A Chinese legend tells of some cultured gentlemen who often met to exchange wisdom and drink tea.  Each host tried to impress the guests with the finest and most costly teas.  When it came time for the most esteemed and respected one of the group to entertain, he served what appeared to be a truly exquisite tea.  He showcased a small golden box.  Glistening in the light, the host opened the lid and carefully measured out the tea leaves.  After drinking the tea, the guests praised the host for this most exceptional tea.  The host smiled and said, “The tea you have found so delightful is the same tea our peasants drink.  I hope it will be a reminder to all that the good things in life are not necessarily the rarest or the most costly.”

 What a great reminder!  Truly all of the greatest parts of this life are free, because the greatest parts are the ones that come from God.  Take Romans 6:23 for example, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Consider Ephesians 1:6-8 as well, “to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.  In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us…”

The eternal life, grace, redemption, and forgiveness God offers us doesn’t cost us a dime.  These gifts aren’t even rare since they are offered to everyone on earth.  We don’t have to scour to the ends of the earth to find these incredible blessings.  We don’t have to complete some impossible task.  God freely gives them.

What does make these gifts rare, however, is the fact that so many in this life reject them (Acts 4:11-12).  It seems the Lord’s precious gifts have the opposite effect as in the story above.  The Lord’s box isn’t flashy and expensive looking.  Instead, it appears simple and meek (i.e. Christ), yet it contains the greatest parts of this life.  Many do not see the tremendous value found in Christ and His gifts.  What a tragedy this is.

Let’s remember how little we had to pay for God’s incredible gifts to us.  Let’s accept these gifts through obedience to God (Acts 2:38; 1 Peter 3:21).  Above all, let’s praise the Lord for giving us far beyond what we deserve (Romans 6:23).

Brett Petrillo

In Numbers 12:3, the Bible describes Moses as a man who was “very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.” (KJV)  Typically, when we think of someone today as “meek,” we attribute that to someone who is not very aggressive or is considered weak or timid.  Nothing could be further from an accurate description of who Moses was as a man.  When God described Moses as meek, He was describing a man who was humble, gentle, saintly, and lowly.  Yet this meek man stood up to the most powerful ruler in the world at the time.  He challenged Pharaoh on every level until Pharaoh let the Israelites leave Egypt.  This meek leader led the Israelites out of Egypt into the wilderness and wandered with them for 40 years.  He was their leader, their judge, and God’s messenger to the Israelites throughout their journey in the wilderness.  He received the law from God’s own finger (Ex 31:18) and delivered it to the Israelites.  Nothing Moses ever did could be described as “weak” or “timid!”

Moses was a man who not only revered and respected God, but had the same love for his own brethren.  At one point, when God was ready to destroy all the Israelites, Moses begged God to take his life in place of destroying the people. (Ex 32:31-34; Deut 9:9-29)

It should come as no surprise, then, that Jesus was self-described as meek. (Matt 11:29; 21:5)  On the great sermon He delivered, which is recorded in Matthew, He taught, “blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” (Matt 5:5)  Jesus was quoting Psa 37:11. He was emphasizing how important this trait was for God’s children. This would carry forward the theme of the Psalmist and the Old Testament Prophets extolling the virtues and the rewards of the meek.

The meek will delight themselves in the abundance of peace. (Psa 37:11)  The Lord lifts up the meek (Psa 147:6) and the meek will be satisfied as they praise the Lord. (Ps 22:26)  Isaiah wrote that the Lord would provide equity for the meek (Is 11:4) and that they would find increased joy in their pursuit of the Lord. (Is 29:19)  Ultimately, salvation awaits the meek of the earth. (Ps 149:4; 76:7-9)

Peter described the good Christian woman and wife as one who possessed a meek and quiet spirit of a person who had an incorruptible heart. (1 Pet 3:4)  Peter says this spirit is “very precious in the sight of God.”  If meekness is a quality that is precious in the sight of God, would it not be an attribute that all His children would strive daily to obtain and embrace?

Therefore, let us all strive in meekness (Zeph 2:3) to forebear “one another in love” (Eph 5:2), to embody the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:23), to exemplify the elect of God (Col 3:2), and to emulate the meekness and gentleness of Christ (2 Cor 10:1).  In all of these things we can truly receive the blessings of the meek.

Randy Reagan

Years ago a study was conducted by the Institute for Child Behavior Research. Bernard Rimland, the institute’s director, asked each person involved in the study to list the ten people they knew best and then to label them as happy or unhappy. Next, they were told to go through the same list of people and label them as selfish or unselfish.  Amazingly, Rimland found that every single person who was labeled “happy” was also labeled “unselfish.” He wrote that those “whose activities are devoted to bringing themselves happiness…are far less likely to be happy than those whose efforts are devoted to making others happy” (Rimland, Bernard. The Altruism Paradox. Psychological Reports 51, 1982: p. 521-2).

Many people spend their entire lives in an unending pursuit of happiness. In reality, happiness isn’t some mysterious secret. In some ways, it’s sad that a study had to be done to teach us where happiness comes from. All this study did, however, was confirm what God already told us about happiness. Consider the following Scriptures.

• “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merelylook out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others (Philippians 2:3-4).
• “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you…” (Matthew 7:12).
• “…It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).
• “But the greatest among you shall be your servant” (Matthew 23:11).

Both the study and the Bible confirm it, happiness and unselfishness go together. Happiness will come through being loving, being servants, and being selfless. If we want to be happy, then the secret is to stop thinking about our own happiness and start working to make others happy.

Brett Petrillo

Several years ago, I wrote the following story. It is a fictional account of the Good Fight that all Christians are fighting. It was originally written to call attention to the fact that all of us are in a fight. It is the story of one old soldier, doing his very best to remain faithful to his King, fight the Good Fight and help as many of his fellow soldiers as possible.

The old soldier groaned as he lowered himself to the ground and leaned back against the rock. It had been a hard campaign. There had been victories, as well as, defeats for his company. Some of his men were becoming stronger and better soldiers with each battle. Others were beginning to lose heart. Sadly, the old soldier realized that unless he was able to help these regain their spirits, they would likely be the first ones lost in the next battle.

Suddenly, there was a shout and the King rode up on His beautiful white horse. All the men stood and cheered their King. Even the old soldier joined in the exultation. As the cheering died down, the King spoke words of encouragement that were soon drowned out by renewed cheering.

Afterward, the King walked over to the old soldier and bade him make himself comfortable. Together King and King’s man sat more like brothers than Liege and minion.

“How goes the struggle?” asked the King, although He knew full well the strategic situation

“The men are tired, my Prince,” replied the old soldier. “Some of them want to rest. Others, I think would as soon flee. Still others are eager to advance the cause of their Lord. Your presence here today has given them all new life. Even I feel a surge of loyalty and fealty where I had thought none was lacking.” 

The King looked at His servant with eyes at once loving and sad. “Would that I could convince them that I am always with them,” He said sadly. “I never leave them. Not one falls without my tears. If they would see, the power they feel today will be at their side in tomorrow’s battle and every battle until the end.”

As he listened to his King’s words, a single tear made its way down the dirty face of the old warrior. “Forgive me, Master,” he said softly, his voice quivering with emotion.

His own eyes growing moist, the King smiled and laid a hand on the shoulder of His faithful servant and replied, “Done! And never forget that I am with you and will never forsake you, and victory is ours!”

It is my strongest prayer that this story help you find the strength and courage to continue fighting the Good Fight. All the problems that assail us are flaming arrows of our enemy and they threaten to destroy us, but we have One on our side Who cannot be overcome. He is fighting alongside you and for you and you cannot be overcome with Him on your side. Do not give up, keep the faith, fight the Good Fight and enter into the joy of your Master.

Donnie Bates

“And the men marveled, saying, ‘What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?’” (Matthew 8:27, ESV).

In Mathew 8:18-34 the evangelist records three encounters between Jesus and various people. First, there is a crowd from which some offer to follow Jesus. To them Jesus warns of the cost of discipleship (8:18-22). Second comes the calming of the storm with the twelve apostles’ confusion and wonder as to the great power he demonstrated (8:23-27). Finally, there is the healing of the two demoniacs in Gadara who confessed him as “O Son of God” (8:28-34).

Reading these accounts sequentially, we are impressed that the two men possessed by demons seem to have had a more complete recognition of Jesus’ true identity than did those who were his constant companions. Perhaps this is an illustration of Paul’s later observation that it was the foolish and insignificant of the world to whom the Gospel most appealed, because “the foolishness of God is wiser than men” (1 Corinthians 1:25).

I struggle to find the most effective and efficient means of presenting Jesus and his message to men and women who have never heard the gospel preached. I have had the privilege of speaking to audiences in remote villages where no Christian to my knowledge had ever spoken. How does one, in a few minutes, hours, or perhaps days, introduce such hearers to the amazing Son of God? How does one take advantage of what is likely to be a single opportunity to bring a lost soul to Christ?

The question posed by the apostles in the storm-tossed boat may be one key approach: “What sort of man is this?” Jesus was absolutely human, and the ideal human. But he was and is also absolutely, perfectly divine. “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation” (Colossians 1:15). “He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power” (Hebrews 1:3). He possessed, while on earth incarnate, every characteristic of the human race (Hebrews 2:14, 17-18), including the ability to be tempted. Yet he lived a sin free, perfect life (Hebrews 4:15).

What sort of man was he? He was perfect; he was unique. He was both human and divine. There has never been and will never be another human completely like him. Yet, he also makes it possible for all who follow him to become like him in certain essentials. Because of his sacrifice we can be free from sin and guilt (Romans 8:1). Because of his resurrection we have hope of immortality (1 Corinthians 15:20ff). Because of Jesus’ life and message, we may become children and heirs of God (Romans 8:16-17).

Peter confessed him in theological terms, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). But many other titles and descriptions abound in the New Testament records of his mission and purpose. He is “The holy and righteous one” (Acts 3:17); “The author of life” (Acts 3:18); “The apostle and high priest of our confession” (Hebrews 3:1); and “The founder and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2), to name only a few of the appellations given to him.

Beyond all else Jesus is the unique Son of God through whom the Creator has revealed himself and called all mankind to faith and obedience. What sort of man is Jesus? The one through whom God has fulfilled his promises and accomplished his purpose. The sort of man – indeed, the only man – whom we can trust with our eternal souls (1 John 2:1-2).

Michael Brooks

How do we know that the New Testament is not a book of myths and lies? How can people born 1,900 years this side of its completion have total confidence in the New Testament’s accuracy? What is it that causes so many of us to believe in the truthfulness of this book?

One thing that makes the New Testament such a unique work is how many times the events recorded therein are verified by other independent historical witnesses. Repeatedly, history has shown itself to be an ally, rather than an enemy, to the twenty-seven books that make up the New Testament. As a person reads through these books, he will find names of kings and queens, governors and priests. He will read of cities and villages, and sometimes even learn of the roads and passageways that connected them. The New Testament was born among historical people, places, and events, which allows twenty-first-century readers opportunities to inquire about its trustworthiness.

Consider just one example. As a non-Christian reads through the New Testament book of Acts, he comes to the account where Herod is addressing a group of people from Tyre and Sidon (Acts 12:20-23). In verses 21-23, he reads:

So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them. And the people kept shouting, “The voice of a god and not of a man!” Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died.

Perhaps the person reading this account begins struggling with whether or not “this whole Christian thing is for me,” and whether there is any evidence that corroborates the information found in the New Testament. How much more open to the truth of God’s Word might this skeptical gentlemen be if he could come in contact with the vast amount of historical data that supports the facts found therein? In this particular case, he might find it very helpful to learn that a well-educated, first-century Jewish historian by the name of Josephus gave a detailed account of Herod’s death in his work, The Antiquities of the Jews (18:8:2). Notice how the two accounts stand side by side.

• Where Luke wrote that Herod was “arrayed in royal apparel,” Josephus wrote that “he put on a garment made wholly of silver, and of a contexture truly wonderful.”
• Where Luke wrote that “the people kept shouting, ‘The voice of a god and not of a man!,’ ” Josephus mentioned that “his flatterers cried out…that he was a god; and they added, ‘Be thou merciful to us; for although we have hitherto reverenced thee only as a man, yet shall we henceforth own thee as superior to mortal nature.’ Upon this the king did neither rebuke them, nor reject their impious flattery.”
• And finally, where Luke recorded: “Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died,” Josephus wrote: “A severe pain also arose in his belly, and began in a most violent manner. He therefore looked upon his friends, and said, ‘I whom you call a god, am commanded presently to depart this life….’ [H]is pain was become violent…. And when he had been quite worn out by the pain in his belly for five days, he departed this life.”

Although the accounts of Luke and Josephus were written independently, regarding the death of Herod they agree in all of the essentials.

Acts 12:20-23 represents only one of many examples in Scripture where secular history upholds its reliability. Over the past 1,900 years, the Bible has been examined more critically than any other book in the world, and yet it repeatedly is found to be historically accurate. Such accuracy surely gives the skeptic something important to consider in his examination of Scripture.

REFERENCES

Josephus, Flavius (1987 edition), Antiquities of the Jews, in The Life and Works of Flavius Josephus, transl. William Whiston (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson).

Eric Lyons

Bees fly thousands of miles to gather enough nectar to make a pound of honey. Then, someone comes along and steals it from them! No wonder bees have such lousy dispositions!

How do you handle conflict in your life? How do you react when someone does something mean or rude to you? Do you try to set straight the scales of justice? Is seeking revenge a part of your response?

But the apostle Paul teaches us in Romans 12:19: “Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, (here, Paul quotes Deut. 32:35), ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.”

Judges 9 is, by far, the longest chapter in the whole book of Judges. We’re going to spend time going through the details of this event, and then let the author summarize it for us in the last two verses.

SHECHEM MAKES ABIMELECH KING – 9:1-6:

Jacob lived in Shechem. He had a lot of members of his family which had worshiped false gods and Jacob got them to repent of their idolatry and he buried all their idols under a tree in  Shechem (35:2-4). But by the time Abimelech is born, the city of Shechem is a haven for idol worshipers, especially worshippers of Baal. The people have made a full circle, in about 400 years.

Verse 4 helps us understand the religious context of the city of Shechem. This “house” was a temple and “Baal-berith” was a designation of the false god, Baal; “berith” is the Hebrew word for “covenant.” The name itself translates “Baal of the Covenant.” Abimelech’s rise to power, then, is financed by donations to a false god.

JOTHAM REBUKES SHECHEM AND ABIMELECH – 9:7-21:

The basic message of Jotham’s fable is that the men of Shechem have chosen a bramble bush to be their king and he will eventually bring about their downfall, their ruin, their destruction. While Jotham is not identified as a prophet, we will see at the end of the story that God makes Jotham’s prediction come true.

GAAL BEGINS A CONSPIRACY – 9:22-49:

God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem. In some way, God caused bitterness to spring up between these two. Verse 24 tells us that God did this so He could bring vengeance back around on the head of Abimelech.

So, half of Jotham’s prophecy has been fulfilled. What about the other half? What about Abimelech himself? Well, God sees to it that he dies a very dishonorable death…!

ABIMELECH IS KILLED – 9:50-57:

Apparently there were a lot of the men and women of Shechem, followers of Gaal, who fled to Thebez and sought refuge in a defense tower there. They went up to the roof.

Abimelech decides he is going to do the same thing to Thebez that he did to the temple in Shechem: set it on fire. But, in verse 53, a woman, a random, nameless woman, gets a huge stone used to crush wheat, an upper millstone, and throws it over the wall, crushing Abimelech’s skull. On the verge of death, knowing he is dying, in pain and agony, Abimelech calls on his young armor-bearer to pull out his sword and kill Abimelech so that no one will know Abimelech was killed by a woman! So, the young man pulled his sword, ran Abimelech through with his steel, and nobody to this day has ever heard that Abimelech was killed by a woman! (Tongue in cheek!)

The whole purpose of the story, the reason God put it into the Bible for the sake of the Israelites and the reason why God left the story in the Bible for the sake of Christians is given in verses 56-57.

It doesn’t matter how you say it: “Be sure your sins will find you out” (Num. 32:23).

“Cast your bread on the surface of the waters, for you will find it after many days” (Ecc. 11:1).

“Whatever a man shows, this he will also reap” (Gal. 6:7). Sin ends in punishment. And we don’t need to try to take vengeance into our own hands. That’s a good way to get burned.

Leave vengeance to God. He does not forget sin and He will repay sin and punishment on those who deserve it.

Paul Holland

The following are actual statements found in insurance forms where car drivers attempted to summarize the details of an accident in the fewest words.

1. Coming home, I drove into the wrong house and collided with a tree I don’t have.

2. I thought my window was down, but I found out it was up when I put my head through it.

3. I collided with a stationary truck coming the other way.

4. A pedestrian hit me and went under my car.

5. The guy was all over the road, I had to swerve a number of times before I hit him.

6. I pulled away from the side of the road, glanced at my mother-in-law, and headed over the embankment.

7. I had been shopping for plants all day, and was on my way home. As I reached the intersection, a hedge sprang up obscuring my vision and I did not see the other car.

8. I had been driving for forty years, when I fell asleep at the wheel and had an accident.

9. As I approached the intersection, a sign suddenly appeared in a place where no sign had ever appeared before. I was unable to stop in time to avoid the accident.

10. My car was legally parked as it backed into the other vehicle.

11. An invisible car come out of nowhere, struck my car and vanished.

12. The pedestrian had no idea which direction to run, so I ran over him.

13. I saw a slow-moving, sad-faced old gentleman as he bounced off the hood of my car.

14. An indirect cause of the accident was a little guy in a small car with a big mouth.

15. The telephone pole was approaching. I was attempting to swerve out of its way when it struck my front end.

Excuses, excuses! We can come up with some “hum-dingers” in order to make it sound like it wasn’t our fault. Making excuses is easy. Taking responsibility is much more difficult. But, in our relationship with God, it is essential.

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (I John 1:8-9).

Do something wrong lately? Don’t make excuses. Be honest with yourself and with God. And if you have to be out driving today, please do watch out for those invisible cars! 🙂

Have a great day!

Alan Smith

So there was a division among the people over him. John 7:43 ESV.

Who is Jesus? What did he come to earth to do? Or did he even come to earth? Might he have been just a good man? What did he actually teach?

People are sharply divided over all these questions. They always have been, even since the days when Jesus lived.

In John 7, people couldn’t agree about Jesus’ identity. Who was this man? The Prophet? The Christ? An imposter? A charlatan? The word in the original language that is translated as “division” in our text above is the root for our word “schism.” The people didn’t have a friendly disagreement. It was an acerbic difference. Their conclusions about Jesus — some right, some wrong — caused a deep rift in Jewish society. Some wanted to crown him; others, to crucify him.

Our Lord and Savior knew that division would come because of him. Yes, he came for the purpose of reuniting us to God and bringing us all together in God’s family. He also knew, however, that one result of his witnessing to the truth would be to throw people against each other. He said,

Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. … Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household, Matthew 10:21, 22, 34-36.

Now that’s some serious opposition right there, not only against Jesus, but against his followers.

How do these divisions look today?

• Like the Jews, they come from people who reject Jesus as the Messiah and the Son of God. Atheists and religionists alike persecute Christ’s faithful followers.
• There are also people who claim to be Christians, but refuse to obey the gospel. They are also capable of strong division. One of our preachers even had a bomb planted inside his pulpit. (By God’s will it didn’t go off.)
• And then there are people among us, who rise up and decide it’s time for something new and different. (Rebels and scoundrels always think they’re doing something original.)

The New Testament is full of warnings about them. For example,

• In his beautiful Sermon on the Mount, Jesus warned about false prophets (teachers) who were wolves in sheep’s clothing, Matthew 7:15-19.
• Paul used Jesus’ language about “fierce wolves” coming into the church and told the Ephesian elders that “from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them,” Acts 20:29, 30.
• Peter also alerted his readers that “there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction,” 2 Peter 2:1.

Since those warnings were given, the situation has only grown worse. Nothing has improved! We may sound like inventors of conspiracies, but adulterers, truth-deniers, world-accomodators, and contestants for popularity are determined to drive the church off the cliff into hell.

Jesus wants to give us peace, but some are determined to wage war. We do not stoop to fight like the dividers, for “the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds,” 2 Corinthians 10.4. Ours is a battle for the victory of “the knowledge of God,” v. 5. And we do not shrink from this battle, for our very souls are at stake.

So then let us commend ourselves “by the open statement of the truth,” 2 Corinthians 4:2. Because by the factions that occur, as they did in Corinth, they arise “in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized,” 1 Corinthians 11:19.

A.A. Neale

The following story sounds like an “urban legend,” but it’s true:

Roy Collette and his brother-in-law exchanged the same pair of pants as a Christmas present for 25 years – and each time the package got harder to open.

It all started in 1964 when Collette received a pair of moleskin trousers from his brother-in-law, Larry Kunkel.  Kunkel’s mother had given her son the pants the year before.  He wore them a few times, but they froze stiff in cold weather and he didn’t like them.  So he gave them to Collette. Collette didn’t like them either, so he wrapped them up and gave them back to Kunkel for Christmas the next year.

The friendly exchange continued each year until one year Collette twisted the pants tightly, stuffed them into a 3-foot-long, 1-inch wide tube.  And so the game began.  The next Christmas, Kunkel compressed the pants into a 7-inch square, wrapped them with wire and gave the “bale” to Collette.  Not to be outdone, the next year Collette put the pants into a 2-foot-square crate filled with stones, nailed it shut, banded it with steel and gave the trusty trousers back to Kunkel.

The brothers agreed to end the caper if the trousers were damaged.  But they were as careful as they were clever.

Kunkel had the pants mounted inside an insulated window that had a 20-year guarantee and shipped them off to Collette.  Collette broke the glass, recovered the trousers, stuffed them into a 5-inch coffee can and soldered it shut.  The can was put in a 5-gallon container filled with concrete and reinforcing rods and given to Kunkel the following Christmas.

Kunkel installed the pants in a 225-pound homemade steel ashtray made from 8-inch steel casings and etched Collette’s name on the side.  In turn, Collette found a 600-pound safe and hauled it to Viracon Inc. where the shipping department decorated it with red and green stripes, put the pants inside and welded the safe shut.  The safe was then shipped to Kunkel, who is the plant manager for Viracon’s outlet in Bensenville.

One year, the pants were trucked back to Collette in a drab green, 3-foot cube that once was a 1974 Gremlin with 95,000 miles on it.  A note attached to the 2,000-pound scrunched car advised Collette that the pants were inside the glove compartment.  And so it went until 1989, when the pants were finally damaged in an attempt to encase them in 10,000 pounds of jagged glass.  They have now been turned to ashes and sit in an urn on Kunkel’s mantle.

I imagine more than a few of you receive some presents at Christmas that you didn’t really want, and would like to have the opportunity to ship them back.  However, we can’t say that about the gifts that come from God.

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights…” (James 1:17)

God’s gifts are as wonderful as they are bountiful.  I hope that you’ve taken the time to thank him lately.

Alan Smith

“Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem; see now and know; and seek in her open places if you can find a man, if there is anyone who executes judgment, who seeks the truth” (Jeremiah 5:1 NKJV).

For much of my lifetime American culture has sought to define, or redefine, what it means to be a man. Not only what it means to be human, but more specifically what it means to be an adult male human. What are the defining characteristics of that particular form of life?

Several decades ago the ideal man was, to many, something like a TV western hero (Matt Dillon or Wyatt Earp for us old timers), the actors who portrayed them (John Wayne or Clint Eastwood for example) or possibly the “Marlboro Man” of the old tobacco commercials. Muscles, an inscrutable attitude, and lots of fortitude were basic ingredients.

After a century of the feminist movement (among other cultural pressures) that image has faded to one more similar to Seinfeld or Andy Griffith, with sensitivity, gentleness, and a definite aura of fallibility and humility included. Real men now do say “I am sorry” in modern America. Interestingly, real women in this modern era do not say that – can we say “role reversal?”

Jeremiah offers other ingredients to the makeup of man – real men, that is. God sent him into the city of Jerusalem to find just one man who was truly a man from God’s perspective. What were those essential defining characteristics? Who was it for whom Jeremiah searched? There were two elements on God’s list.

First, “If there is one who does justice” (NASB; James Moffatt’s translation has it, “A man of honest mind”). Justice and righteousness are often translated from the same Hebrew and Greek roots. The idea is that of equity and balance. God is a just God (Deuteronomy 32:4) in that he always does the exactly right thing, no matter who it affects or what the circumstances might be. In the Laws of ancient Israel, justice was a legal concept which demanded that leaders refuse bribes and took no account of persons or status. Real men treat everyone alike; they do what is right and good. Was there even one man like that in the city?

Second, “. . . who seeks the truth” (Moffatt: “and true integrity”). Allegiance to truth is another rare commodity among humans. The first recorded sin (Genesis 3) involved choosing to believe a lie rather than the truth revealed by God. The inspired apostle Paul explains the effectiveness of Satan:

“The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved” (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10).

Again, real men don’t lie, and do not readily accept the lies of others. They love truth, seek truth, and follow truth. Jesus prayed for the apostles, “Sanctify them by your truth. Your word is truth” (John 17:17). He promised all who would accept him, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32).

Biblically speaking, manhood is at least partially defined by the characteristics of justice and truth. Jeremiah was sent on a mission to find just one man who possessed those essential traits, with the implicit idea that his search would be futile. Like the messengers of God who failed to find 10 righteous men in Sodom (Genesis 18 & 19), Jeremiah would search in vain.

I recognize that Jeremiah 5:1 in its original context is not particularly about gender. I am reading into the verse something from our own cultural and historic context. But I do not consider that to be an illegitimate use of the text. God had given the city of “Jebus” (an older Canaanite name for the town, 1 Chronicles 11:4) to Israel, to his people. Some 500 years later Jeremiah confirmed that those who lived in the city were no longer God’s people – that is, no longer the kind of people (men) whom God demanded that they be.

As Christians, our concept of what it means to be a man (or woman) should be in accord with God’s purpose. Among other things, it means that we are to do justice and seek truth. By that standard, how many “Real Men” are there among us?

by Michael Brooks

Certainly there are times within our lives, even without an election year or a pandemic, where we face the awkward point of disagreeing with a fellow Christian. While we may find ourselves disagreeing with the world on a daily basis, it is an entirely different situation when we find ourselves in disagreement with a brother or sister. Luckily for us, this topic isn’t a new one. It’s been tried and tested through some great men of the scriptures. A few passages come to mind when thinking of disagreements within the Bible, but I’d like to make a few quick observations from Acts 15.

Late in the chapter, Paul and Barnabas begin to make preparations for their upcoming mission trip. This trip was a simple one, and it mainly consisted of stopping at various congregations to see how they were doing (15:36). The problem arises when Barnabas seeks to bring Mark along on the trip. Paul disagreed and quickly reminded him how Mark left them in Pamphylia and withdrew from the work at hand. Verse 39 indicates there was a “sharp disagreement” between the Paul and Barnabas. The Greek root for this term of disagreement is the same word used to describe sour wine. This was definitely a sour moment between the two brothers. So how did they get through it?

1. They communicated their differences (15:38) — Paul could have easily been silent in the matter and gone on with Barnabas and Mark. However, his attitude would have likely flowed into his actions and more problems would have spurred. Paul stated his case before they made a decision to depart. Sometimes communication happens, but it happens far too late in the scenario. Problems should be brought to light and discussed as soon as possible.
2. They focused on the work (15:39, 40) — Though the two disagreed, they both realized the work still needed to get done. Despite their differences, they found what worked for them to accomplish the goal. Notice how their focus was still on the mission trip and not vainly belittling each other or making harsh remarks. Sometimes our disagreements spiral way out of control and become relentless in division.
3. They continued in their purpose (15:41) — Barnabas took Mark and sailed off to Cyprus. Paul took Silas and went off to Syria and Cilicia. Both of them fulfilled their duties in the Lord and “strengthened the churches.” Their disagreement did not detract from their ministry. Likewise, our disagreements don’t have to negatively impact our work with God.

Unfortunately, disagreements often lend themselves to a lot of regrets, permanent insults, and weighty heartbreak. This situation was different than most, and it’s likely because they kept their Christian values in check. We looked at three actions they took, but what did they NOT do? They didn’t call each other names, they didn’t gossip about the situation, they didn’t slam one another at other congregations, they didn’t think less of the other, and they didn’t let a small hiccup become an eternal problem.

Somewhere down the line, Paul and Mark grew closer together. In his last letter before his death, Paul tells the Timothy “get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry.” We must never let disagreements permanently separate us from our brothers and sisters; after all, we’re all headed to the same location. It’s OKAY to disagree, just don’t let it cause you to drift from your purpose of extending God’s love to everyone.

Tyler King

In the US military, and I believe through much of American professional circles as well, we are particularly good at criticizing ourselves. No matter how well an operation or job goes, we dwell on the mistakes and faults. This is typically done from a perspective of improving ourselves and not from ill intent but does tend to keep us focused on the negative. This also creates a culture where we tend to provide more criticisms than compliments to those around us. Even when we do praise someone, it has a critical side: “You have done a great job this past week, but you could have done even better if you….”

We must learn to complement our people, let them know how much we appreciate them and their contributions….and leave it at that!

As I grew through the ranks of the Army, I did my best to pay attention and realize the value in complimenting those who worked for me and give them credit and recognition for a job well done. I have several scriptures that became my favorites in inspiring me to recognize and compliment those around me, either in private or public.

Proverbs 3:27, “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it” was particularly meaningful to me as a military leader. I recognized that my position gave even greater impact to complimenting a soldier in my command. Who doesn’t like being praised by their boss?

We have an adage in the military that I learned early and did my best to apply: “Praise in public, reprimand in private”. I correlated that with Ephesians 4:29, “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” A person’s ego is a fragile thing and can be irreparably damaged if done so publicly. On the other hand, a compliment given publicly builds up the recipient, as well as the person who gives it, in the eyes of those who witness.

Finally, another lesson I learned in the military is never take credit for the achievements of your organization. Your boss will know who is responsible. If you are part of a successful team, make sure you remember that success comes with each member contributing. Philippians 2:3 says, “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”

As Christians, we interact with others every day. The opportunities to see the good works someone else does and praise them for it are many. During my time in the military, I developed a habit of looking at myself in the mirror, usually while shaving, and thinking, “You are going to say something positive to and thank at least six people today.” It was my way of holding myself accountable to complimenting the people that I loved being around. Giving a compliment is easy, costs us nothing but a few moments, and can have immeasurable benefits to the recipient, the giver, and to others who may overhear.

Make a commitment each day to praise and build up our brothers and sisters around us!

Bill Rose

The following story sounds like an “urban legend,” but it’s true:

Roy Collette and his brother-in-law exchanged the same pair of pants as a Christmas present for 25 years – and each time the package got harder to open.

It all started in 1964 when Collette received a pair of moleskin trousers from his brother-in-law, Larry Kunkel. Kunkel’s mother had given her son the pants the year before. He wore them a few times, but they froze stiff in cold weather and he didn’t like them. So he gave them to Collette. Collette didn’t like them either, so he wrapped them up and gave them back to Kunkel for Christmas the next year.

The friendly exchange continued each year until one year Collette twisted the pants tightly, stuffed them into a 3-foot-long, 1-inch wide tube. And so the game began. The next Christmas, Kunkel compressed the pants into a 7-inch square, wrapped them with wire and gave the “bale” to Collette. Not to be outdone, the next year Collette put the pants into a 2-foot-square crate filled with stones, nailed it shut, banded it with steel and gave the trusty trousers back to Kunkel.

The brothers agreed to end the caper if the trousers were damaged. But they were as careful as they were clever.

Kunkel had the pants mounted inside an insulated window that had a 20-year guarantee and shipped them off to Collette. Collette broke the glass, recovered the trousers, stuffed them into a 5-inch coffee can and soldered it shut. The can was put in a 5-gallon container filled with concrete and reinforcing rods and given to Kunkel the following Christmas.

Kunkel installed the pants in a 225-pound homemade steel ashtray made from 8-inch steel casings and etched Collette’s name on the side. In turn, Collette found a 600-pound safe and hauled it to Viracon Inc. where the shipping department decorated it with red and green stripes, put the pants inside and welded the safe shut. The safe was then shipped to Kunkel, who is the plant manager for Viracon’s outlet in Bensenville.

One year, the pants were trucked back to Collette in a drab green, 3-foot cube that once was a 1974 Gremlin with 95,000 miles on it. A note attached to the 2,000-pound scrunched car advised Collette that the pants were inside the glove compartment. And so it went until 1989, when the pants were finally damaged in an attempt to encase them in 10,000 pounds of jagged glass. They have now been turned to ashes and sit in an urn on Kunkel’s mantle.

I imagine more than a few of you receive some presents at Christmas that you didn’t really want, and would like to have the opportunity to ship them back. However, we can’t say that about the gifts that come from God.

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights…” (James 1:17)

God’s gifts are as wonderful as they are bountiful. I hope that you’ve taken the time to thank him lately.

Have a great day.

Alan Smith

In answering this question, many in the church will tell you to “fulfill your purpose.” While this is true, serving God and proclaim Him to others will bring happiness, there’s a very important foundation that is a driving point for our Christianity.

While it is true that we have been given the opportunity to tell others about the gospel, and we no longer have to worry about what we should be doing with our lives, what happens if we try to fulfill this command without love?

True happiness is built on the foundation of loving God. Now before you start thinking that this is one of those “easier said than done” articles, notice a few verses with me. Just saying that we love God won’t bring happiness. We must have a true sacrificial love for Him. To help us make this goal more attainable we must ask ourselves, “Why do I love God?”

I Love God because…

He deserves to be loved. Think of all the ways He has blessed us. Forgiveness, Heaven, and every earthly blessing we have. God deserves to be loved by His creation, but even more than that,,,

He commanded us to love Him. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might” (Deuteronomy 6:5).

Loving God isn’t a suggestion. If we claim to be His children, we must love Him the way He has told us to love Him. This means we love Him with all our:

Heart (center of emotion). It is not only an external action, but an internal affection that influences all our actions. He wants a heart so filled with love that it is shown in secret as well as in public.

Soul. The immortal part of our being is thoroughly filled with a love for God. It’s deeper than the physical.

Might. Our thoughts, speech and actions should all be influenced by a love for God.

Loving God means we love others. In Matthew 22:37-39, Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 6:5. “And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Not only do we love God with every aspect of our being, but we love those created in His image. Jesus goes on to say that all of the law and the prophets hangs on these two commands.

We serve God because we love Him. We fulfill our purpose because every part of our being is consumed with a love for God. Do you want to be happy? Love God, love His creation. Build a foundation of love and your faith and service to God will have no limits.

Carl Pollard

Reading through the gospels, one cannot help but notice the variety of experiences and responses people had to Jesus’ ministry. Perhaps the two most notable responses are genuine belief versus sign seekers. In John 4 we see a great contrast of the two mentalities.

Jesus’ interaction with the woman at the well in Samaria (of all places) resulted in the first largescale, genuine response to His Messianic identity. He did not have to qualify His message or use grand, miraculous works. They saw, they processed, and they believed. However, a few days later He found quite a different response in Galilee. There, the people had heard of His great works done in Judea and they remembered the water-to-wine miracle done in Cana. When an opportunity arose for Jesus to heal an official’s son of a deadly illness, the man and crowd were met with a rather sharp rebuke. “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe” (John 4:48). 

The frustration expressed by Jesus seems to be rooted in the fact that those who should have been keenest to accept HIM, were more interested in being impressed by wonders. They were thrill seekers, not Messiah seekers. Their loyalty was only going to hold out as long as Jesus was willing to keep them astounded. In so doing, they completely missed the point of the signs…to substantiate the fact that true spiritual healing is available through Jesus, alone.

Indeed, there are many today whose loyalty is just as shallow. If things are going well, if they are being impressed by the preacher, if they are getting what they “need” (perhaps better said, “want”), they will hang around. Yet, as soon as the thrill is gone, so are they. They do not really want Jesus, just His signs.

May our faith go deeper than that! May we be people who are seeking the Messiah for who He is. May the satisfaction we crave be more than just superficial thrills. May we truly seek Jesus…not signs.

Cory Waddell

“The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.” Mark 4:26-29

I’ve tried for several years to plant a productive garden, some years more successful than others. The best attempt was probably our last summer in Tennessee. A raised bed properly fertilized and well-watered yielded more tomatoes, cucumbers, and melons than we could eat. I built an arbor that arched about seven feet overhead and have great memories of seeing the tomato vines grow up to the pinnacle.

During that summer, I’m sure along the way I bragged to someone, “You should see the garden I’ve grown this year!” Upon reflection, that could not be further from the truth. I made nothing grow…God did.

Don’t get me wrong, I worked hard in that garden, tilling the soil, pulling weeds, irrigating, and choosing a spot where it would have sufficient sunlight. However, all this work did not force the transformation of molecules locked inside those tiny seeds. My actions did not draw water through the roots or turn sunlight into food through photosynthesis. God is the one who put all those things in motion.

Jesus’ parable above draws on this agricultural reality, but his application is that of our faith. We often speak of growing our faith in God, yet the process for doing so is much like growing a garden. None of us can actually explain how faith grows because God is the only one who can make it happen.

Our job is to create an environment conducive for the growth. Working the soil of our heart, planting the seed of the word through study, fertilizing and watering it with prayer, worship, and interaction with Christian family. We pull the weeds of bad habits and sin, while choosing to plant ourselves in circles that promote growth.

To be sure, this is hard work that must be purposefully engaged in daily. Yet it goes to show the reciprocal nature of our relationship with God. It is important to give credit where credit is due. While we devote ourselves to disciplined spiritual work, don’t take credit for the things God brought about. Without him, all the work in the world would never produce faith. We don’t grow it…God does.

Cory Waddell

There was a strong word of condemnation expressed by Zephaniah concerning individuals who believed God to be one who remains idle and inactive in this world (Zeph. 1:12). Not only is it doctrinally false to take on this belief, but it becomes an overwhelming burden to perceive God as distant. The New Testament emphatically reminds us that God seeks to be near to us. This is especially seen with Immanuel being born (Matthew 1:23), the Spirit being sent to dwell with us (Eph. 1:13; Eph. 4:30), and the prodigious promise of eternal life with Him and His heavenly host (Rev. 21,22). How then do we embark on an interactive experience of God? Consider the great words and inspiration of Psalm 34:

What God Does For Me:

• He answers us (34:4)
• He delivers us (34:4,7,17,19)
• He provides direction (34:5)
• He hears us (34:6,17)
• He saves us (34:6)
• He remains objectively good (34:8)
• He provides a refuge for us (34:8)
• He exemplifies strength and power before us (34:9)
• He sees us (34:15)
• He avenges His own (34:21)
• He remembers His servants (34:22)

When looking at all the ways God interacts with mankind we can’t help but praise His name. In addition to our praise, we naturally seek avenues in which we can nurture such a relationship with an awe-inspiring God. David also considers how we interact with God:

What We Can Do for God:

• Bless and Praise Him (34:1)
• Boast of Him/proclaim Him (34:2)
• Exalt Him/humble self (34:3)
• Seek Him in good times and hard times (34:4,10)
• Draw near to Him (34:8)
• Fear Him (34:7,9,11)
• Abide in holiness (34:13,14)
• Take your tears to Him (34:17-19)
• Serve Him (by serving others (34:22))
• Find shelter in Him (34:22)

You can glean ample information from someone’s hands. The hands of a mechanic will differ from those of a seamstress; the hands of a gardener will differ from those of a welder. But no matter your profession or obsession, your hands must be useful to the Lord.

Jesus’ hands were magnificent.

In his hometown of Nazareth, Jesus’ teachings were met with skepticism.

“Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands?” (Mark 6:2).

The mighty works done by his hands were miracles of healing. These were undeniable. In Capernaum, a day’s journey from Nazareth, Jesus healed a man with an unclean spirit (Mark 1:21-26), and the resulting fame spread all over (Mark 1:27, 28). In Capernaum he healed Simon’s mother-in-law (Mark 1:29-34), cleansed a leper (Mark 1:40-45), gave a paralytic the ability to walk (Mark 2:1-12), and restored a man’s withered hand (Mark 3:1-6). Here he gave a woman relief from a decade-long ailment (Mark 5:25-34), and gave a dead child back to her father (Mark 5:23, 35-43).

Yet his neighbors could not get over what his hands had been trained to do. “Is this not the carpenter?” they asked. They knew his mother, his brothers, and his sisters. His hands were those of a skilled craftsmen, not those of a “holy man.” Instead of belief, they took offense.

The Nazarene carpenter had a new profession, the Great Physician (Luke 4:23). His hands were healing ones. Note carefully the compassion that Jesus demonstrates with his hands. The leprous was to be put out of the camp (Numbers 5:2). This contagious disease was controlled by quarantine. A leprous person could go the remainder of their lifetime without human touch. Jesus was “moved with pity” and “stretched out his hand and touched him” (Mark 1:41).

Jesus “went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil” (Acts 10:38). His hands were not idle, but in kindness, were deployed for man’s benefit.

These same skilled, gentle, and powerful hands had nails driven through them. The same hands which removed the curse of leprosy, and held formerly diseased and dead children, held the Lord of Glory to the accursed tree (Galatians 3:13).

But this also was an act of love, a mighty act of healing. The nails really didn’t hold Jesus to the cross. The one who controlled nature, time, disease, and death, could certainly overcome his creation’s attempt on his life. When Jesus confessed, “I am he,” the band of soldiers assembled to arrest him fell to the ground (John 18:6). No one takes Jesus’ life from him, but he lays it down of his own accord (John 10:18).

In agony, he allowed his body to be broken, his breath to be taken, and his blood to be spilled. His hands held him to that cross so that the Father would be glorified and so that man could be forgiven.

His hands speak of his perfect love and selflessness.

Your hands might hold children or handle mail, they might make loans or organize books, they might change oil or stock shelves. Whatever they do, make sure they do it to the glory of God. Have compassionate hands that serve others.

What do your hands reveal about you?

Lee Parish