I watched a video this morning about how to use social media (Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, etc.) to build a business and increase the traffic to a website. One of the tips the presenter gave was to "Be Controversial." It struck me that if I'm doing my job as a Christian properly, that one comes naturally.
Standing up for what's right is often controversial. Too many people want to impose their lack of morality on Christians because they don't want to be held accountable for their own actions, or maybe because they can't deal with the guilt that comes from the conviction of the Holy Spirit speaking to our hearts when we've displeased God. Whatever the reason, there are people every day who try to force their liberal ideas down the throats of those of us who still believe the Bible is truth and still plan to live by it. That causes great controversy.
I'm here to tell you that if I'm the only one left standing, I will remain true to God's word. I will continue to speak out against sin as the Bible defines it. And I will do my best to live as a Christian every day... not just on Sunday, not just when I'm around other Christians, not just when it's easy. I will stand up for Christ so that when Jesus returns for me (as He promised He would in Matthew 24), I'll be ready for Him.
Want to stand with me?
Friday, January 30, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Greatly Displeased
Many of us are familiar with the story of Jesus rebuking the disciples for forbidding the children to come to Him as He sat by the Jordan river teaching. I've read the passage in Mark 10:13-15 many times, as you probably have, too. This morning, though, as I read it again two words stood out to me... greatly displeased. The verse (in the NKJV) reads:
It had never stood out to me before that Jesus was "greatly displeased" with the disciples. I had always envisioned Him being slightly irritated; maybe a little aggravated. But greatly displeased. That's pretty strong language.
The NASB reads indignant. Jesus was indignant that the disciples would dare to stop these children from coming into His presence! I can almost hear His tone of voice now, can't you? "How dare they? I want to hold the children!"
It struck me that He probably feels the same way when something hinders us - His older children - from coming into His presence. Whether it's our poor time management, other "priorities," someone's influence in our lives... whatever it is. Don't you feel it likely that Jesus is indignant when something hinders His being able to hold us and spend time with us?
What do you say we make a greater effort to keep the hindrances at bay? I know that I don't want to be the cause of Jesus' displeasure, and I'm sure you don't either!
Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”
It had never stood out to me before that Jesus was "greatly displeased" with the disciples. I had always envisioned Him being slightly irritated; maybe a little aggravated. But greatly displeased. That's pretty strong language.
The NASB reads indignant. Jesus was indignant that the disciples would dare to stop these children from coming into His presence! I can almost hear His tone of voice now, can't you? "How dare they? I want to hold the children!"
It struck me that He probably feels the same way when something hinders us - His older children - from coming into His presence. Whether it's our poor time management, other "priorities," someone's influence in our lives... whatever it is. Don't you feel it likely that Jesus is indignant when something hinders His being able to hold us and spend time with us?
What do you say we make a greater effort to keep the hindrances at bay? I know that I don't want to be the cause of Jesus' displeasure, and I'm sure you don't either!
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
The Way We Are
NOTE: Occasionally, I'll be sharing guest articles and devotionals with you. Today, here's one from my "spiritual father" and friend, Neal Stover, Pastor of the South Haven Church of the Nazarene in Valparaiso, Indiana.
The Way We Are
...for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? (1 Corinthians 3:3)
Greetings in the name of Jesus!
When, as those who profess Christ, we continue to behave in spiritually immature ways, we should not make matters worse by making excuses.
It does no good to minimize the seriousness of sinful decisions that we have made. I might like for my misdeeds to be seen as nothing more than personal quirks or foibles, but unworthy character and unacceptable conduct can't be excused by saying, "Well, that's just the way I am."
It may well be true that one of my personal characteristics is a tendency in a certain sinful direction.
I may, for example, be more prone to anger than my next-door neighbor. But the most important issue is not my nature -- it's my character.
Nature is the package of tendencies that we were born with, but character is what we've done with that package, and that's the only thing we'll be held accountable for at the judgment (II Corinthians 5:10).
Most of us should go ahead and admit that we wouldn't be "the way we are" if we'd been working on our character in constructive ways while we had the chance.
Paul was not complimenting the Corinthians when he said, "You are still carnal."
And in a similar vein, the writer of Hebrews said to his readers, "For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food" (Hebrews 5:12).
In whatever spiritual condition we find ourselves, God surely understands. He understands, but He also expects better things of us.
He knows how hard it is to go against our personal tendencies, and He's eager to help. But He requires that we make an honest effort. As our Great Physician, He will take a more active approach than simply to give sympathy and say, "Well, I guess that's just the way you are." He gave His life to get us over the way we are.
Our spiritual enemy is an awesome foe, but we can do more than roll over and play the victim. "Resist the devil," James wrote, "and he will flee from you" (James 4:7).
Forward is the direction we need to move, but we won't move forward if we don't reach forward.
Let's do it without delay. No more excuses.
"That's just the way I am" is a confession of sloth, not humility.
--Gary L. Thomas
Pastor Neal Stover
http://www.southhavennazarene.org
The Way We Are
...for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? (1 Corinthians 3:3)
Greetings in the name of Jesus!
When, as those who profess Christ, we continue to behave in spiritually immature ways, we should not make matters worse by making excuses.
It does no good to minimize the seriousness of sinful decisions that we have made. I might like for my misdeeds to be seen as nothing more than personal quirks or foibles, but unworthy character and unacceptable conduct can't be excused by saying, "Well, that's just the way I am."
It may well be true that one of my personal characteristics is a tendency in a certain sinful direction.
I may, for example, be more prone to anger than my next-door neighbor. But the most important issue is not my nature -- it's my character.
Nature is the package of tendencies that we were born with, but character is what we've done with that package, and that's the only thing we'll be held accountable for at the judgment (II Corinthians 5:10).
Most of us should go ahead and admit that we wouldn't be "the way we are" if we'd been working on our character in constructive ways while we had the chance.
Paul was not complimenting the Corinthians when he said, "You are still carnal."
And in a similar vein, the writer of Hebrews said to his readers, "For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food" (Hebrews 5:12).
In whatever spiritual condition we find ourselves, God surely understands. He understands, but He also expects better things of us.
He knows how hard it is to go against our personal tendencies, and He's eager to help. But He requires that we make an honest effort. As our Great Physician, He will take a more active approach than simply to give sympathy and say, "Well, I guess that's just the way you are." He gave His life to get us over the way we are.
Our spiritual enemy is an awesome foe, but we can do more than roll over and play the victim. "Resist the devil," James wrote, "and he will flee from you" (James 4:7).
Forward is the direction we need to move, but we won't move forward if we don't reach forward.
Let's do it without delay. No more excuses.
"That's just the way I am" is a confession of sloth, not humility.
--Gary L. Thomas
Pastor Neal Stover
http://www.southhavennazarene.org
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Do You Belong to MyChurch?
Monday, January 26, 2009
What Drives You?
Yesterday at church the pastor asked the congregation to think about what drives us. It could be a number of things, he said... guilt, anger, materialism, money, need for approval, work. You name it and it could be a driving force in our lives.
The problem is that all these things he mentioned are temporary. They will - at some point in time - pass away, or cease to exist. The only thing that is worth our complete focus is Jesus. Jesus is the only thing that is big enough to warrant all of our drive, all of our passion.
Think about what drives you today. If it's anything other than God, ask Him to help you get your focus aligned properly. Jesus said in Matthew 6:33 to "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." Trust this promise today and let Jesus drive your life as you surrender it to Him!
The problem is that all these things he mentioned are temporary. They will - at some point in time - pass away, or cease to exist. The only thing that is worth our complete focus is Jesus. Jesus is the only thing that is big enough to warrant all of our drive, all of our passion.
Think about what drives you today. If it's anything other than God, ask Him to help you get your focus aligned properly. Jesus said in Matthew 6:33 to "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." Trust this promise today and let Jesus drive your life as you surrender it to Him!
Friday, January 23, 2009
Dead in Sins
Paul writes in Epesians 2:4-5 that "God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses [sins], made us alive together with Christ..." What a thought!
We - the ones who, because of Adam and Eve's disobedience in the Garden of Eden, died just as God said (Genesis 2:16-17) - have been made alive again! Because of God's mercy and grace. What a concept!
Have you accepted that life in Christ? Or are you still dead in sins? This promise is for you as well as me. God will make you alive again... Just Ask Him to!
We - the ones who, because of Adam and Eve's disobedience in the Garden of Eden, died just as God said (Genesis 2:16-17) - have been made alive again! Because of God's mercy and grace. What a concept!
Have you accepted that life in Christ? Or are you still dead in sins? This promise is for you as well as me. God will make you alive again... Just Ask Him to!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Are You Faithful?
A man named Bill Winslow once said:
Just praise the Lord for all that's passed,
And pray that He will hold thee fast;
And peg away while life shall last--
Just praise--and pray--and peg away.
While it's obvious by his language that Mr. Winslow lived in another era, I think we can still learn the key to faithfulness by following his sage advice... Praise God, Pray, and Keep Going!
Never give up praising Him or praying to Him! Even when life might seem to be getting the best of you. Just keep doing what you know to do and trust Jesus to do the rest!
Just praise the Lord for all that's passed,
And pray that He will hold thee fast;
And peg away while life shall last--
Just praise--and pray--and peg away.
While it's obvious by his language that Mr. Winslow lived in another era, I think we can still learn the key to faithfulness by following his sage advice... Praise God, Pray, and Keep Going!
Never give up praising Him or praying to Him! Even when life might seem to be getting the best of you. Just keep doing what you know to do and trust Jesus to do the rest!
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
It's All in God's Plan
Sunday was our last week as co-pastors of the Mayland Church of the Nazarene in Crossville, TN. Greg and I will be returning to Knoxville to see what God has for the next phase of our ministry - and our life!
We leave with mixed feelings. Actually, I've already done my grieving for the change. We had hoped that God would continue to use us there, and we came close to staying longer than we should have. But after much prayer and thought and discussion, we listened to the Holy Spirit and turned in our resignation. It's amazing the peace that filled us both as soon as we made that decision.
Is God speaking to you about His plan for your life? Chances are good that He is. The thing is... are you listening? Or are you, like Greg and I for awhile, trying to fit your concept of what His plan is into the events taking shape in your life?
Sometimes we think that once God sets a plan in place, that's the plan for eternity. And with some things - our salvation by faith through grace, for example - that's true. But often God has a plan in place to use us for a particular purpose and once that purpose has been fulfilled, it's time to move on to the next plan. That's where Greg and I have found ourselves many times. Most recently in our pastorate at Mayland.
If you're struggling to find God's peace, even though you think you're in the center of His will for your life, I encourage you to ask Him to show you clearly what His current plan for you is. He will. And you'll find that peace you so hunger for. Try Him and see.
We leave with mixed feelings. Actually, I've already done my grieving for the change. We had hoped that God would continue to use us there, and we came close to staying longer than we should have. But after much prayer and thought and discussion, we listened to the Holy Spirit and turned in our resignation. It's amazing the peace that filled us both as soon as we made that decision.
Is God speaking to you about His plan for your life? Chances are good that He is. The thing is... are you listening? Or are you, like Greg and I for awhile, trying to fit your concept of what His plan is into the events taking shape in your life?
Sometimes we think that once God sets a plan in place, that's the plan for eternity. And with some things - our salvation by faith through grace, for example - that's true. But often God has a plan in place to use us for a particular purpose and once that purpose has been fulfilled, it's time to move on to the next plan. That's where Greg and I have found ourselves many times. Most recently in our pastorate at Mayland.
If you're struggling to find God's peace, even though you think you're in the center of His will for your life, I encourage you to ask Him to show you clearly what His current plan for you is. He will. And you'll find that peace you so hunger for. Try Him and see.
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