Bethlehem

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. (Luke 2:1-7 ESV). Yesterday we looked at this same text. It struck me as I was reading it again that we have not said very much about Bethlehem. As the crow flies, it was a journey of approximately 60 miles, though traveling over hills, through villages and around rivers would likely have made the trip longer. Christmas pictures always show Mary riding a donkey but we really have no idea of their mode of travel. Whether on foot or on the back of a swaying brown animal, it wasn’t an easy journey, especially for a woman nearing the end of her first pregnancy. We know why she had to leave the comfort of her home and family. The government had decreed a census and that everyone must go to one’s “own city,” the place their families called home, for this official registration and counting. But Mary and Joseph knew they were going far from family and into a city whose streets would be clogged with traveling strangers. They were assured of no warm welcome, no cozy place to birth the expected child. Perhaps they hoped for a small house or a distant relative or a way for Joseph to earn money for their keep, but in almost every way, they were traveling into the unknown. The journey was long and hard, the destination uncertain. Nearly nine months before their arrival in Bethlehem, Mary spoke life-changing words to God, words that were to comfort her in the many uncertain years ahead. “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.” With those simple words of faith, she could endure the long journey on the back of a donkey, the cold streets of Bethlehem, the staring faces of strangers, and even the crude stable with its straw-lined manger. We all have our own Bethlehem. That is the place we find ourselves after a long path. Often the people are uncaring, the circumstances difficult, and the burden heavy. May I suggest if this is the place you find yourself, you can find comfort and rest in the Christ who was born in that place so many centuries ago. We’re going to spend a lot of time in the coming days looking at the meaning of Christmas. We’ll look at various traditions and practices, however, the real key is found in the baby. Jesus is all that we need, whenever we need! Trust Him!

Black Friday

So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” (John 19:16-19 ESV). Traditionally the day after Thanksgiving is called “Black Friday” in our country. That’s the day when most of the bog stores open early with incredible sales for the thousands of buyers who are fortunate enough to arrive early enough that the merchandise is not sold out. I’ve never personally participated in Black Friday. Some folks take it pretty seriously though. They arrive early, some spending the night outside the store of choice. This insures they will be able to get to their choices first. I’ve seen others who go so far as to have a map of the store to make sure they don’t waste any steps in their quest for the deals of the day. Once the doors are open for business, it becomes a mad dash to the choicest sales. Electronics, clothes, appliances, and all sorts of other things are sold at bargain prices. I’m sure the savings are real and the shopping exciting; however, I have never really participated. If I’m going to sit in freezing weather in the dark pre-dawn hours, it will only be with the hope of seeing my dream buck step out of the woods for a clear shot! I suppose it could be said that I am just as silly about deer hunting as others are about sale hunting! Regardless of that, the real black Friday is not a sales event. Rather, it is the day that Jesus died nearly two thousand years ago. That Friday was dark indeed. It was at that time when God finished the work of reconciliation for those whom he had chosen to receive his grace. It is strange how easy we seem to forget that day, especially at this time of the year. We emphasize Christmas. The birth of Jesus is a much easier picture to deal with than the cross. However, the birth of Jesus is not nearly as efficacious as his death. Without his death he would have been a great teacher, a fine rabbi, a pioneering religious leader, and a wonder worker of no match; but, he would not have been the Savior of the world. We need a Savior. God sent his Son. Today, as you are shopping, visiting with family, watching ball games, eating leftover turkey, or any other activity this holiday, please remember the reason for joy is found in Christ and his grace.

Happy Birthday Faith and Logan

But the love of the Lord remains forever with those who fear him. His salvation extends to the children's children of those who are faithful to his covenant, of those who obey his commandments! (Psalm 103:17-18 NIV). Today is the Faith and Logan’s eleventh birthday. I cannot imagine how the time has raced by so quickly! As you can see from the picture to the left (taken on Easter of this year), they have certainly grown! I can honestly say that though these years have been challenging in many ways since we have moved to North Carolina and then Tennessee, I have no regrets about being here or doubts that the Lord has a divine purpose for us. The Scripture in our reading today reminded me of the significant responsibility that we have as grandparents to be faithful on their behalf. As I began to think of the kinds of gifts that we might get them for their birthday, I came to four specific things we can do. They are things that all grandparents can practice.  We can model faith. Even though children may hear of the Lord from their parents, it is reinforcing for them to see the first hand faith of their grandparent too. We should look for opportunities to nurture our grandchildren’s natural curiosity about God. Talk about the Lord on walks and outings. Read or tell Bible stories together. Share with them as their age permits how God has and is working in your life.  We can model love. No one can ever hear the words “I love you” too much. Say it. Write it. Wrap it. Show it. Give it. Communicate, “I love you!” in every way you can think of not only to your grandchildren but to their parents also.  We can model hope. Our world is short on hope. Christian grandparents understand the need for hope. Most of us have lived through the Korean conflict, the Cold War, Vietnam, and two Gulf Wars. These grandparents know their hope is not in politics, stock markets, or worldview philosophies. Our hope is based on Jesus Christ. Christian grandparents can assure grandchildren that no matter what is happening around them, they can have the confidence that comes from knowing the Anchor of Life.  We can also model Godly living. Christian grandparents have the responsibility of living their lives by the power of the Holy Spirit. This power cleanses our heart, sets us apart, creates a Christ-like character, and liberates us to a lifestyle that honors God. So, as I wish Faith and Logan a very happy birthday, I also challenge you to commit yourself to give these gifts to the children you know, especially those of you who are grandparents!

The Rest of the Story

Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! (Psalm 100:3-4 ESV). Paul Harvey tells a wonderful story about the gratitude that prompted an old man to visit an old broken pier on the eastern seacoast of Florida. Every Friday night, until his death in 1973, he would return, walking slowly and slightly stooped with a large bucket of shrimp. The sea gulls would flock to this old man, and he would feed them from his bucket. Many years before, in October, 1942, Captain Eddie Rickenbacker was on a mission in a B-17 to deliver an important message to General Douglas MacArthur in New Guinea. But there was an unexpected detour which would hurl Captain Eddie into the most harrowing adventure of his life. Somewhere over the South Pacific the Flying Fortress became lost beyond the reach of radio. Fuel ran dangerously low, so the men ditched their plane in the ocean...For nearly a month Captian Eddie and his companions would fight the water, and the weather, and the scorching sun. They spent many sleepless nights recoiling as giant sharks rammed their rafts. The largest raft was nine by five. The biggest shark...ten feet long. But of all their enemies at sea, one proved most formidable: starvation. Eight days out, their rations were long gone or destroyed by the salt water. It would take a miracle to sustain them. And a miracle occurred. In Captain Eddie's own words, "Cherry," that was the B-17 pilot, Captain William Cherry, "read the service that afternoon, and we finished with a prayer for deliverance and a hymn of praise. There was some talk, but it tapered off in the oppressive heat. With my hat pulled down over my eyes to keep out some of the glare, I dozed off." Now this is still Captian Rickenbacker talking..."Something landed on my head. I knew that it was a sea gull. I don't know how I knew, I just knew. Everyone else knew too. No one said a word, but peering out from under my hat brim without moving my head, I could see the expression on their faces. They were staring at that gull. The gull meant food...if I could catch it." And the rest, as they say, is history. Captain Eddie caught the gull. Its flesh was eaten. Its intestines were used for bait to catch fish. The survivors were sustained and their hopes renewed because a lone sea gull, uncharacteristically hundreds of miles from land, offered itself as a sacrifice. You know that Captain Eddie made it. And now you also know...that he never forgot. Because every Friday evening, about sunset...on a lonely stretch along the eastern Florida seacoast... you could see an old man walking... white-haired, bushy-eyebrowed, slightly bent. His bucket filled with shrimp was to feed the gulls... to remember that one which, on a day long past, gave itself without a struggle... like manna in the wilderness. Give thanks to the Lord! For He is good to us in so many ways!

Coming Back with Gratitude

On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.” (Luke 17:11-19 ESV). In ancient times, lepers were social outcasts because of their highly contagious disease. In this passage, ten lepers came to Jesus begging for mercy and He graciously healed them. Can you imagine? These lepers had an awful disease. Their bodies were slowly deteriorating, literally rotting away. They were shunned from their friends and family and forced to live in a community of only those who were also withering away. Suddenly, Jesus comes along and grants them the gift of healing! It was one of the most life changing miracles Jesus performed. They had to be in shock and overjoyed at their new life. Now they could go back to their families, their homes, their communities and live normal lives! When we read this familiar story it is hard to believe that only one of them returned to thank the Lord! I am challenged to look in my own life and wonder if I don’t do the same thing all too often. Sometimes I get so focused on my blessing and forget about the One who gave it! I have also noticed that it is usually the “small” blessings that I neglect to be grateful for. I have often said to others that I am surprised daily when I wake up in the morning! My expectations are so set that whether I wake or not, it is a pleasant surprise for me to be given another day. It also causes me to examine what I will do with that day. I can choose to squander the time uselessly, or I can choose to be used during the day to reflect the character and presence of God. That sounds a bit pious, but it is true. Everything we do ought to reflect our Father in heaven. Sometimes those things are directly related to ministry; and, other times they are seemingly not related at all. For example, if I choose to spend some time alone in the woods, hunting, is that really related to ministry? Some would say it is a waste of time. I would argue that it is another way of spending time recharging my body and spirit. Everything we do can be easily devoted to the Lord if it brings him glory. Thanksgiving Day is a mere forty eight hours from now. What will you be grateful about on that day?

The First Thanksgiving in America

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. (Romans 8:28-30 ESV). Most of you know the story an Indian named Squanto and his first thanksgiving celebration with the Pilgrims. However, you might not know that over a decade before the Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock, English traders were trading with the Indians throughout the region. Squanto’s amazing story really originated then. An Englishman named Captain Hunter had kidnapped several Indians and sold them into slavery, one of whom was Squanto, sold into slavery in Malaga, Spain. There, Squanto was bought by a Spanish monk, who treated him well, freed him from slavery, and taught him about Christianity. Eventually, Squanto made it back to England, and worked in the stables of a man named John Slaney. It was there that Squanto learned English. Upon Squanto’s return home in 1618, he learned that his tribe had been wiped out from an epidemic, probably smallpox brought by early English colonists. As you might imagine, he was devastated and couldn’t understand how God could allow this to happen. Shortly afterward, a friend named Samoset introduced him to the Pilgrims. Because of Squanto’s history and understanding of English, Squanto was able to communicate with them. He also taught them how to survive there, how to fish, hunt, and how to plant corn. As a result, Governor William Bradford asked him to serve as his ambassador to the Indian tribes. Bradford accredited Squanto for the survival of the Pilgrim colony and saw that without God's providential hand in providing Squanto — the colony would not have survived. This story reminds me of the story of Joseph and the providence of God, even in the worst of situations. Joseph was sold into slavery, thrown into prison, accused and abused, but all of these things were worked out for the purpose of God’s people. The story of the survival of the Plymouth colony rested on an Indian who was kidnapped, sold into slavery, returned home to see his tribe wiped out, and yet through these events was used by God to preserve the Pilgrims who came to America with this purpose, "for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith". (Mayflower Compact, November 11, 1620). We have so much to be thankful for this thanksgiving season, even despite the tough times in which we live. In the United States we’re ought to remember that we can set aside a holiday without noise of sirens and gunfire; we do not fear our enemies marching into our cities bringing death and destruction. While times are hard, we can be thankful to be alive for such a time as this! So we’re entering His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise today, knowing that our God is providentially in control of everything that is going on around us. Be thankful! ALL things work together for our good!

Giving Thanks

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever. (Psalm 136:1-3 ESV). When we go to Psalm 136 we find one of the longest sentences in the Bible! The third verse begins a sentence that goes for another nineteen verses. The psalmist gets caught up in “Giving Thanks.” That might sound a bit odd at first read. We thank many people for many things; we thank God for the many provisions he has made for us. However, the concept in this psalm is not about thanking God for something he has given, but acknowledging his character and nature. It is praise for who he is. Twelve times in this psalm we are told to “give thanks” to God. We should note that the original Hebrew, the imperative form of the verb yadah shows up only four times, but it is implied in many other verses. No other psalm uses this imperative as often. It begs the question of its meaning. What does it mean to give thanks to God? Commonly, we do give thanks to someone who has done something for us. Thanksgiving does acknowledge a person for acting in generous manner toward us. Here there is a subtle difference. We see this sense of thanksgiving in Psalm 136. Verse 5, for example, reads, “Give thanks to him who made the heavens so skillfully.” Our thanks acknowledges God’s action in creation and gives him appropriate credit. Yet the use of “give thanks” in Psalm 136 goes beyond our ordinary sense of thanksgiving. Consider the first verse, for example: “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.” Though one might rightly note that God’s goodness and faithful love are communicated through his actions, this verse connects thanksgiving, not specifically to what God has done, but to who God is. We are to give thanks, not just because God has done good things for us, but because God is good. Thus, Psalm 136 takes us beyond thanksgiving to a deeper acknowledgement, not only of God’s actions, but also of God’s nature. The Hebrew verb yadah, translated here as “give thanks,” means more than “acknowledge someone when that person does something good for you.” It has the sense of speaking out what is true. Thus, beyond saying “thank you” to God when God blesses us, we are to confess his goodness, his grace, his beauty, his grandeur. Practically speaking, thanksgiving often leads us to deeper praise. When we think of what God has done for us, we can’t hold back our gratitude. But, even more, our consideration of God’s actions helps us to reflect upon God’s nature. God does good for us because God is good. Thus, thanksgiving opens the door to praise by bringing to mind God’s character.

Thanksgiving and Contentment

Oh come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. (Psalm 95:1-5 ESV). Not all that many years ago, men believed that the earth was the center of the universe. All of the planets were thought to be in orbit about the earth. While modern astronomy has shown this to be in error, this historical view of the universe tells us a great deal about the mentality of mankind. Man wants to believe that everything revolves around himself. We want to be at the center of what is happening. While we have come to grips with the fact that the sun is the center of our solar system, some Christians still seem to think that in the spiritual realm man is central. We persist in emphasizing what God can do for men. We become angry with God or confused when adversity disrupts our lives. It is little wonder that Christians have so much difficulty worshipping God. Worship is God-centered, not man-centered. Worship focuses on God and His greatness, not on man. Harry Ironside said, “We would worry less if we praised more. Thanksgiving is the enemy of discontent and dissatisfaction.” Psalm 95 serves as the introduction to a series of Psalms devoted to the theme of worship and praise. This psalm has long been regarded as an invitation to worship. It has been a vital part of liturgies from ancient times. This psalm helps the believer to reorient his thinking and practice concerning the vital matter of worship. It turns our attention and affection toward God. When our role in worship is addressed, the focus is on worship and reverence. This is the heart of thanksgiving. There are four things to note in these verses:  First, the worship that is encouraged is collective in that it is congregational. Here and elsewhere in the Scriptures, worship is described as congregational, not merely individual.  Second, the worship promoted here is vocal. Too often we think of worship not only as private, but as silent. We are told to sing a song “worshipfully” and we know that this means we are to sing slowly and quietly.  Third, the terms used in the first two verses speak of vocal praise that is vibrant and vigorous. It is a joyful, grateful praise. It is not a subdued, somber praise, but an exuberant expression of worship. The terms employed here describe activity which seems more appropriate in the football stadium than in the church “sanctuary.”  Finally, joyful, exuberant praise is God-centered. There is a preoccupation with God, not with excitement, enthusiasm or expression. The source of their joy and the recipient of their praise was to be their God. Worship that is biblical is that praise and adoration which has God as its source and its subject. Worship, real worship erases our discontent and discouragement. Come, let us sing to the Lord!

Thankful

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV). This month you may have noticed I have been introducing the devotionals with one thing I am thankful for each day. We are approaching Thanksgiving Day. It is our tradition in this country to celebrate with family and friends around a meal and other festivities. For some it will be sports, while others will spend the time visiting and recalling family memories. This year will be a little of both for us. Every fourth year the date rolls around to be both Thanksgiving Day and the birthday of our grandchildren, Faith and Logan. There will be time later to talk about that; however, today is a good time to begin the process of understanding the concept of gratitude. In his book Folk Psalms of Faith, Ray Stedman tells of an experience H. A. Ironside had in a crowded restaurant. Just as the old preacher was about to begin his meal, a man approached and asked if he could join him. Ironside invited his to have a seat. Then, as was his custom, he bowed his head in prayer. When he opened his eyes, the other man asked, "Do you have a headache?" Ironside replied, "No, I don't." The other man asked, "Well, is there something wrong with your food?" He replied, "No, I was simply thanking God as I always do before I eat." The man said, "Oh, you're one of those, are you? Well, I want you to know I never give thanks. I earn my money by the sweat of my brow and I don't have to give thanks to anybody when I eat. I just start right in!" Ironside said, "Yes, you're just like my dog. That's what he does too!" In our reading today the apostle tells us to do three things: rejoice, pray, and give thanks. It’s interesting how those three go together. When you rejoice, it’s usually because you have prayed. And, you generally are driven to pray when you are thankful. Good relationships are like that. When I think of my family and what they mean to me, I am compelled to be grateful. How fortunate I am to have each of them! Each in their way completing the life God has given me. I cannot imagine life without them. Naturally that brings me to pray for them. I am drawn to petition God for their safety and blessing. From there it is an easy step to rejoice. After all, could it really be any better than this? Immediately I am reminded that not only can it be better, it WILL be better. God has promised an eternity of perfect life with them in heaven! “Thankful” is such a small word to express that concept. Have you started planning your celebration? It may be difficult for you this year. Perhaps you are facing some trial in your life. Perhaps your health is in question; maybe there’s a broken relationship that is keeping you from thinking about Thanksgiving; or perhaps there is an empty place at the table this year that grieves you. Please start at the beginning. Rejoice, pray, and gie thanks! It will change you!

More to Follow

Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God. For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code. (Romans 7:4-6 ESV). Spurgeon often told the story of a large sum of money that was given to Rowland Hill to dispense to a poor pastor. Thinking that the amount was too much to send all at once, Hill forwarded just a portion along with a note that said simply, “More to follow.” In a few days the man received another envelope containing the same amount and with the same message, “More to follow.” At regular intervals, there came a third, and a fourth. In fact, they continued, along with those cheering words, until the entire sum had been received. He used this story to illustrate that the good things we receive from God always come with the same prospect of more to follow. He said: “When God forgives our sins, there’s more forgiveness to follow. He justifies us in the righteousness of Christ, but there’s more to follow. He adopts us into His family, but there’s more to follow. He prepares us for heaven, but there’s more to follow. He gives us grace, but there’s more to follow. He helps us to old age, but there’s still more to follow.” Spurgeon concluded, “Even when we arrive in the world to come, there will still be more to follow.” That’s forever life. Have you given any thought to the concept of eternity? Woody Allen said, “Eternity is very long especially at the end.” That’s humorous, but of little help. Someone else has said, “Have you ever pondered how long eternity is or how important salvation is? Perhaps one could get a slight glimpse of eternity if he would try to calculate the number of leaves that has ever grown on every plant and tree since creation and multiply that huge number times 10,000. If each unit was a year, that alone would be a staggering number, but it still isn't close enough to the concept of eternity. Much more needs to be considered. Let's add to that value another one produced by multiplying every hair that ever grew on every person, from the creation of Adam to present, times 10,000. To that we should next multiply 10,000 times every grain of sand along all of the seashores and coastlines throughout the entire world. To this we then should add the number produced by multiplying 10,000 times every snowflake and raindrop that ever fell from the creation of the world. But then this is still much too small a number! To that we should multiply 10,000 times every dust molecule that has ever floated in the air that is far too small for us see with the naked eye. And add to that number 10,000 times every star in all of the innumerable galaxies in the universe. But even then, if all those incalculably large numbers were added together and that number would be years as we know it now, that could only be the first second in eternity! More to follow! That’s what our God has reserved for us through His grace!

God's Grace

For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:20-23 ESV). I never tire of thinking about the grace of God. After our series looking at Abraham and the tests of faith, it was natural for me to turn back to a simple reiteration of the grace of God. I read a story of two pastors from north of the Mason-Dixon who were on their way to Alabama for a large Christian men’s gathering. Neither one of them had ever been in the south before. After checking in to their motel for the night, both being hungry, decided to find a place to eat. It was late with most of the restaurants closed in the small southern Alabama town. The only place they could find open was a Waffle House. They paid little attention to the menu and just ordered some eggs and bacon on the side. When their meal was delivered, they saw this white, gritty looking stuff on their plate. When the waitress came by again one of the pastors asked her what it was. "Grits", she replied. He was both indignant and loud, as he said, "Ma'am I didn't order it and I'm not paying for it". She smiled and simply said, "Sir, down here you don't order it and you don't pay for it, you just get it." How like the grace of God! I talk to many people who simply don’t understand that truth. Recently I was talking with a young woman who had made some unfortunate choices in her life. The resulting turmoil in her life was devastating. She had come to repentance and she and her husband were restoring their marriage. She confided in me that she wasn’t sure she was a Christian. After all, if she had been a Christian how could she have done such a thing? I walked her through several passages of Scripture and listened to her softly weep as she realized it wasn’t her actions that had saved her in the first place. What a joy it was to see the burden of works lifted from her and replaced by the gift of God. All of us should recognize that we are sinners at our core. The Apostle Paul is so clear in the sixth verse of our reading today. We are ALL sinners! He is also clear when he says, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. I once saw a plumber’s van with the following slogan on it: “There is no place too deep, too dark or too dirty for us to handle.” What a wonderful explanation of the Gospel! Just think about it. When we were nothing but a mess, God looked in the darkness of our life and brought light into it. It is this amazing picture of God reaching into the mess of our lives and pulling us from certain destruction, giving us forever life! That’s the grace of God!

Tests of Faith - Pt 10

After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.” And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together. When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” (Genesis 22:1-12 ESV). This tenth test was the most important for Abraham. Through it he learned the importance of God’s grace in his life. We must not miss the fact that this was not so much a test to produce faith, as it was a test to reveal faith. God built Abraham slowly, piece by piece, year by year, into a man of faith. So he does with us. This test was especially hard because it seemed to contradict the previous promise of God. God had already promised in Isaac your seed shall be called (Genesis 21:12). It seemed strange and contradictory to kill the son who was promised to carry on the covenant when it had not yet been fulfilled in him. It seemed as if God commanded Abraham to kill the very promise God made to him. Abraham had to learn the difference between trusting the promise and trusting the One who promises. We can make the mistake of putting God’s promise before God Himself and feel it is our responsibility to bring the promise to pass, even if we have to disobey God to do it. The great truth is that we can trust the One who promises no matter what, and the promise will be taken care of. We should also note the naming of the place later in the text. Abraham called it, “The Lord Will Provide” (Jehovah Jireh). Abraham didn’t name the place in reference to what he experienced. He didn’t name it Mount Trial or Mount Agony or Mount Obedience. Instead, he named the hill in reference to what God did; he named it Mount Provision. He named it knowing God would provide the ultimate sacrifice for salvation on that hill someday. This event is also a prophecy of Jesus’ substitutionary redemptive work. The key for us is to rest solely in that work for all of our life! God provided the final and ultimate sacrifice for all of us in Jesus!

Tests of Faith - Pt 9

He said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it.” Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.” And the LORD went his way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place. (Genesis 18:31-33 ESV). Our text today shows how Abraham prayed for Sodom. There was a lot of history between him and the people of Sodom. Remember that Lot chose this area to settle because it was the best land leaving Abraham with the less desirable arid country. I can imagine that Abraham must have been tempted to feel some resentment to these people. Yet, he prays for their deliverance. It begs the question of whether we are eager to see people punished, or do we care for people in spite of their sinfulness. The grace of forgiveness is an essential we must develop. It is certainly a test of faith. I really wish it were easier to do; however, the difficulty does not change the mandate. Let me offer some suggestions to develop real forgiveness.  Begin by assuring yourself that compared to Christ’s suffering you haven’t been seriously wronged at all. Do a hand-check… no nail prints means no real suffering for others.  Recall the many kind deeds that have been shown to you, perhaps even by the person who has harmed you.  List the benefits you have received from the Lord. I find gratitude for the many expressions of grace God has shown me helps with my forgiveness.  Thank Him for blessing you with His love and forgiveness each day. Remembering my own sinfulness always makes it easier to forgive others.  Make an honest effort to pray for the one who has injured you. Like Abraham, regardless of what has been done, prayer leaves no room for a haughty spirit. If the offense is especially hard to forget, try to erase the memory by thinking gracious and generous thoughts.  Finally, before you fall asleep at night, repeat slowly and thoughtfully that phrase from the Lord’s Prayer, “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” Thomas A. Edison was working on his invention of the light bulb; it took a whole team of men 24 straight hours to put just one together. The story goes that when Edison was finished with one light bulb, he gave it to a young boy helper, who nervously carried it up the stairs. Step by step he cautiously watched his hands, obviously frightened of dropping such a priceless piece of work. You’ve probably guessed what happened by now; the poor young fellow dropped the bulb at the top of the stairs. It took the entire team of men twenty-four more hours to make another bulb. Finally, tired and ready for a break, Edison was ready to have his bulb carried up the stairs. He gave it to the same young boy who dropped the first one. That’s true forgiveness. Forgiveness burns no bridges!

Tests of Faith - Pt 8

And the LORD appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth and said, “O Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree, while I bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.” So they said, “Do as you have said.” And Abraham went quickly into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quick! Three seahs of fine flour! Knead it, and make cakes.” And Abraham ran to the herd and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to a young man, who prepared it quickly. Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them. And he stood by them under the tree while they ate. (Genesis 18:1-8 ESV). People can be such an inconvenience! Yet the Scripture encourages us to be hospitable toward everyone. In our text today Abraham is tested by entertaining angels unaware of who they really were. Often when we talk about hospitality, we think of “entertaining.” But entertaining has little to do with real hospitality if the goal is to impress others rather than to serve. How do you know if you are being hospitable or just entertaining? Some years ago I was called on to do a wedding in Waco, Texas. John Woods was the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Waco, where the ceremony was to be held. Until then we had not met one another. Prior to the wedding date he called and asked if I had already made arrangements for the night’s stay between the rehearsal and the ceremony. I hadn’t and he graciously insisted that I stay in his home. Both Mary and I were warmly welcomed and treated with great kindness when we arrived. His schedule did not allow him to spend much time visiting with us, though he made certain we had everything we could possibly need. In fact, the morning of the wedding we awoke to a quiet noise outside our door. Finding it a bit unusual, I cracked the door open and looked down and saw a tray of pastries, fresh fruit, juice and coffee on a tray prepared for us. He included a little note with a poem written for our encouragement. Of course, I was impressed; however, it was from the thoughtfulness not the actions. We were strangers in his home and he treated us like old friends. That’s how true hospitality works. It is sacrificial, uncomfortable, and does not seek to impress others. Hospitality flows from a hospitable heart. It is more about your open heart and home, not your impressive entertaining skills. Let me make a few suggestions. Biblical hospitality is to be practiced without grumbling, complaining or thought of reward; literally, it is “a love for strangers”, treating fellow believers, widows, orphans, unbelievers, the poor and needy, missionaries, foreigners, immigrants, refugees, and even enemies as if they were your very own family; it is helping the poor with no expectation of repayment; and, simply meeting the basic needs of others. I wonder, have you entertained any angels unaware? Jesus said we all do, because if we do it to the least of them, we do it to Him! That’s a test I pray I do much better with than I have!

Tests of Faith - Pt 7

When he had finished talking with him, God went up from Abraham. Then Abraham took Ishmael his son and all those born in his house or bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham's house, and he circumcised the flesh of their foreskins that very day, as God had said to him. Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. That very day Abraham and his son Ishmael were circumcised. And all the men of his house, those born in the house and those bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him. (Genesis 17:22-27 ESV). Earlier in the text Abraham was told again of God’s promise. Both his name and Sarah’s name were changed to reflect the promise. And, he was asked to be obedient to circumcise all of the males of his household, family, and himself. It is a clear call to obedience in the face of not understanding the significance of the action. For us it calls us to examine our own lives and the occasions in our lives when we have acted simply in obedience to God, and not because we understood the significance of what we were doing. When we lived in Texas, we were just minutes away from General Dynamics where the F-16 was produced and test flown. It was always an exciting sight to see them as they roared off the airstrip into the sky. It is an amazing aircraft with incredible capabilities; however, there is one thing that a jet pilot requires above all else. With all the technology in the plane, it still must react to the pilot’s direction. If it were to have "a mind of its own" regardless of how remarkable that might sound, it would end up doing as much flying as a brick. IN the same way, even if we had all the best intentions, God must be in control in our lives. If we insist upon taking our lives into our own hands at every opportunity we will find ourselves ineffective and without God’s peace and power. Obedience is the key to a life of joy and excellence. It is important to understand what circumcision meant to Abraham. Though he didn’t understand “why” he was being asked to do this, he certainly understood that God was making this a request. His response was one of obedience. Looking back it is clear to us that God was showing us that because he had made this covenant with Abraham, it gave him the ability to respond is a way that acknowledged the work of God in extending the promise to him. The Apostle Paul is very clear in the New Testament that the act of circumcision was not the deciding factor in our redemption. Just as it was a confirmation for Abraham that he had received the gift of God’s grace in the promise; so our obedience today is a confirmation of that redemptive act. We are saved, so we are set free to act in a manner that reflects that work in our lives. The tests of faith we are subjected to today are merely extensions of this request. God may not have asked you to circumcise your household, but he has asked you to be obedient. Are you? If not, you’re a brick trying to fly by itself!

Tests of Faith - Pt 6

And he said to him, “I am the LORD who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.” But he said, “O Lord GOD, how am I to know that I shall possess it?” He said to him, “Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” And he brought him all these, cut them in half, and laid each half over against the other. But he did not cut the birds in half. And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away. As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. And behold, dreadful and great darkness fell upon him. Then the LORD said to Abram, “Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years. But I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions. As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age. (Genesis 15:7-15 ESV). The passage we are looking at today deals with the matter of Abram's faith as he is called to stand firm in waiting for the fulfillment. Here, we see him growing in maturity of faith. This passage details God's request for Abram to prepare a sacrifice. This whole event describes how men in ancient times made a covenant with one another. They would cut animals in half and arrange the pieces several feet apart and walk between the pieces together. It symbolized the sacredness of a man's word. It said, "May I be like one of these animals if I break my part of the covenant." For Abram, it took a lot of costly, hard, bloody work to prepare things like the Lord wanted them to be. That’s often true for us as well. The tests of our faith often come in costly, hard times. But there is another element here. Abraham exercised patience. I get the impression that this activity took Abram most of the day. He is in a holding pattern. He has the sacrifice ready, he is guarding it and the Lord doesn't show up until after darkness has fallen. It was a time that required patience on the part of Abraham. Rarely does Gods’ schedule and our schedule keep the same timetable. We schedule our efforts and plan our programs, marketing our target audience carefully, and then wonder why God didn’t show up! He will show up, but only when He is ready! Therefore, if the Lord is working in your life, be patient and wait on His timing. Don't rush in as we have a tendency to do, just wait patiently on Him and He will bring it to pass. I love that part of our text today that says simply, As the sun was going down… Abraham waited and waited; yet, God did not come. Evidently he wasn’t that worried. He fell into a deep sleep. He didn’t walk away in disappointment. He wasn’t anxious in the least, he simply laid down and went to sleep to wait on the Lord. Certainly this is the example Jesus gave the disciples in the midst of a great storm on the Sea of Galilee. While the winds roared and waves crashed against the boat, Jesus was asleep in the stern. The disciples awakened him and said, “Save us Lord!” He challenged them concerning the lack of faith. I need to be reminded that God is not going to let me drown. He has already secured my future, even when it looks like all is lost. His promise is to deliver me safe to my eternal destination of life! He made that covenant in the blood of His only begotten Son!

Tests of Faith - Pt 5

After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” But Abram said, “O Lord GOD, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.” And behold, the word of the LORD came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.” And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness. (Genesis 15:1-6 ESV). In this next test, Abraham was called to trust God’s promise that he would have a son. Years ago Dr. Seuss published a children's book entitled "Horton Hears A Who". This book is about an elephant named Horton who hears voices coming from a little speck of dust. The story relates how Horton placed the speck of dust on a clover bloom and did his best to protect the tiny residents inside that speck of dust from the other animals who could not hear the voices rising from the dust particle. As the story develops, Horton learns that the race living inside that speck of dust were the "Who's". They lived in a town called Whoville and needed a protector to prevent them from being blow about by the wind, or destroyed by other means. Of course, the other animals in the jungle do not believe Horton and give him a hard time about his belief that a tiny race inhabits a particle of dust. They try to destroy the speck of dust and they even try to tie Horton up. Eventually, all the "Who's" in "Whoville" join their voices and shout in unison so that they might be heard by the animals who have torment Horton about his strange beliefs. They are finally heard when the tiniest "Who" of them all, a tiny, yo-yo throwing tike by the name of "Jo Jo" lifts his voice and says "Yupp". To make a long story short, there are two great moral lessons taught in "Horton Hears A Who." The first is that we should be kind to all people, even when others refuse to be. The second is that even the smallest of the small is an important person. You may wonder what this has to do with our text. The answer lies in the fact that Horton heard a voice one day that forever changed his life. In our text today, Abraham hears a voice that forever changed his life. In Abram's day, he was just one insignificant person among millions of other people, but God had a special plan for his life. To God, Abram was of supreme importance. In this passage, Abram receives a word from the Lord concerning three essentials in all of lives. He heard God assure him about his fears, his future, and his faith. I wish we had space to explore all of those, but that’s a sermon in the making! We can say conclusively that what he heard changed his life forever. Let me single just one of these out for a thought today. The assurance God gave him changed his fears. We cannot see what God sees; and, therefore, cannot know what lies in the darkness of our future. The real test is in trusting that God does see into that darkness and has promised good to us. Abraham believed! What will you do? I choose to believe!

Tests of Faith - Pt 4

Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew, who was living by the oaks of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and of Aner. These were allies of Abram. When Abram heard that his kinsman had been taken captive, he led forth his trained men, born in his house, 318 of them, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. And he divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and defeated them and pursued them to Hobah, north of Damascus. Then he brought back all the possessions, and also brought back his kinsman Lot with his possessions, and the women and the people. After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley). And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) (Genesis 14:13-18 ESV). Abraham’s third test would answer the question of whether his faithfulness to others would bear witness to his trust in God’s faithfulness. Giving without receiving surely must have its limits; yet, Abraham is asked to give even more than he had thus far. Chedorlaomer and his armies pushed on, capturing the men of Sodom and stealing everything they owned, including their wives and their children. One soldier who fled to the mountains was able to escape and carry the bad news to Abram. Weary from the battle and out of breath from the journey, the soldier finally reached Abram's tent. Abram sat him down and gave him a cool drink of water. It was then that he informed him that Lot had been taken captive with all of his family as well. Saddened to hear the awful news, Abram wasted no time calling his household together. Abram immediately began to organize the 318 trained servants who had been born in his own house. He made sure that each one was provided with armor and a weapon. As they neared the enemy's camp, Abram told them of the battle plan. They would attack from two different points and crush the enemy between them. He took back all of that which had been stolen and rescued Lot, his wife, his children. When Abram returned from the battle, the new king of Sodom went out to meet him. Melchizedek, king of Jerusalem and priest of the most high God, also went out to meet Abram and brought something for Abram and his men to eat and drink. Then Melchizedek blessed Abram and Abram gave him a tenth of all the goods he had taken. Afterwards, the new king of Sodom offered everything to Abram except the people who had been captured. Abram's answer must have surprised the king when he refused to keep anything for himself. He had long ago learned that these riches were a fool’s folly. God had taken care of him in the past and would continue to do so in the future. Do you remember the temptation of Jesus? Satan came to Jesus and offered to give him immediate results in exchange for a denial of the provision of His Father in the future. Our choice is really the same. We are tested to take short-cuts in our lives for immediate relief. While they often do provide such relief, it is only in the will and purpose of God that we can find eternal relief. Abraham passed this test. I pray that you and I will do so as well!

Tests of Faith - Pt 3

Then Abram said to Lot, “Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are kinsmen. Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right, or if you take the right hand, then I will go to the left.” And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the Jordan Valley was well watered everywhere like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, in the direction of Zoar. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) 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 13:8-13 ESV). Abram’s second test involved giving Lot the choice of land in which to settle. It would require him believing God would take care of him even when it seemed he was not being treated fairly. Lot surveyed the land and chose what he believed to be the best land, leaving a less desirable land to Abraham. Hasn’t that happened to you before in a similar fashion? I think all of us can relate to being slighted, even after we have been magnanimous and sacrificial. How often have you gone the extra distance in service or giving and received nothing in return? Certainly this was a test for Abraham. Someone has pointed out that life seems to be arranged backwards. We are called upon to make our most important choices at a time when we have the least amount of experience to guide us. Because of this, we so frequently hear expressions of regret like, "If only I had known," "If I had it to do over again…" But it is this very quality of life which reveals the inability of man to handle life by himself. Evidently Lot and Abram went out on a promontory overlooking the valley and Lot lifted up his eyes. It is quite obvious he only looked in one direction. He had been out looking around before! Without hesitation now, he looked to the east and saw the well-watered plain below like the garden of the Lord in the midst of the desert. He saw the Jordan River cutting through its great gorge, the deepest point on the face of the earth. On either side of the Jordan, the lush green grass was growing, and the variety of palm trees made the whole place a veritable garden, and he was greatly attracted to it; it was by far the best land. But the passage suggests there were some things that Lot did not see. Although the Jordan valley was there before his eyes, he did not see the significance of its name. The word Jordan means "death." The river descended out of the living waters of Galilee, dropping far below sea level into the Dead Sea, from which there is no outlet. Outwardly it was fair to look upon, spiritually it meant the place of death, and this Lot failed to see. Then it is specially pointed out here that the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners before the Lord. Lot saw the profitableness of these cities, but he did not see their moral corruption. It should not be missed that when we seek to be treated “fair” we often miss the blessing of God’s grace. Grace cannot be fair. Fairness demands our death; grace gives us life!

Tests of Faith - Pt 2

Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” So Abram went, as the LORD had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan, Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built there an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him. (Genesis 12:1-7 ESV). This is the first test of Abraham’s faith. God told him to leave his homeland, his family, and go to an unknown land. It was God asking him to place his future completely into His hands. During his 1960 presidential campaign, John F. Kennedy often closed his speeches with the story of Colonel Davenport, the Speaker of the Connecticut House of Representatives. One day in 1789, the sky of Hartford darkened ominously, and some of the representatives, glancing out the windows, feared the end was at hand. Quelling a clamor for immediate adjournment, Davenport rose and said, "The Day of Judgment is either approaching or it is not. If it is not, there is no cause for adjournment. If it is, I choose to be found doing my duty. Therefore, I wish that candles be brought." Rather than fearing what is to come, we are to be faithful till Christ returns. Instead of fearing the dark, we're to be lights as we watch and wait. I wonder if this is some of what Abraham must have felt in those days as he prepared for the journey. I know in my own life there have been times when the future was at best uncertain. The semester before I was to graduate from Southwestern Seminary I was asked to submit an application to the Division of Student Work with the BGCT. I was told that I would be a primary consideration as a candidate. Weeks passed and I heard nothing from that application. As graduation drew near with no prospects of a ministry position open to me, I remember vividly sitting on the bank of a small pond at a friend’s farm and trying to “listen” to God. My question was the same as it has often been, “Where?” Little did I know then that I was asking the wrong question. The test was never to be “where?” It was always “who?” God really didn’t need me to know the where. He merely asked me to trust the Who. I had resigned myself to staying in seminary and working on my doctorate without a place to go as the day of graduation approached. The day of graduation rehearsal I received a call from the director of student work explaining to me that they had somehow lost my application in a stack of papers and they wanted me to interview immediately. Ultimately I was asked to be a College Student Director with the BGCT and started less than three weeks later! God knew that all along. He just needed me to know that He could be trusted with the future. How about you? Do you trust Him with your future?

Tests of Faith - Pt 1

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2-4 ESV). Today we are beginning a lengthy series that will deal with what has commonly been called “tests of faith.” James is clear in our text today that we do indeed experience “tests.” He uses a word that is translated trials. The actual word James uses is peirasmos. It is used 21 times in the New Testament and may be defined as a putting to the proof, proof, trial (cf. 1 Peter 4:12; Hebrews 3:8); direct temptation to sin (cf. Luke 4:13); trial, temptation (Matthew 6:13; 26:41; 1 Corinthians 10:13); or, trial, calamity, affliction (Luke 22:28). It seems clear from the context that James is thinking about those experiences in life that put us to the test concerning the genuineness in our faith. He’s asking if our faith is real. And, then as he proceeds, he gives many examples of what real faith looks like in the midst of life. I remember reading some years ago the reason why there was a piece of marble in the counter in front of bank tellers. Modern banks don’t have such, but I remember some of the older bank buildings I have been in over the years and virtually all of them contained such. It seemed unusual to me that a small piece of marble countertop would be placed there. If it was decorative, then just make the entire counter out of the marble. It looked “half-done” to me. At least that was the case until it was explained to me why it was there. It has nothing to do with making the counter esthetically pleasing. There was a very specific function of the marble in the banking transactions. It seems that when a teller received either a gold or silver coin, they would drop on the marble slab and listen to sound it made. If it was genuine it sounded a far different note than a counterfeit coin did. It was how the put the coin “to proof.” Now, I’m not saying that we need to be dropped on our heads to prove our faith, but many trials feel like that. The interesting thing about the proving of our faith is that we are not proving it to God. He already knows whether our faith is genuine or not. The proof is for our benefit and the benefit of those around us. It gives us an opportunity to recognize the truth of our heart. And, it gives a testimony to others concerning our faith. In the next twelve weeks we will look at the life of Abraham through twelve different “trials.” From each of these we will be able to see the truth of his faith and how it gave him an unshakeable hope regardless of the circumstance of life. Sometimes he did well, and others he did not. In every circumstance he learned the absolute truth that God is more than a match for any of life’s trials. I pray that we will learn that as well!

Now What?

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 4:5-7 ESV). The Mid-term election results have been tabulated and most of the pundits have pronounced their verdicts concerning the meaning of the results. There have been posts and emails and conversations both public and private concerning what our future will now look like. Some would say it means all but the end of the world; while others proclaim it is the beginning of nirvana. Neither is correct! Some things may change while others remain the same; some will be difficult, while others will be easy. I want us to recognize that our future is not in the hands of others. When we concentrate on this truth, we can experience God's peace and freedom from anxiety. And we're we will be able to speak peace to others because of God's peace in us! Here are four suggestions to help you do that: 1. First, reflect His glory. There are always going to be those times in our lives when we are frustrated and tempted to outbursts. I wish I could tell you that I have always been able to control those outbursts, but that wouldn’t be the truth. What I can tell you is that when I realize my failure and seek other’s forgiveness for any wrong I might have done to them, it is always a means of bringing peace into their lives as well as mine. It reflects the glory of God in grace. 2. Second, know that nothing is impossible. Often our biggest problem is not lack of skill or resourcefulness or time; it's lack of faith. We don't believe things can happen. But God specializes in things that seem impossible. He can do what no other can do! Depend on Him to guide and direct you. He wants to. Trust the Lord! And watch as He unfolds His plans for you, and others, in His perfect timing. 3. Third, have no fear. Experts believe that most people have four basic fears: the fear of failure, the fear of rejection, the fear of risk or loss, and the fear of success. I'm sure you have experienced at least one of these fears at one time or another. That's only human. However, the Bible has something to say about how Christians should respond to fear: "Fear of man will prove to be a snare: but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe" (cf. Proverbs 29:25). When we focus on fear, we are paralyzed from acting. But when we focus on God, on His sovereign control over all things, on His love and care for us, we can move forward in obedience and work to satisfy God's will. 4. Fourth, remember that your God reigns. God has been, is now, and will forever be in control. Because it is always harder to face the future than the past, today can be a daunting and fearful day. The news is full of foreboding. I would remind you that Jesus’ promise to us is that he will NEVER leave us, even to the end of the age! Trust Him for the future!

Opening Day

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you. Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the LORD. Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart! (Psalm 32:8-11 ESV). Tomorrow will be opening day for deer season for those of us in Middle Tennessee. My sincere hope is to be sitting in a tree watching the world wake up. I know it may be difficult to understand that for some. However, I have been able to see and experience God in marvelous ways will being in the woods. I love that moment when I first hear the unmistakable sound of a deer’s steps in the fall leaves, particularly after sitting in a stand waiting in the cold air for the sun to rise. It is a different sound than the scurry of a fox squirrel or the clumsiness of armadillo. Deer do not step loudly, but there is a sense of heaviness. They are deliberate steps, often with a steady pace, coming into audible range so subtly that the mind doesn’t process that it is a deer until it is close. When I do hear those steps, I immediately take mental inventory, making sure my gun is ready and that you are fully concealed. I strain to see what it is. Is it a buck or a doe? Is it alone, or are there more trailing? Is this the one I have been waiting to harvest? Adrenaline begins to rise as the sound gets closer. The anticipation is great. Hearing steps in nature goes back to the beginning of time. When the cool evening breezes were blowing, Adam and Eve heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. (cf. Genesis 3:8). I’m sure that for Adam and Eve, adrenaline was flowing strongly too. Unfortunately it was not because of excited expectancy, but rather because of embarrassment and shame. They had just disobeyed the one command that God had given to them, charting a course that would plague every person of every generation after them. So they hid among the trees. I always wonder when I hear the crunching of the leaves, how would I respond if that were God approaching? The psalmist reminds us to “be glad and rejoice”! That’s the perspective we need to have whether we’re sitting in the woods or beside a quiet fire. Listen and you will hear his footsteps approach. He has the words of life that we so desperately need in a world that is full of death and destruction. Let’s go “hunting”!

Mistakes

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:8-10 ESV). The following series of advertisements reportedly appeared in a series of newspaper advertisements by the First UMC of Meadville, PA.  Monday: "The Rev. A.J. Jones has one color TV set for sale. Telephone 626-1313 after 7 p.m. and ask for Mrs. Donnelley who lives with him, cheap."  Tuesday: "We regret any embarrassment caused to Rev. Jones by a typographical error in yesterday's paper. The ad should have read: 'The Rev. A.J. Jones has one color TV set for sale, cheap...Telephone 626-1313 and ask for Mrs. Donnelley, who lives with him after 7 p.m.'"  Wednesday: "The Rev. A.J. Jones informs us that he has received several annoying telephone calls because of an incorrect ad in yesterday's paper. It should have read: 'The Rev. A.J. Jones has one color TV set for sale, cheap. Telephone 626-1313 after 7 p.m. and ask for Mrs. Donnelley who loves with him.'"  Thursday: "Please take notice that I, the Rev. A.J. Jones, have no color TV set for sale; I have smashed it. Don't call 626-1313 anymore. I have not been carrying on with Mrs. Donnelley. She was, until yesterday, my housekeeper.'"  Friday: "Wanted: a housekeeper. Usual housekeeping duties. Good pay. Love in, Rev. A.J. Jones. Telephone 626-1313.'" Am I ever glad I have never experienced that in my tenure as pastor! Mistakes happen. Sin happens. There is simply no avoiding the fact that at our core we are sinners. However, our sin cannot define us. We are defined by our relationship to Christ who has saved us through His work on the cross and in the resurrection. Tragically I meet with people every week in the ministry who have not come to that understanding. They are still enslaved by their sin. Of course we must learn from our experiences. We cannot continue to do the same things and expect different results. But we are defined by the new life given to us by Christ. We are empowered by the presence of the Holy Spirit who indwells us, helping us to see and understand the decisions of life. Today, trust in Him. His death was accomplished to set us free from the sin of life!

The Day After

The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses. (Proverbs 10:11-12 ESV). The political pundits will be reporting all the elections today and the next few days. We will be told from every perspective either why we are now better or worse because of the outcome of the election. I thought it might be interesting to reach into the early Twentieth Century for some tidbits of philosophy from Will Rogers. He was many things, cowboy, part Cherokee Indian, entertainer and tart observer of the American scene. From December 1922 until his death in August 1935, he wrote a column about anything that caught his interest. Many of his quips were about the current affairs of government or politics. Here are a few:  I love a dog. He does nothing for political reasons.  Congress is so strange. A man gets up to speak and says nothing, nobody listens and then everybody disagrees.  Never blame a legislative body for not doing something. When they do nothing, they don't hurt anybody. When they do something is when they become dangerous.  There should be a moratorium called on candidates' speeches. From now on, they are just talking themselves out of votes.  A President-elect's popularity is the shortest lived of any public man's. It only lasts till he picks his Cabinet.  The promising season ends on Election Day. That same night, the alibi season begins and lasts for the next four years.  When it comes to a showdown, Washington must never forget who rules, the people. Whether there is truth in these things he said or not, there certainly is truth and wisdom in the words of Solomon. The election is over. Let’s all decide that it is time to “cover our offenses with love.” The hatred must stop if we are ever to see our nation be a positive influence in the world. We all have a very important job to do. It has always been our task. I wonder if we had spent as much time doing it over the past few decades as we have spent vilifying the people who have different opinions that we do if we would be where we are today. Oh, that task, you ask? It is praying for those in authority over us! We seem to delight in shouting from the rooftops what is wrong with our circumstances and those who we have determined are responsible for them. Well, perhaps it is now time to trust the Lord with those men and women. Of course, we have the liberty and responsibility to speak our opinions, but remember than the truth is not found in our opinions. It is found solely in the Word of God. Pray for your elected officials.

Red Firetrucks

The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot. The wise of heart will receive commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin. Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out. (Proverbs 10:7-9 ESV). Unfortunately, we have grown accustomed to shrugging off secretive and deceptive lifestyles. We have heard so often that being people who value honesty and model responsibility, who promote fairness, accountability, loyalty, and respect for others, and who hold to strong, upright convictions is not at all realistic. Such reasoning reminds me of a little ridiculous piece of nonsense I read recently. It is titled “Why are Fire Engines Red?” They have four wheels and eight men; Four plus eight is twelve; Twelve inches makes a ruler; A ruler is Queen Elizabeth; Queen Elizabeth sails the seven seas; The seven seas have fish; The fish have fins; The Finns hate the Russians; The Russians are red; Fire engines are always rushin'; So that's why they're red. My passionate plea is that we unearth and restore the concept of character. It's been buried long enough. It belongs first on our list when searching for employees in our pursuit of excellence in the workplace. It must be nonnegotiable among those we place into leadership positions in our schools, our churches, our cities, our state, in our nation. Character is what wholesome parents strive to cultivate in their children. It is what good parents look for and long for among those their teenagers date. It is the foundational quality that all of us expect from the circle of professionals and laborers who serve us up close and personal, our physician, our pastor, our attorney, our counselor, our teacher, our CPA, our banker, our builder, our police officer, our mechanic, our plumber, our repairman, and many more. We may not say it every time, but deep down in our souls, we long for and expect character, and when it is lacking, we feel it; we resent it. It is the "given" in greatness. Before we loudly proclaim it missing in someone else, perhaps we should look at ourselves. Character is best taught by example. What example are you setting? I hope you have voted today. That’s a place to start. Walk in integrity today and everyday!

The Grand Old Flag

You have set up a banner for those who fear you, that they may flee to it from the bow. That your beloved ones may be delivered, give salvation by your right hand and answer us! God has spoken in his holiness: “With exultation I will divide up Shechem and portion out the Vale of Succoth. (Psalm 60:4-6 ESV). Election Day is tomorrow. If you have not yet voted in early balloting, please vote. Thinking about the many issues that are before us in various states, I also began to think about our history. In 1777, during the American Revolution, the Continental Congress adopted a resolution stating that "the flag of the United States be thirteen alternate stripes red and white" and that "the Union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new Constellation." The national flag, which became known as the "Stars and Stripes," was based on the "Grand Union" flag, a banner carried by the Continental Army in 1776 that also consisted of 13 red and white stripes. According to legend, Philadelphia seamstress Betsy Ross designed the new canton for the Stars and Stripes, which consisted of a circle of 13 stars and a blue background, at the request of General George Washington. With the entrance of new states into the United States after independence, new stripes and stars were added to represent new additions to the Union. In 1818, however, Congress enacted a law stipulating that the 13 original stripes be restored and that only stars be added to represent new states. It has flown over many battlefields since. For those of us in Christian churches there is another flag that we bear allegiance to. The Christian flag is actually one of the oldest unchanged flags in the world. It was conceived at Brighton Chapel, Coney Island, New York, Sunday, September 26, 1897, and was presented in its present form the following Sunday by its originator. The featured speaker failed to arrive for the Sunday School Rally. The Sunday School was holding an old-fashioned Rally Day of the kind, which was so much the custom in years past. For this occasion, a favored speaker had been engaged, but for some reason undisclosed did not show up. Superintendent Charles C. Overton, in the emergency, called upon his own gifts of innovation to fill in the time. An American flag lay there across the pulpit. Overton addressed his words to the flag and its symbolism. Then like a flash came the thought, why not also a Christian flag? His impromptu but constructive ad-libbing was to produce a verbal picture of what is today, and for the past one hundred years has been, the Christian flag. Call it chance, or providence, serendipity, or the plan of God, on that day, the Christian flag was born. The white on the flag represents purity and peace. The blue stands for faithfulness, truth, and sincerity. Red, of course, is the color of sacrifice, in this case calling to mind the blood shed by Christ on Calvary, represented by the cross. It really is a visual image of that rallying point God has raised for us. In Christ we have a place of security that can never be shaken. In Christ we have a place of eternal life. That’s the banner that flies over us! What a flag to fly!

A View from the Hill

Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness. The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD, over many waters. The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty. The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon. He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox. The voice of the LORD flashes forth flames of fire. The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness; the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. The voice of the LORD makes the deer give birth and strips the forests bare, and in his temple all cry, “Glory!” The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD sits enthroned as king forever. May the LORD give strength to his people! May the LORD bless his people with peace! (Psalm 29 ESV). The following photos were taken from the front porch of our home in Spring Hill, Tennessee. One was in the Spring and the other was obviously in the Winter. We are fortunate that our house sits on a hill and overlooks this idyllic setting. It is one, which I find it very easy to hear the voice of God. I have learned two important things over the past few years as we have made our home away from Texas. First, things are just that… they are things. Our lives are not made up of things. Second, God is faithful in all circumstances. There were many moments when I wasn’t sure that we were doing the right thing in leaving, however God remained a faithful stay in the midst of every experience. By continuing to take the steps as he has directed us, we have seen him work in our lives. There are still several challenges for us to face, but each time I still my mind, I hear him convey his peace in my innermost soul. I pray for each of you that God will grant you that same peace. Find a still place to hear him! As you can see, I’ve got one!

Inspect What You Expect

This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God. (1 Corinthians 4:1-5 ESV). When I was in the car business we had a management philosophy of “inspect what you expect.” It simply meant that we were committed to inform, train, and equip those whom we managed to perform at a level of expectation that management sets. Sometimes those expectations were not met. Usually the reason for the failure was in a breakdown of one of the three areas of information, training, or equipment. However, without the inspection, we would never be able to correct the failure. This is not the only place for such inspections. Inspections are just simply part of life. In many large cities you have to get your car inspected to make sure your muffler system doesn't allow the emission of excessive pollutants. When such a system was instituted in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area for the first time, there were waits of over three hours to get the inspections completed! It was not received well at all. But, it was necessary if the air quality was to be protected from serious pollution in the future. Our food is inspected to insure its quality and freshness. Construction is inspected to make sure that all appropriate standards for safety are being met. When we cash a check or use a credit card, our identity is inspected. All of these and more are a part of our daily lives. Yet, often we feel that inspections are an aggravating nuisance. It’s hard to admit that most of them are for our good. This is especially true with the inspection of our lives by Christ. In today’s reading, Paul expressed his gratitude that his "inspector" is the Lord, not people. They don't see it all. They make mistakes. But Jesus' guardianship and overseeing of our souls is always right. Jesus knows every spot of our iniquity. He sees every sin blemish. He is aware of every wrinkle that is out of sync with His will. His purpose, however, is not merely to find fault with us. He longs to forgive us and draw us back to Himself. We can be glad that Jesus Christ is watching over our spiritual well being. The One who died to pay the penalty for our sin is the One who watches over us until we go to be with Him forever. Yield yourself to both His inspection and His instruction for correction.