What doors will open for you in 2024? A new job opportunity perhaps? Or maybe the door will open to make that long awaited trip. Perhaps the unexpected chance to scratch off another item on your bucket list. We all have improbable opportunities present themselves in life. Some of these open doors can change our lives, and even serve God.

When Paul was in Troas, he was preparing to go into Asia, but in a vision, he saw a man in Macedonia saying, “Come over and help us.” So Paul traveled to Macedonia and came to Philippi. Paul later told the Corinthians that in Phillippi, “a door was opened for me in the Lord” (2 Cor. 2:12). What door? First, he met Lydia during a prayer meeting down by the river and baptized her and all her household. Next, doors were really opened in the prison, that led to the conversion of the roman jailer and his household (Acts 16).

 God accomplishes His will by opening the doors of opportunity for us to walk through. We might call it providence, happenstance, or just dumb luck. In truth it is God working in our lives, directing us through the opportunities he presents to us. “Chance,” Anatole France said, “is the pseudonym of God when He did not want to sign.” How will God direct your life this year?  What doors will He open to for you? Are you ready to walk through those doors?

-Dennis Doughty

With a 3.5-year-old and a nearly 2-year-old in our house, we greatly value silence. Of course, we enjoy hearing our children playing with their toys and singing, but when they go to bed at the end of the day, we are usually “noised out” and ready for some quiet time. Silence is not only valuable; it is biblical.

Silence usually appears in the Bible in two contexts. The first is waiting for the Lord and trusting Him to act. The second is the wisdom of knowing when to keep silent.

David makes the following statement twice, with minor variations, in Psalm 62: “For God alone my soul waits in silence” (vv. 1, 5). In Exodus 14 Moses says to the people, “The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent” (v. 14). The silence in these verses indicates God’s sole ability to render human salvation (in these cases physical). Lamentations 3:26 says, “It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.”

We also find scenes in Scripture of God’s presence bringing about silence. Habakkuk 2:20 says, “But the LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him.” Likewise, we learn that at the opening of the seventh seal of the scroll in Revelation 8:1, “there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.” This is a reverential, deferential silence that recognizes God’s holiness and perfection.

The book of Proverbs repeatedly ties together wisdom and the ability to keep silent; Proverbs 17:28a says, “Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise” (also see 11:12; 18:13; 21:23; 29:11). Both Solomon and James teach similar truths (Ecclesiastes 3:7; James 1:19).

One of the greatest moments of silence in Scripture combines the two aforementioned contexts. In a prophecy fulfilled on the cross, Isaiah states of our Messiah, “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth” (53:7).

Jesus, God-in-the-flesh, displayed divine wisdom, presence, and salvation in this one special moment. The God-man kept silent so that men could share in the holiness and perfection of God. What a gift!

Clay Leonard

In a terrible accident at a railroad crossing, a train smashed into a car and pushed it nearly four hundred yards down the track. Though no one was killed, the driver took the train company to court.

At the trial, the engineer insisted that he had given the driver ample warning by waving his lantern back and forth for nearly a minute.  He even stood and convincingly demonstrated how he’d done it.  The court believed his story, and the suit was dismissed.

“Congratulations,” the lawyer said to the engineer when it was over.  “You did superbly under cross-examination.”

“Thanks,” he said, “but he sure had me worried.”

“How’s that?” the lawyer asked.

“I was afraid he was going to ask if the lantern was lit!”

In a similar way, we often go through our lives afraid that someone will ask us a particular question.  “If someone asks me why I believe in God and not evolution, what will I say?”  “What if someone asks me how I can possibly believe in the resurrection?”  “What do I say if someone asks me why I believe the Bible truly is the Word of God, or why I believe that it teaches this or that?”

Instead of being detrimental as in the case of the engineer above, though, such questions provide us with an opportunity to share our faith.

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.” (I Peter 3:15)

Don’t be afraid for anyone to ask!

Have a great day!

Alan Smith

My buddy was running late for lunch one day, which was very unlike him. When he finally made it to the restaurant and sat down across from me, I could tell he was a little frazzled.

“Sorry,” he said. “I’ve been on the phone with a business associate and well…”

I interjected, “They were giving you a hard time?” 

He smiled and said, “They were giving me an opportunity to love on them.”

That sentiment has stuck with me for a long time. When someone gives me a hard time, the instinct is to see it as an opportunity to get even. I may snap back at them or some other retaliation. Perhaps secretly I file the incident away to build of case of how they are a mean person and thus I can justly avoid them and have a low reputation of them. Yet, my buddy laid out a whole different perspective. Instead of seeing it as an opportunity to despise, I should see it as an opportunity to love.

Christians frequently ask God for opportunities to live out our faith. What we often forget is that those opportunities regularly show up as frustrating, difficult moments that put our faith to the test. Let’s call it like it is…It’s hard to love someone who is being ugly to you. Yet, what better way to practice loving like Jesus than to do it toward someone who has hurt me? It’s a lot more effective than returning the favor. Solomon observed, “Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses” (Prov. 10:12). Peter echoes the same sentiment, but with a greater sense of urgency. “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Pet 4:8). Think about it. If we can learn to love those who are giving us grief and trouble, how much easier is it to love on them when we are at peace?

The next time someone starts ruffling your feathers, don’t look at it as an opportunity to get even. Learn to see it as an opportunity to love on them.

Cory Waddell

Last week I drove past a man walking on the sidewalk carrying sacks from a purchase he’d evidently just made. He had no hands. His arms were stumps, but he was able to carry his sacks. He was managing.

Jesus entered a synagogue to teach. A man with a withered hand was there. It was widely known that he would heal people on the sabbath.

Then Jesus left that place and entered their synagogue. A man was there who had a withered hand. And they asked Jesus, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” so that they could accuse him. He said to them, “Would not any one of you, if he had one sheep that fell into a pit on the Sabbath, take hold of it and lift it out? How much more valuable is a person than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out and it was restored, as healthy as the other. But the Pharisees went out and plotted against him, as to how they could assassinate him. Matthew 12.9-14.

Why did Jesus go ahead and heal the withered hand? After all, the man wasn’t at risk of dying. He’d probably gotten along so far in life in his present state. Maybe Jesus could have set up with the man to heal on another day. What difference would another day or two make? Why upset the authorities even more? Someone might say, “See!? His actions provoked them to plot a plan to kill him.”

Our Lord’s actions provide his followers with many strong principles.

First, do good when it is in your power to do it.

“Do not withhold good from someone entitled to it when you have in hand the power to do it. Do not say to your neighbor, “Go! Return tomorrow and I will give it,” when you have it with you at the time. Proverbs 3.27-28 GGN/NET.

The apostle Paul also reminds us: “So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who belong to the family of faith” Galatians 6.10 NET.

Second, don’t let criticism or opposition keep you from doing good. Remember that it will often come from religious people. The joy-bus ministry back in the 1970s got lots of criticism — from people in the church. And when some were doing missions decades ago (not a thing anymore), many churches opted to do something within a day’s driving distance of their building.

Third, keep your mission to save souls at the forefront. Jesus didn’t go to the synagogue with the purpose of finding someone to heal. He went to teach. And teach he did — generating more opposition. His miracles pointed to his mission and showed the spiritual bankruptcy of the religious authorities and teachers. We ought to get the same important point today from his miracles. He went around doing good and his life culminated in the greatest good of all — salvation for mankind.

Fourth, know the relative value of things. People are more important than animals. This was Jesus’ argument to those who wanted to accuse him. He cited their own law against them. If you could save an animal on the sabbath, certainly you could save a man. An important application of this principle for us? The eternal spirit is more important than the body. The greatest good we can do for others is to teach them the way to salvation. That is why Jesus defined his mission as seeking and saving the lost, as preparing a place in heaven for his followers, as testifying to the redemptive truth. Jesus taught at length about Heaven and eternity. He wanted us to be “welcomed into the eternal homes” Luke 16.9. He, more than anyone, spoke about eternal hell.

Jesus wants to make us completely whole. By his miracles, he did that on earth for people. Only the man with the withered hand — or the man I saw with no hands — could appreciate not having a good hand. By his death, Jesus brought spiritual and eternal wholeness. Every broken heart and life can appreciate what this means. Those who pretend to have it all together, however, have no idea.

by J. Randal Matheny

Hubris! That is the only way I can describe it in retrospect. The idea that my presence could somehow control the chaos that comes with living in this world. But I am getting ahead of myself. Let’s back up a bit. For many years, my job has required a significant amount of travel. Sometimes I might be on the road for parts of many weeks in a row. In doing so, my thoughts are often distracted by care and concern for my family, who remain 1000 miles away. As many of us do, my habit has been to pause and pray to God for the safety and protection of my family. Interestingly, the phraseology of those prayers went something like this; “God, please take care of my family while I am away from them”. Think about that. That approach is basically saying that when I am home, “I got this”, but while I am away, please take over. As if God and I are tag-teaming the protection detail. Therein the hubris.

As we look around us at the seemingly random nature of threats in our lives, it is ever more comforting to simply turn over the protection detail to God in its entirety. We should be encouraged by the sheer number of ways that God promises His protection throughout scripture. He has any number of tools that offer us comfort and peace. Here are examples of just a few of those tools:

Protection derived from His impenetrable strength Psalm 46

Protection as a result of His salvation John 10:28-30

Protection of His love that is constant Romans 8:38

Protection from sin and Satan 1 Corinthians 10:13 and 2 Thessalonians 3:3

Protection derived from wisdom He provides Proverbs 4:6

Protection from disaster/destruction Psalm 57:1

Protection from our enemies Psalm 59:1-4

Protection from fear Deuteronomy 31:6

A couple of weeks ago, our family went on a trip to southwest Colorado and southeast Utah. We stayed overnight in Ouray, in lodging that backed up to the Uncompahgre River. My son and I went for an extended hike along the river and along the way, passed a rather inconspicuous trail marker that led straight up the side of the mountain. Of course, we took it. The trail and the mountain were steep and along the way, we walked across several slide areas that had required obvious trail reconstruction over time (my clumsy use of the literary device of foreshadowing). We arrived at a dramatic overlook a mile or two into the hike, enjoyed the view and started back toward the trailhead. Roughly 50’ after passing the first slide area, a number of boulders (one being half the size of a VW Bug) cut loose from above and tumbled across the trail we had JUST WALKED, less than 10 seconds prior. The large boulders caused the ground to shudder under our feet as they gained air then crashed back down to earth while traveling at a high rate of speed down the slide. The trail crossing the slide was obliterated, and we listened wide-eyed, as large trees snapped along the path of the boulders careening down the mountainside.

This event confirmed several things in my mind. First, that we have no real chance to provide protection to ourselves and our families from events like the one above. We are frankly helpless without God’s help. Second, it causes one to consider how many times God protects us in less obvious ways, when we might not even know it. Consider the flow of traffic that places us at a certain place at a certain time, but not at another place, therefore avoiding potential tragedy. Third, God answers prayer. I pray for God’s protection for my family every day, but I don’t always see the result of those prayers. In this case, the result was obvious.

Later that evening (after we started breathing again and had scrambled down the mountain rather quickly) I remembered Psalm 121. “The Lord will guard your going out and going in (everything that you do) from this time forth and forever.” Be comforted that God is always vigilant is His promised protection of us. Nothing is random with God and He always delivers on His promises.

Dean Murphy

Jesus cited Isaiah 6.9-10 to explain why people didn’t understand his parables. Paul cited the same passage, and Luke uses it at the end of Acts, to explain the rejection of the gospel by the Jews.

What catches our attention about the Isaiah passage is that it follows directly the account of the prophet’s vision of God’s holy glory and his calling to go speak to the people.

He said, “Go and tell these people: “‘Listen continually, but don’t understand. Look continually, but don’t perceive.’ Make the hearts of these people calloused; make their ears deaf and their eyes blind. Otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears, their hearts might understand and they might repent and be healed.”

We have often emphasized, and rightly so, the place of hearing in the plan of salvation. Without it, there will be no understanding of the message and no salvation by Christ.

Hearing, however, like faith, is not a one-time action. It is a continuous process. This is seen clearly in the calling of Isaiah. He was an Israelite, one of God’s people. He did what Israel refused to do, in the preceding verse:

I heard the voice of the Lord say, “Whom will I send? Who will go on our behalf?” I answered, “Here I am, send me!” v. 8.

The Lord spoke to Isaiah. He heard his voice and responded to it. The Lord’s question points up the need, his will and desire, the importance of speaking the message of God. And this man, sensitive to his sin in the presence of God, steps forward.

You and I aren’t going to be privileged to see a miraculous vision of God’s throneroom and hear the booming voice of the Lord. It’s not going to happen.

But we have been privileged to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ, who left that glory and became a human being, who lived as one of us and witnessed to glorious truth, who submitted himself to the will of God and humbled himself to the point of death — and death on a painful cross.

When we stand before that cross, we ought to hear the voice of the Lord say, “Whom will I send? Who will go on our behalf?”

And we ought to say, like Isaiah, “Here I am, send me!”

You and I who are the saints of God stand in the same position as the person who is hearing the truth of Christ for the first time. God speaks. The gospel and the calling are one and the same. We are saved to save.

Refusal to hear God and respond brings to both groups the same condemnation. He who refuses to hear the plan of salvation will not be saved. He who refuses to heed the call of Christ to go will not save others and he himself will be lost.

If the plan of salvation is precious to us, why is the call to go not as precious?

The American church is shrinking. It is shrinking for a single reason. Because it has refused to hear the voice of God.

It is time to wake up and listen. For God will cast her aside and find people willing to hear and to go. And the passage of Isaiah 6.9-10 will close another sad chapter in the history of the church, when his people refuse his word and find themselves excluded from the Kingdom.

Randal Matheny

It is estimated that people in this country spent about $2.2 billion dollars in 2018 on the services of psychics. Whether these people were trying to get someone to tell their future or trying to contact someone dead, it is a booming and profitable profession.

Even well-meaning Christians get caught up in the belief that it is possible in some ways for those living on earth to communicate with a loved one who has died. How many people will go to a grave and “talk” to a deceased person? How many in grief or loneliness will “talk” to someone cherished, admired, or missed as if they cannot only hear them, but can in some way send them a message of help or comfort? Last, how many believe or verbalize that they know some deceased loved one is “watching over them” or “protecting them”?

As sensitive as this subject can be for people, it is one in which Christians need a firm Biblical understanding so that we are not caught up in emotion rather than the truth.

According to the Law of Moses mediums were an “abomination to the Lord” (Deut. 18:10-12) and the Israelites were commanded not to consult with them. (Lev. 19:31; 20:6) There are numerous instances where mediums and wizards were grouped with all manner of wickedness. (2 Kings 21:6; 23:24; 2 Chron. 33:6)

God says that the “dead know nothing.” (Eccl. 9:5-6) In other words, the dead cannot see what is going on with those on earth and the Bible says that it is impossible for the dead to communicate with the living. In Luke 16:19-31, Abraham specifically tells the rich man that he cannot send Lazarus back to earth to speak to his brothers.

But why would God not want me to find comfort or guidance from those loved ones who have passed away? Isaiah answers this very question. “And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?” (Isaiah 8:19) God expects us to obtain our guidance and comfort from Him and Him alone!

Why would I pray to a loved one rather than to God who hears my prayers? Why would I ask of a dead loved one those things that God is so willing and able to provide to me as His child? In Luke 11:10-13 Jesus said, “For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? … how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

Randy Reagan

Several weeks ago I was told a sermon illustration with a very powerful reminder.

It begins with a scenario that each one of us is quite familiar with. You’re at the grocery store and you’re shopping for your weekly groceries. In this illustration we are introduced to two very different shoppers.

Shopper #1

This person can be summarized as an individual who is definitely NOT on a diet of any kind. They go through each aisle grabbing anything and everything that looks good to them. They aren’t concerned about health or nutrition, they get whatever they want. If it looks good, they grab it. If it tastes good, they take it.

Their shopping cart is filled with all kinds of unhealthy food. I’m talking Cheetos, Mountain Dew, Little Debbies, cake batter, and ice cream. Bottom line, Shopper #1 is an unhealthy individual who has only one desire, to eat what looks good to them with absolutely no consideration for nutrition or health. This individual is similar to those described in scripture who are trapped in several deadly sins. Shopper #1 through his choices symbolizes those in the world who choose to practice sins such as lusting (James 1:14-15), gluttony (Phil. 3:17-19), laziness (Prov. 6:6), anger (Col. 3:8), envy (Prov. 14:30), and pride (Prov. 16:18). The sins found in Shopper #1’s cart are by no means an exhaustive list, but they are examples of what to expect in this kind of person’s cart.

Shopper #2

This individual is a completely different type of shopper. They are on a serious diet. It’s almost depressing to look at wha’ts in their cart. It’s all healthy and beneficial to the body. It’s items like carrots, peas, broccoli, chicken breast, yogurt, fruit, and spinach. This person isn’t focused on the taste necessarily, but more on the nutrition and vitamins found in food. This shopper symbolizes the ones who Paul would call dedicated Christians.

1 Tim. 6:11, “But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.” Who does Paul call a man or woman of God? The shopper who chooses: Righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, and gentleness. The person who is dedicated to filling their cart with these things and other similar traits is a true Christian. Shopper #2 chooses to eat healthy no matter how gross or inconvenient the food may look. Both shoppers went to the same store and passed the same choices.

The illustration comes to a close as the two shoppers get to the checkout line.

Shopper #1 empties their cart at checkout and begins ringing up their grocery items. They scan their anger, their pride, their envy, and the rest of their life choices. They finish and pay what is due. Shopper #2 does the same. They scan their faith, love, gentleness and the rest of their godly choices. They empty their cart, but something unexpected happens.

As they reach for their wallet to pay the total on the screen says 0. Their groceries are paid for in full.

Shopper #1 lived his life however he pleased. He chose to do what made him happy and when checkout time came he was required to pay in full.

Shopper #2 lived their life according to God’s Word. They did their best to fill their cart with the things that pleased God.

Because of this decision, God has paid their bill in full. The one who has put on Christ and has devoted his life to serving God will find grace and mercy on that final day. Not out of his own good works, but through grace and salvation found in faith in God. This leads us to the all-important question, “What’s in my shopping cart?” Is it filled with the things I want? Is it junk food and sin? If so, one day I will pay for this decision. Or is it filled with the things that lead to eternal life? If your cart is filled with sin, there’s still hope (1 Cor. 6:9-11). If you have made the choice to fill your life with sin, it’s not too late to empty the cart and start over. And the time to do that is right now.

Carl Pollard

Some of the biggest mistakes people make come from assumptions.

The people of Nazareth made assumptions about Jesus that were very wrong. When he visited his hometown, Nazareth, Jesus attended the synagogue and taught there. It was an opportunity to tell people the truth about himself and God.

As Jesus taught the hometown folks, many of them became indignant (Matthew 13:54). One said, “Is not this the carpenter’s son?” That was an assumption. These people had seen Jesus all his life. They figured they knew who he was. But, oh, how little they did know!

Jesus is not the carpenter’s son. He is the son of God. The miracles the Lord performed before their eyes and his teachings proved this. But they had assumed because the young Jesus was with Joseph that he was Jesus’ father. They embraced the assumption while they rejected what their eyes and ears told them.

Then they asked, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these powers?” There is another assumption. “Where did this man…” Jesus wasn’t just a man. He is Immanuel or “God with us” (Matthew 1:23).

Humans make many assumptions. Some assume evolution is true, but when people honestly study the evidence of God’s word, it is shown to be false. Some of the established religions in the world would appear correct. Then, when the fruit of sexual misconduct and hypocrisy are apparent, they are proved to be false.

Isn’t it time to stop looking at the Bible through the doctrines and “confessions” of faith that are popular in some religious bodies? Isn’t it time to find out for yourself that the Bible alone is true?

John Henson

When Hezekiah became king he reversed what his father Ahaz had been doing and started to lead the nation of Judah back to worshipping God. He was 25 when he became king and his first recorded act, in the first month of his reign, was to put God’s temple in order. This required quite a bit of work in several areas.

First there was the physical building of the temple. Through many years of neglect it was in need of repair. Following this it needed to be consecrated, cleansed of anything that would make it ceremonially unclean. Hezekiah’s father Ahaz had set up idols to be worshipped in the temple and had even moved God’s altar from its central position to be replaced with one to a pagan god. Anything that had been associated with idolatry needed to be removed. What they hadn’t been doing – offering incense and burnt offerings to God – needed to begin to happen again.

Hezekiah recruited those who had been set aside by God to serve in the temple: the priests and Levites. They, too, had been neglecting their duties to God and serving idols. They immediately went to work.

“They assembled their brothers and consecrated themselves. Then they went in to purify the Lord’s temple, just as the king had ordered, in accordance with the word of the Lord. The priests then entered the Lord’s temple to purify it; they brought out to the courtyard of the Lord’s temple every ceremonially unclean thing they discovered inside. The Levites took them out to the Kidron Valley. On the first day of the first month they began consecrating; by the eighth day of the month they reached the porch of the Lord’s temple. For eight more days they consecrated the Lord’s temple. On the sixteenth day of the first month they were finished.” (2 Chronicles 29:15-17 NET)

For over two weeks they worked on just getting the paraphernalia associated with idolatry out of God’s temple. But it wasn’t enough to just get rid of it by dumping it outside the walls of Jerusalem in the Kidron Valley – they needed to put back what they should have been doing.

The day after they were finished Hezekiah brought sacrifices for a sin offering for the kingdom, the sanctuary and Judah. These were offered “to make atonement for all Israel” (2 Chronicles 29:20-24).

Following this they restored the worship of God with the various sacrifices and singing. There were so many animals brought to be offered that there were not enough priests to do it all – the Levites had to help. All of this was to restore the worship of God.

“There was a large number of burnt sacrifices, as well as fat from the peace offerings and drink offerings that accompanied the burnt sacrifices. So the service of the Lord’s temple was reinstituted. Hezekiah and all the people were happy about what God had done for them, for it had been done quickly.” (2 Chronicles 29:35-36)

He then commanded the people to observe the Passover. Even though it was a month late, because there were not enough priests consecrated to do it as they were cleansing the temple, “The Lord responded favourably to Hezekiah and forgave the people” (2 Chronicles 30:20).

What is sad in all of this is this statement: “There was a great celebration in Jerusalem, unlike anything that had occurred in Jerusalem since the time of King Solomon son of David of Israel” (2 Chronicles 30:26).

What happens when we wander away from God? Usually we start doing things we shouldn’t and not doing what God wants us to do. To get back to God we need to get rid of what is sinful and replace it with what God wants of us. Included in this is getting back to worshipping God as we read the Christians did at the first. When we do this we can once again serve God as his people.

Jon Galloway

Self-analysis is recommended. “Put yourselves to the test to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves!” 2 Corinthians 12.5a.

Here are three questions to aid all of us in being obedient to the Lord, for that is exactly the objective self-analysis should have.

1. If Christ returns today, what will he say to you?
2. Based on his words to you (final judgment), what would you have done yesterday?
3. What keeps you from doing today, right now, what you would have done yesterday?

The answers to these questions must be based upon the word of Christ which will judge us in the last day: “The one who rejects me and does not accept my words has a judge; the word I have spoken will judge him at the last day” John 12.48.

It is quite possible that Christ will return today. He tells us to be ready at all times. When he comes, he will say one of two things to every single person:

• Well done, come on in.
• Depart from me, you sinful creature.

Yesterday, in the questions above, stands for not only yesterday but all days in the past, although we’ve narrowed it down to help us focus on specific places, times, and events.

The third question focuses upon impediments to our obedience to the Lord.

“Just as ritual circumcision cuts away the foreskin as an external symbol of dedicated covenant commitment, you must genuinely dedicate yourselves to the Lord and get rid of everything that hinders your commitment to me, people of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem. If you do not, my anger will blaze up like a flaming fire against you that no one will be able to extinguish. That will happen because of the evil you have done” Jeremiah 4.4.

Paul asked the Galatians: “You were running well; who prevented you from obeying the truth?” Galatians 5.7. Relationships are often a big problem to committing to Christ and to remaining committed to him, because we act, change our ways, or bend our wills to please others. “Am I now trying to gain the approval of people, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ!” Galatians 1.10.

Many fail to proclaim the gospel to everyone because they are people-pleasers. And God is not pleased.

“For the appeal we make does not come from error or impurity or with deceit, but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we declare it, not to please people but God, who examines our hearts” 1 Thessalonians 2.3-4.

The disciple Ananias asked Saul, “Now, why wait any longer?” Acts 22.16 NCV. His question sought to sweep away any objections to obedience, any barriers to baptism. It still serves a useful purpose today, even to those who have been baptized, since faith and obedience must be ongoing. If you obedience is not yet complete, the question still stands: Why wait any longer?

Because Christ might well return today. And you’ll wonder why you didn’t do something different yesterday.

J. Randal Matheny

The following New Years conversation is from an old “For Better or Worse” comic strip. The family is seated around the breakfast table, and the father says: “Well, here we are in a brand-new year. I think we should all make some resolutions, don’t you?”
MOTHER: “O.K. I resolve not to criticize, to nag less and to bake more often.”

FAMILY RESPONSE: “Right on! Neat! Yeah!”

FATHER: “I resolve not to lose my temper, and to fix all the things in the house that need repairs.”

FAMILY RESPONSE: “Great! Okay!!!”

ELIZABETH: “I resolve to brush Farley (dog), to keep my room clean and not to fight with Michael.”

FAMILY RESPONSE: “Good!”

MICHAEL: “I resolve to play road hockey, hang out with my friends, and to watch TV.”

MOTHER: “Wait a minute! We all made real promises. Your resolutions are worthless.”

MICHAEL: “I know…but at least mine will be kept!”

It is quite easy to make resolutions; it is quite another thing to keep them. I saw a report on TV a few years ago that said January is the month in which more people sign up in aerobic and physical fitness clubs, and some never show up for the whole year. Others attend a few times and soon are seen no more.

However, the fact remains that making resolutions is a means of challenging ourselves to greater things. It is a good time to take inventory of our lives, and where we see a deficiency, to resolve to make the needed improvements. Someone once recommended the following “tips for success” in keeping one’s resolutions:

• Make “bite size” goals you can keep.
• Be realistic—avoid saying “never ever.”
• Find an “anti-procrastination partner” to keep you from slipping.
• Keep track of progress.
• Don’t set too many goals.

I would add some more. Isaiah voiced the basic one: “Seek the Lord while He may be found: call upon Him while He is near” Isaiah 55:6.

Rather than materially concentrating on enriching ourselves, we should resolve to follow our Lord’s recommendation:

“Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you” Matthew 6:33.

Resolve to look to the Lord for spiritual resources. What we cannot do of ourselves, the Lord can accomplish through us.

As Paul stated it: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” Philippians 4:13. And he didn’t even have to wait for a new year to do it!

BY RON BARTENAN

1. Grace brings peace (1 Thessalonians 1:1).
2. Grace gives us favor with God (Romans 3:24).
3. Grace is the generous attitude God has towards His people (Ephesians 1:6).
4. Grace brings salvation to sinful man (Titus 2:11).
5. Grace teaches us how to live (Titus 2:11-12).
6. Grace gives us a glimpse of God’s Character (John 1:16).
7. Grace appeared in the flesh (Titus 2:11).
8. Grace originated from God (Eph. 2:4-5).
9. Grace is powerful (2 Corinthians 12:9).
10. Grace helps put Heaven in view (Acts 15:11).
11. Grace helps us be the salt of the earth (Acts 4:33).
12. Grace is an attribute of Christ (John 1:14).
13. Grace is an attribute of Christians (2 Corinthians 8:7).
14. Grace puts the word “Christ” in Christian (John 1:17).
15. Grace is a powerful motivator (Titus 2:13-14).
16. Grace is a gift (that is often left unopened, Ephesians 2:8).
17. Grace gives us hope (Romans 6:14).
18. Grace shows us the love of God (Romans 5:8).
19. Grace brings comfort (Hebrews 4:16).
20. Grace is given to the humble (James 4:6).
21. Grace gives us strength ( 2 Timothy 2:1).

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,

That saved a wretch like me.

I once was lost but now am found,

Was blind, but now I see.

T’was Grace that taught my heart to fear.

And Grace, my fears relieved.

How precious did that Grace appear

The hour I first believed.

Carl Pollard

From 1923 to 1985, Robert Woodruff was president of Coca-Cola. He wanted Coke to be available to every American serviceman around the world for five cents, no matter what it cost the company. That was a bold vision! But it was nothing compared to the bigger picture he could see in his mind’s eye. In his lifetime, he wanted every person in the world to have tasted Coca-Cola. When you look deep into your heart, and soul for a vision for God’s glory, what do you see?

Jesus was the most visionary man the world has ever known. His vision embraced the whole world for the sake of the world. He said, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature…” (Mark 16:15). That is vision! The kind that will provide a new world! How are we going to carry that vision into your community in 2024?

The Bible says, “So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people…” (Gal. 6:10). But it takes vision to see the opportunities. We actually “create luck” when we see opportunity.

With Jesus, the vision started within. He had come to earth to teach men how to honor God. He began teaching and people started following Him, so then He called a dozen of those men and gave them powers and sent them out with His vision. Let’s look at Matthew 10…

1. Focus – Notice verses 5-7.
2. Be equipped – Verse 8.
3. Trust – Verses 9-10.
4. Don’t waste time on infertile soil – verses 11-15.
5. Understand the challenges – verses 16-20.

2024 can be a great year for the church, if we have all our members putting their vision into focus and then acting on that vision.

What is your vision for your contribution to the health and growth of your congregation? Let’s put it into reality.

Paul Holland

Well, we finally got the Christmas tree up…after Thanksgiving…before the Christmas band concerts and parties. In my humble opinion, it was the right time to do it. No doubt there will be two primary responses to our timing. Some of you are thinking, “Cory! What’s wrong with you? It’s way too late for that! You should’ve had that tree up while your turkey was frying!” Others are saying, “Thank you for your sanity and reasonableness. I’ll be over this weekend with my Christmas sweater, Bing Crosby, and eggnog!” This is one of those, mostly, friendly discussions that comes up every year. When is it the right time to put up your Christmas tree? The real answer, whether you like it or not, is, “Whenever you want to.”

However, there are a lot of actions in our lives that require a much more urgent response. Things that, for some reason, we have a tendency to put off “just a little bit longer,” or “until the timing in right.” Sadly, such reasoning tends to result in perpetual procrastination, and we never see them accomplished.

For instance:

• When is the right time to apologize for hurting someone? (Matt 5:23-24)
• When is the right time to use kind words? (Eph. 4:29)
• When is the right time to be a peacemaker instead of a pot-stirrer? (Matt. 7:12)
• When is the right time to tell someone you love them? (Rom. 13:8)
• When is the right time to get rid of sinful and harmful habits? (Pro. 28:13)
• When is the right time to give full control of your life to God? (Act 22:16)

The answer to all of the above is, “Now!” Now is the time to do the right thing.

I think it’s safe to say that all of us have one or more of these situations (or something like them) which need to be dealt with immediately. Why are you putting off handling it? Is it really because the timing is not right? Or is it more an issue of personal, stubborn pride? Only you can answer that, and I hope you will answer it honestly. More importantly, I hope we can all understand that the right time is now to do what we know we should.

Cory Waddell

Beethoven may have poisoned himself – inadvertently. That’s what William Walsh, a scientist from Illinois, suggested after studying strands of hair from the body of famous classical composer Ludwig van Beethoven. Walsh discovered that Beethoven’s body had one hundred times the normal amount of lead. He concluded that Beethoven’s untimely death at the age of fifty-seven was due to lead poisoning.

Beethoven’s lead poisoning may have been due to the mineral spa he went to for relaxation. The very thing he thought was bringing him relief was slowly poisoning him to death.

Spiritual poison is like that. As people engage in practices and embrace ideas that are spiritually poisonous, they think they’re becoming more spiritual. But in reality, they’re gradually being poisoned to eternal death.

Paul encourages the Christians in Rome to leave their sinful lifestyle behind them and “obey from the heart” the pattern of Gospel teaching so that they can be sanctified.

DO NOT LET SIN REIGN IN YOUR MORTAL BODY – 6:12-14:

Verse 12 shows us that it is possible for us to allow sin to reign in our physical bodies. Even if we become Christians, it is still possible for us to live in sin. But Paul says we should not! Verse 13 has a command: “do not present your members of your body for the purpose of sinning, as tools for unrighteousness.”

So instead of grace giving us a license to sin or to live in sin, actually being saved by grace is a motivation to not live in sin!

YOU BECAME OBEDIENT FROM THE HEART – 6:15-19:

Paul speaks from their everyday experiences: when you present yourself as a slave for obedience, it stands to reason that you are a slave of the one whom you obey. So if you are a slave of sin (ver. 16), your life will result in death. If you are a slave of obedience to God, your life will result in righteousness!

But, Paul writes in excitement in verse 17, by the grace of God they have been presented the Gospel of Christ, which brings salvation (1:16) and they have been obedient to it! So that at one time, they were slaves of sin, but they obeyed – notice where it starts: in the heart – from the heart the forms or pattern of teaching to which they had committed themselves – the pattern of the Gospel message. This is a reference back to 6:3-4 and to everything that is involved in becoming a Christian.

So Paul gives us another command in verse 19: Present your members as slaves to righteousness. Serve God in righteousness; live a righteous life. The result will be that you are separated from a sinful world, even as you live in a sinful world, but you will be in the kingdom of God’s beloved Son!

ENSLAVED TO GOD, YOU DERIVE YOUR BENEFIT: ETERNAL LIFE – 6:20-23:

A person who is not a Christian is shackled to sin; he or she is not shackled to Christ (ver. 20).

So Paul asks them this sobering question in verse 21: What benefit did you get from practicing things that you are now ashamed of? Why can’t we live in sin so that grace can about? Because the sinful lifestyle bring shame, that’s why!

The payment or reward or outcome of a sinful lifestyle is death – eternal separation from God. The payment or reward or outcome of living a righteous life in Jesus Christ, which is God’s gracious gift to us, is eternal life in Christ Jesus, our Master.

Don’t live in sin; continue obeying from the heart so that your reward will be eternal life.

Paul Holland

Two men were eager to climb the Matterhorn, a particularly steep and treacherous mountain.  They hired three guides and started the climb.  When they reached the steepest and most dangerous part, the men roped themselves together in this order: guide, traveler, guide, traveler, guide.  On their way up, the guide at the back lost his footing.  The other four men were able to hold him up until the next man slipped and pulled two others down with him.  Being roped together, now all four men were held in place by the first guide at the top.  Wisely, this man had driven a spike deep into the ice and anchored himself to the mountain.  This allowed enough time for all of the men to regain their footing (F.B. Meyer).

So much of our spiritual journey to heaven can feel like this climb. We’ve all lost our footing on the way up (Romans 3:23). Thankfully, we’ve had others there to help us when we slipped (Galatians 6:1-2). Sadly, sometimes our slips have brought others down as well.  Praise the Lord, however, that Christ is leading the way!

Christ will never slip or fall (Mark 16:19). He is our anchor, firm and secure (Hebrews 6:19). He is our rock and our foundation (1 Corinthians 3:11).  He is our Savior (1 John 4:14-16).

Christ will always stand strong.  At times we may slip, but as long as we stay attached to Him, we will not fall.

Brett Petrillo

It is remarkably easy to claim to love and adore God, but how do we even discern our treatment of the Lord? While perhaps there are some other things involved, let’s consider one particular factor that perhaps should startle many Christians.

Consider the thrust of an argument set forth by the apostle John in 1 John 4. In verse 12 he states, “No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.” Love towards one’s brother in Christ is equated with love for an unseen God. In verses 20-21 John goes on to say, “If anyone says, ‘I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.” When a Christian claims to love God and at the same time hates his brother, John says, “he is a liar.” It is hypocritical to claim to love a God that one cannot see when he does not love brethren he does see.

Now consider what the Lord said to Saul when He appeared and spoke to him in Acts 9. Verse 3 states: “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” Saul was persecuting Christians. But the Lord indicates that there was a sense in which Saul was persecuting Him. There was a corresponding relationship between the way Saul treated Christians and the way He was treating the Lord.

While it is understood that Christians have specific responsibilities toward God (like worship) and that this relationship trumps all others, it is mandatory that they see that in some ways their relationship with the Lord cannot surpass their relationship with brethren and others. In fact, Jesus uses this reasoning concerning how the eternal judgment will work out. When we rightly serve others, we are serving the Lord. When we neglect others, we are neglecting the Lord. Jesus says in Matthew 25:40, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.” And then He says in verse 45, “Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.”

Consider one final text pertaining to this matter. The theme of the book of Colossians is the supremacy of Christ in all things (see Col. 1:15-20). Evidently, the supremacy of Christ in our lives demands proper treatment of family and others. Paul indicates it is “fitting in the Lord,” for wives to submit to their husbands (see Col. 3:18); as well as for husbands to love their wives (v. 19); and children to obey their parents (v. 20). And Paul even goes on to discuss the slaves obedience to their masters. Please note that they serve with integrity because they “fear the Lord” (v. 22). But don’t miss the next verse: “Whatever you do, work heartily as for the Lord and not for men” (v. 23).

That person we have a relationship with needs to be treated in a very Christ-like manner. We are responsible to God for this, and doing so will bless our lives beyond measure. Take close inventory of the way you treat others. You can’t treat God better than you do them!

How are you treating the Lord?

Daren Schroeder