“Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” (Matthew 7:3).

This question is meant to be answered. Someone once told me, “We see ourselves with rose-colored glasses; we see others with magnifying glasses.”

Why DO we so easily see the faults of others, but not our own?

With our eyes, we drink in the world around us. We think we see so clearly. In fact, we do not see as clearly as we think we do (cf. John 7:24). Appearances are often deceiving.

• The guy coming out of the bar may have just been servicing the cooler.
  • The girl who always takes the lead may just be overcompensating for deep insecurity.
  • The highly-successful star athlete may just want his dad to notice him.

The only person we really can see is the self. Even then, we have the ability to deceive.

We can erect interior walls in this house. We may even build a maze. We most certainly build closets.

We are not our body or our feelings. We are not our inclinations or experiences. We are the person watching them in the theater of the mind.

• We are connected, yet separate from those things.
  • We are observing our decisions, our thoughts, our memories.
  • That is who we really are.

The degree to which we know ourselves is the degree to which we can answer Jesus’ question. If we spend all our time in “outer” space, we won’t even hear the question. We’ll think its rhetorical.

Superficiality is like eating candy. It’s cheap. It’s accessible. It tastes good. This is how most people live.

Living introspectively is a challenge. It takes time and effort to be honest, to clean our own house.

• It humbles us.
  • It makes us less quick to judge.
  • It makes us quicker to extend mercy.
  • It makes us compassionate and vulnerable.

How many people do you work with who are like this? Family members? Fellow Christians?

You can sense who introspective people are by their humility, patience, mercy, compassion and unconventional honesty.

Why do we see the speck? Because logs are harder to move.

Rick Kelley

A decision we must make

The congregation stood to sing an invitation song when a young woman stepped away from the pew and walked down the aisle toward the preacher.

“I want to be baptized for the remission of sins,” she told him, “I want to become a Christian.”

She was so very happy when she walked from the waters of baptism that morning. She was a new child of God. She rejoiced before us as she pledged to give her life to her Savior.

Three hours later, after a meeting with her mother-in-law, she decided never to return to the church. She had been convinced her husband and his family would disown her and take her child. The burden was too difficult to bear. She let the church know of her decision through a relative.

The Lord Christ unites people, but he also divides them. Jesus should have been accepted as Lord and Christ by the Jews. He should have been adored and worshiped by them, but many rejected him. The scribes and Pharisees opposed him and wanted him killed. Jesus told his apostles they would be handed over to the courts and beaten (Matthew 10:17).

The rejection of Jesus would extend into families. Jesus said, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on Earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword” (Matthew 10:34).

The sword of God’s truth can unite or divide people. It isn’t how Jesus preached the gospel that was the cause; it was the decision that makes the determination.

For the young woman who was so excited to be baptized, the cost of discipleship was just too high. But, if one loves father, mother, son, daughter, or even husband or wife more than Jesus, then one is not worthy of the Lord (Matthew 10:37).

Yes, Jesus brings a hard choice with him. Basically, however, the decision is either salvation or condemnation. Such is a decision we all must make.

John Henson

Loneliness

“Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun: there is one alone, without companion; he has neither son, nor brother . . . This also is vanity and a grave misfortune” (Ecclesiastes 4:7-8 NKJV).

I have traveled often both with and without companions from the U.S. Thankfully, I have never had to travel in other countries completely by myself. Whether or not there are other Americans in the party, I always am accompanied by Christians native to the countries which I visit. I would never say that I could or would not go alone; however, I certainly prefer the fellowship of others whenever it is available.

Solomon discussed the advantages of companionship:

“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12).

Summarized briefly the wise King argues that companionship is beneficial because:

1. Two (or more) can accomplish more than one alone.
2. If problems arise, there is help immediately available.
3. A companion offers additional warmth (this may be emotional and/or spiritual as well as physical).
4. Two or three are stronger than one and thus are able to provide greater security in threatening situations.

The New Testament speaks often of the blessing of Christian fellowship. As soon as the Church was established, disciples began to spend much time together (Acts 2:41-47). Their activities included having meals together, studying God’s word, praying, evangelizing, and doing good works for others. The key to this whole paragraph, however, is found in verse 44: “Now all who believed were together.” That is a statement not only of how things were in the first days of the Church but of how they should always be.

I have often been told by others, “I believe in God, but I don’t see any need for attending church.” The idea seems to be that one can read the Bible, pray, and maintain a personal relationship with God without any need for fellowship with other Christians. This concept is foreign to Scripture (See for example Hebrews 10:23-25).

In great contrast, we are commanded to love and prefer each other (Romans 12:10), to help one another (Galatians 6:1-10), and to seek the interests of others (Philippians 2:4). Jesus taught that we serve him as we serve people in need (Matthew 25:31-46). There is no provision for solitary relationships with God or with Christ. The very definition of Christianity involves fellowship with others: “By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35).

Spiritual loneliness is a great threat to faith. The good news is that it is almost never necessary. Jesus provided his Church as a constant source of comfort, encouragement, and security. Every Christian is, immediately upon conversion, added to the Church. Its fellowship is a great and essential blessing to which every believer has access, and for which every believer has need. Let us never neglect such company.

Invite a young person to services this weekend.  And a free lunch!

Michael Brooks

Imagine the following scenario: You came up with an amazing ministry idea for your church. It was your “brain child,” so you set up a meeting with the bishops of your congregation and just as you thought, they too, loved your idea!  In fact, they are elated with it.  “Yes, absolutely, yes!” they said. “We want to implement your ministry idea as soon as possible.  However,  we don’t want you to do it because, in our judgment, we don’t think you’re the right person for the job. Instead, we’re going to select someone else to implement this great idea.”

Okay, so what are the words that would best describe your feelings if the above scenario happened to you?  Angry? Hurt? Resentful? Shocked?

Am I at least close in those guesses? Would this be enough to make you want to start attending the church across town? Or if you stayed, at the same church, would you withdraw and have nothing to do with your idea since your leaders didn’t want you to do it?

I don’t know what you would do, but I do know what David did when he faced a similar situation. David had it “in his mind” to build a house to the name of the Lord (1 Chronicles 22:7). It was David’s idea.  It was his “brain child.”  But note what the Lord said, “You have shed much blood and have made great wars; you shall not build a house for my name…Behold, a son shall be born to you…he shall build a house for my name…” (1 Chronicles 22:8-10).

We know the story, but don’t remove the human element! This had to hurt. God basically said, “Good idea, David, but you’re not the right kind of man to do this. I’m going to pick someone more qualified than you.”

So what did  David do?  Did he get angry and pout?  Did he withdraw? Did he wash his hands of the project?  Did he set stumbling blocks in the way of his successor? No, listen to how he responded, “David prepared iron in abundance for the nails of the doors of the gates and for the joints, and bronze in abundance beyond measure, and cedar trees in abundance…So David made abundant preparations before his death” (1 Chronicles 22:1-6).  Although David was rejected, his idea wasn’t, and he worked to make sure his idea succeeded.

Does David’s attitude challenge you as much as it does me? No wonder he was called a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14).

–Source unknown

Indestructible lives within our grasp

It probably sounds too good to be true. Nevertheless, Jesus revealed through his teachings and his actions that he wants to help us obtain indestructible lives.

On a hillside long ago as Jesus concluded his Sermon on the Mount, he explained why he had spent so much time discussing money, values, relationships, the role of God’s people in the world, and so much more.  Jesus said he wanted to help us build lives that would be impervious to the storms of life.

“Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the flood arose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock” (Matthew 7:21,24-25).

Throughout this sermon Jesus contrasted two very different ways we can live our lives. One path involves living as a disciple who organizes his or her life around treasuring God and seeking his kingdom and righteousness above everything else. Yet the cost of such a lifestyle involves walking down a road that is much less traveled. However, it is a life that is “blessed,” even though it stands in stark contrast to what is commonly considered successful.

On that day all of his teachings culminated in a dramatic moment confronting us with a sharp choice. Accept his teachings and put them into practice or casually dismiss and forget them. For those willing to overcome fear in order to step out in faith to pursue the journey of being a disciple, Jesus promises: Your life will not collapse. This is quite a promise. But then, the Messiah, the Son of God, is capable of offering it.

Not only did Jesus teach how to live, he also lived that life himself. Furthermore, he even died to make eternal life possible for us. Jesus is serious about what he wants to do for our lives.

An adventure with God awaits!

Barry Newton

In with the old, in with the new

I became aware about a decade ago that our young people no longer know the old songs. They generally sing “contemporary” songs with vigor, but sit silent when many older, “traditional” songs are offered.

Let’s be clear: I am not arguing that traditional songs are better. There are many older songs that lack sufficient biblical content or whose music is not well suited to the words. If a song does not live up to spiritual expectations, new or old, it should probably fade into disuse.

All old songs were new once; all new songs will be old one day.

Yet if we accept the unwritten rule that only songs written in the last five years should be sung, then what will we do in five years time? Eradicate the songs we’re singing right now?

Does it matter?

I believe it does. I believe a great part of our congregations’ spiritual nutrition derives from the songs we sing. Our songs teach. They allow Christ’s words to “dwell in us richly” (Colossians 3:16). In song we “teach and admonish each other” (Ephesians 5:19).

In other words, the song leader bears a responsibility similar to that of the preacher, and one just as heavy. What does this congregation need to know about Deity, our responsibilities to God, and to each other? A good song leader will be able to select from a broad selection of hymns that do this job. He might ask himself, do I know a good selection of hymns on the cross, or the church? On our love for each other? Or God’s love for us? To limit himself to one genre of songs would be to limit his ability to “teach and admonish” the brethren he serves.

Such songs therefore must be rooted in biblical thought. We need to ask better questions of a song than whether it is new or old.

There have been two thousand years of hymns sung since the arrival of Christ. Three thousand years if we count the Psalms. A good song leader will spend some time thinking about the songs before him, asking whether they are biblical, elegantly expressed, whether the music lifts the words to greater heights.

We hurt senior saints when we snatch from them the songs that have fed and nourished their hearts; we hurt younger saints when we demand that “only” traditional songs be sung.

Sometimes I lead a song that is so old … it seems new to modern singers.
Christians have a rich heritage of hymns from which to draw; let’s not succumb to chronological amnesia. Every generation provides new songs that enrich what we already have; neither should we succumb to an aversion to the new just because it is new.

Song leaders, we have another, more important agenda; let’s feed our congregations by our thoughtful selection of songs. Let’s do what Paul suggested: Do “everything” for the purpose of “edification” (1 Corinthians 14:26).

Stan Mitchell

Have you ever talked with someone who seemed to believe he was saved by “grease” and not “grace?” In other words, if he ever makes it to Heaven, he pictures himself barely making it, just slipping in before the gates are closed behind him on his coat tail. Such a view misrepresents how God saves men. No one will ever “slip” into Heaven, and the reason is that we are saved by “grace” and not by “grease.”  Those who enter Heaven will be granted an “abundant entrance” (2 Peter 1:11), and won’t just slip through the gates as they close.

Instead of thinking of our entrance into Heaven being like a test on which we must score a certain percentage, think of it as a pass/fail test. We’ve either been saved by the blood of Christ or not. We’re either his or we aren’t. We’re either walking in the light or we’re walking in darkness. We’re either faithful or we’re unfaithful.

So what about you? Are you saved (Ephesians 1:7)? Are you in him (Ephesians 1:11)? Are you walking in the light (1 John 1:7)? If the answers to those questions are, “Yes,” you won’t barely “slip” into heaven, you’ll be granted an abundant entrance and will get to hear the Lord say, “Well done” (Matthew 25:21)!

by Steve Higginbotham

We are living in a historical moment right now. Very few, if any, have lived in a time of a global pandemic such as this. Thankfully, God has provided a guide to make sure you and your family are adequately prepared.

• Stop worrying (Matthew 6:25-34; Philippians 4:6-7).
• Call the Great Physician with comments and concerns (Psalm 103:2-3).
• Avoiding sin infected crowds (1 Corinthians 15:33).
• Wash your hands (James 4:8; Titus 3:5).
• Don’t forget to sanitize (1 John 1:9).
• Let the light in (1 John 1:7).
• Practice healthy habits (Philippians 4:8-9).
• Exercise your godliness (1 Timothy 4:8).
• Eat healthy (Matthew 5:6).
• Trust in the Lord (Proverbs 3:5-6).
• In the worst-case scenario, remember the end reward (Revelation 21:1ff).

There is no doubt the Coronavirus is concerning for many, but it pales in comparison to the spiritual damage, death, and destruction from sin. While God cares about our physical concerns, above all else, He cares about our spiritual health.

Let’s do everything we can to keep ourselves and our loved ones spiritual clean.

Brett Petrillo

Lord Thomas Babington Macaulay, a 19th-century British historian, suggested, “Man plus fear, minus God equals man over man.”  Stated another way, without religion to anchor or provide meaning to a culture, anything and everything is possible and permissible.

Isa 5:24 – Therefore as the tongue of fire devoureth the stubble, and as the dry grass sinketh down in the flame, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust; because they have rejected the law of Jehovah of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.

–Selected

During the first century, a runaway slave fled from the city of Colossae all the way to Rome, more than 1300 miles away.  Apparently, he didn’t want to get caught! It was while he was in Rome that he happened to hear and be converted by the imprisoned, Apostle Paul.  In a letter that Paul wrote to Philemon, Onesimus’ former master, Paul entertained the idea that this entire event (i.e. Onemisus running away, running all the way to Rome, meeting Paul, and becoming a Christian) was all a part of God’s providence. Was he certain of it?  No, but he said, “perhaps” (Philemon 15). What an amazing set of circumstances, and possibly all orchestrated by God!

But let me remind you of something.  God’s providence is as active in today’s world as it was in the days of the apostle Paul. God still works good on behalf of those who love and seek him.

Enter Ron and Zona Hogan. Ron and Zona are good friends of mine who live the in the remote town of Kotzebue, Alaska (take the time to look it up on a map). For years, Ron and Zona have faithfully worshiped in their home, inviting others in their small community to join them. Recently, a couple named Precio and Joseline, moved to Kotzebue from the Dominican Republic. Ron and Zona struck up a friendship with them, despite the language barrier (Englsih/Spanish).  Joseline, who was already a Christian and her husband began worshiping with and studying with Ron and Zona. Last week, Precio told Ron that he wanted to be baptized into Christ. Ron contacted a Spanish speaking friend in Texas and had her translate the words he was going to say prior to baptizing Precio.  So, Ron was able to speak to him in his native language and hear Precio say, “Jesucristo es el Hijo de Dios.” (Jesus Christ is the Son of God).

Now, what are the odds that Ron Hogan, from Kentucky, would meet Precio, from the Dominican Republic, in Kotzebue, Alaska? Is this any less amazing than Paul’s unlikely meeting with Onesimus? Not at all.  Was this the providence of God at work today? I’ll answer that question as Paul did 2000 years ago, “Perhaps!”

– Steve Higginbotham

There was once a man who decided that he wanted to lose weight. To that end, he weighed himself on his bathroom scale and determined that he weighed 250 pounds. For the entire next week, he exercised and tried to cut back on what he ate. At the end of the week, he got on the scale and determined that he weighed 260 pounds. He was so angry at what the bathroom scale told him that he took the scale into the garage, got a sledge hammer and beat it to smithereens.

The next day he determined that there had to be something wrong with the scale. So he drives to Wal-Mart and purchases a brand new one. He returned home, made sure that it was properly calibrated, and stepped on to ascertain his weight. The scale revealed that he weighed 262 pounds. It was not what he expected, but he accepted that as a good starting point for his newly renewed attempt at weight loss. For the next week he exercised and watched his food intake (to some extent).

After the week was over, he got back on the brand new, recently calibrated scale and determined that he weighed 272 pounds. Once again in a state of rage, he takes the scale into his garage, obtains a sledge hammer, and beats the scale until it is little more than springs, dials, and twisted metal.

Afterward, he travels to “Bed, Bath, and Beyond” to purchase a brand new state of the art scale. This time he is convinced he will get the results he wants.  He comes home with his new treasure, but this time he tries a new method of calibration. Instead of setting it to reflect zero with no weight on the device, he sets it to 42 pounds off of zero. Thus it was really set at negative 42 pounds every time he or any other person stepped on the bathroom scale.

After one week of exercise and very little monitoring of food intake, he stepped on the scale and weighed 240 pounds. He was very excited that he had lost ten pounds in about a three week period of time! In actuality, he weighed 282 pounds! By his own actions, devoid of an accurate graduate of weight (an authority), he invented his own truth.

Regardless of how many scales this man destroyed, manipulated, or changed, the truth remained that he was gaining weight instead of losing it. Many people seem to believe that they have arrived at the truth when they have invented it to suit their needs, wants, and desires. Sadly, this is the way many people treat God’s truth, the Bible.

Some people seek to destroy the truth. King Jehoiakim took out his pen knife cut God’s word into pieces and burned it in a fire.

“And it came to pass, that when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, he [Jehoiakim] cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth. Yet they were not afraid, nor rent their garments, neither the king, nor any of his servants that heard all these words.”  Jeremiah 36:23-24.

The truth can be destroyed in various ways.

Some people attack God’s word by saying that it is not accurate, reliable, or trustworthy in regards to the way it was recorded and transmitted. The truth of the matter is that the history, archeology, geography, and terminology of the Bible is extremely accurate. The Bible has the greatest attestation of any book from antiquity. It is beyond compare in regards to criticisms that have been leveled and defeated by scholarly examination.

Over the centuries many have sought to manipulate the truth to suit their own needs. The Sanhedrin produced false witnesses that lied about Christ’s comments regarding His earthly tabernacle.

“And the chief priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death; and found none. For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together. And there arose certain, and bare false witness against him, saying, We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands. But neither so did their witness agree together.” Mark 14:55-59

Their lie composed portion of the prevarications that nailed our Savior to the cross. Lies have consequences even for those who are not guilty of having told them.

Finally, some have boldly lied about God’s word and sought to change it to their own perverse ends. Sadly, there are people in the religious world who are guilty of this very thing. Balaam was courted by Balak for the purpose of bringing a curse upon the people.

“And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me: For I will promote thee unto very great honour, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.” Numbers 22:16-17.

As a result of Balaam’s compliance in the whole affair, God showed His anger.

Notice how Balaam’s intentions are characterized by the angel of the Lord.

“And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine donkey these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me: And the donkey saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive.” Numbers 22:32-33

Balaam was running headlong into doing the very thing that displeased God. Balaam did not do it out of ignorance—he did it in spite of what he knew to be true.

Unlike Balaam, sometimes people do things through ignorance. Peter believed that there were individuals who were ignorant about the true identity of Jesus. He says, in Acts 3:14-15, 17,

“But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses… And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.”

Sadly ignorance will not be an excuse on the Day of Judgment (Luke 12.48).

The truth is a very precious thing, and it should never be taken for granted! John 8:31-32 says,

“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

Any honest, objective treatment of God’s truth will set one free from sin and death.

By Johnny O. Trail

Like me, I am sure you have a few scars that you see each day and remember how and where you got them. Naturally, some are more obvious than others and some only you know where they are.

As for me, I have a scar on the back of my left hand; this was a result of installing an electric fuel pump on a street machine I was building. I also have two on my left index finger from cleaning fish and one on the little finger from a crab bite.

Then there is a scar on my right wrist from a work accident. Also, there is a scar on my right thumb from the time I worked as a pin setter in a bowling alley. There is also a scar from a burn on my right wrist.

On my left ankle, there is one from a bicycle accident, and I have scars on both knees from a motorcycle accident. I have a scar on my upper lip and one on my chin from a car accident and one above my left eyebrow from a rock fight as a kid.

As I said, I am sure we all have a few scars, and we remember the how, when and why we have them. Our spiritual body is like that, let me explain.

As a non-Christian, we all have things in our past that we can recall and might even think to yourself why did I do that or say that. It was just dumb and stupid of me. Sin is like that.

Then as a Christian, a child of God, we can look back and remember and recall if we chose to, things we have said and done that are not in keeping with God’s will for us.

Now with the idea of scars on our spiritual body, it could look pretty horrid, but here is the good news because of God’s love for the lost He made a way for all to be as new babes and whiter than snow, (no spiritual scars) through Christ.

Consider these few thoughts:

• 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.”
• 1 Corinthians 3:1, “And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to babes in Christ.”
• 1 Peter 2:2, “Like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation.”
• Even from the Old Testament, we have this thought found in Psalm 51:7, “Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”

        Our human bodies will always have the scars of life, while our spiritual body is like that of a newborn baby–pure and whiter than snow, through the blood of Christ.

Dick Brant

O Immanuel

Ask someone who is even vaguely aware of the Bible, “What is Immanuel?” and they’ll tell you the answer is “Jesus.” But what a lot (I’d guess it is close to 99%) of religious people don’t realize is that the word “Immanuel” only appears once in the New Testament, but twice in the Old.

The first instance is Isaiah 7:14 (which Matthew quotes and applies it to Jesus). In that context, Isaiah has gone to the king of Judah, and asks him to select a sign from God so that he can know Isaiah’s prophecy would come to pass (this prophecy was that the two kings—and they are mentioned by name—who were giving Judah trouble would be defeated). The king refuses to ask for a sign, so Isaiah gives him one—again, to prove that the prophecy just given would come to pass. He says that “the virgin shall conceive, and shall bear a child, and shall call his name Immanuel…” and Isaiah adds some other details, showing that by the time this child is just a few years old (if that), these two kings would be gone.

This word Immanuel means “God with us.”

In Isaiah 8, God says that before Isaiah’s son is old enough to say “my father” or “my mother,” those same two kings would be defeated. Then in verse 8, after God shows that the Assyrian will be used to defeat the enemies of Judah, He lets them know that Judah (because of their unbelief and reliance on earthly power) would also be overtaken “up to the neck” (that is, not completely, but close. The only reason they aren’t completely overcome is because of God. At the end of the verse, God says “O Immanuel.”

So, much more than simply being a name/description applied to Jesus, the word Immanuel serves both then and now as a promise that God is there, God knows, God cares, God sees, God punishes, but God also saves.

-Bradley S. Cobb

I sit here staring intently at what should be my meal,

A tasty treat that, in my mind, would be very ideal.

As I pace back and forth, dreaming of the delicious taste,

My stomach growls loudly and I begin to salivate.

It is my favorite meal of all, I love to have fresh meat,

Yet this meal that I desire so strongly, I cannot eat,

For my Master restrains me from taking what that I would

I surely would not disobey Him, even if I could.

This meal has belonged to my Master all of his life’s days,

In fact he is here with me, because it’s to Him he prays.

Though I am king of the jungle, the King of Kings is He,

And so we will remain hungry, until His servant is free.

Yet there is a silver lining to our hungered sorrow,

We will feast on faithful Daniel’s accusers tomorrow!

… The king spoke and said to Daniel, “Your God whom you constantly serve will Himself deliver you.” … Then the king arose at dawn, … The king spoke and said to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you constantly serve, been able to deliver you from the lions?” Then Daniel spoke to the king, “O king, live forever! My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths and they have not harmed me, inasmuch as I was found innocent before Him; and also toward you, O king, I have committed no crime.” … So Daniel was taken up out of the den and no injury whatever was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. (Daniel 6:16-24)

Corey Sawyers

Dealing with them is one of the things we miss most while living in Denver. Our family enjoys horse-drawn hayrides, plowing with horses, showing them at fairs, horse pulls, and caring for them daily. There are a lot of great lessons to be learned from horses, including some spiritual lessons we see outlined in God’s word. Good old-fashioned “horse sense” can help us a lot as we try to live for the Lord!

Horse sense teaches us little things can be powerful. Belgians are the largest horses on the plant. My boys – even when little –  could command horses that each weighed 2000 pounds. That’s right! 4000 pounds of horse muscle could be controlled with a small bit in each mare’s mouth. James 3:3 reminds us our tongue is equally as small and powerful. We should watch the words we say! The words we say can be a powerful instrument for good or bad. If we use a little horse sense, we will, as the children sing, “be careful little mouth what you say.”

Horse sense teaches us where true strength originates. When questioning Job, God asks if he knew where the horse got its strength (39:19). The Psalmist reminds us the horse’s strength is nothing to count on (33:17). Far too often we try to handle things on our own and rely on ourselves. Solomon reminds us that power and victory come from the Lord (Proverbs 21:31). If we use good horse sense, we will trust in the Lord and lean on His strength, not our own.

Horse sense teaches us we should not look back. We would plow with our horses in our garden and at several plow days. To cultivate the ground properly, you must keep focused on where you are at and where you are going. Distractedly looking around produces crooked rows or worse. In Luke 9:62, Jesus said once we go to work plowing for Him, we must also stay focused on where we are and where we are going. It takes only a moment of getting distracted by the world before we are heading down a crooked path. If we use a little horse sense, we will realize that we should stay focused on living a Christian life.

Good old fashioned horse sense helps illustrate some essential lessons from God’s word. However, horse sense and the Bible are both of value only when we use them! Whether or not we plow with horses or ride in a wagon is of little importance. However, remembering the spiritual lessons horses can teach will benefit us eternally!

There was a recent article in a widely-read publication entitled, “Judgment Day Excuses that Won’t Work.” The article was right, but the title was off the mark.

Many people think Judgment Day will seem like a courtroom drama such as “Perry Mason.” They think God will sit on the judgment bench ruling on the trials of billions of people. Jesus never taught that scenario.

There will be no courtroom drama; no jury will render a verdict. The verdict was handed down for most of mankind at death. Only during life is there an opportunity to obey the gospel and live for Jesus.

In Matthew 25, Jesus’ taught Judgment Day as a separation. The saved will be separated from the condemned. People will stand either on the left hand of the Christ or the right. Those on the left hand will go away into everlasting punishment (Matthew 25:32-46). Those on the right hand will enter eternal life with the Father.

Guy N. Woods used to say, “An excuse is a lie wrapped in tissue paper.” Years ago, people used to wrap presents in “tissue paper,” a thin, fragile, semi-opaque paper without any designs. Tissue paper was easily torn, as lies are easily torn with the truth. There won’t be any lies on Judgment Day.

The separation will occur on what has been done in this life. As one poet wrote, “Only one life will soon be past; only what is done for Christ will last.”

When the separation comes, on which side will you stand?

John Henson

“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matthew 6:34 ESV).

How would you like to spend much of your day cutting weeds, branches, and vines for your goats and cows to eat, then carrying that fodder uphill for a mile or more? What about doing that every day, week in and week out, throughout your life? Or what about beginning each morning with a half-mile hike down the side of the mountain to the nearest spring, then back up to your house with a 5-gallon bucket of water? And repeating that perhaps two or three times during the day? After those daily chores, of course, there is the real work of cooking meals, washing clothes, sewing, and other necessary housework (for the ladies) and plowing the fields or working as day labor (for the men) which occupies most of the daylight hours. Such is life for billions in undeveloped countries of Asia, Africa, and South America.

When we in the U.S. think of such things we are grateful for our modern homes, a dependable infrastructure in our communities, and the less physical work by which we earn our living. Yet the truth is that we have our regular chores also. As Jesus says, every day comes with a certain amount of “trouble” (i.e., necessary and inevitable situations which demand our attention and energy). No one is exempt from daily cares.

Even Paul spoke of “the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches” (2 Corinthians 11:28). Any preacher or elder (and many other Christians) can empathize with the apostle in such concerns.

We have a tendency to equate our happiness and pleasure with leisure time and with activities that are outside the boundaries of work or duty. We endure the daily grind in order to enjoy our weekends and holidays. Work is necessary, whether it is our occupation or our home chores, but it is not where we find fulfillment or satisfaction, much less fun or pleasure. We commit to thirty years of employment, planning a long pleasant retirement at the end which will make it all worthwhile.

The truth is, however, that all of life involves duty and responsibility. The idle are a small minority and are rarely fulfilled or even much respected. Life is about doing what one must, whenever it must be done. Successful and happy people have learned to enjoy and find satisfaction in those things which ought to be done.

Yes, Paul felt pressured by his anxiety for others, but he also gave that same anxiety as his primary motive for continued life. “I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith” (Philippians 1:23-25). He may have been stressed, but he was committed to his work and found ultimate fulfillment in doing his duty.

One of my favorite sermons is a classic from Batsell Barrett Baxter, “Making our duties our desires.” He identified a true key to living a successful Christian life. It is simply that one must learn to want to do what one ought to do. When work is enjoyed, it is still work but it is no longer energy draining labor. That is true of our service to God, just as it is of our employment.

Let us accept Jesus’ challenge and quit dreading tomorrow. We can deal with its demands as they arise, knowing that “all things work together for good to those who love God” (Romans 8:28).

Michael Brooks

God exists

Living in a world where a chorus of competing voices would pull us toward opposing viewpoints on a great many topics, rather than avoiding such subjects, we would do well to consider the evidence. Regardless of the topic, in order to fairly explore a subject we will need to sidestep a host of logical fallacies such as sweeping generalizations, personal attack, appeal to fear as well as begging the question. Instead, we will need to focus upon: “What is the evidence?”

So, is it reasonable to conclude God exists? The Old and New Testaments announce that the world itself reveals truths about God and his existence (Psalm 19:1; Romans 1:20). Here are some initial brief excursions into some areas meriting further examination.

• Our experiences tell us that all complex functional information ultimately arises from only one source – a mind. Time, chance and self-organizational principles have not created this type of information. For example, while computer programs can generate new software, all software traces its origin to the minds of software programmers. So what should we conclude when we discover at the core of living cells a massive library of functional information, DNA, that exceeds the complexity and efficiency of any software human engineers have created? This information has an origin. It points to the mind of its Creator.
• Our universe, galaxy, solar system and earth are all fine-tuned in various ways to support highly intelligent life. From the physical constants of our universe and our solar system’s placement within our spiral galaxy to the protective role of Jupiter’s massive gravity as well as the composition of our earth, everything is ordered just right to support highly intelligent life on earth. Furthermore, biological systems reveal sophisticated design. All of these details point toward a Designer.
• Whatever comes into existence has a sufficient cause. The second law of thermodynmaics strongly indicates that the universe we experience had a beginning. For if our universe has always existed, it would long ago have encountered heat death . We would not be here to experience it. Furthermore, with theories like the Big Bang, science acknowledges our universe began. Therefore, the universive must have a sufficient cause for its existence. A sufficient cause for the universe is God.
• If some acts are truly vile because they violate a standard greater than human culture and personal opinions, then an objective moral standard exists. What this would mean is that some things are good or evil regardless what any culture or individual might think. For such a moral standard to exist, it must have its origin in a sufficient source, a source beyond human whims. Atrocious acts exist. I won’t survey the horrific things some humans have done to others. The best explanation for why these acts are vile is that a personal and moral God exists.

The above article was originally preceded by God Never Requested A Blind Leap Of Faith

Barry Newton

A faithful father listens

Talking to people can be a bit of a chore but talking to a child is always a delight.

My grandchildren talk to me about their pets, their toys, their schoolwork and it’s never boring. My eyes never leave their faces, and my ears never turn away from their voices.

In prayer, God’s attention never wavers. He is intently interested in everything we have to say even when we might bore people.

Prayer shares an aspect of eternity because time doesn’t matter. We can talk to God about anything. We can confess the sins we have committed in the past. We can talk about the current challenges we face, and we can pray for strength to face problems we think may appear tomorrow.

For the faithful child of God, prayer is an opportunity to talk to a father who has rapt attention. No matter how mundane our subject matter, the Creator of the universe is always ready to listen.

When we ask God for help with something, we mustn’t think we are imposing on his time or assistance. He is happy to listen and to help. As the time of his crucifixion drew near, Jesus told his disciples they had not used his name in making requests in prayer, but they soon would. He said they should ask and the father would grant those requests (John 16:23-24).

Our heavenly father loves us more than any father on earth. He loved us so much he provided his son as a sacrifice for our sins (1 Corinthians 5:7). As James wrote, we must ask in faith without doubting (James 1:6). A faithful child of God believes and obeys God and understands the power of prayer. Such a one doesn’t disbelieve the Lord’s love or his ability to help. The faithful child asks knowing that if we make our requests according to God’s will, he hears us (1 John 5:14-15).

God’s children serve a faithful father who is intently interested in his children. He is ready and willing to listen to anything we wish to say. He wants to help us with anything anytime.

John Henson

In the Sermon on the Mount when Jesus identified earth and heaven as being two places where people might choose to store their treasures, he contrasted two different lifestyles (Matthew 6:19-20). We either look to the things of earth for our security and significance or we look to heaven. If self is in charge, we will seek some source of earthly security.

Jesus warned against storing up our treasures on earth because they can be stolen or deteriorate (Matthew 6:19). Such treasures are not reliable nor do they last. Yet, how often are we most concerned about earthly things like our possessions, our financial strength, whether others like us, our influence, and so forth?

Instead, Jesus commanded us to accumulate for ourselves treasures in heaven where they will last forever (Matthew 6:20). No illness, thief, or deterioration can ever destroy our acts of kindness or our obedience to God stored in heaven.

Where we store our treasure not only reveals where we are seeking our security and significance, but this will also shape our focus for how we live. In Jesus’ words, “The eye is the lamp of the body” (Matthew 6:22). Our focus determines everything about us – whether we are spiritually healthy or not.

By contrasting these two different ways to live along with their competing values and motives, Jesus cut to the heart of it all. We all serve something that rules our lives, whether that be God or some earthly-anchored source of security like money which self has chosen.

Yet, no one can serve two masters. And so, Jesus commands us, to reject storing our treasure on earth. Rather, we are to focus upon laying up our treasure in heaven. The natural reaction is to doubt whether such a focus will sustain us in the here and now.

Jesus knows us. And so he tells us to not worry about the necessities of life, because “your heavenly Father knows that you need them” (Matthew 6:32). Furthermore, Jesus promised God will provide what is needed, if we will put his kingdom first. (Matthew 6:33). Disciples can live with peace knowing God is in control.

Barry Newton