It's so good to get clean!

Washed pure...

We often look at the word of God as a grand list of what we can't do. Not me! I look at it as a grand revelation of know Him!

However, what if we also understood the "can't do" as "ain't healthy" and saw the scrolls as wash clothes? How would we change our approach to the Word if we saw it as our good Father coming to wash the face and hands of His beloved children?

Know Him; let Him clean me. I like this approach!

I don't know about you, but I remember those Grandma-licking-her-finger-and-near-'bout-rubbing-the-skin-off-my-face to get a speck of dirt cleaned from my cheek. I also remember the great difference between yielding to Grandma's caring hand and fighting her insistent touch.

Do you know the sweetness of yielding to God's caring hand? Do you know what it's like to fight your Father's insistent touch? I do!

Jesus prayed, "Sanctify them in Your truth; Your word is truth." (John 17:17 ESV) Jesus looked upon His disciples, both those then present and those to come (me and you!), and He prayed to the Father to set up apart by giving us lives that are founded in His word.

The Apostle Peter said, "Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;" (1 Peter 1:22-23 ESV) See that? "Having purified your souls..." Do you understand that? God wants to set us apart, even this world, and God wants to make us clean and pure, even in this world, because we are new -- because we are "born again".

And, God wants that to continue. The Psalmist said, "How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word." (Psalm 119:9 ESV)

Beloved friends, I could go on and on! God didn't send Jesus to condemn and He doesn't give us His word to burden us; rather, He sent Jesus to save and gives His word to wash us and make us pure. He means to bless us!

To His disciples --to the men and women who'd been walking with Him, the Living Word-- Jesus said, "Already you are clean..." --let me interject here...how are they clean? by what means?-- Jesus continued, "...because of the word that I have spoken to you." (see John 15:3). They were clean because the Living Word had spoken Himself and the revealed word to them!

The Holy Spirit will wash over you, beloved friend! Meet Him willingly! Let Him cleanse you! Don't fear His insistent touch! Be washed pure! Be more excited by what God desires to deliver than you are fearful about what your flesh will lose.

Be blessed, beloved friends.

Is Jesus LORD over every area of your life?

Check yourself...

If Jesus is in you, Jesus is in you. If Jesus is not in you, Jesus is not in you. Someone is reading this and thinking, "Duh! Who didn't know that?" Well, I'd contend this simple truth is very under-appreciated.

For example, many people say they know the Lord. Many say they love the Lord. Right; they say it, but does anyone see it?

When Jesus is in you, Jesus is in you...and your life changes...EVERYTHING CHANGES! What you do with your time, talent, tongue and treasure changes. Jesus is not a get out of hell free card; He is King and Master, Lord and God; He brings light to darkness, He is truth over all lies and error, and He is Life, so when Life is in your life, Life will be seen!

So, yes, many say they know the Lord. Many say the love the Lord. However, if transformation does not match your testimonial, then check yourself.

Paul said, "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)

Yes, check yourself. Examine yourself. Is Jesus in you?

a short series on Authority; part 3

The Proper Response to Authority...

"Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed." (Romans 13:5-7, ESV)

One could sum up the proper response to authority by saying “just do it.”

Fear is a great motivator, but a believer should not live by fear. For sure, believers are not exempt from the consequences of doing wrong. We often think we should be, but it’s just not so. Being “in subjection” should not be motivated by the fear of being caught or suffering consequences. Rather, our surrender should be motivated by the simple reward of walking in fellowship with God in obedience, and the result that brings, which is (a) showing Christ to the world through how we live, (b) building up the church and (c) creating a just, verdant society where all have the opportunity to pursue peace.

Personal note: for me, there is little more powerful than a clear “conscience.” It's often hard to find and very hard to beat once found.

These short verses are so extremely practical, one almost feels explaining them is unnecessary. That being said, perhaps the greatest profit maybe illustrating them; for example:

Pay your taxes AND report your income because (a) it’s right, (b) it’s honest, (c) the government is taking care of many things the church OUGHT to be doing. Like me, you might not agree with some things they are doing, but they are doing some things the church ought to be doing, for sure! If we did not abdicate our calling, they would not take up unjust versions of it. Think on that.

Pay other bills on time and with joy (that will blow folks minds!)

Taxes, again… why does this keep coming up? ‘Cause God knows we complain horribly. We like paved roads. Firefighters: subsidized (at every level). Trash service: subsidized (yes, even private contractors). Home mortgage: subsidized. Water, electricity, phones, internet: subsidized. Clean water: subsidized. EVERYTHING is subsidized; milk would cost over $7.00 a gallon without subsidies.

Respect people, whether they deserve it or not (while abhorring evil AND clinging to what’s good…in other words, we don’t excuse sin, but we respect sinners)

Honor people; go back to the idea of contributing to the needs of the saints and showing hospitality to strangers. Be eager to bless people and celebrate good things and be a part of the work of God. Honoring a stranger isn't doing good because you know THEY are good, but because you know GOD is good!

a short series on Authority; part 2

The Purpose of Authority...

"For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer." (Romans 13:3-4, ESV)

The fact is we are designed for community. We are born into a small community, our family. That family lives within a community of families. We are not meant to live alone; it may be said we cannot survive alone, but even if one does survive, one cannot thrive alone.

Where there is community, there must be order. The purpose of authority, then, is to facilitate order, than communities might thrive and seek after God in peace.

And, here is an important truth, when a believer is born from above into the Kingdom of God, they do not cease to exist within a secular community.

It is a truth to say that society will never flourish where men are allowed to live any way they wish. For a certainty, a society, or any community of any size, even the family unit, will be spoiled where sinful man is allowed to freely engage in every manner of activity that pleases the flesh. Societies will be ruined where governments allow man to squander his life on himself and to pursue a wholly self-centered course. Accordingly, God gives authority to mankind to punish those who do not “do right” and to promote those who operate properly in a society.

While there is no doubt Paul sees the execution of punishment by those in authority as the just wrath of God at work in the realm of man, we do know there are moments when we “ought to obey God rather than men.” Granted, those moments are less than we often imagine. For example, even if we deplore the policies of a leader, there is never an exemption to show honor and respect to that leader. Though the leader is a mere mortal, the office they hold, and the authority they wield, whether wise or not on THEIR part was indeed granted on God’s part.

We walk this tightrope in ungodly societies because it’s what God has laid before us.

To be sure, this is complex, but let us wrestle with it nonetheless, that the principle may become a deep value for us.

A short series on Authority; Part 1

The Principles of Authority...

"Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment." (Romans 13:1-2, ESV)

From the word go, in the book of Romans, the Apostle has done nothing but assert the authority of God in all things. He created. He chose a nation and a people. He judges all as Supreme Sovereign. He dealt with them as He chose to deal with them. He appointed and deposed leaders for them, raised up nations against them and to support them.

There is no doubt that God exercises ultimate authority, but what is interesting – the principle, you might well say – how God exercises His authority very often through much delegation. For example, the Father appoints His Son, the Risen Lord Jesus, as Supreme Judge. That comes as no surprise to us. The next turn, however, is the surprise: God also delegates and exercises authority through people.

And, surprise upon surprise, in obedience to God, men are given power that men might submit to men. To fail in this is to exercise active resistance to the authority of God. Furthermore, said failure, will “incur judgment” from God. WOW!

Though Paul does not say exactly who he is talking about when he says “governing authorities,” we see the principles played in how God gives authority to parents, employers, elders and husbands. So, it’s easy to see this principle is played out in bother larger and smaller roles.

Are you regular?

 Some "regulars"...

Here are some things we can do regularly that will shape our hearts in radical ways:

Regularly study your Bible.

Regularly pray, both speaking to and listening to God.

Regularly fast. Shutting things off so we can open up.

Regularly worship; personally, as a family, and corporately.

Regularly share your life struggles with accountability partners.

Regularly give; the release of stuff is powerful.

Regularly look at beautiful things (creation, art, ideas).

Regularly affirm your submission to the lordship of Christ.

Regularly do something for someone who cannot pay you back.

Regularly return thanks; count your blessings & say THANKS.

Regularly praise God; do it out loud.

The old has passed away; the new has come (see 2 Corinthians 5:17); we lean into and make active the new by our shifting from our old regular way of being into the new and making the new our regular.

1 Timothy 4:7 says that we should "train yourself for godliness," and this is one of God's ways to deliver us in this present age from foolishness, lack of productivity, ungodliness, and the wickedness that is the norm in our culture.

What we call a "good Christian" should be the norm. That description comes across as being radical. IF being normal according to God looks radical to the world, then I want to be found to being radical on a normal day. 😉 These regulars help us train into that normalcy / radicalness.

Make being radical regular in your life!

The Wisdom of Rescue

Work for the wise at every turn...

The beginning of wisdom is to fear the Lord. The begin of fearing God is reverencing Him in worship and regarding His will by obedience. The beginning of worship is to weigh God's person, will and way as more worthy of our time, talent and treasure than any other thing.

Think on this verse: "Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter." (Proverbs 24:11 ESV)

God's heart is a heart of rescue, redemption, restoration, and reconciliation. The wise see a life's worth of good work here in this one verse. We are to be about the work of rescue!

But, rescue who? From what?

We are to rescue those being taken away to death...

Who is that?

Every person apart from God is being taken away into death. Our work is this simple: "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, certain that God is appealing through us. We plead on Christ's behalf, 'Be reconciled to God.'" (2 Corinthians 5:20 HCSB)

Further, there are others caught in life-destroying habits. Let's be God's hand of rescue in the lives of others!

Further, wherever the weak are oppressed, let us be about the labor of love! Let us be about the business of rescue!

I could go on and on, but I pray the principal falls upon your hearts with heavy inspiration. Whether spiritual, emotional, mental or physical, the wise has work to do! Let's do it!

I am absolutely not ashamed.

For I am not ashamed…

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, 'The righteous shall live by faith.'" (Romans 1:16-17 ESV)

Jesus predicted that people would be at the crux of heaven and hell, of salvation or separation: "For whoever is ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels." (Mark 8:38 HCSB) There are those who are apathetic, ignorant, unbelieving, but those to be most pitied are they who have looked upon the loveliness of Jesus, considered Him and are ashamed of Him.

However, even good believers become tired. They are tried. They are weary and worn. I think of Paul, in the midst of ministry, when he said: "And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling," (1 Corinthians 2:1-3 ESV) Even in this condition, confessing weakness and fear, there was still no shame.

What is there to be ashamed of? THIS IS THE GOOD NEWS! This life is THE life! Maybe we should be ashamed of our former lives. Maybe we should be ashamed of our apathy. Maybe we should be ashamed of a lot of things, but not the Gospel.

For I am not ashamed of the Gospel…

What is the Gospel? When Paul uses the word “gospel,” he is making a royal proclamation that JESUS IS KING and that all should pledge complete allegiance to Him. Jesus said the same, “you are either with ME or against ME.” There is no neutral ground! And, I am not ashamed!

How did Jesus earn this crown? Simple; He came and took the captives from captivity. He, in reclamation, redemption and restoration, defeated a strong enemy. Paul tells us "Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures," (1 Corinthians 15:1-4 ESV) By being obedient to the cross, Jesus died for sinners, and by defeating death, His life was approved of and He was vindicated, proven to be God of very God and righteous and full of power!

This is the Good News! Jesus has taken over! HE IS KING!! And, I am not ashamed!

King of MY life! King of the World!!! HE IS IT!!! And, I am not ashamed!

For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God…

How is it the power of God? It is the power of God by the telling of Him and calling of people to come to Him. To stand on HIS promises, to trust in HIS work; it is the revelation of Christ as KING that sets men free from sin and hell. That’s the power! When one swears allegiance to THE KING, all of the King’s resources and influence are brought to bear in their lives. It's the power of God toward anyone who believes and takes the Father at His word that the Son is both necessary and sufficient.

For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation…

We are set free from Satan. We are set free from the bondage of sin. We are set free from destiny of hell. We are set free from the death of separation from God.

Yes! There is that which we are saved from and that which we are saved to. Upon both, or at the thought of either, I can certainly say with all praise to God, I AM NOT ASHAMED!

Think of some of the benefits of salvation...

...salvation rescues men and women and boys and girls FROM

... ... guilt (Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14)

... ... pollution of our inner lives with sin (Romans 6:6, 17; 7:21-25)

... ... slavery (Romans 7:24-25; Galatians 5:1)

... ... punishment

... ... alienation from God

... ... the wrath of God

... ... eternal death

... ... spiritual numbness

...salvation delivers men and women and boys and girls TO

... ... righteousness (Romans 3:21-26; 5:1)

... ... holiness before the Lord (Romans 6:1-4; 12:1-2)

... ... freedom! (Galatians 5:1; 2 Corinthians 3:17)

... ... blessedness

... ... fellowship with God

... ... the love of God alive in our hearts

... ... everlasting life

... ... spiritual pain that brings healing and spiritual joy in Christ.

For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every that believeth…

Even this is a gift…believing, you know, it is! The spiritually dead do not rise up and believe; they are stirred and any faith is a gift of God!

God draws; Jesus said none of us come to Him unless the Father draws them (see John 6:44). That I can believe is because He has bid me to believe, and surely, for that, among much more, I can say I AM NOT ASHAMED!

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek...

Perhaps this is the most beautiful part…IT’S FOR ANYONE!!!

Maybe it's for you, here, right now, even as you are reading this, He is drawing you...maybe it is for YOU to believe. To trust with simple and wholehearted faith that Jesus is necessary and that He is enough. If you come to the Father through the Son, believing on the death and resurrection, that belief in Jesus will be counted to you as righteousness, and you will have no reason to fear God nor any reason to be ashamed before Him.

Do you believe?

If so, don't be ashamed. Never be ashamed! Don't be ashamed, but also, don't be proud. One can have shameless thankfulness without having shameful arrogance.

Do you believe, beloved? Are you ashamed of the gospel? Are you ashamed of Jesus?

Rejoice, and watch your heart change!

Look for the ingredients and embrace the process...

Don't we all want peace that surpasses understanding? Don't we all want to be at calm in the middle of life's storms? Don't we all want to have peace, even when all circumstances indicate we ought to be rattled?

Check this out: "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:4-7 ESV)

Here are the ingredients:
--rejoice always
--again, rejoice
--remember, the Lord Jesus is returning ("The Lord is at hand...")
--in everything, pray
--in everything, supplication, which means urgent asking
--in everything, thanksgiving
--let every request be known to God

The process:
--do all of the above...literally

If we are rejoicing people --meaning, EVEN IF OUR CIRCUMSTANCES do not naturally lead to rejoicing-- it will be because we are constantly remembering what God has done, looking for what God is doing, and looking forward to what He will do. We will rejoice in the work and person of God, not necessarily in our circumstances. So, rejoice!

Keep the fact that Jesus is coming back at the forefront of your thinking.

Pray. Ask God. Pray again. Ask urgently constantly. Give thanks (out-loud). Count blessings and give thanks. Literally, take everything to God.

If we are rejoicing people who are constantly talking to God and giving thanks, THESE THINGS will be used of God to guard our hearts.

It is by constantly remembering and seeking Him and putting His person and work against the balance of all that is going in our lives that we connect with God, abide in Him, and get the presence of His peace into our spirit.

Please hear this.

 Let it be said every way it can be said and let it be heeded in every place we are...

Here is Philippians 4:5...

• New International Version: Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
• New Living Translation: Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.
• English Standard Version: Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;
• New American Standard Bible: Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.
• King James Bible: Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
• Good News Translation: Show a gentle attitude toward everyone. The Lord is coming soon.
• The Living Bible: Let everyone see that you are unselfish and considerate in all you do. Remember that the Lord is coming soon.
• The Message: Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you’re on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute!
• Amplified Bible: Let your gentle spirit [your graciousness, unselfishness, mercy, tolerance, and patience] be known to all people. The Lord is near.
• J. B. Phillips New Testament: Have a reputation for gentleness, and never forget the nearness of your Lord.
• Modern English Version: Let everyone come to know your gentleness. The Lord is at hand.

Lord, grant to us grace upon grace, that we become as you command us to be.

Holding fast while being held fast.

When losing is winning...

We cannot both be the boss of our lives and know Jesus as Lord, and we cannot know Jesus as Savior unless we know Him as Lord.

(KNOWING that ALL illustrations break down) Think on this...

A man is drowning; someone throws him a rope; he says, "I am saved!"

Then, he lets go of the rope.

Others who are being towed in pass by the man, urging him to "Take up the rope!" and "Lay hold to safety!" and "Be saved!"

The man says, "Don't fret, friends! Don't judge me! I was saved! I am okay!"

Listen, friend, the one who was saved is being saved and will be saved. The faith that IS HOLDING ON is truly faith that DID GRAB HOLD!

If that one every recognized the means of safety, they will never loose from it or suppose some other means will work.

We must take hold to Jesus and keep holding to Jesus!

Now, reality looks more like this; HE TAKES HOLD TO US! That fellowship is precious to the one saved and being saved. So precious in fact, they grab hold back. To the one that's ever known Him, their grip may slip but He doesn't let go and they renew their grip.

When is losing actually winning? Consider: "Then Jesus told his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?'" (Matthew 16:24-26 ESV)

Too many of think just because we've seen the rope, or maybe touched the rope that we were saved and are being saved. We MUST deny ourselves and follow Jesus. We must lose any idea of saving ourselves and trust in Christ alone.

God knows whether or not we are saved and being saved. Others can take an educated guess.

WE are the ones who need to know.

Here's the question...from when we latched onto Him at first, have we held on and are drawing closer? Are we less like self and more like Jesus? Are will willing to lose every weight that holds us back? Are we willing for Jesus to kill off everything not like Him and grant new life and new nature in its place?

And, if we dare to gain Him, we must not fear losing self. Actually, that's God's point...to make us NEW CREATIONS, conformed -- that is made into -- the image of Jesus! The Father doesn't look at us as fixer-uppers; no, all our work is no good for the work the Father has in mind. To truly win Christ into ourselves, we must be willing to be rid of ourselves.

Let God's word move your heart and feet today.

From desperate crying to joyful running...

"The war horse is a false hope for salvation, and by its great might it cannot rescue." (Psalm 33:17 ESV)

"Though he slay me, I will hope in him;" (Job 13:15a ESV)

"Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the belly of the fish, saying, 'I called out to the LORD, out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice. For you cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the flood surrounded me; all your waves and your billows passed over me.'" (Jonah 2:1-3 ESV)

"O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy!" (Psalm 130:2 ESV)

"I called on your name, O LORD, from the depths of the pit; you heard my plea, ‘Do not close your ear to my cry for help!’ You came near when I called on you; you said, 'Do not fear!'" (Lamentations 3:55-57 ESV)

"yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. GOD, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places." (Habakkuk 3:18-19 ESV)

With whom are you craving an audience?

 Doing what with that...

Whether a gift is spiritual in nature or learned as a talent or seemingly natural to a person's genetic, environmental or trained individuality, it IS from God. You see, friend, if it is spiritual in nature, well, it is spiritual! It is a gift directly from the Lord of the Lord. If it is learned, it has been God that has sustained the life of such a one who has learned it. If it seemingly part of who someone is, they are how they are because made them who they are. Capisce?

So, no matter how one has come to have a talent, skill or gift, the question is not where it came from. The question is what is a person doing with what God gave them?

What do we do with the gain from our talent, skill or gift?
What do we do with the exercise of our talents, skills or gifting?
Whose glory do we seek with our talents, skills or gifting?
Who do we bless with our talent, skill or gifting?
Who do we credit for these things?

Let me press into a thought (in other words, be patient)...

The proverb writer says, "A man's gift makes room for him and brings him before the great." (Proverbs 18:16 ESV) In this case, I might paraphrase this verse like this: "A man's money can get him an audience with people he could never meet if he were poor."

Even our money is a gift from God. Sure, someone is thinking, "I earned that! No one gave it to me!" Such attitudes always stem from self-centered pride. IF you have "earned" it, it is because God has given you aptitude, health, willingness and opportunity, without which of any part you would not have made gain. So, surely, I can say, what we "earn" also comes from God.

Finally, then, whether we are talking a talent with which we barter or money with with which we buy, who do put ourselves in front of? Who do we desire audience with?

It can be as simple as taking what we have been given by God and wasting it on frivolity, or it can be as complicated as taking what God has given us and building a sanitary life filled with sanitary people, and it can be anything in between, and it can be worse.

The point is, who do we desire to be in front of with what we have been given? Why? The subject is worth the effort of meditation.

Slick speakers and sick listeners.

Unassuming wickedness...

Even the dictionary gets it (and that's not always the case); all of us would read the word "wickedness" and think of the word "evil", but few of us would think of the word "wickedness" and think of the phrase "morally wrong." Google dictionary nailed it in this case; it very appropriately attached both ideas to the word "wickedness."

Something does not have to be perversely evil to be wicked. In God's eyes, something morally wrong falls into the category of what is wicked.

We often only think of something being "wicked" when we think of witches, or perverse evil, so this idea of "wickedness" including ordinary moral wrongs may shock us.

Obviously, in more than one place, the Scriptures reveal this distinction, but I believe this proverbs embodies this idea perfectly: "An evildoer listens to wicked lips, and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue." (Proverbs 17:4 ESV)

Here, the moral wrong is taking counsel from people who are up to no good. Do you see it? The moral wrong, in this case, is not doing something wildly outrageous, but giving ear to people who aren't pursuing the Lord. It's that simple.

This nuance lands most of us regularly in the arena of "wickedness." The conversations we gravitate towards; the gossip we entertain; the music and other media we consume; those things we read...all of these could easily engage us in "wickedness."

Safe in Jesus?

There will be a reckoning...

It is nothing new that people do what they want. As a matter of fact, it's nothing new for people to think they are doing right when they are flat wrong: "All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the spirit." (Proverbs 16:2 ESV)

See that last part? "The Lord weighs..." On the one hand, that's terrifying, but on the other hand, we can trust God to settle all the accounts of the foolish and wicked.

It's happened before: "The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. So the LORD said, 'I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.'" (Genesis 6:5-7 ESV)

The only hope for any is the hope Noah discovered: "But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD." (Genesis 6:8 ESV) Noah found favor through God's grace. That grace is available today through Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ of God.

As the ark was the safe place in the days of the great flood, so is Jesus the safe place in the coming Day of Judgment.

Many, many people are only doing what is right in their own sight, and such people believe their ways are pure. God weighs the heart.

There is a coming reckoning. Are you safe in Jesus?

Your relationship to God's word is absolutely critical.

The saint that is equipped
will be the saint that doesn't get whipped! 
The saint that is ready
we be the saint that stays steady! 

Know the profit in the prophets! 
Love the Lawgiver! 
Walk in the wisdom! 
Find power in the poetry! 

Heed the history! 
Glory in the Gospel! 
Linger in the letters! 
Revel in the revelation! 

Wait upon the Lord...I say, wait! 

Do not be tossed about by every wind of doctrine! Do not be blown away by every weird circumstance! Hold fast! Hold fast! 

Rebuke the enemy! Receive the Savior! Rest in the Father! Run the race by the Spirit! 

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV)

Are you teachable?

From being teachable to being known...

"So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians." (Acts 11:25-26 ESV)

The first place disciples of Jesus Christ were called "Christians" was in Antioch. "Christian" means "a follower of Christ," and could most adequately be translated "little Christs." In other words, they were known to be like Jesus. 

Wow. Soak that in. 

There weren't known by their music station, or the fish on their welcome mats, or the cross around their necks -- by the way, no one would've worn a torture / execution symbol -- or any other thing we often measure people by today. They would not have been known as people who mumbled "I believe in God." 

These people were called "Christians" because they exuded the life of Christ. 

Notice something critical; "For a whole year [Barnabas and Paul] met with the church and taught..." 

These people were TEACHABLE! These people were RECEPTIVE! These people embraced GROWTH! These people expected themselves to TRANSFORM!  These people came under the WORD! These people lived lives of SURRENDER! 

Keep reading and you will quickly see the disciples at Antioch LIVED the gospel too. Their lives were not defined by cultural opulence. They were known to be like Jesus. They were known to be like little Christs, living lives focused on God, focused on others; lives focused on service and sacrifice. 

I am praying our area becomes known for having Antiochan type Christians.

A difficult yet necessary inventory.

An inventory verse...

Some inventory verses are hard. The verse I am pondering is just such a verse: "Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness." (1 John 3:4 ESV)

Ask 10 people what sin is and we'll probably get 10 different answers. Those answers will generally revolve around the things the person we ask dislikes, or those things hot in cultural discourse. 

However, 1 John 3:4 tells us exactly what sin is: 
"...sin is lawlessness." (ESV, NASB, NIV, RSV, NKJV)
"...sin is the transgression of the law." (KJV)
"...sin is the breaking of law." (HCSB)
"...all sin is contrary to the law of God." (NLT)

The Amplified Bible gives further understanding to 1 John 3:4 by stating it this way: "Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness [ignoring God’s law by action or neglect or by tolerating wrongdoing—being unrestrained by His commands and His will]."

Now, though it's difficult to face, we can clearly see what sin is; it's breaking God's law. 

Indeed, we are not saved by keeping God's law, nor is a believer required to practice the rituals of the law, but the moral of the law has not changed one iota. If we live in such a way that constantly ignores God's unchanging moral nature and revealed law, we prove we have no regard for God.  Such lack regard might reveal we either (a) have no relationship, or (b) we've gone cold and need to return to our First Love. 

Blessed is the person who loves God's law, and meditates on it day and night. Such persons may not be perfect, but such people should be humble and willing, ready to seek God, constantly at His feet, and quick and constant in asking for His help. 

Let us look upon the law and ourselves; it will be a difficult inventory, but well worth it.

The Math to Measure in Moments of Madness.

More than the moment...

A wise person knows there is more to life than the moment. As a matter of fact, a wise person knows there is more to life than this lifetime. 

There is eternity...

A wise person weighs the knowledge of eternity against every circumstance. They consider the will of God across the scope of existence. Here’s the math: this life + His character + His command + the judgement + eternity. Having done the math, they respond with those things in due regard and balance. 

A wise person also considers others, and how God thinks of THEM and what God's will is for them too. 

A fool is only in the moment.
A fool is usually in their feelings.
A fool is usually only thinking of self. 

"The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult." (Proverbs 12:16 ESV)

Thinking of ourselves this fine day, would we be characterized more as fools or as prudent / wise people?

Do we respond to everything in the flesh / in the moment or do we weigh it and wait upon the Lord and respond with His wisdom?

"I must do something."

Just do it... 

We avoid taking responsibility. Whether it's in our job, or for tasks around our home, or even for our weaknesses and sin. 

We want everything to be someone else's work or fault.   

I can't remember the old adage in full, but the gist was Everybody is waiting for Somebody to do what Anybody could do, but Nobody is doing. 

When some folks approached Ezra about their sin, he told them they needed to repent themselves. He said, "Arise, for it is your task, and we are with you; be strong and do it." (Ezra 10:4 ESV)

Don't blame sin on anyone but the man in the mirror, but don't forsake those repenting. Receive them. Help them. Love them. Keep them accountable. 

Also, about taking responsibility in general, just do it. The attitude that says "I must do something" will always solve more than the attitude that says "something must be done."  

Let's not wait for the hospital bed or the coffin to get straightened out. Let's take responsibility and get straight now.

Satisfaction will be thorough and complete.

 Your clock does not have enough time...

Check out this proverb: "The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked." (Proverbs 10:3 ESV)

You read that and immediately wonder if such a thing can be true. We've known, or possibly even now know, a "righteous" person who has been --or is-- hungry. So, we wonder can this proverb be an accurate representation of truth.

Likewise, we've all seen some wicked person who seems to be doing just fine, enjoying life and living it up. We wonder can the second part be true, too.

Here's the thing...our clock --our way of thinking about justice and time-- does not have enough hours, nor does our understanding reach far enough to understand these things in full.

Think about it in this way:
...the righteous will not be hungry forever!
...the wicked will not even be able to pursue their cravings forever!

Beloved, God always has the end in mind, even in the shadows of our moments that we call a lifetime. A righteous person --a person hidden in Christ-- will not go hungry, or hurting, or sad, or sick, or confused, or in pain, or broken forever. Because they are in Christ, all those things will one day come to an end!

Again, likewise, the wicked simply will not be able to pursue wickedness forever. Pay day is coming some day.

Do not think that God only considers the truth of Proverbs 10:3 in the length of a lifetime, or of several lifetimes. This truth comes to us in the balance of eternity. God is going to handle His business!