Live what you want to receive.

Whatever value we would like others to display towards us is the value we ought to display.

For example, would you like people to be loyal? You be loyal.

Would you like people to be forgiving? You be forgiving.

Would you like to be heard? Listen.

Would you like to receive love? Love.

On and on and on...

If you value the quality, exhibit it.

Here's the deal: we cannot control what any other single soul does and we will go crazy trying. What we can do is take responsibility for ourselves and our own actions and attitudes.

Complaining about what others do or don't do will burn up precious emotional energy that could be being spent doing what we ourselves say we value.

We were made to do good works. The Apostle Paul said, "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10 ESV)

If we value a quality of character, certain actions, or long to receive something good, we must see it first and foremost as what we are being called to be and do.

God causes us to value it that we might come to be it.

Holy restlessness.

Do you know about holy restlessness? 

God is always drawing people to Himself. Always. For the lost, God is drawing them to begin with Him. For the saved, God is calling us to abide in Him. For the seeker, God is calling them to be pleased with Him. 

For every man, woman, boy, or girl, God is calling us to serve Him. Eternity is in our hearts. We long to build and bless.

Too often we attempt to answer holy restlessness with unholy activity. Much of our running to and fro is us giving the wrong answer to the right question. We are being called to act, but to act for God ... to act with God! For Him, that others might be served, won, built up, blessed, etc. With God, that we might worship Him, enjoy Him, rest in Him, and so much more!

The yearning to know and do and be and build and go ... that could be holy restlessness! Don't brush it off! Don't fill it up with junk.

Wait with God. Go for God.

I know part of my holy restlessness is that I want to enjoy God and I want God to enjoy me. I want to win souls and build up believers.

I am praying. I am listening. I am in the Word. I am waiting with God.

Psalm 55:2a says, "Attend to me, and answer me; I am restless..."

Casting or catching doubt.

Rebutting a Skeptic / Killing the Seed

a seed is ever so small
but planted grows so tall
firm in solid soil
it roots and springs with little toil
the most dangerous seed ever uncaught
is yon seed planted to corrupt our thought

You know how it works, right? It's a small thing; tiny, even. Doubt.

Hang with me on this one, and I promise, it'll bless you or hurt you, but either way, it'll help you.

It's helping me just to think through it!

It's at it's worse when it's about the most important things. Our enemy, using divers methods, would love nothing more than to cast doubt into our thinking of God. That's what the serpent did in the Garden of Eden. Here's the testimony from Scripture about this character: "Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made." (Genesis 3:1a) See that? Crafty. Yep.

What is the first act of this craft trickster? "He said to the woman, 'Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden?'" (Genesis 3:1, ESV) Catch that? He planted a seed of doubt!

That's how the enemy works.
"Did God really say ____________?"
"Do you think that's what He really meant?"
"Isn't that just and old book?"

On and on...a doubt creating machine is our enemy.

I think there are hoards of websites and college classrooms designed by Satan himself for the sole purpose of casting doubt. Sure, they claim you are "getting informed" or "gaining an accredited degree," and you just might be getting those things, but we'd do well to make sure we don't get some other mess along the way.

The Apostle Peter was given a word about this: "This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder,that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, 'Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.' For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished." (2 Peter 3:1-6, ESV, emphasis mine)

Sounds quite Eden-ish, doesn't it?

This stuff is the most dangerous. It is. It subverts our relationship with God, and no other relationship is more important. No other relationship matters more. No other relationship comes with larger blessings or more dire consequences.

But, that's not what I really want to write about. Do not mistake what I mean, NOTHING is more important than our relationship with God, and we must wage all out war against doubt and unbelief.

There's this other thing, though...
Relationships are tricky enough, right?
Love relationships.
Friends.
Family.
Work / school acquaintances.
The authorities over and around us.
E'erybody...

That's the second biggest thing the enemy wants broken, or jacked up in our lives: relationships with others.

I'm becoming firmly convinced that the enemy's number one tool in those relationships is doubt, too. People do it all the time! It's usually disguised as ordinary conversation or gossip, but it does its dirty work, no matter how unassuming it seems.

"You know how they are..."
"Someone said they ..."
"Bless her heart..."
"I heard..."
"They've always been like that."

Sometimes it's just a look when someone mentions someone.

Innuendo.
Rumor.
Gossip.
That's a scoffers work!

And, that mess ruins relationships. It casts doubt.

We must refuse it.
Maybe even rebuke it.
Definitely not receive it...

Once, when I was sitting in a hospital, talking to someone, they asked me a question about someone else, and it was like the Lord revealed to me that my answer would possibly cast doubt upon another person's character, so I just refused to answer. There was no flattering answer to give, and really only my unneeded opinion. I was pressed for an answer, but I refused. I couldn't stop thinking about it, and I knew, in that moment, I was growing. (I wanted to go find a door frame and scratch something in it.)

I've refused gossip before, but this was so subtle. God gave me discernment in the moment. It was a tiny seed, and I could see how we (I) plant them, and we jack up relationships.

I don't want to be a scoffer. Here's God's wisdom advised for scoffers: "Drive out a scoffer, and strife will go out, and quarreling and abuse will cease." (Proverbs 22:10, ESV)

I think God is right! Hushing-up the scoffer would be the quarrel-killer.

Absolutely, I know what you're thinking, and you're right... sometimes we have to caution people and report things we don't really want to report. I know. But, keep it real with me, what's the ratio of times it's needed and times we just say stuff? I'd wager the need-to-say times are far, far fewer than the not-need-to-say times.

We need to edify. There's the goal we make and the line we draw. Does it build up? Was that our goal when we spoke it? Do we desire to be built up? Are we desiring to build up the one we are talking about? Are we desiring to build up the one we are talking to?

We must be careful of what seeds we plant. We may be seeding doubts and ruining relationships. That ain't good.

Rebut the skeptic.
Rebuff the scoffer.
Rebuke the flaming tongue.

Let me close with James 3:1-12, 'cause he says it better than me...

"Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.

"How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water." (ESV)

Family and Father.

Comfortless / without family...

Or-fan-os. That's what this Greek word sounds like: ὀρφανός.

We find that word translated as either "comfortless" or "orphan."

Jesus said He would not leave His disciples comfortless / as orphans. He promised He would send the Holy Spirit (John 14).

Jesus said, "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you." (John 14:18 KJV) The ESV, NIV, NASB all translate it like this: "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." The HCSB says it like this: "I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you."

I love how to leave us orphaned would mean to leave us comfortless. I love how a believer is promised the presence of God.

We are designed for family, both in this temporal age and in the eternal to come. As Father God calls us into His family, and purchases us with the precious blood of His Son, He quickens such persons into spiritual life, and gives us the right to be called sons and daughters of God.

I believe we are made for family ... we are born into it... we are re-born into it. The need of it is so real that God promises to never leave one of His children as orphans. That promise is directly related to a believer's comfort, both in this age and in the age to come.

With God as our Father, Jesus as our Brother, and the Holy Spirit as our indwelling Life, we are secure in His family! As Christ abides in His church, we are part of a family. We have the comfort of His presence and He grants the comfort of brothers and sisters in Christ.

Today, enjoy the Family! Enjoy God! Enjoy His people!

Preaching to my heart.

Preaching to my heart; standing in truth...

Dear friends, I don't mind telling you of my weakness because it leads me to tell you about my Strength.

I often grip both sides of my bathroom sink, look in the mirror, and stare my own self in the eye and say, "Buck up!"

Many times, I hear the Spirit ringing 1 Corinthians 16:13 in my very being: "Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong."

Be strong. Be strong. Be strong. How can such a weak thing as a man be strong?

I mean we can buck up, gather our whispering courage, and face things as best we can, but often the very strength we really, truly need is of a sort that we don't nor can possess in and of ourselves. I do recommend as much bucking up as a man or woman can buck up, yet we find ourselves facing things that make us realize we are out of buck and down with up.

How many times did God encourage Joshua? I think of Joshua 1:9, which says, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

And there you have it... the curtains of heaven are peeled back and we see the saints' muscles... "...for the Lord your God is with you..." There's my Strength when my strength is gone. There's my Strength if my strength is ever useful.

Being so weak, my motivation for being strong is that He is Strong.

As Maltbie D. Babcock wrote in his poem-turned-hymn, "Be Strong!"

"Be strong!

We are not here to play, to dream, to drift;

We have hard work to do and loads to lift;

Shun not the struggle, face it, ’tis God’s gift.

Be strong, be strong, be strong!

"Be strong!

Say not the days are evil—who’s to blame?

And fold the hands and acquiesce—O shame!

Stand up, speak out, and bravely, in God’s name.

Be strong, be strong, be strong!

"Be strong!

It matters not how deep entrenched the wrong,

How hard the battle goes, the day, how long;

Faint not, fight on! Tomorrow comes the song.

Be strong, be strong, be strong!"

May we find Strength for our strength. Be strong; He's Strong. Buck up; God's got you, Tim Bowes.

Sometimes, answer; sometimes, hush.

To say or not to say…

Sometimes, we need to answer foolish things and foolish people with wisdom. Sometimes, we need to move on. It takes Holy Spirit discernment to determine a course of action sometimes. At other times, it just takes a little God-induced common sense.

In Eugene Peterson’s paraphrase, The Message, he chooses to express Proverbs 26:4-5 like this: “Don’t respond to the stupidity of a fool; you’ll only look foolish yourself. Answer a fool in simple terms so he doesn’t get a swelled head.”

Those two verses seem to contradict, but, as the ESV Study Bible notes, “‘To answer a fool according to his folly’ (v. 5) is to keep replying to his remarks in order to show up their folly. Verse 4 gives the general policy (‘answer not a fool’), because you will end up like him yourself as he responds to your reply with further folly: the interchange will have no end. Verse 5 gives the exception (‘answer a fool’), because sometimes he or others may think to their own harm that he cannot be answered.”

Secondly, sometimes it is not for us to answer, nor is it the time or place. That’s where honesty comes in (in some cases); we need to be bold enough to know when we are not equipped to step into a discussion or debate. Sometimes, we pick fights in public forums when we ought to only be speaking in private places. This causes people to respond defensively or in anger.

Thirdly, sometimes we speak and it edifies and instructs and it helps, and we point out folly and help people arrive at God’s feet (not ours!). Other times, it’s easy to see no one is listening and it’s not really a conversation. Often, we see the latter upfront, and can save ourselves ANY comment. We often get lost in arguments over moral symptoms and cultural issues when what we need to be doing is exemplifying and proclaiming our saving Christ. However, it’s not just that we say something, we need to speak truth, in love, with gentleness, while abiding in Jesus, filled of the Spirit. If we can’t fill that bill, we probably ought to just be quiet.

The following is Proverbs 26:4-5 in different translations. I add it to give us various expressions to help in our meditation on this wisdom tension.

 

Proverbs 26:4

English Standard Version
Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself.

 

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Don't answer a fool according to his foolishness or you'll be like him yourself.

 

King James Version
Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.

 

New American Standard Bible
Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Or you will also be like him.

 

New International Version
Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him.

 

New Living Translation
Don't answer the foolish arguments of fools, or you will become as foolish as they are.

 

Proverbs 26:5

English Standard Version
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.

 

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Answer a fool according to his foolishness or he'll become wise in his own eyes.

 

King James Version
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.

 

New American Standard Bible
Answer a fool as his folly deserves, That he not be wise in his own eyes.

 

New International Version
Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.

 

New Living Translation
Be sure to answer the foolish arguments of fools, or they will become wise in their own estimation.

"Unbind him, and let him go."

I can't wait to these words are spoken about me: "Unbind him, and let him go."

I believe in the resurrection of the dead! Some will be raised, passed through the judgement because of Jesus Christ (ref. John 3:16-21) and sent on to the next part of eternal life because they are joined in Christ.

Some will be raised, come before the judgement and be sent to an eternal dying, where there will not be the presence of God, who is life.

As for me, I believe in Jesus, and I believe He is the only way unto life. I believe He saves me from the Father's wrath and delivers to me the Father's goodness.

As the old song says, "My hope is built on NOTHING LESS" -- (nor anything more) -- "than Jesus blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus' name. On Christ the Solid Rock I stand; all other ground is sinking sand."

"But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust." (Acts 24:14-15, ESV)

Peacemakers.

Thoughts on peacemaking...

[Jesus said] "You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny." (Matthew 5:21-26 ESV)

Jesus does not want us to settle for less than the best. He does not want us to do the playground thing -- you know, the forced handshake -- where we mumble our apologies while holding anger and bitterness in our hearts. No; Jesus wants us to "be reconciled." He is not satisfied with outward actions unless there is inward peace.

Because conflict is a hindrance to our worship, Jesus instructs us to make peacemaking a priority in our lives. Whenever we realize we have conflict with someone, we are to act immediately; Jesus said, "...leave your gift at the altar and go ...come to terms quickly..."

The Lord Jesus is concerned about our hearts. He is concerned about our relationships. He commands us to work things out! I wonder how many worship services never actually make it to worship because the room is full of unresolved conflict?

Get it right. Get it right, not because I said so, but because it is the will, way, desire and command of God. Get right because unresolved conflict affects our worship, steals our peace and the family of God deserves our obedience.

Who are you in conflict today? Is it a brother or sister? Go quickly. Go now. Come to terms. Be reconciled.

Then, go quickly, carry your gift, and get back to what you were made for...get back to worshiping God.

There is something much worse than karma.

Worse than karma...

Most Western people don't understand the concept of karma. Many eastern religions believe a person will be reincarnated, and, whether they have lived "good" or "bad" will determine what caste they are in in the next life, or will determine the level of happiness or struggle they will face. Karma is about the next life, not this life.

Christians believe a person will "reap" what they sow (see Galatians 6:7). In other words, there are natural consequences and side effects of the choices we make in life. Frankly, we have to face up to the consequences of our actions.

Right thinking Christians understand such reaping is often true in this life and most definitely true at The Judgment. Famous evangelist R.G. Lee preached a sermon many times entitled "Pay-Day Someday." It's said Lee preached the sermon over 1,000 times! (you can find it on YouTube)

I have a couple points...

1. Should we wish that false idea of karma on anyone? Should we really wish people reap what they sow? Should we want people to face God with hell as their eternity? Should we wish bad on folks?

I can only speak for myself. I want evil and wickedness to stop, but I want people to be saved. I cling to something Jesus said in Matthew 9:13: "Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners." (ESV)

2. I was reading Obadiah tonight. That short book is only one chapter and has only 21 verses. Obadiah 1:15 says, "For the day of the LORD is near upon all the nations. As you have done, it shall be done to you; your deeds shall return on your own head." (ESV) This was a stark reminder that pay-day is coming someday.

The Bible says we will all and each one face judgment. The writer of  Hebrews said, "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." (9:27 KJV) There will be no do overs ... no reincarnation. We will face Him and enter into rest forever or never enter into rest.

Two motivations ought to drive us... the love of God should make us love God and act like people who know they'll have to face Him. The love of God should make us love God and pray for others, because, like us, each and every person will have to face Him too.

Peace to all who read these words.

Loving the Lord...

Just something I am thinking about...

Luke 10:27

The man answered, "'You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.' And, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" (NLT)

You must love the LORD your God with...

...all your heart ... the seat of our affections and priorities...

...with...all your soul ... the seat of our life's breath; our immaterial reality [side note: we are not a body with a soul; rather, we are a soul with a body]...

...with...all your strength ... the seat of our physical life and actions...

...with...all your mind ... the seat of perception, but that which is learned and that which is received by illumination and revelation.

Heart - to feel

Soul - to know

Mind - to understand

Strength - to act

Loving God as an experience is the great calling of our lives...

Too full of the world to be full of the Lord.

It’s not that the Lord is untrue, it’s that He is untried...

You can’t eat steak with a mouth full of lobster. You have to swallow! Even if you do ram your mouth to overfill, putting in lobster where you’re already packed with steak, you will really enjoy neither and possibly choke on both.

Ridiculous sounding, right? It does however make its point.

You can’t take a bag of gold when your arms are loaded with rock.

The truth is we can’t enjoy the Lord when we are full of the world. We just can’t.

It’s not that we find the Lord’s ability to satisfy us untrue as much as we do untried. We often are so busy packing our lives — hearts, minds, souls, and strengths — with things of the world that we really can’t appreciate the tack-on-add-to-temporary tidbits of God we take in part.

Try Him. He will satisfy.

“You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.” (Psalm 4:7 ESV)

I can’t convince you into implementation. I can testify of His satisfaction to me, but you will never know for yourself until you taste Him for yourself — in full, unimpeded measure — and see that He is indeed good. He is better than the fullest bar and the grandest buffet.

Lay it all down that He might fill you up.

We know teachers of the Word should tremble, but I think so should students!

A trembling student...

We ought to tremble as we study and share the word of God. It is no small thing to consider God's revelation to man and His dealings with man. We are called to be students of the word, no doubt. We are called to share God's truth, no doubt. We ought to tremble before Him all along the way.

And, when we share, we should remember this, "Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness." (James 3:1 ESV)

However, we also must heed our call to be witnesses for God! So, what do we do? We tremble. We proceed with care. We consider context and we ALWAYS should want to speak only as the Spirit gives opening and leadership. As we study the word of God, remember, we are studying to meet with God, grow in grace, and to equip ourselves for serving others.

Of the Book of Revelation, the Spirit gave John to say, "I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book." (Revelation 22:18-19 ESV)

And, adding and taking away from Scripture is not only a warning exclusive to the prophecy of the Revelation. It's true of the whole word of God: "Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar." (Proverbs 30:5-6 ESV)

My point? Simple; let us remember, when we share of the Lord, not to be casual with His word. Let us tremble before Him. Let us seek Him in fellowship. Let us be filled with and led by His Spirit. It is no light thing to share things of the Lord.

 

Pyrus Calleryana

Even the old pyrus calleryana does it...

Every tree bears fruit. The pyrus calleryana has many varieties; the one we typically know about is the Bradford Pear.

I'll never forget first seeing someone plant Bradford Pear trees. It was my uncle, and I was excited. I like pears! I was so disappointed to find the fruit useless for eating. It's fruit, and its seeds are good for more trees, but it's not good for food! 

I've openly wondered many times what good a Bradford Pear tree is for anything but shade. So, I researched it. Turns out, pyrus calleryana is good for making woodwind instruments and veneer for furniture. 

Yes, even the seemingly fruitless Bradford Pear does indeed bear fruit. Every tree bears fruit. 

So does every person...

"For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks." (Luke 6:43-45 ESV)

No matter how pretty a tree LOOKS, it bears fruit. 

No matter how non-ornamental a tree LOOKS, it bears fruit.

So does every person...

There is a look and a reality. In the Christian life, fruit is the likeness of Christ and the work of Christ. Where the work of Christ is present without the life and likeness of Christ, it is false, religious fruit. For it to be useful and genuine, but His nature and His work are manifested. 

Every tree, and every person, bears fruit. Sobering.

Eulego

What does the Spirit-filled believer do when someone does them wrong? According to Romans 12:14, we should, "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them." The word "bless" is "eulegeo" (εὐλογέω). The meaning will surprise you: 

(1) to praise, celebrate with praises
(2) to invoke blessings
(3) to consecrate a thing with solemn prayers; (a) to ask God's blessing on a thing, (b) pray God to bless it to one's use, (c) pronounce a consecratory blessing on
(4) of God; (a) to cause to prosper, to make happy, to bestow blessings on (b) favoured of God, blessed

Did you see that? WHOA! So, wait, Lord, are you saying I should "celebrate with praises" the person who does me wrong simply because they don't agree with me? "Yes, my child, I do." 

That's how I know this is a Spirit-filled reaction...because it's something our flesh would not choose, and something that is not "normal" for us to do in our own strength. 

Imagine if that was at least practiced on social media. Wow. This whole thing would be changed! 

I shared this with the local church I'm in fellowship with and one brother told me later on that obeying the Lord in this was starting with him simply choosing silence. He said, "I was practicing it tonight at basketball, but I'm only at the keeping my mouth shut stage, it will literally take a miracle of God for me to be able to thank God for the people that irritate and slander me." I actually think that is a Spirit-filled beginning! 

After all, the Scripture says, "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly." (Proverbs 15:1-2, ESV)

The Spirit works to shift us out of what the natural (the outer man; the dying, Adam man) "normally" does and shift us into what is the life of God. God's life is the life of love, for God is love (ref. 1 John 4:8). 

Consider, then, what love is: "Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." (1 Corinthians 13:4-7, ESV) 

Right in the middle of that, there is an affirmation of the attitude I'm talking about today; "it does not rejoice at wrong doing" -- so, there's no celebration that wrong has been done -- but, love does "bear all things" and "endures all things." Amazing! 

I'm like my friend, when he said, "It will literally take a miracle of God..." for me to begin celebrating people who give me a hard time, but He's in the miracle business, so I'm living with expectation. And, I'm living with willingness. And, I'm living in hope. 

I pray I learn to live in more surrender, too. That's what I need, a life surrendered to God, abiding in Him (John 15), submitted to Him (James 4) and "filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18). 

Yes, Lord, I am willing...

Does the fear of man keep you from following God?

Near 'bout the worst thing I can imagine...

Some people clearly see God is, and many come to understand the necessity of Jesus. Many even see His saving power -- His exclusivity in all things pertaining to salvation. Many come to understand these things, and still refuse to surrender to God in Christ Jesus.

To me, just about the worst reason a person could give for not following Jesus is the fear of man. Still, it's real. Some people are sick of their guilt. Some are inspired by the Savior. Some are longing for more than they are. Some want a dynamic life. Some want deliverance from habits and strongholds. Some see the crowd they run with and want themselves and that crowd to change.

But, they don't...

Many settle for the familiar blanket of man's approval and miss Jesus. And, they know it. They know they are afraid to lose friends, or be left out or ridiculed. Many hate their "normal" but hate the idea of a new normal worse.

This is nothing new!

"Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God." (John 12:42-43 ESV)

Do you see that? Many people believed on Jesus, but "they did not confess it..." They were afraid they would be "...put out of the synagogue..." Many people "...loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God."

What are YOU afraid to be put out of?

What trinket...what trump or tramp or group or junk...what bauble are you keeping for fear of losing it AND all the while losing Christ?

What habit or hobby holds you from following Jesus?

What people's opinion do you find divine in the place of God's presence?

Near 'bout the worst thing I can imagine is ANYONE or ANYTHING stop a person from knowing God in Christ Jesus.

Could your feelings of guilt be talking to you about something much larger than feelings?

Guilt isn't a feeling. We are guilty when we do wrong. Guilt is a position that reflects wrongdoing. Often, feelings come with it. It's sad when they don't.

If we speed, we are guilty. We're not guilty when we get caught; we are guilty when we break the speed limit law. OFTEN, getting caught makes us feel bad because someone has held us accountable for what we were already doing wrong.

"All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)

ALL have sinned. I'm talking about ME, too! We have sinned. Many of us hear someone pointing out our sin, and we don't like it. We're already guilty; we just don't want to face it. Remember, guilt is not the feeling; guilt is the result of wrongdoing!

So, how do we remove feelings associated with guilt? We clear the record. We right the wrong. If it's a ticket, we pay the fine. If we've wronged someone, we repent, apologize and make amends.

The problem we face in our moral guilt is that we do not have it within us to pay the debt. We're not capable; we don't have the currency to pay the debt. That's why we need Jesus. He pays the debt! He HAS PAID the debt! WOOOOOO HOOOOO! When the devil throws my guilt in my face, I throw Jesus's payment in his. That's what's up.

But, hear me now, we're not going to get rid of the feelings till things are made right. Jesus has paid; we must trust His payment and continue to trust it.