"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
John 14:27
A man in Kenya answered a persistent knock on the door of his home. A gun wielding, vindictive terrorist demanded of him, "Are you a Muslim?"
"No," came the steady reply. "I am a Christian."
That answer brought swift death through a spray of bullets to head and chest as his wife looked on in horror.
The very word "terrorist" can instill fear. The sight of a weapon, angry, snapping eyes and the diseased soul of the perpetrator - all a nightmare. Yet, can anything separate a Christian from his loving Savior?
NO! Romans chapter eight reminds us: "Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword" separate us from the love of Christ Jesus? (verse 35) Even death brings life - better life, eternal life, where sorrow, disease, pain and death are NO MORE.
We really do have the peace that passes all understanding as the courage of Christ even helps us stare down the barrel of a gun.
Perhaps I will never hear such an ominous knock on my door in Painesville, but each day, I must prepare for such an event. Not in fear or trepidation, but in stalwart faith and the courage of the saints who have gone on before me.
"I am a Christian." Hallelujah!
Wednesday, June 18, 2014
Saturday, June 14, 2014
Judge for Yourselves
"But Peter and John replied, 'Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God.'"
Acts 4:19
The powers-that-be in the society of the early church were not friendly to those who spoke the name of Jesus. After all, they had crucified this troublesome Jesus and buried him in a sealed, guarded tomb (or so they thought). Didn't that put to death all this talk about a Messiah? Why did these disciples have to keep bringing it up? When told not to speak in the name of Christ anymore, Peter and John replied, "We cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard." (vs. 20)
In our society, it is lawful in some states for same-sex couples to marry. Some Christians are being charged with wrongdoing for refusing to photograph a gay wedding or bake a cake for the occasion as they remain true to God.
When push comes to shove, each believer must judge for himself to obey their government or to obey God. The Bible tells us that what is seen is temporary, what is unseen is eternal. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but the word of the Lord shall never pass away. In this world, we will have trouble, but take heart! Jesus has overcome the world.
Judge for yourselves. Do the right thing.
Acts 4:19
The powers-that-be in the society of the early church were not friendly to those who spoke the name of Jesus. After all, they had crucified this troublesome Jesus and buried him in a sealed, guarded tomb (or so they thought). Didn't that put to death all this talk about a Messiah? Why did these disciples have to keep bringing it up? When told not to speak in the name of Christ anymore, Peter and John replied, "We cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard." (vs. 20)
In our society, it is lawful in some states for same-sex couples to marry. Some Christians are being charged with wrongdoing for refusing to photograph a gay wedding or bake a cake for the occasion as they remain true to God.
When push comes to shove, each believer must judge for himself to obey their government or to obey God. The Bible tells us that what is seen is temporary, what is unseen is eternal. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but the word of the Lord shall never pass away. In this world, we will have trouble, but take heart! Jesus has overcome the world.
Judge for yourselves. Do the right thing.
What Does Jesus Wear?
"He put on righteousness as his breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on his head; he put on the garments of vengeance and wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak."
Isaiah 59:17
Spiderman has to don a special outfit, thereby transforming him from the meek Peter Parker to the invincible Spiderman, who saves many with heroic acts of righteousness. Slipping into the latex suit of red and blue, flaccid muscles bulge as ordinary human strength becomes supernatural and power overshadows weakness.
Unlike Spiderman, Jesus has no alter ego, no petered-out Parker beneath. He is who he is, through to the core. The first time he came from heaven to this earth, he was born of a woman, in a stable in Bethlehem. He laid down his life for the sins of the world, not willing to condemn, but to patiently wait for sinners to open the door of the heart. Unwilling that any should perish, he turned the other cheek and paved the Way to the Father.
The second time he comes will be with a mighty shout, surrounded by legions of angels, riding on the clouds of heaven. All eyes will see him wrapped in garments of zeal and vengeance as the time comes to judge the quick and the dead.
Today is the day of salvation. Don't put it off until tomorrow. Jesus loves you!
Isaiah 59:17
Spiderman has to don a special outfit, thereby transforming him from the meek Peter Parker to the invincible Spiderman, who saves many with heroic acts of righteousness. Slipping into the latex suit of red and blue, flaccid muscles bulge as ordinary human strength becomes supernatural and power overshadows weakness.
Unlike Spiderman, Jesus has no alter ego, no petered-out Parker beneath. He is who he is, through to the core. The first time he came from heaven to this earth, he was born of a woman, in a stable in Bethlehem. He laid down his life for the sins of the world, not willing to condemn, but to patiently wait for sinners to open the door of the heart. Unwilling that any should perish, he turned the other cheek and paved the Way to the Father.
The second time he comes will be with a mighty shout, surrounded by legions of angels, riding on the clouds of heaven. All eyes will see him wrapped in garments of zeal and vengeance as the time comes to judge the quick and the dead.
Today is the day of salvation. Don't put it off until tomorrow. Jesus loves you!
Why Do People Wear Clothes?
"Rather clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature."
Romans 13:14
Why do people wear clothes?
I googled the question but the answer varies. Protection from the elements, of course, is a prime reason. Vanity is another. Practicality i.e. where shall a person put their wallet or keys without pockets? Uniforms help to identify certain professions. Firemen wear protective gear. On the flip side, mysteriously, in some cultures the wearing of clothes is not imperative.
I am sure I am not alone when I say, I am glad we DO wear clothes. Ever have one of those exasperating dreams where you're unclothed in full views of others, yet unable to remedy the situation? There is a sense of shame being caught "with one's pants down." Perhaps it stems from the Fall of Man. After Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, their eyes were opened and they knew they were naked so they created some clothes from leaves. When the Lord God came and talked to them about this, he made some more efficient clothes for them from animal skins. (But then, an animal had to die to help cover their shame.)
There is a parallel here. Try as we might, clothes do not really cover our shame. The best dressed person can still be miserable inside, in the soul, where sadness originates. How can we cover that? Only by confessing our sins and clothing ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ. His garments are spotless, durable and always in style. Remember, He had to die to help cover our shame so these are not cheap clothes. Wear them proudly!
Romans 13:14
Why do people wear clothes?
I googled the question but the answer varies. Protection from the elements, of course, is a prime reason. Vanity is another. Practicality i.e. where shall a person put their wallet or keys without pockets? Uniforms help to identify certain professions. Firemen wear protective gear. On the flip side, mysteriously, in some cultures the wearing of clothes is not imperative.
I am sure I am not alone when I say, I am glad we DO wear clothes. Ever have one of those exasperating dreams where you're unclothed in full views of others, yet unable to remedy the situation? There is a sense of shame being caught "with one's pants down." Perhaps it stems from the Fall of Man. After Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, their eyes were opened and they knew they were naked so they created some clothes from leaves. When the Lord God came and talked to them about this, he made some more efficient clothes for them from animal skins. (But then, an animal had to die to help cover their shame.)
There is a parallel here. Try as we might, clothes do not really cover our shame. The best dressed person can still be miserable inside, in the soul, where sadness originates. How can we cover that? Only by confessing our sins and clothing ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ. His garments are spotless, durable and always in style. Remember, He had to die to help cover our shame so these are not cheap clothes. Wear them proudly!
Monday, June 9, 2014
The Lukewarm Heart
"I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm - neither cold nor hot - I am about to spit you out of my mouth."
Revelation 3: 15 & 16
These verses are the words of Jesus spoken to the church of Laodicea, but they serve as an apt warning to anyone with a lukewarm heart.
Lukewarm believers sit on the fence, happy to watch the world go by. Don't get too "preachy" with them, or they bristle.
I heard about a baptist church in England whose sign bearing flames warned the passerby, "If you think there is no God, you'd better be right!" That's a smoking hot attention-grabber this world needs, but some offended person complained to the authorities. The church was charged with a hate crime and ordered their sign be changed to read "God Loves You," a nice lukewarm, non-offensive statement.
Jesus, who knows our deeds, demands more of us. He abhors lukewarm; he spits it out! What example did he give us? Remember how hot under the collar he got with the moneychangers in the temple? Or when he called the Pharisees hypocrites, blind guides and whitewashed tombs? They got so ruffled, they wanted to kill him!
Good! There is a refiner's fire that tests our mettle. Get involved. Get fired up. Don't let your heart grow cold in these last days, but let it burn for more. Turn up the burner.
Revelation 3: 15 & 16
These verses are the words of Jesus spoken to the church of Laodicea, but they serve as an apt warning to anyone with a lukewarm heart.
Lukewarm believers sit on the fence, happy to watch the world go by. Don't get too "preachy" with them, or they bristle.
I heard about a baptist church in England whose sign bearing flames warned the passerby, "If you think there is no God, you'd better be right!" That's a smoking hot attention-grabber this world needs, but some offended person complained to the authorities. The church was charged with a hate crime and ordered their sign be changed to read "God Loves You," a nice lukewarm, non-offensive statement.
Jesus, who knows our deeds, demands more of us. He abhors lukewarm; he spits it out! What example did he give us? Remember how hot under the collar he got with the moneychangers in the temple? Or when he called the Pharisees hypocrites, blind guides and whitewashed tombs? They got so ruffled, they wanted to kill him!
Good! There is a refiner's fire that tests our mettle. Get involved. Get fired up. Don't let your heart grow cold in these last days, but let it burn for more. Turn up the burner.
Whose Seal Would You Rather Have?
Satan has always wanted to be like God, but because he lacks the qualities to actually be The Great One, the best he can do is to counterfiet.
The last book of the Bible, the Revelation, tells about the End Times. Of course, Satan is in the thick of things, deceiving folks and copying God. Read these two excerpts from Scripture:
"Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the Living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: "Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God." Revelation 7: 2 & 3
"He (the Beast) also forced everyone small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the Beast or the number of his name...His number is 666." Rev. 13: 16-18
God has a seal so Satan has to have one, too. Do not be deceived! Be vigilant and alert for such counterfiet action. I would rather bear the seal of the Living God than to have the seal of the Beast. Wouldn't you?
The last book of the Bible, the Revelation, tells about the End Times. Of course, Satan is in the thick of things, deceiving folks and copying God. Read these two excerpts from Scripture:
"Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the Living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: "Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God." Revelation 7: 2 & 3
"He (the Beast) also forced everyone small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the Beast or the number of his name...His number is 666." Rev. 13: 16-18
God has a seal so Satan has to have one, too. Do not be deceived! Be vigilant and alert for such counterfiet action. I would rather bear the seal of the Living God than to have the seal of the Beast. Wouldn't you?
Don't Be So Lazy
"How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little folding of the hands to rest - and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man."
Proverbs 6: 9-11
When I was young, I wanted to be a cat because cats didn't have to do chores; they slept, played, ate and everyone still thought they were cute.
I complained to my dad once about having to do so much work. His response stuck with me: "If you didn't have work to keep you busy, what would you do?"
He's right! Life is laborious. Even when I take a vacation, there's a pile of stuff to attend to when I get home. Unless a person wants to live in squallor, that person has to get up and get busy. Like the proverb says, you rest on your laurels for too long and the dust bunnies sneak up to attack.
Proverbs 6: 9-11
When I was young, I wanted to be a cat because cats didn't have to do chores; they slept, played, ate and everyone still thought they were cute.
I complained to my dad once about having to do so much work. His response stuck with me: "If you didn't have work to keep you busy, what would you do?"
He's right! Life is laborious. Even when I take a vacation, there's a pile of stuff to attend to when I get home. Unless a person wants to live in squallor, that person has to get up and get busy. Like the proverb says, you rest on your laurels for too long and the dust bunnies sneak up to attack.
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