joy. There was something bigger than the cell, bigger than the jail, bigger than the moment, and bigger than their lives; the call of the gospel was bigger. Not only that, it was joy to be so close, so in tune, and so on mission for Jesus that circumstances could not steal delight. There was also an opportunity to witness, as many "prisoners were listening to them."

There were reasons not to sing, it seems. Jail, trial, rejection, and the possibility of violent persecution. Whew! what a list!

That Presence was bigger than those problem.
God's purposes were better than their predicament.
God's power was greater than circumstances persuasion.

God's comfort was sweeter than the world's curses.God's fellowship was more rewarding than the world's cruelty.
God's sending was more meaningful than the world's custody.

So, they sang.

What about your circumstances today? Turn your eyes on Jesus.

Remember the gospel.
Seek the Savior.
Be ye filled of the Spirit.
Receive the Father.

Many will miss the unseen Presence, but we who know Him respond to Him, even as we suffer and face trial. So, we sing. We faint not. We press on. We keep doing good. We love. We go.

We will be together again.

A good reminder to feed my needs...

Consider this verse: "When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments." (2 Timothy 4:13 ESV)

Here, the pressed and imprisoned minister / apostle / missionary realizes and expresses some incredible needs.

"When you come..." -- here is a confession of a social need that must be met by godly fellowship.

"...bring the cloak..." -- here is a confession of physical need that must be met by practical supply.

"...also the books..." -- here is a confession of the need for intellectual stimulation that must be met with engaging literature (and I'd also contend many mediums of art and thought).

“Paul in Prison,” by Rembrandt

"...above all the parchments." -- nothing beats the Word. Period. We need to seek, soak, study, store up, and share God's Word.

"Lord," we might pray, "show me what I need, because I confess I often have an idea of what I want, but I don't always know what I need. You know, Father. Give me what I need. In Jesus I pray. Amen."

We need each other. We are reborn into family. We are built for fellowship.

We have practical needs. Let's not pretend like we don't.

We need mental and emotional growth. Seek it.

We need God's Word. We can't stand in a promise we are ignorant of. Think about that!

I can't believe God would share with ME!

Kings in the lost and broken kingdom...
Or, the scandal of shared dominion...

Did you know God created all that Creation is for man to rule? It has been such since the beginning of man: "Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.'" (Genesis 1:26 ESV)

Mankind abdicated that dominion in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve took Satan's word over God's. We've repeated that scenario countless times over and over again. We were made to be kings upon the earth, but we became lost, disoriented and bound in our failure in this broken kingdom.

It's Prince. I was thinking about being princes in the
King's household, and I landed on this pic.
Chalk it up to my humor. 

It was scandalous in the eyes of Satan that God should ever have given man dominion over anything. The angles themselves were never granted such privilege by God, but man was. And, we blew it.

For a while, the Christ was made lower than the angels. Why? It was that God as man would win back dominion for man by holiness, war and blood. He has defeated death, hell and the grave! We do not yet see all things in subjection to Him, but He is already crowned with honor and glory, ruling, and will in the end make all things right and well.

Then, in a renewal of what fallen angels might call scandalous, Jesus will share dominion again with the men and women and boys and girls who have believed on Him as Savior and walked with Him as Lord. Jesus will not be ashamed to call Himself "brother" of the redeemed! He will share His earned inheritance with those who have not earned it. He will share His reward with those who once spurned God, not because we deserve it, but because mercy has held back what we did deserve and because has given us what we do not. To all who have believed in that Name --Jesus-- and received Him, they are given the right to be called sons of God (and daughters too!).

My heart thrills to consider the implications of the reality of Jesus! The writer of Hebrews was given a much shorter summation: "For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. It has been testified somewhere, 'What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him? You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor, putting everything in subjection under his feet.' Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying, 'I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.'" (Hebrews 2:5-12 ESV)

Thank God for Jesus!

I can't believe I am using a John Lennon quote.

If we could see the inside...

I’m fat. I’m full of scars. I limp. I sometimes find it hard to get down on or up from my knees. I’m missing teeth, and what teeth I have are stained, and a few are fake. I wear glasses. I have skin tags. My neck doesn’t turn quite right to one side.

It’s pretty easy to see my outward flaws. I’m sure my above list is too short.

What about what you can’t see? I’m hearing impaired in my left ear. I wrestle with a couple speech impediments.

However, think on this, what if you could see the inner inabilities? What would be broken? What is crippled? What is withered? In what ways have I been lame since birth? How am I stunted?

Consider...

“On another Sabbath, he entered the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was withered. ... And after looking around at them all he said to him, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ And he did so, and his hand was restored.” Luke 6:6 & 10 ESV)

People could see this man’s condition. It was easy to pity him or hold him in disdain. His withered, useless hand was on display. It could be covered up and concealed in most cases, yet it would in the time of need, and thus be revealed.

Often, we don’t see the most withered parts of folks, that is, until those things are called for and found wanting.

When compassion is called for, and found wanting...

When kindness is called for, and found wanting...

When love is called for, and found wanting...

When generosity is called for, and found wanting...

When spiritual maturity is called for, and found wanting...

When wisdom is called for, and found wanting...

When humility is called for, and found wanting...

When Christlikeness is called for, and found wanting...

On and on I could go!

Many times our inner witheredness is concealed from people, but it’s known plain to God.

The point isn’t whether we are broken or not. The point is whether we will let Jesus expose our withered state and whether we’ll let Him heal it?

If people saw the innards of every man and woman, we’d all look crippled.

And He is willing to restore.

Shame free, purpose filled ACTION!

Bigger than my life, and better than anything else in life...

Here are two things I really, truly, daily, desperately believe in:
(1) For life to be worth living, each of us must have a purpose bigger than our own self-preservation and ease or comfort.
(2) If our life is going to be meaningful, we are going to have to have actions that match our big purposes, and then actually be about living out those actions.

A quick story...

The night I surrendered my life to God in Christ Jesus, I leapt, and sang, and shouted, and praised the Lord. I even ran around a bit. I also picked up my Bible, pondered a bit, prayed a bit, and began reading at Matthew 1:1.

A question was pounding in my mind: "God, what do I do now?"

Of course, that night, reading through Matthew 1, then 2, 3 and 4, into chapter 5 and 6, there are dozens of marching orders. However, when I got to Matthew 6:33, it was like God bowled me over, picked me up, loaded me into a cannon barrel, and shot me out.

I read, "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (Matthew 6:33 ESV)

I'll never forget it -- I went ahead and read the next verse in the chapter, which was the last verse in the chapter -- I quickly closed my Bible and said, "That's it! That's what I am going to do! I am going to seek God's kingdom over everything, and I am going to seek righteousness over everything! I am going to do God's work and let God work on me."

That gave me the purpose that was bigger than me and action that was meaningful. I was done being driven by the question "What do I want?" and I begun being driven by the question "Father, what would you have me do?"

You see, we don't drift into excellence. We don't drift into the good things of God. We don't drift into growth.

Purpose. Action.

That's the life for me!

Faith in Jesus leads to joy!

Believing, ye rejoice...

Consider: “Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” (1 Peter 1:8-9 ESV)

See it? Faith leads to joy!

We who believe in this age have never seen Jesus in the flesh, yet faith has led us to love Him.

Though we do not presently see Him in the flesh, faith leads us to believe in Jesus.

Faith leads us to love and believe on Jesus and Jesus gives us joy! Joy that cannot be fully expressed. Joy that is filled with glory.

Joyful, glory-filled filled faith in Jesus results in a beautiful conclusion, namely, the salvation of our souls.

Oh! how I love Jesus!

Stuff will mess you up.

The wrecking power of stuff...

We've all seen it, or at least heard of it; an inheritance can tear people apart. Someone passes and either people are satisfied with what was left to them or are angry about what was left to someone else.

Or how about someone who has a vehicle so precious to them that they cannot enjoy its use because they are so busy worrying about it being damaged. I've seen the same with a pair of sneakers.

We can be funny about our stuff!

Jesus would say to be careful with how we allow stuff to get a hold of our affections.

"And he said to them, 'Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.'" (Luke 12:15 ESV)

There we have it; life does not consist of stuff, so don't let stuff direct our lives.

Proverbs 4:23 helps here too: "Above all else, guard your affections, for they influence everything else in your life." (my paraphrase) See it? Be careful about what has your affections because what we care about influences everything we say and do.

Stuff can have a wrecking power. Don't give it that sort of influence over you.

Elders or congregants, STAY THE COURSE!

Stay the course…

When Paul gathered the Ephesian leaders, he reminded them to take care of their spiritual lives, and to take care of the flock (see Acts 20:28). In that conversation, Paul also talked about what solid ministry looks like.

For believers who lead –and that should be every believer, according to our calling and measure of faith—there are five words of missional encouragement found at the beginning of this conversation with the Ephesian elders that remind us to stay the course.

First, the passage…

“Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. And when they came to him, he said to them: ‘You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.’” (Acts 20:17-21 ESV)

Those five words: perseverance, attitude, faithfulness, work, message.

Perseverance: “…the whole time…”
Attitude: “…with all humility…”
Faithfulness: “…I did not shrink…”
Work: “…teaching you in public and from house to house…”
Message: “…repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.”

When Paul says “…the whole time…” there is a lot wrapped up in those few times. He and his fellow workers dealt with a lot of adversity in Ephesus (see Acts 19), but they never gave up. They never quit. They never stopped proclaiming Christ.

They kept the right attitude; they were humble. They were faithful in and to the gospel, preaching it when it was easy and when it wasn’t.

They worked! In public and in private; in large group and small group meetings, they worked. O! Beloved friends, where is that attitude in the gospel in our American Christianity? We should not expect it to be easy! WORK!

And, Paul and his team stuck to the message: repentance towards God and faith in Jesus. Let us never back off from that message!

Leaders, let us receive these five words as we press forward in the gospel today!

Are you tuned into the Lord?

Tuned...

Do you remember those days when you had to play with the radio dial to get the signal to clearly come through? I remember! It was often hard to tune the radio, but a sure way to a clear signal was proximity to the station.

To understand our feelings, we need to tune in and maintain a close proximity to the Station.

One thing we seem to do is work hard not to feel bad. Honestly, sometimes, we need to feel bad. Sometimes, it's good to feel bad. Perhaps I should explain...

Our feelings are a gift, and though not always accurate (you know, since we are broken and imperfect), our feelings can be very helpful. Our feelings always should be subjected to truth, so we have to subject them to truth and tune them to truth.

Part of the New Covenant offered to mankind through Jesus Christ is a new heart (see Ezekiel 36:22-32). When we surrender to God, true transformation comes with a new life and a new heart. The Holy Spirit continually works in a believer's life to internalize the Law of God, to give us a desire for holiness and to teach us to walk by His leading. The Prophet Isaiah expressed it by saying, "And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way, walk in it,' when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left." (Isaiah 30:21 ESV)

Isaiah goes on to say that a changed conscience, under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, will lead to changed behavior. Isaiah said, "Then you will defile your carved idols overlaid with silver and your gold-plated metal images. You will scatter them as unclean things. You will say to them, 'Be gone!'" (Isaiah 30:22

ESV)

See it? When we are tuned to truth, and being led of the Spirit, we turn away from sin. When conscience and feelings are tuned to truth and led of the Spirit, we will turn away from some things BEFORE we engage with them.

But... we don't like guilt. We don't like post-guilt (you know, feeling bad after we do wrong), and we surely don't like pre-guilt. However, we need both post-guilt and pre-guilt. Post-guilt leads us to repent; pre-guilt leads us to seek God for power to think and behave in holiness.

We just don't like the feelings...
But, we need the feelings!

For the believer, understanding truth and righteousness and holiness is tuning in to God's character. When we have guilt before we act, many times, that is simply morality in action.

Morality leads us to moral behavior, and it leads us to turn away from immoral behavior. Morality doesn't always feel good. Morality is rarely easy. Even though living by morals based in the character of God is hard and does not always feel good, it is always right.

Some of us are only tuned to our own feelings and desires.

Some of us are tuned to our culture.

Some of us are tuned to our friends.

Some of us are tuned to multiple stations and EVERYTHING is confused.

I want to be tuned to God...

Get busy with the work of the gospel.

When you pursue / preach Jesus, it doesn't matter what the world does to you. 

If they imprison you, God can free you. 

If you are fired, God can get you another job. 

If they kill your body, God can raise you up again. 

We won't know a thing about serving God until we trust Him with the consequences and we simply take care of the work He has assigned for us.

Friend, stop letting the world scare you off of what God has called you to be. 

The Gospel is more precious than your image.
It is more precious than your job.
It more precious than the luxury and leisure your money buys you.
It is more precious than our freedom.
It is more precious than life. 

We can trust all of that to God, because NOTHING is lost when it is in God's hands!

We've been called out of darkness, not so we can sunbathe on the beach, but so we can enjoy the Light of the World. Beloved Believer, get to work!

"About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. He killed James the brother of John with the sword, and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring

him out to the people." (Acts 12:1-4 ESV)

Our choices matter!

Choices matter...

I often point to Abram and Sarah's terrible joint-decision for Abram to have a child with Hagar as one of those choices that led to hundreds upon hundreds of years of conflict. Every time you turn on the news, pick up a paper or tune in to the radio, you hear of ongoing effects of their choice.

Choices matter. Flat and simple; they matter. Every day is filled with the opportunity for faithfulness and failure. Granted, some choices are much bigger than others, but they all matter.

Consider a couple of cases: "...the sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive. And they took as their wives any they chose." (Genesis 6:2 ESV) We can debate all day about who the "...sons of God..." were, but there is no debate about what their choices led to; they were destroyed.

Second case: "So Lot chose for himself all the Jordan Valley, and Lot journeyed east. Thus they separated from each other. Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled among the cities of the valley and moved his tent as far as Sodom. Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the LORD." (Genesis 13:11-13 ESV)

Lot chose "...the cities of the valley..." Why was that a bad choice? "Now the men of Sodom were wicked..." Fast forward to Genesis 19; read the rest of the story.

We rarely think the steps of today lead to the valley of tomorrow, but they do.

Choices matter. Joshua told Israel to make their choice carefully (see Joshua 24:15), but he made it clear he would choose the Lord. How wise! Let us do likewise, in the big and the small, let us choose the Lord.

I don't care who knows it, I need Jesus.

I would've been in the crowd...

I don't mind admitting I have need. I need friends. I need prayer. I need love. I need physical healing. I need to grow spiritually and shrink physically. More than anything, I need Jesus. I'm totally okay letting anyone reading this know that I need God.

Karl Marx said, "Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people." Tim Bowes thinks Karl Marx is not so smart. If you run into him, feel free to quote me. But, let us suppose Karl Marx is saying that God is a crutch for weak people. Well, if that's what he means, Marxy-parxy is on to something. Except, I wouldn't call God my crutch that helps me limp along; I would say He is my life giver and life sustainer. And, be sure of this, I don't mean only physically. I do believe God gave this body of mine life, but, more importantly, He quickened my dead spirit and gave me spiritual life!

I'm one of these people: "And the whole city was gathered together at the door." (Mark 1:33 ESV) Yep, I'm in the crowd. I'm coming to Jesus. I need Him!

Are you familiar with what came right before the "...whole city...gathered together at the door"? Check it out: "That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons." (Mark 1:32 ESV) People had all sorts of problems, and they came to Jesus. But...

There's something more...
"That evening at sundown..." is significant. Why? The Sabbath had just ended. Religion allowed them to obey God, celebrate God and remember God. Need caused them to seek God. You see, dear friend, Sabbath law commanded rest from sundown on Friday till sundown on Saturday. In obeying God, they rested, and didn't go out. The moment their obedient rest was over, they went out to Jesus!

There is good religion. There is religion that helps the souls and honors the Savior. Good religion serves others and seeks God. Religion obeys Him, celebrates Him and serves Him. Need seeks Him. As for me, I love the religion God calls me to obey and I need the Savior He calls me to enjoy.

Yep, in the staying in the house and the running out to Jesus, I would have been in that crowd.

A GREAT thing...

Great...

It's the Great Commission because it calls a GREAT amount of people to be GREAT. It's a GREAT work and requires GREAT effort. It covers a GREAT area and causes believers to believe God for GREAT things and choose GREAT work over ordinary life. I could go on, but it's mostly GREAT because God is GREAT and He commanded His church to be GREAT and act upon His GREAT authority to share His GREAT love and to raise up people to follow His GREAT teaching.

The Great Commission is for those who are called to share with GREAT people groups in GREAT places all over this GREAT planet. It's for those who are called to all the GREAT nations of the world. However, it's also for those who will take GREAT effort to cross the street and take GREAT pains to disciple their kids and make GREAT witnesses to all they meet.

I know this GREAT God. I want to be a GREAT servant, a GREAT son, who trusts God to do GREAT things through GREAT obedience.

Across the GREAT oceans...
To my GREAT county...I carry this GREAT truth...
Because God is GREAT!

"Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.'" (Matthew 28:16-20, ESV)

A surrendered life is basic Christianity.

A life surrendered...

Dwight L. Moody is famous for having said, "The world has yet to see what God can do with a man fully consecrated to him. By God’s help, I aim to be that man."

Paul made three statements that show what the surrendered life looks like (as taken from the ESV):
"I am under obligation..." (Romans 1:14)
"...I am eager..." (Romans 1:15)
"...I am not ashamed..." (Romans 1:16)

Those three "I am" realties in Paul's life shaped his outlook on every person, every circumstance, and every day.

Paul was faithful to the obligations of the gospel. Paul saw himself in debt to Jesus. The KJV puts Romans 1:14 like this: "I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise." Paul felt like he owed the world a debt because salvation through Christ and the love of God had changed EVERYTHING for and in him. Of Romans 1:14, John Gill said, "The meaning is, that [Paul] was obliged by the call he had from God, the injunction that was laid upon him by him, and the gifts with which he was qualified, to preach the Gospel to all sorts of men.."

Do you feel the weight of that debt upon your breast?

Because Paul felt that debt, Paul longed to fulfill it. The NASB states Romans 1:15 like this: "So, for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome." Adrian Rogers said (something like), "Paul was a great witness because he was part of the evidence." Think about that for a second. Paul's life was different because of God! Paul would never be ashamed of something that had changed him and had brought him close to the living God. As a matter of fact, Paul was EAGER and READY to preach the gospel! Of this verse, Matthew Henry said, "[Paul] was not deterred by any fear; nor was he indifferent to their welfare; but he was under the direction of God. and as far as he gave him opportunity, he was ready to make known to them the gospel..."

Do you feel any desire to share the gospel with others?

The HCSB records Romans 1:16 thusly: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is God's power for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek." We might very well be ashamed of ourselves, but we have no reason to be ashamed of the gospel! We don't have to be ashamed of Jesus, for He saves. We don't have to be ashamed before others, because they don't save, but they could be saved!

Albert Barnes said, "People should be ashamed of crime and folly. They are ashamed of their own offences, and of the follies of their conduct, when they come to reflect on it. But they are not ashamed of what they feel to be right, and of what they know will contribute to their welfare, and to the benefit of their fellow-men."

Are you so unashamed of the gospel that you don't share it?

There you have it, dear hearts. Paul had a surrendered life, and the proof was that he felt a debt to Christ, he was eager to pay it, and he was not ashamed of the product or person for whom he labored.

Aye! Amen! Me too! I am not ashamed! I long to share Jesus! I am eager to pay my debt to mankind! Praise God! Hallelujah!

Father, give me the faith to live a surrendered life, and, Father, do whatever with and through me as would please You and bring You glory.

Is speaking without thinking evil?

A strange evil...

"The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things." (Proverbs 15:28 ESV)

It's hard to hear this, but God equates speaking without thinking to "evil things". Equally hard to hear, God equates speaking without thinking as the work of the "wicked".

The point of the proverb above is to say the righteous seek wisdom and righteousness when giving an answer, but the wicked just say whatever comes to their mind. The righteous consider God, consider the consequences of their counsel, weigh the wisdom --or lack thereof-- of their words; they slow their roll a

nd make sure they're not speaking without regard to the Lord. The wicked just spit it out without thinking what God might say about such idle words.

Social media alone, by the definition of Proverbs 15:28, is filled with so much "evil" that the world would be better if we simply slowed down, sought God's face and looked into His word in responding to things.

It seems like a strange evil that our quickly spoken words could be considered evil, but when one considers what it really represents, it's easy to see it's not strange at all.

Sometimes, speak. Many times, hush.

Hear my heart, here, dear hearts...
We are commanded to witness Jesus.

We are never told we have to chime in on every issue.

As a matter of fact, we are told to "...avoid foolish controversies..."
The whole verse says, "But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless." (Titus 3:9 ESV)
"...unprofitable and worthless..."

I'll just leave this here. I mean, that's enough. However, I sense the need to go just a bit deeper...
Discernment. We need discernment. There are many good and helpful definitions of the word "discernment." You see Spurgeon's here in this picture. Another I use quite often: "Discernment is divine insight into how to handle knowledge and revelation."
When it comes to times to speak or be silent, we need discernment. Sometimes it's easy; avoid foolish and worthless conversation.
Second level, avoid what otherwise could be sensible discussion, but cannot be sensible because non-sensible people are involved. Go back and read that again. Consider Proverbs 26:4 from the plain-spoken New Living Translation: "Don’t answer the foolish arguments of fools, or you will become as foolish as they are."
If you want to engage sensibly yourself, soak in prayer, immerse in Scripture, ask for divine wisdom and guidance, and then start thinking about speaking.
Many of us speak without consider possible rebuttals. In other words, we aren't ready for the other side of the view. We aren't ready for rejection. We aren't ready for the argument. We aren't ready for the flood of comments that will come, and for which we opened the verbal dam gates. Proverbs 17:14 says, "The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks out." (ESV) [Side note: I like how this translation says "so quit." The NASB says to "abandon" the quarrel. The NLT says to "stop." The KJV says to "leave off." Clear enough?]
If we are not ready for sensible discourse, or if our counterpart is not ready for sensible discussion -- about profitable, worthwhile topics -- stop before we start. If we get into it early, leave off, abandon...just quit.
However, IF we want to speak, again, let us be prayed up, studied on Scripture, and Spirit directed.
It may be careful to get some wise counsel. Let us hear Apostle Paul's words through the Eugene Peterson's paraphrase of the Bible called The Message: "No insults, no fights. God’s people should be bighearted and courteous. It wasn’t so long ago that we ourselves were stupid and stubborn, dupes of sin, ordered every which way by our glands, going around with a chip on our shoulder, hated and hating back. But when God, our kind and loving Savior God, stepped in, he saved us from all that. It was all his doing; we had nothing to do with it. He gave us a good bath, and we came out of it new people, washed inside and out by the Holy Spirit. Our Savior Jesus poured out new life so generously. God’s gift has restored our relationship with him and given us back our lives. And there’s more life to come—an eternity of life! You can count on this." (Colossians 3:2-8, paraphrased)
Speak, yes, but not caustically.

Speak, yes, but carefully.

Speak, yes, but with wisdom, and ready for a reply.
And many times, hush.

Recognize the voice and render yourself to the Victor.

Know who is speaking to your spirit...

Satan often is factual, but rarely interested in truth.

Satan will point out your sins, flaws, weaknesses, negative proclivities and any other possible wrong or regret in your life. Satan will tell you that those things are who you are, and that God is deeply disappointed in you. Satan will tell you that you cannot change and there is no hope. Satan often attempts to convince people that God hates them, or that they've gone so far, or sinned so bad that God will not receive them. AND -- be sure to get this -- Satan will do this by blatantly and accurately pointing out facts based in reality. For example, if you are a liar, Satan will call you a liar, but his purpose will be to make you drown in your guilt and drive you away from God.

God will also point out your sins, flaws, weaknesses, negative proclivities and any other broken, misshapen, immature, or bondage you have as well. However, when God does those things, He is acting as Great Physician and Holy Judge. He is diagnosing that He may draw you in.

Satan sounds like this: "You are so selfish. All you think of is you. You will never change!" And, if you get right minded enough to say back to Satan, "But, God..." he will reply with, "GOD?! You talk about God? Ludicrous! Do you think God will deal with the likes of YOU? God does love some, but not people like YOU! Don't YOU dare call on God after the way you've acted!"

God sounds like this: "You are selfish. Come here. Come to Me. Your selfishness is a burden to you. I'd like to life it from you. I'd like to heal the wounds it's caused you. I'd like to make it right. I'd like you to experience me." IF we reply to God, "But, God..." He will say, "Yes? You called? I know, you want to give me reasons you're not worthy. I know all those reasons...probably better than you, and you're right, but I'm not coming to you on the basis of your goodness or badness...I'm coming because I desire to be good to you."

Or, Satan often sounds like this, "Sin? Really? God is love. Your sin doesn't really matter." That's the kind of hogwash that enemy says to keep us in the sin and away from the healing.

God would say, "I'm holy. I will not ignore your sin. It offends Me and it hurts you. Come here. I will redeem you."

Satan tells facts about our sin, but not the truth about God.
God refuses to lie to us about our sin, but holds the truth out to us to receive.

I love this passage: "The LORD was very angry with your fathers. Therefore say to them, Thus declares the LORD of hosts: Return to me, says the LORD of hosts, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts." (Zechariah 1:2-3 ESV)

And this: "Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool." (Isaiah 1:18 ESV)

And this: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9 ESV)

Satan ALWAYS desires to steal, kill and destroy. The enemy's biggest thrill is to separate us from God.

God DOES NOT ignore sin, but God will forgive sin and change the sinner. I love Exodus 34:7, which beautifully points this out: "...keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation." (ESV)

Yes, the Lord God is angry with sin. No, God does not ignore sin, nor does He make light of it, nor does God pretend it does not offend Him. At the same time, God woos we sinners that He might win we sinners that we might share His divine nature. Healing starts when we get this: "I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,' and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah" (Psalm 32:5 ESV)

Friend, Satan will confront you with accurate facts, but not with redemptive truth. God, however, will confront our sin, but His goal is to save and sanctify the sinner.

Know who is speaking to your spirit, and respond to facts in truth.

One of the several passages I think about on an hourly basis.

In the age of grace, waiting for glory...

Consider Paul's words to Pastor Titus: "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works." (Titus 2:11-14 ESV)

Paul here talks about two appearings. First, Paul says, "For the grace of God has appeared..." Then, Paul says we are "...waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ..."

WOW! Hallelujah! Glory! God is good!

Do you see why my heart is leaping to euphoric worship?

First, the Christ came to usher in this age of grace we are now in, and Paul spells out the reason as clear as day:
1. "...bringing salvation for all people..."
2. "...training us to renounce ungodliness..."
3. "...training us to renounce...worldly passions..."
4. "...training us to...live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age..."
5. "...training us to..." live "...waiting for our blessed hope..."

which is... "...the appearing..." again of Jesus!

ALSO...

Paul clearly gives us the picture of the lives He wants us to lead -- the purpose for salvation and all the training:
1. "...to redeem us from all lawlessness..."
2. "...to purify us for Himself..."
3. to make us know the powerful specialness of being "...a people for His own possession..."
4. and that we might be people "...who are zealous for good works."

Hallelujah! the disciple's life is encapsulated in these powerful words. God's grace in Christ Jesus gives us great position and purpose. By His power, and because of His grace, we shall become great products.

And this, beloved, believing dear-hearts is who we are to be and what we are to be doing until this age of grace comes to an end and we see the age of glory. When Jesus appears again, it's going to be awesome! All the struggle to become will culminate in the final transformation!