Falling Rock or Rock Falling

“Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.” (Mt 21:43-44 AV)

 

There are different ways of looking at this.  The first and most important is there is no third option.  Either you fall upon the Rock or the Rock falls on you.  There is no choice where you and the Rock never interact.  This is a misnomer.  To think we can decide to do nothing concerning the Rock as assume there are no consequences is not a reality.  The Rock demands we fall on Him or He will fall on us.  The Rock, of course, is Jesus.  Another application is the warning of the previous verse.  If Israel does not do with the Rock as they have opportunity, then the Rock will go to other nations who will respond to His invitation.  This is exactly what happened.  The Pharisees, lawyers, and Sadducees did not feel worthy of salvation.  They deceived the nation who crucified Him.  So, the Rock went to the Gentiles who fell upon the Rock.  However, there is a third application I wish to consider more closely.  That is, falling upon the Rock will break the one who falls upon Him.

The Greek word here for broken is very interesting.  Thayer’s says the word means, “to break to pieces, shatter”.  However, Strong’s says the word for broken means, “to crush; to dash together, that is, shatter”.  What I noticed was that Strong’s does not mean to dash asunder.  As in shattering and scattering.  Rather, the implication is when dashed to pieces, it becomes part of the Rock.  In part or in whole, that which falls upon the Rock is assimilated into the Rock.  Conversely, the phrase, “it will grind him to powder” has the idea of winnowing away.  Like grinding barley or wheat to remove the seed from the rest so the wind can take it away, the idea here is if the Rock falls on the unrelenting individual, it is for the purpose of separation, not incorporation.  When we speak of a brokenness, we speak of complete and total surrender.  This illustration which the LORD uses for salvation goes deeper than mere surrender.  He is expounding the truth that salvation means we are incorporated in Christ.  We become one in Him.  Jesus said as much in the gospel of John.  But I think the Spirit wants us to go even deeper.  We mustn’t stop with the application of salvation.  This principle goes deeper into the heart of sanctification.  A continuing act of falling upon the Rock in every area of life that we and Christ might become one in all things.  That we might be totally and completely in Him.  Not just so that we can have forgiveness of sin and a home in heaven, but a brokenness that leads to complete assimilation is all areas of life.  Where the will is totally surrendered with no reservation.  This is what the Spirit is saying to us.

When we speak of brokenness, it is difficult to come up with an adequate life experience that illustrates just what that means.  Salvation is the only instance that I can think of where the LORD had totally broken me.  Since then, I have been trying to get back to it.  About the only example that comes to mind is throwing a snowball against a bolder.  My son and I used to do that when we got bored.  We would hunt all morning and not see a thing.  There was a bolder or two on my father-in-law’s mountain, so we would practice pitching.  That snowball would hit and stick in that bolder.  Depending on the weather, it would either melt off the rock or into the rock.  Coming back in the afternoon, we could still see where the snowballs hit.  There would be a big round wet patch that remained.  It was too cold for the melting snowball to evaporate.  But to warm for it to remain snow.  The snow had assimilated into the bolder.  The rock remains eternally unmovable.  The snowball is the item that had to fall upon the rock.  The bolder remained unchangeable.  The snowball took the form of the one who made it.  To every individual snowball, the bolder was the same.  The snowball must yield to the unchangeable nature of the bolder if it wished to be incorporated into its being.  The same is true of the saint.  Brokenness means complete and total surrender.  There is no part that can be held back.  The result is assimilation into the divine nature.  It can happen no other way.

Recompense Matters

“Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?” (Mt 19:27 AV)

 

I am so glad the LORD did not rebuke Peter for asking this question.  On the face of it, this question seems to be so shallow and carnal.  What difference would it make?  Shouldn’t we be all in regardless of any recompense?  Shouldn’t we be willing to sacrifice everything because the LORD sacrificed His life for us?  Those are the responses we would expect from the LORD.  Yet, Jesus reassures Peter and the rest that their sacrifice will not go unnoticed.  Our Savior comforts the hearts of those who will dedicate their lives to the furtherance of the gospel that He appreciates it and will tangibly recognize their sacrifice.  What follows applies across dispensations.  At least in principle.  Jesus promises temporal things to His disciples.  This will certainly be so in the millennial reign.  But He also promises eternal things.  This is for all of us.  Personally, as a man of God called of God to serve God with my life, I can understand Peter’s question.  It is not a question posed often.  The privilege to serve Him with one’s life is, more times than not, a reward in and of itself.  However, there are fleeting times when the man of God and his family wonder if the cost was worth it.  We wonder if we will see some fruit from our labor.  We do not see much tangible evidence our ministry made all that much impact, so we wonder if the sacrifice made will be evened out eventually.  Some may think this is immature and carnal.  But it is natural and a concern which the LORD did not rebuke; but rather, answered with encouragement.

Some professions are never truly recompensed for their self-sacrifice and willingness to be committed to a cause or principle far greater than any remuneration.  There are healthcare workers, first responders, police, teachers, childcare workers, etc who all work very hard and sacrifice more than the average laborer.  The military serviceman or servicewoman sacrifices far more than their life.  Often, they sacrifice family as well.  When we speak of sacrificing for the ministry, the one who often gives the most is the pastor or missionary wife who sacrifices far more than most.  She often gives up her freedom, her family, and her peace of mind with little to no return.  Her husband enjoys some recognition.  He enjoys a word or two of encouragement.  But his wife is the unsung hero of his ministry.  She is forced to move where ever the LORD may call her husband, giving up the most important thing to her.  Her children and grandchildren.  She must endure comments about her husband she would rather not hear.  She cannot have the home that others have for ministry demands of her and her family a sacrifice that often makes that impossible.  It hurts to see others enjoy the blessings of this life, all the while knowing they will never be part of hers.  Yet, she loves being asked to do a bible study, make a few phone calls, or go on a few visits just to encourage others as they struggle through life.

My wife and I are truly blessed to be asked of the LORD to serve.  We haven’t been asked to give a whole lot.  When I think of those who have sacrificed the most, my mind goes to missionaries on the field or saints in lands of persecution.  One wonders how they do it.  How do they go to a land where they do not know the language and the culture is strange to them?  How do they leave their family behind and love on those whom they may never completely understand?  I don’t understand, and probably never will, how someone can have their home destroyed, the family beaten, and suffer imprisonment for the cause of Christ.  I feel ashamed if I think my cost is too much to bear.  Others have given far more than I will ever come close to giving.  Yet, the question is still asked.  What will be our recompense?  Will there be any recognition for that which was surrendered for a greater purpose and greater love.  The answer to that question is yes.  There will be a day of reconning.  There will be a day when what was sacrificed and given will be placed in the scales and the scales will be even.  This is never the motivation.  Understand this.  The true servant of God is glad to serve no matter the recompense.  He, or she, loves the Savior more than anything that might be gained.  But the promise of some sort of compensation heals the hurts that come along the way.  Knowing the sacrifice will not go unnoticed or under-appreciated is the salve that heals the wounds.  Our Savior is more gracious than we deserve and take comfort that He knows what is demanded of the servant and will see to it His servant is honored.

Faith Delayed Should Not Be Faith Lost

“And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” (Lu 18:7-8 AV)

 

This faith of which Christ speaks is in the context of the saints of God asking for deliverance.  Therefore, the faith spoken of here is the faith of the saints.  It is not the faith of the lost who need to be saved.  This faith is not in the context of salvation decisions.  ‘Faith’ spoken of here is not even faithfulness.  Although lack of faith would naturally infer lack of faithfulness.  The word here for faith means the conviction of a thing.  A belief in something that would compel action or decisions.  Again, the immediate context is the promise of deliverance for God’s people.  The parable which precedes this passage regards a woman who implores an unjust judge to avenge her.  He relents because of her persistence.  The point is, if the people of God are constantly asking for deliverance, how much more will a compassionate and just God act on their behalf?  Then comes the question above.  When Jesus Christ comes with deliverance, will He find a people who are still strong in their convictions, or will He find people who have given up hope and abandon their beliefs.

We are too impatient.  We want our situation to change immediately.  If it is not, we lose all that which caused us to hope, to begin with.  I know I have used this event several times, but it is an experience that keeps giving.  Several years back, I had shoulder surgery.  The surgeon removed a bone spur that was three inches long by one inch high.  Very painful.  After surgery, I was signed up for therapy.  At the very beginning, the therapist warned me it was slow going.  She warned me that in the beginning, it may not look as though there is any improvement.  She went over several charts.  She went over illustrations of anatomy.  She showed me proof that if I stuck with the program, I could regain 100% mobility and use of my shoulder.  When I arrived, I got to know some of the patients.  Some had been going to the service for years.  All they had was knee or hip surgery.  Off I went to do my exercises and TENS treatment. (TENS is awesome.  Put that sucker on extra high!) My insurance paid for about three months of sessions.  After that, I had to pay a small co-pay.  However, after about three months, I was ready to live with the results.  My therapist encouraged me rather passionately that if I committed for a bit more, I would get full use out of my shoulder.  I saw the bills starting to mount up and had my doubts.  No matter how much testimony, data, and information she gave me, I began to waver.  Perhaps 75% was good enough.  Then something happened.  Soon after I was ready to quit, something broke loose.  Something gave way and within two weeks, my shoulder was 100%.   The key was having faith that as it worked for others, it would work for me.  Not giving up faith was the key.

We live in challenging times.  The LORD could come back at any time.  If the United States goes the way of the world, there would be no reason for the church to remain any longer.  All I can say to my brothers and sisters in Christ is to be rapture ready.  Just because we see things that cast doubt on the veracity of what we believe, it doesn’t change a thing.  Either God exists or He does not.  Our experiences are not going to change that fact.  Either the word of God is indeed what it claims to be, or it is not.  Our observations or reasoning isn’t going to change that.  Either Jesus will rescue His bride or He is not.  What appears to us as His delay is not going to change what He has already decided to do.  The question above is a convicting one.  How fickle we are when things get difficult.  How soon we change our thinking or faith when things do not go the way we thought they would.  How soon we abandon our Bibles, our churches, and our devotions because we thought life was going to be easier.  The question above is for all the children of God.  Will we continue to have faith that God answers prayers of deliverance?  Or, because God does not answer as soon as we think He should, do we give up on the belief of God altogether?

As The Sun Sets

“Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.” (Joh 11:9-10 AV)

 

These comments come on the heels of our LORD’s disciples warning him not to return to Judea.  Jesus’ friend, Lazarus, lay sick.  He would die and lay entombed four days.  Jesus intended to take His disciples to the home of Lazarus so they could witness the resurrection of the dead in a way they had never seen it before.  This was the third time Jesus raised someone from the dead.  However, the other two were freshly dead.  The LORD needed to do this to give one last and dramatic proof He was who He claimed to be.  And, He did this for His followers.  There was a risk involved.  If Jesus returns to Judea, the Jews lay in wait to take Him and crucify Him before the appointed time.  Thomas would later remark they may as well all go with Him and die there with Him.  They were so convinced of the certainty of the risk, they could not see the opportunity.  Our Savior’s remarks simply mean there are times of opportunity and times when an opportunity is gone.  Mankind walks in the daylight.  He cannot walk in the dark.  Opportunity does not come by man alone.  It comes from God’s hand.  So, taking an opportunity when one exists is greater than the risks involved.  Particularly when the work of the LORD is concerned.

By nature, I am not that big of a risk-taker.  At least in some things.   It all boils down to embarrassment.  If there is guaranteed embarrassment if I fail, then I won’t take the risk.  However, if a failure does not result in embarrassment, then it might be something I pursue.  In fact, if there is a good chance shame would not be associated with failure, then I, more than likely, would be all in.  Our state fair has a booth of exotic food.  There is snake, turtle, and alligator.  All sorts of off the wall fares.  Each year, they come up with a gimmick food to offer.  Last year, it was a bug taco.  Not to be the one to try new things, I determined I was going to eat one of these for my family and church.  I knew that if I went ahead and forced one down, the cool factor would go up precipitously.  Waiting until we were all done for the day, my wife and her parents followed me out to this booth.  My father-in-law played it safe by getting snake on a stick.  But I stepped right up to the bug taco.  I knew a few things they did not.  For the most part, I knew it would taste a lot like sawdust.  Something I have accidentally tasted before.  And, they also had a variety of sauces.  Given enough sauce, you can pretty much drown out the taste of anything.  All I had to get through was the texture.  Sort of like eating fish scales.  It was an opportunity that would only come once.  So, I plunged right in!  Everyone was totally grossed out, but my stock in the cool club rose quite a bit.  The risk of getting sick was far outweighed by the ministry to others that would follow.

Opportunity is, by definition, time-sensitive.  As we see in the words spoken above, daylight is only so long.  Once the sun settles, the possible events of that day come to a close.  There are no instant-replays.  No chance to change the choices of the day because the day is gone.  Taking advantage of an opportunity may not result in success.  But not taking advantage of an opportunity guarantees failure.  There was a risk the Jews might take Jesus.  However, God is always in control.  Even over the risks.  If the LORD is in it, then regardless of the risks involved, an opportunity is open and it should be pursued.  Jesus was not going to go to Calvary until He was good and ready.  He was always in control of His circumstances.  We may not be in total control of our consequences, but God is.  There is a fine line between being too practical and living in fear.  Being responsible and taking risks is a balancing act.  We can be so practical that we talk ourselves right out of taking a risk by seizing and opportunity.  We live in interesting times.  Living by faith is not for the weak of heart.  At some point in time, if we are going to live by faith, there must by definition involve risk.  There is no way around it.  We cannot try to live a life with one hundred percent certainty all things will be safe and secure.  There must be an element of faith involved or our lives will account for very little before the LORD.

Beyond Our Senses

“And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.” (Lu 16:31 AV)

 

There is something that struck me afresh this morning regarding this passage.  Jesus is referring to His resurrection.  The rich man wants Abraham to send forth Lazarus to warn his brothers of the torments of hell.  His argument is if Lazarus were to raise from the dead, then his brothers would believe the miracle, repent of their sin, and turn to Christ.  Our LORD’s response was the outcome would not be any different.  He then tells us that if someone will not believe the written word, no amount of physical evidence will convince them either.  This struck me as profound.  It struck me as a truth we soon forget.  In essence, our Savior is teaching us the highest and most authentic evidence to truth is not our five senses.  It is the written word of God.  The truth goes even deeper.  If someone rejects the written word, there is no amount of physical evidence that will convince him otherwise.  Even if Jesus were to appear directly to the scoffer, he will explain the experience away as something else.  Therefore, the written word cannot be improved upon by physical evidence or human reasoning.  They can complement the word of God.  But they cannot replace the word of God.

Physics was one of my favorite classes.  This was back in the day when it was more about experiments than calculus.  Our labs were a lot of fun.  The thing is, the material or principle we were studying came first.  The labs were experiments designed to prove the principle.  Although we had labs every week, I only remember two.  The first one and the last one.  The last lab was really awesome.  Our teacher had built a contraption that shot a large ball bearing perfectly horizontal while magnetically releasing another ball bearing of equal mass from a fixed height.  Both the stationary ball bearing and the kinetic ball bearing began at the exact height.  The thesis was horizontal movement alone does not affect how long it takes for the ball bearings to hit the floor.  Our teacher would adjust the speed at which the one ball bearing was launched so that it would hit closer or farther away from the contraption.  He then had a microphone that would pick up the sound of the two balls hitting the ceramic tiled floor.  Low and behold, both balls hit the floor at the exact same time.  The experiment happened just like our books said it would.  The math worked out.

However, the first experiment of the year didn’t work out quite so well.  Our first lab was a wave pool.  Our textbook indicated that if we performed the experiment as we should, the results would turn out as predicted.  I remember this experiment well because the data I and my partners gathered was not consistent with what the textbook said.  I remember because I had to fudge the numbers so the results matched known physical absolutes regarding wave theory.  Our wave pool was set up on the windowsill over a radiator.  This was late September in New York.  This is the time of year when heat comes on but doesn’t shut off quickly enough.  So, classrooms in upstate New York have a certain number of windows open that are battling heat rising from baseboard heaters.  Too many variables which caused or data to contradict what the textbook said.  The textbook was right.  Our observations were not.  The absolute truth of wave theory was right.  Our senses were limited.

Over the last few generations, I think we have shifted in our faith in the efficacy of the word of God.  There have been many parachurch organizations arising whose stated goal is to prove the veracity of the word of God rather than take it for granted and compliment the veracity of the word of God.  Even our books which we promote tend to place themselves as a higher proof of truth to which the scriptures agree.  We have lost the ability to examine all that we read or are exposed to in the light of the word of God because we have been led to believe it is not as reliable as our own senses or reasoning.  This is dangerous ground.  In fact, the LORD Himself tells us if we will not believe the truth because the word of God says so, then no amount of sensory input or human reasoning is going to change that.  We either accept the word of God as the perfect and highest authority regarding truth, or we replace is with something or someone else.

Doggie Don't

“As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.” (Pr 26:11 AV)

 

As a beloved dog owner of many years, I can tell you that when a dog returns to his vomit, it is not a pretty picture.  In fact, a dog doesn’t do this occasionally.  He does this every time.  The picture here, without getting too gross, is an animal that desires to consume again that which just made him sick.  Again, without getting into much detail, research suggests the one reason dogs return to their vomit is that it smells and tastes good.  At least to them.  It never dawns on the dog that which made them sick will make them sick again.  All they see is something that will give immediate gratification without remembering the long term effects.  We cringe when our dogs do that.  When I hear my dog begin to wretch, I immediately go for paper towel so when he is done, I can clean it up before he has a chance to return to it.  The fool who continues to do the same thing again and again even though the consequences are revolting is no wiser than a dog.

And here is probably where you would expect a gross story of one of my dogs.  They are too numerous.  Plus, we get the picture.  In the Charlie Brown cartoon strip and animated series, there is a common storyline weaved throughout different appearances or major themes.  It is the challenge of Charlie to kick a football while Lucy holds it.  Lucy promises to tee up the ball and keep it stationary so Charlie can run up and kick it.  At the last second, Lucy pulls the ball away and Charlie goes flying through the air to land straight on his back.  There he lays, in agony, wondering why he ever trusted Lucy.  This would be forgivable if it was a one-time event.  However, each time Lucy offers a new line of reasoning as to why she will hold the ball stationary, Charlie takes the bait.  Then again, he is found sailing through the air to land straight on his back.  The last frame usually has a response to Charlie as to the flaw in her reasoning which he should have noticed and not taken the bait.  No matter how many times Lucy pulls that football away, Charlie is always willing to give it one more try.  He cannot resist.  Seeing that football sail through the uprights is his ultimate prize.  Even if he knows, deep down inside, it will never happen, he tries anyway.  Knowing his choice will cause pain, he cannot help himself.  Maybe this time it will be different.

I have noticed that generally speaking if a dog returns to his vomit, he is usually sickened afterward.  He may not vomit again, but he definitely has an off day.  This picture should be the one when we come to ourselves and realize our habitual choices make for bad outcomes.  The next time we suffer for our choices, we need to stop and dwell on the reality it will never be any different.  No matter how much we want it to be, it will never turn out in our favor.  I and duck do not go together well.  I tried it twice and both times spent a lot of time bowing to the porcelain god.  You don’t have to tell me that duck is not something I should eat.  I am not even tempted to try it again.  Even if it is Peking or Orange duck.  No thank you.  I will stick with the rice.  This is how we should treat all sin.  It doesn’t take a brilliant person to notice a pattern of consequences following wicked choices.  It’s not that hard to discern.  It doesn’t take a smart person to realize that no matter how many times we try it, it will never turn out well.  As I look at my dog returning to his vomit, I am repulsed.  I am shocked.  I am wondering if he will ever learn.  Then I must ask myself the same thing.  Will I ever learn that sin, although it may initially look or taste good, I will wretch it right back up all over again.

Of Long-handles and Lights

 “Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;” (Lu 12:35 AV)

The context of this statement is preparedness for the imminent return of our LORD and Savior, Jesus Christ.  To have the loins girded about is more than merely clothed.  To have the loins girded about means to be prepared for everything.  The loins were where the men would wear a girdle.  A girdle is not what we think of today.  A girdle was a heavy sash worn around the waist and loins to which weapons or tools were fashioned.  It was the foundational garment that kept all other garments secure and in the right place.  To have the lights burning meant to leave lights on to be ready to tend to the master’s needs or desires.  The idea here is simple.  Jesus is telling his disciples to be prepared to serve at a drop’s notice because He could return at any moment to gather His bride home.  He is instructing His sheep to always be ready for the coming of their Shepherd because He is ready to return at any moment.

Hunting as much as I did, you learn to be prepared at the drop of a hat.  Fishing with my father-in-law meant that when you smelled coffee brewing, it was time to get going and get in the truck.  No time for dilly-dallying.  My son and I would hunt the hills of Bristol often.  At the base of those hills lay my father-in-law’s home.  A log cabin in the woods.  What a wonderful place.  When Larry was in on the hunting experience, you didn’t lay around.  Zack and I would often fall asleep the night before with our bedroom light on and asleep in our long underwear ready to throw clothes on and jump into our boots.  Our flashlights were checked the night before.  All our gear was laid out in the basement.  It would take less than ten minutes from bed to atv.  When Larry had a fishing trip planned, he was in the truck before our eyes fully opened.  We had the sandwiches made, the tackle in the boat, and the coffee in the thermos before the engine was even warm.  If we tarried, Larry got really impatient.  He didn’t tolerate slow-pokes well.  There was a plan and that plan had to get executed.  On-time, if not early! Needless to say, I spent a lot of early mornings in the boat or tree stand snoring away.  The night before saw little rest in anticipation of the events of the morning.  We had our loins gird about and the lights burning.  You never knew when Larry was going to rise and head for the truck.

The verse above really spoke to me this morning.  I know we talk about the LORD’s return often.  Not as often as past generations have spoken of it.  That is one of the reasons I think it might be closer than we think.  By and large, the people of God are not looking for it.  Not like we did back in the eighties.  Prophecy was usually a constant fare in our church services.  Books abounded on the coming of Christ.  Now, our time is more occupied by themes of survival as though our common experience is the only thing we look forward to.  A lack of joy is a common thread in our worship.  We think that which we are suffering will be a permanent fixture for the rest of our lives.  We are not living in the light of eternity.  We are living in the darkness of the present.  In our house, we have two lights we keep on all the time.  There is the one at the top of the stairs.  This stays on so that we do not fall down the steps.  The other is at the bottom of the stairs in a little alcove.  This, too, is for safety.  However, the one at the bottom of the stairs means a little more than that.  It is a cute little corner with some homey touches added to the space.  It is a reminder of the emotional comfort that home brings.  It is there as a source of contentment.  The burning light is a symbol of the hope which we carry day in and day out.  Jesus is coming back!  Of that, there is no doubt.  He is coming back really soon.  It would be a shame if we were snuggled in our beds with the lights out, blocking all hope and joyful anticipation, thinking we are sad victims of a cruel world.  Put on those long-handles.  Keep that light on.  Jesus is coming back and it might just be sooner than we think!

Future Fruit From Past Faithfulness

“And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true. And many believed on him there.” (Joh 10:41-42 AV)

 The narrative is referring to Jesus Christ returning to the place in which John baptized the multitude.  At this point, John has been executed by Herod because Herod lusted after his step-daughter and promised John’s head on a charger.  John’s ministry had been over for several years.  With the attention span of a moth, one would figure the multitudes would have long forgotten what John preached and taught. You would think after seeing John imprisoned and executed, those who heard him would have dis-annulled his preached as the ranting of a convict.  This is not what happened.  John did no miracles.  John did no mighty works.  John did not draw attention to himself.  What he did do is preach.  This is what the people remembered.  Many remembered what the preacher said about Jesus and who Jesus was.  Many remembered John’s preaching as he expounded on the things Jesus would do to prove who he was.  They remembered and when they encountered the Messiah, it was the previous preaching of a faithful baptizer which played a large part in their conversion.  A preacher who had since departed from ministry and life whose influence lived on years after his departure.

One of the most stirring moments I have ever experienced was at my Bible College graduation.  I had been working at a pizzeria for a number of years, and through those years had many opportunities to witness to fellow employees and even customers.  After about seven years of doing that, one wonders if it really mattered.  Through that opportunity, there was only one soul saved and no one who ended up at church with me.  At least that was my understanding on the day that I had left.  However, I learned at my Bible College graduations, the LORD was able to use me far more than I thought.  We hired many high school kids looking for part time work.  One of those kids was a young man who would later sign up for the navy.  He wasn’t with us long and I didn’t have a whole lot of opportunity to share the gospel with him.  However, the LORD led me to purchase a Bible for him and preach a fifteen minute sermon on salvation.  I gave them to him as he was shipping out to boot camp.  Fast forward almost ten years later.  I had since left that church and moved down state.  I had lost track of that young man and if the truth be told, barely remembered the incident.  That was, until the dean of the college told the story of a man who he had the privilege of discipling because someone had given him the gospel and a bible right before he shipped off to boot camp.

The principle is this.  You never know what kind of impact you are making in the people who God allows to cross your path.  We often become discouraged because it seems there is no fruit from our efforts.  We see no one responding.  We see no one coming with us to church, signing up for a Bible study, or even reading a gospel tract.  We wonder if our efforts matter at all.  Every year, we work at our State Fair.  It is less than a mile from our church.  We share time with other churches running a booth, handing out literature, and trying to engage people in conversations regarding the gospel.  Outside, other churches are handing out tracts.  The sad thing is, these tracts are tossed aside either on the ground or in the trash.  The vast majority are rejected.  It is a stark reminder of how much the world does not care about eternal matters.  However, there are a few who will take a tract and put it in their purse or pocket for later consideration.  Some will stop and read it.  Even fewer might give you a minute or two to share the gospel.  No effort is totally useless.  John never saw the total sum of his effort.  It came after his death.  But it came.  And so, too, will yours.  So, keep on the firing line.  Keep handing out tracts.  Keep engaging people with the gospel of Christ.  Keep showing the joy in your heart and soul over what the LORD has done for you.  They won’t remember all the acts that you do.  But they will remember the words and the scriptures you shared

Fettered Feelings

 “Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way.” (Pr 23:19 AV)

 

The word for ‘…guide…’ means to be straight; to be level; to go forward, be honest, prosper.  The understanding is the heart is to be constrained or placed in parameters so that it can go on in a focused and determined direction.  I don’t know why this picture popped into my head when I read this, but it fits the understanding.  I imagined my heart outside of my body in the palms of my hand.  There it sat, pumping and convulsing in my hands.  My heart was constrained between my hands and not resting in the cup of my hands.  It twisted and convulsed in many directions, but my focus was straight ahead.  Rather than allowing the impulses of my heart to determine the directions of my steps, the opposite was the course.  To constrain my heart so that my heart, eyes, and feet headed in the direction I was supposed to go.  I know.  Sounds like a nightmare, right?

There was a rule in my childhood home which, at the time, I and my siblings didn’t understand nor appreciate.  This rule involved the expression of emotions.  All emotions.  Not just bad ones.  But all of them.  My father would not allow any excessive expression of emotion.  This is understandable if the objective is temper-tantrums, malice, or lust.  However, my father also included levity, joy, and other such ‘good’ emotions.  We resented him for that.  For a long time we didn’t understand what it was he was trying to accomplish.  As I grow older, I understand more and more the principle he was trying to instill.  Emotional discipline is necessary.  I will give you an example.

My brother-in-law, who is the second coming of Sylvester Stalone, invited me to play on his team during the men’s basketball league at church.  I felt honored.  However, I didn’t know a thing about the game.  Darren played all through high school.  The last thing I wanted to do was to embarrass my brother-in-law.  Because I didn’t know what I was doing, I didn’t play a whole lot.  Which was good enough for me!  However, I was rotated in and Darren was rotated out.  Bad move.  I took my place and played a bit.  Then, I received a pass and made a basket.  I was so overjoyed that I looked at Darren and started to celebrate.  All the while the other nine men were halfway down the court.  Then the entire team was yelling at me to get back on defense.  Didn’t they understand?  The bookworm just scored two points!  Conversely, an example of undisciplined bad emotions is all too uncommon.  My father would chasten us rather severely if we exhibited any kind of anger.  He would not allow us to cry when getting chastened.  He refused to allow our emotions to dictate our actions.  Good or bad.  There is a lot of wisdom in this.

In our text above, Solomon tells his children to guide their hearts.  He does not tell them to allow their hearts to guide them.  This is the exact opposite advice the world gives itself.  All actions are dismissed if the heart led the way.  All one has to do to see this is to watch a Hallmark Christmas movie and somewhere in that movie, a counselor will tell a love-struck person to follow their heart!  Bad advice.  But, I believe the Spirit would have us apply this in a more serious manner.  The reason we are coming apart at the seams is that our heart guides us rather than us guiding our hearts.  We live with undisciplined emotions.  This is the result of an unbiblical view of child-rearing.  It started with my generation which was raised by parents who failed to discipline a child’s emotions (my parents excluded).  Dr. Spock was the guru.  Now, we are raising children who feel they need their emotions validated.  No wonder we are burning our cities down and attacking one another more fiercely than a virus ever could.  We cannot constrain our emotions and our actions are wildly undisciplined.  If we feel something, we think we are justified in acting out on those feelings regardless of what it may do to someone else.  It is impossible to live a life pleasing to God unless emotions are kept under control.  Otherwise, we are off in whatever direction our emotions carry us and we feel righteous in doing so because our hearts are the highest validation of right and wrong.

The Perfect Son Is Coming

“And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.” (Joh 8:29 AV)

There are two ways in which we can apply this.  The first is to notice the Father does not leave the Son alone because He always does that which pleases the Father.  The second way, in which the Spirit desires application this morning,  is by way of encouragement.  To understand this, we need to consider another scripture verse.  “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” (1Jo 3:2 AV)  What Jesus Christ testifies of above, will be the same truth we will one day have the privilege to testify of as well.  There will come a day when we can say that we always do those things which please the Father.  We can hold to this truth because we shall be like He is!

Every child has a natural desire to please his or her father.  Whether we realize it or not, we want our dads to be proud of us.  We what to hear those words, “I am so proud of you!”  Even in our disobedience, there is still a part of us that wants to please our fathers.  We desire to be accepted.  We desire to be affirmed.  We desire to know that our fathers truly appreciate what we do our how hard we try.  This is every child’s desire.  When we do disappoint our fathers, we feel shame.  We feel like we have let them down.  BTW, the only way that works is if Dad regularly shows appreciation for a child’s obedience or successes and helps that child when he fails.  If all a father does is correct and criticize, the desire to please him disappears.  There were times that I knew my father was proud of me even though he didn’t say so.  One such time was during a Boy Scout weekend.  It was just he and I.  Even though I had seven other brothers, and most in the Boy Scouts, this particular weekend was only he and I.  It was Saturday morning.  We were going to the mess hall for breakfast.  Afterward, there was a swap meet where scouts from different counsels would swap patches and souvenirs.  It was overcast, cold, and drizzling outside.  We had our ponchos on.  My Dad had this Teddy Roosevelt hat that I will always remember.  We were walking together and I just had the sense my father was filled with contentment, pride, and happiness with having his son join him for something extremely important to him.  I will never forget that morning.  I will never forget the one hundred feet or so to the lodge and the outside appearance of the door.  I will never forget the forest of pine trees surrounding the entrance to the building.  I will never forget the cold damp air.  But most of all, I will never forget looking up at a man who was a foot taller who never looked me in the eye, but I could tell he was immensely pleased.

I know I don’t always please my heavenly Father.  If the truth is known, I probably seldomly do.  It would not amaze me at all if I never heard those words from my heavenly Father, “Well done thou good and faithful servant.”  It would be no surprise if no rewards for me were waiting in glory.  When I fail the LORD, and that happens often, I feel shame.  I want to do that which is right, but as Paul testifies in Romans chapter seven, I do not find it within me to do so.  Like a little child who wants a pat on the shoulder because he did something right, I long for the same from my Father in glory.  To be honest, I don’t want the affirmation.  I know God loves me unconditionally.  I don’t want the recognition.  It belongs to Jesus anyway.  I just don’t want to fail Him.  Especially as often as I do.  Which brings me to the application of encouragement.  Because we will be like He is; completely sinless and unable to sin; there is coming a day when I will always do that which pleases my God and Father.  There is coming a day in glory when the old man is completely destroyed and the new man will reign forever.  I won’t possess even the desire to do the wrong thing.  Temptations will forever be gone.  What a day that will be!  I am so looking forward to the day when the guarantee of perfect is made a reality!  The day when my existence will do nothing but put an eternal smile on the face of the God who created me and saved me.  What a day that will be!

Compassion is Reciprocal

“Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?” (Mt 18:33 AV)

 

This is a good follow-up to yesterday’s devotion.  Yesterday, we noted a father’s plea made from the truth of God’s compassion.  He was beside himself over the torment of his son.  He had faith, but he felt the compassion of God more strong of an argument than what faith he possessed.  Jesus did indeed have compassion on him and granted him the desire of his heart.  Today, we read a parable of a wicked servant who was forgiven a large debt by his master simply because the master took compassion on his servant.  This wicked servant went to another and demanded repayment for a debt he was owed.  Showing no compassion right after he was shown compassion, the wicked servant delivered the other to prison and the tormentors until that small debt was repaid.  Upon hearing what the wicked servant did, the master rescinded his pardon and tormented his servant with more ferocity for the debt he owed and a lack of compassion for others.  The application is very straightforward.  We cannot expect the LORD to show compassion on us if we, in turn, show no mercy towards another.

William Penn said, "I expect to pass through this world but once.  Any good therefore that I can do, or any kindness or abilities that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now.  Let me not defer it or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again."  I remember reading this quote in grade school.  I have heard it often.  It marks a time in the history of our nation when compassion and kindness seemed the norm.  On the other side of this issue, our twenty-seventh president, William Taft declared, “Too many people don’t care what happens so long as it doesn’t happen to them”.  The problem with compassion is it is often seen through tainted lenses.  The servant who owed much perhaps saw the forgiveness of his large debt as not that much of a sacrifice for his master.  When it came to what his colleague owed him, it was seen as a debt too large for him to bear.  Such is the struggle to exercise compassion on others all the while seeking compassion for one’s own faults.  We tend to see our own faults and not that large compared against the ability of the one to exercise compassion.  God is an infinite God of mercy.  So, for Him to show compassion on me would not be nearly as much of a sacrifice for me to show compassion on someone who had done me wrong.  But this is not how God works.  Regardless of the size of debt or the one forgiving that debt, compassion is still compassion.  If we appreciate this compassion and seek it often, we had better be prepared to show compassion to others in return.

If it is COVD, social injustice, or any other issue facing us today, I see a dearth of compassion among human beings which has even permeated the church.  Our lack of concern for the needs of others is at an all-time low.  We truly do not care about issues unless they directly affect us.  We don’t care how our actions affect others and if we feel we have been wronged, any action on our part is justified to make it right.  We will tear things apart if we do not feel we are being treated fairly.  We demand that God show mercy towards us for our faults and failures, but we are totally unwilling to do that for others.  It is truly sad, really.  The human race has gone to their collective corners and has dug in refusing to show compassion and mercy on those with whom they disagree.  I spoke to a preacher friend of mine recently and he made this statement.  “It seems as though the love of Christ does not reign in the house of God anymore”.  I find it hard to disagree with him.  We are not aware of how our actions affect others.  Nor do we care.  We wonder why God is not working today as He has in the past.  Perhaps it is because we demand of God what we ourselves are not willing to give.  Compassion, mercy, and grace.

Compassion - An Oft Neglected Plea

“And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.” (Mr 9:22 AV)

 

Upon no greater grounds can someone plea to the LORD than His compassion.  Here, a father is at his wit’s end with his teenage son who is taken with an evil spirit.  This father is a Gentile, no less.  He is not as well versed in the scriptures as a Hebrew would be and thus when he asks the LORD for a miracle, it is based upon the testimony of others in what Jesus as done and not necessarily a conviction founded upon the scriptures.  He does have belief.  And, he has more than he thinks he does.  The grounds upon which this father intercedes for his son is the compassion and mercy of God.  To him, the moral attribute of mercy is far more real to him than the physical attribute of omnipotence.  Whenever I read this passage, I am moved by this man’s prayer.  I am moved that he understood the moral nature of Jesus Christ and plead the compassion of God.  This is why I made the opening statement.  It would be hard for the LORD to say ‘no’ to a request which depended upon His mercy to see it come to pass.

As a parent, you often know the limits of your children’s abilities more than they do.  My high school days were filled with choices.  I don’t know if that is the case anymore.  In the first two years, the student’s classes were pretty much decided.  There was very little flexibility.  However, once Junior year rolled around, the student could begin to pick and choose which classes he was more interested in or which would better prepare him for life or college.  Since my home state required four years of science, I had to choose.  Freshmen year was Introduction to Physical Science.  Sophomore year was Biology.  Everyone had to take those two.  However, after those two were out of the way, then came other choices.  There was earth science, computer science, chemistry, and physics.  You could even double up on some sciences in your Freshman and Sophomore years so Junior and Senior years could be less classwork or electives.  Anyway, all of my older siblings took Chemistry in their Junior years.  However, staring at the periodic table during my Freshman and Sophomore years, I knew there was absolutely no way I would pass that class.  I am not a good memorizer in the least.  If I can read the scriptures and memorize verses in context, that is doable.  But to require rote memorization, to me, is impossible.  Late August rolled around and we received our course selection worksheet in the mail.  I knew a difficult meeting lay ahead.  My father is not one to allow us to take the easy way out.  My plan was to substitute Chemistry with more computer science.  That was his trade.  But, I knew him well.  It was a long shot, to say the least.  I was preparing for a lecture sprinkled with a bit of frustration, anger, or disappointment.  So, with those big brown puppy-dog eyes I have, I went to my father as he sat in his office, explained how fearful I was at failing chemistry fully expecting the third degree, and almost prechecking chemistry on my list.  After a lengthy plea and laying out a plan for him to see, he simply said ‘OK’.  I was stunned!  My father actually had mercy on me and let me off the hook.  I appealed to his sense of compassion and he said yes!  What father could say ‘no’ to big brown sad eyes?

Pleading God’s mercy should be done only when there is cause.  What do I mean by that?  Salvation is definitely a cause for compassion.  In the case above, there is no other hope this father has.  Both have something in common.  In both situations, the one seeking God’s compassion has or had nowhere else to turn.  The other factor that is common in both was the will of God.  Herein the application.  When we are at the end of what we or anyone else can do and there seems to be no resolution, then plead the compassion of God!  Be careful though.  Don’t plead the mercy or compassion of God in a frustrated spirit that seems to accuse God of not caring.  “Father, if you really cared, you would do something about this” is not a way to go about asking for God’s mercy.  What this father did was to ask Jesus to exercise His compassion, not for himself, but for the needs of his son.  As a father, his compassion was moved for his son.   He was merely asking the heavenly Father to do what he knew could be done.  A humble and completely dependent request which a loving God could not decline.

Lost and then Found

“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.” (Lu 9:24 AV)

I know there is a debate regarding this verse.  There are some who believe this challenge only applies to salvation.  There are others who believe this challenge is one of total discipleship.  These disputes are founded in the context of the particular gospel in which this account is found.  Personally, I believe it applies to both.  What started at salvation must continue likewise to a total commitment to discipleship.  Having laid this foundation, the question presents itself.  Have we gotten to the point of losing ourselves for the sake of finding ourselves?  What exactly does that mean.  It appears above that if we do not lose ourselves, we become trapped.  If we lose ourselves, we are free and are saved from whatever it was which entrapped us.

One of the scariest times of my life was when my wife and I were traveling from Paducah, Kentucky to Nashville, TN.  We were headed east on route twenty-four.  It was the winter months and the temperature was right around freezing.  Interstate twenty-four and plenty of raised elevations and small bridges over roadways.  The speed limit was seventy miles-an-hour and we were traveling about sixty.  I knew the roads were a bit slick so I wasn’t pushing it.  A raised elevation came up and we hit that bridge going sixty miles-an-hour.  I felt the front wheels starting to lose traction.  We had hit a patch of black ice.  The bridge was probably one hundred and fifty feet long.  The first instinct would be to hit the breaks.  I did not do that.  The second would be to accelerate hoping to gain traction.  I did not do that either.  Either one of those choices was very bad.  What I did was to disengage the cruise control and take my feet away from both the gas and the break.  I turned the wheel only very slightly if at all.  What I did was to yield to the conditions of the roadway and not make any sudden or panicked responses to something that was out of my control.  In order to save our lives, I had to relinquish control over them.  We lived through it!  From that point forward, whenever a bridge loomed in the distance, I took my foot off the gas and allowed the are to slow, passing over the black ice and allowed the car to dictate the safest path to travel.  Another short example to prove the opposite.  My childhood friend Scott Benson and I used to love riding the tilt-o-wheel at our local amusement park.  The thing about the tilt-o-wheel was the more you yielded to what the car was prone to do, the better the ride.  The more you fought centrifugal force, the more you could hurt yourself.  Sore muscles were the result if you tried to control the ride contrary to its nature.

Walking with God is exactly the same.  The more we fight against that which the Holy Spirit is trying to accomplish, the more we hurt ourselves.  The more we yield to the will of the Master, the more we will understand and feel grateful for the blessing which is life in Christ.  The meaning of the above verse goes even deep than this.  The suggestion is we will not find true life; be it the blessings of life or the purpose of life; unless we give up trying to control it.  Like a mother of a newborn knows, if she is to enjoy her life as a mother, she must yield all her energy, resources, and time to that little human being.  We are miserable because we are trying to control something which is out of our control.  Our lives are not our own.  The LORD gives us the ability to choose, but with that comes a false idea of total and complete freedom to be self-determined.  This simply not true.  Circumstances often dictate the quality of life we enjoy.   The more we take our hands off the steering wheel, the gas, and the break, the more we will enjoy the life God has for us, and the more we will find our purpose.  The more we yield control, the more the Holy Spirit reveals meaning.  The more we resign to the plan of God and allow Him to work, the far less damage we will do to ourselves and those around us.