In a recent session of the current Old Testament Survey Class--The Long Story Short-- that I am teaching, we were reminded of the deceitfulness of sin. Sin is a peace thief. It is a joy robber. It is the destroyer of all good things in your life. Sin--no matter its form--troubles, represses, torments, and enslaves. Nothing good ever comes from sin. Since the Garden of Eden Satan has deceived people with doubt, distortion, delay, denial, and ultimately death. He whispers to us: "You will deny the pleasures, significance, rights, and privileges in your life if you are obedient to God. To really experience life, you need to do your own thing." There are three wrong assumptions about this lie:
1. Obedience to God is bad, limiting, and oppressive.
2. Disobedience will be fun, fulfilling, and accomplish my goals.
3. You have plenty of time to make amends with God. Timing is everything.
These are the assumptions that Satan must sell in order to succeed. Think of Eve in the Garden:
She saw an evil as good. She rejected God's truth, and accepted Satan's lie. Satan's lie seemed logical, rational, and pleasurable. She desired the forbidden. She followed her own passions, and deluded reasoning, and took the fruit. She ate it. Death was the consequence (Rom. 5:12). Not immediate biological death, but spiritual death and eventual biological death. Adam also willingly and knowingly sinned too.
Satan is a cunning liar--a murderer. He looks to deceive us (1 Pet. 5:8) and then accuse us to God (Rev. 12:9-12). The truth about sin is this: "After desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when it is fully grown, it gives birth to death" (James 1:14-15).
Think about it.
Friday, February 1, 2013
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
What Should Believers Do?
Today was another deadly day in our nation. Over 3,000 unborn children died by surgical abortion. Americans should understand this tragedy in the context of Roe v. Wade--the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to legalize abortion in our nation. The Newtown Massacre was a horrific event! But...is it more horrific than the 3,000 unborn murdered today? Yesterday over 3,000 unborn died and tomorrow over 3,000 unborn will die, and so it goes--every day for the past forty years. 54 million since 1973! Who knows how many more will die?
What should believers do?
1. Cry out to Almighty God in humility and repentance for our nation.
2. Continue to work through the available and necessary political avenues.
3. Focus (money and service) on opportunities of mercy such as crisis pregnancy centers.
4. Promote and support adoption. All BBC members remember our adoption fund.
You can contribute at any time. All monies go to actual adoption opportunities.
5. Preach the Gospel of repentance and faith in Christ alone.
6. Be compassionate to all who have chosen abortion as an option.
What should believers do?
1. Cry out to Almighty God in humility and repentance for our nation.
2. Continue to work through the available and necessary political avenues.
3. Focus (money and service) on opportunities of mercy such as crisis pregnancy centers.
4. Promote and support adoption. All BBC members remember our adoption fund.
You can contribute at any time. All monies go to actual adoption opportunities.
5. Preach the Gospel of repentance and faith in Christ alone.
6. Be compassionate to all who have chosen abortion as an option.
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Church Football
It's NFL Playoff time! (Please no snickering, scoffing, laughing and/or disparaging, or rude remarks about the Dallas Cowboys. I know!). Here's some Church Football to think about. I first read this in 1999!!
Quarterback Sneak: Church members quietly leaving during the invitation.
Draw Play: What many children do with the bulletin during worship.
Halftime: The time between Sunday School and worship when many chose to leave.
Benchwarmer: Church members who do not sing, pray, work, or anything but sit.
Backfield-in-Motion: Making a trip to the back (restroom or water fountain) during the service.
Staying in the Pocket: What happens to a lot of money that should be given to the Lord's work.
Two-minute Warning: The point at which you realize the sermon is almost over and begin to gather up your children and belongings.
Instant Replay: The preacher loses his notes and falls back on last week's illustrations.
Sudden Death: What happens to the attention span of the congregation if the preacher goes "overtime."
Trap: You're called on to pray and you are asleep.
End Run: Getting out of church quick, without speaking to any guest or fellow member.
Flex Defense: The ability to allow absolutely nothing said during the sermon to affect your life.
Halfback Option: The decision of 50% of the congregation not to return for the evening service.
Blitz: The rush for the restaurants following the closing prayer.
Funny! But don't hide behind the humor! Think about it!
Quarterback Sneak: Church members quietly leaving during the invitation.
Draw Play: What many children do with the bulletin during worship.
Halftime: The time between Sunday School and worship when many chose to leave.
Benchwarmer: Church members who do not sing, pray, work, or anything but sit.
Backfield-in-Motion: Making a trip to the back (restroom or water fountain) during the service.
Staying in the Pocket: What happens to a lot of money that should be given to the Lord's work.
Two-minute Warning: The point at which you realize the sermon is almost over and begin to gather up your children and belongings.
Instant Replay: The preacher loses his notes and falls back on last week's illustrations.
Sudden Death: What happens to the attention span of the congregation if the preacher goes "overtime."
Trap: You're called on to pray and you are asleep.
End Run: Getting out of church quick, without speaking to any guest or fellow member.
Flex Defense: The ability to allow absolutely nothing said during the sermon to affect your life.
Halfback Option: The decision of 50% of the congregation not to return for the evening service.
Blitz: The rush for the restaurants following the closing prayer.
Funny! But don't hide behind the humor! Think about it!
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
The One Thing
Many of us are beginning the new year with a resolve to read the Bible more faithfully and diligently than we did in 2012. Here are some thoughts that ought to make our reading more fruitful. Too much "clutter" can choke the Word, making us less obedient and faithful ("the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches"--Matt. 13:22). Do you have too many things--debt, distractions, obligations--for the really important things in life? Remember the "one thing" passages of the Bible:
"One thing you lack....sell whatever you have...and follow Me" (Mark 10:21).
"One thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that" (Luke 10:41-42).
"One thing....I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God" (Phil. 3:13-14).
Are you doing the one thing needed to spend time with God's Word, or is your life cluttered with so many trivial pursuits and urgent trifles that you can't get around to doing that "one thing"?
"One thing you lack....sell whatever you have...and follow Me" (Mark 10:21).
"One thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that" (Luke 10:41-42).
"One thing....I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God" (Phil. 3:13-14).
Are you doing the one thing needed to spend time with God's Word, or is your life cluttered with so many trivial pursuits and urgent trifles that you can't get around to doing that "one thing"?
Monday, December 31, 2012
Banished Words
I can't help but comment. Apparently, there are some words that are being "banished" from our every day conversations. The words are being rejected for misuse, overuse, or general uselessness. True, the banished words are from a non-binding list created by Michigan's Lake Superior State University. The suggested words come from surveys and suggestions primarily from the United States and Canada. Some of the suggested words are: fiscal cliff, superfood, guru, and spoiler alert.
The creators of this tongue-in-cheek decree are not the first to identify words that should be banished from our conversations. The apostle Paul wrote: "Let no unwholesome or corrupt words proceed from your mouth. But only such a word that is good for edification, according to the need for the moment, that you may bring grace to the hearer." The words that we speak should be edifying, appropriate at the time, and gracious. What words do you need to banish from your conversations? What edifying, timely, and gracious words do you need to add to your conversations?
Think about it.
The creators of this tongue-in-cheek decree are not the first to identify words that should be banished from our conversations. The apostle Paul wrote: "Let no unwholesome or corrupt words proceed from your mouth. But only such a word that is good for edification, according to the need for the moment, that you may bring grace to the hearer." The words that we speak should be edifying, appropriate at the time, and gracious. What words do you need to banish from your conversations? What edifying, timely, and gracious words do you need to add to your conversations?
Think about it.
New Year's Resolve
It's been since May 2012 that I've written anything on this page. I'm totally humiliated. It all started with such good intentions! I can't explain what happened. May turned into June, June turned into December, and now here we are in the last few hours of 2012. Maybe it was misplaced priorities, or laziness, or indifference. I don't know? Likely a combination of all these, but I have resolved to try again to be consistent with writing on this page. So...with a new determination, enthusiasm, and in keeping with the tradition of every new year, a definite resolution...I begin again to write, for certainly the time is now and near.
Six relevant questions to ask for 2013:
What's one thing that you can do this year to increase your enjoyment of God?
How will you best use your influence for His glory this year?
What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year?
What one thing could you do to improve your appreciation and understanding of the Bible this year?
What is the most helpful new way you could strengthen and benefit your friendships this year?
Who is the best person for you to practically and tangibly demonstrate true forgiveness toward this year?
Six relevant questions to ask for 2013:
What's one thing that you can do this year to increase your enjoyment of God?
How will you best use your influence for His glory this year?
What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year?
What one thing could you do to improve your appreciation and understanding of the Bible this year?
What is the most helpful new way you could strengthen and benefit your friendships this year?
Who is the best person for you to practically and tangibly demonstrate true forgiveness toward this year?
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Your Character is What You Are
Someone has said character is what you are when nobody is looking. In other words, our inner character determines our outward lives. This is why it is so essential that we guard and develop our inner life. Proverbs 4:23 reminds us; "Above all else, guard your heart with all vigilance, for from it flows the springs of life." What does this mean? How do we develop our character? First, this means that we should be aware of the wrong attitudes, bitterness, anger, lust, pride, greed, self-righteousness, and a whole host of other sins that can take root in our inner character and bear fruit (exhibit) themselves in our outer lives. Second, we should develop our character by never letting the seeds of these specific sins lie in our hearts for too long (this is how they take root). We should moment-by-moment confess our sins. We should immediately turn from (repent) of these sins, forsake them, and live in the assurance of forgiveness (1 John 1:9). Third, we should develop our character by creating the habit of daily Bible intake. Fourth, we should also learn to "pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Finally, we should learn the value of Scripture meditation and memory (Joshua 1:8).
As you might guess, to guard and develop our inner lives is not easy To really do these things they must be a priority. We can usually find time for what we want, even if we have to take time from something else. The most important priority in our lives is to grow in our relationship with God. Not only must it be a priority, but the flesh and Satan will work to keep spiritual growth from happening. Sure, you will take "two steps forward and one step back," but take courage, guarding and developing our heart is not done in our own strength. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Phil. 4:13).
As you might guess, to guard and develop our inner lives is not easy To really do these things they must be a priority. We can usually find time for what we want, even if we have to take time from something else. The most important priority in our lives is to grow in our relationship with God. Not only must it be a priority, but the flesh and Satan will work to keep spiritual growth from happening. Sure, you will take "two steps forward and one step back," but take courage, guarding and developing our heart is not done in our own strength. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Phil. 4:13).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)