Obey the King

2 Obey the king’s command, I say, because you took an oath before God. 3 Do not be in a hurry to leave the king’s presence. Do not stand up for a bad cause, for he will do whatever he pleases. 4 Since a king’s word is supreme, who can say to him, “What are you doing?” Ecclesiastes 8

We may not need to follow kings here, but I'm sure we all know some people who behave as though they were kings.  Sometimes they're entitled to do so, other times they may not be.  Regardless, we are called to behave as Christ would in all situations.

I am a rather quiet person, but when something doesn't sit well with me, I have a terrible time trying to stay quiet.  I remember a time where I did just that.  The question in the verses above isn't posed out of curiosity, it's posed in a direct and accusatory manner.  Think of walking in on your dog going through the garbage, you know what they're doing, you know it's wrong, and you might exclaim, "What are you doing?!?!?"  That's the type of question being asked of the king.

I tried to point out to someone who was in a position of power with a question of, "What are you doing?" (and yes, I had full knowledge of what they were doing and thought it was wrong), and it totally backfired.  I had stepped out of line, and the person was rather upset with me for questioning their authority.  I apologized after I had cooled off, but the damage was done.  This person didn't trust me to follow their "commands" any further.  

What would Christ have done in the same situation?  First of all, I'm sure he would have handled it with a lot more grace than I had.  Jesus handled delicate situations with grace, and he was harsh when necessary.  

I'm praying that I'll be able to give a little more grace and humility next time the situation arises.

Eternal God

Has anyone ever come up to you and said “I’ve noticed that God helps you in everything you do?”

I haven’t been told that by anyone, but I’ve been asked why I smile or why I’m always positive (which isn’t always true). Then, the other day, I was asked here at work what was the key to my personal success. Immediately, I said “God!” I don’t think that’s the answer the person was expecting (especially for the report they were putting together), but I went on to give examples of how God had helped me in answer to various prayers.

Well, others noticed God’s involvement in Abraham’s life and Abraham responded by worshipping God in a new way!   

Genesis 21:22-24 and 31-34   ²² At that time Abimelek and Phicol the commander of his forces said to Abraham, “God is with you in everything you do. ²³ Now swear to me here before God that you will not deal falsely with me or my children or my descendants. Show to me and the country where you now reside as a foreigner the same kindness I have shown to you.” ²⁴ Abraham said, “I swear it.”… ³¹ So that place was called Beersheba, because the two men swore an oath there. ³² After the treaty had been made at Beersheba, Abimelek and Phicol the commander of his forces returned to the land of the Philistines. ³³ Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called on the name of the Lord, the Eternal God. ³⁴ And Abraham stayed in the land of the Philistines for a long time.

This is the first instance in the Bible where God is referred to as “Eternal.” I wonder if that was a new revelation to Abraham at this time. Abraham could have praised God for being faithful, personal, timely, a protector, helper, gracious, forgiving, etc. Maybe Abraham was distinguishing the true God, the Eternal God, from all the man-made gods of those around him. Or, maybe Abraham recognized that no matter what happened in this life, the only constant was God Himself. Abraham owed all his successes and blessings to the Eternal Creator of all!

How will you give the true Eternal God credit for all your successes?

The Fellowship of Others

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.  Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.  All the believers were together and had everything in common.  They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.  Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.  Acts 2:42-47

 

Have you ever heard the expression ‘The Winds of Change?’  Over the past few weeks, the winds of change were pushing me somewhere that I did not believe I needed to go nor wanted to go; a new church home.  It was not because my church was a bad church.  In fact, I love my church and the people in it.  So why change?  The answer quite simply was the word ‘Fellowship.’  There was a need for fellowship with people who I saw beyond just Sunday.  Fellowship with people who were friends and people who I did not even know.  Quite simply, it was the fellowship that made me feel like I was home.

 

One cannot have a truly growing faith without the fellowship of others.  There are those who would cite Philippians 4:13 to say that all they need is Christ.  Yes, there are times we must go it alone, but that is not to say we are to spend our lives isolated.  Jesus had twelve disciples, and Paul had Peter and the early church.  Even in the Old Testament, Moses had Joshua and other leaders to help with the Israelites.  Everyone who relied upon and trusted the Lord still had other who they could break bread with and trust with important details.  Fellowship amongst believers is one of the surest ways to keep our faith strong and on point, and it truly helps the Spirit of God grow within us.  

 

We were made to grow together spiritually.  The Great Commission for us to go make disciples of all nations does not mean for us to touch a life and leave them to go it alone.  It is us to grow together and help others both realize who Jesus is and understand He will neither leave them nor forsaken them ever.  Finding fellowship with others brings to the realization we are one people serving an awesome God.  Do you have fellowship with people beyond Sunday?  What does fellowship mean to you?  My prayer is that when we are isolated, we change our course to find the fellowship of others.  Amen.

Tues Devo: Give up

Ephesians 5:1-2 “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.” (NASB)

Hello,

I almost flew right by these verses today when reading them. I have seen and read them many times. Previously I had looked at the imitation portion, and aligned it only with walking in love, and showing love as Christ did. But I missed the ‘and’. Christ loved us AND gave Himself up for us. What am I giving up? These verses are a strong call to us as followers of Jesus to be emptied of self, and to give in a truly sacrificial way.

While not often faced with physical death, we still are called to be imitators of sacrificial love.
Where are we showing this kind of love? If we cannot answer that question clearly and quickly, I encourage us to evaluate some areas for improvement!


Have a blessed day


Will Hill

Are You Truly Redeemed? ~ 10 Hallmarks of a True Christian (Part 4 of 6)

Hello Friends!

Welcome back to our study of the book of 1 John as we seek to answer the eternally important question: Are You Truly Redeemed?

The late Dr. Francis Schaeffer was one of the greatest defenders of the Christian faith in the 20^th Century. He predicted the American church would become inconsequential because of a false concept of spirituality. Self-professing Christians would talk about God and even proclaim a belief in God while rejecting the God of the Bible and instead, follow a man-made New Age god…

Are You Truly Redeemed? ~ 10 Hallmarks of a True Christian (Part 4 of 6)

First John is pastoral, written from the heart of a pastor who has great concern for the people entrusted to him by the Lord. As a shepherd, John communicated to his flock some very basic but vitally essential principles reassuring them regarding the basics of the faith. He desired them to have joy regarding the certainty of their faith rather than being upset by the false teaching and current defections of some.

5. A true convert proclaims the deity of Jesus Christ as the Son of God and the ONLY way to the Father in Heaven

They defend the exclusivity of Jesus Christ verses the “promotion” of multiple religious systems and cults:

Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God – 1 John 4:15

6. A true convert longs and awaits for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ

They encourage and comfort the brethren with the promise of His return:

Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure – 1 John 3:2-3

Remember: Our faithfulness to proclaim the Truth of God’s Word as well as defend the Gospel of Jesus Christ may very well assist others in examining their own faith to verify if they are indeed a true convert of Jesus Christ – their very soul may depend upon it!

Please join us next week as we continue to further investigate this promise of eternal assurance from the Word of God – Are You Truly Redeemed?

May the Lord Jesus Christ continue to bless you with His perfect love, mercy and grace!

Keep looking up and sharing the Gospel while there is still time… Hallelujah and Maranatha – come quickly Lord Jesus!

Blessings!

Shane <><

The Righteous and the Wicked

15 In this meaningless life of mine I have seen both of these:

the righteous perishing in their righteousness,

and the wicked living long in their wickedness.

16 Do not be overrighteous,

neither be overwise—

why destroy yourself?

17 Do not be overwicked,    

and do not be a fool—    

why die before your time?

18 It is good to grasp the one    

and not let go of the other.    

Whoever fears God will avoid all extremes. Ecclesiastes 7

These verses are talking about two kinds of people.  The righteous and the wicked.  The wicked live long in their wickedness, yet the righteous perish in their righteousness.  That can't be right.  Why would the wicked live while the righteous perish?

Look a little closer at each.  The wicked have turned away from God.  They've cast him aside, told him they don't need him, and live the life of fools.  Yet, who's to say they'll always remain that way?  I have a number of atheist friends, and I pray for them often.  I pray that they'll see God touching their lives, because even though they don't believe, he's still there.  It's the prodigal son, returning after all his foolishness.  They have a lifetime to "get it right" and accept Christ's payment for their sins.  

Then why do the righteous perish?  The righteous in these verses are overrighteous.  They're the condescending ones.  The ones setting up impossible expectations for themselves and others around them.  They're setting themselves up for failure.  Does God expect us to life perfect and sinless lives?  If he did, we'd still be in Eden!  We've fallen, but we'll get back up again.  We'll stumble, we'll stray, and we'll sin.  The overrighteous are destroying themselves by being focused on themselves, and not focused on God.  Sanhedrin, anyone?  They may live a long time, but they'll break their own spirit in the process.  We should pray that their eyes be opened to the pain they are causing to themselves and others around them by not focusing on showing God's love to their fellow man.

Do you know anyone who fits either category?  Do you fit either category?  

Timely and Faithful

A couple months ago I filled in for someone in leading a certain Bible study group. There were some challenging situations that took place and I didn’t handle them all well. In fact, I thought I may have offended one lady, because I didn’t see her the next few weeks. However, God gave me a positive interaction with her a few weeks ago and she even brought a new lady to the group!  In spite of my failures, God can still timely and faithfully accomplish His purposes.

We definitely see that in the life of Abraham. In spite of the whole mess we saw last week with King Abimelek, God not only was faithful to His promise, but did it in the time He had said.

Genesis 21:1-5    Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised. ² Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him. ³ Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore him. ⁴ When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as God commanded him. ⁵ Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.

Abraham and Sarah didn’t deserve God’s gift and His faithfulness. The Lord graciously gave Isaac to them anyway, because He always fulfills His promises and timely accomplishes His plans.

Where has God been gracious to you and me?

How are you and I encouraged, knowing He is always timely and faithful in accomplishing His purposes?

Spiritual Awareness

The Spirit of God came on Azariah son of Oded.  He went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The Lord is with you when you are with him.  If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.   For a long time Israel was without the true God, without a priest to teach and without the law.  But in their distress they turned to the Lord, the God of Israel, and sought him, and he was found by them.  In those days it was not safe to travel about, for all the inhabitants of the lands were in great turmoil.   One nation was being crushed by another and one city by another, because God was troubling them with every kind of distress.  But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.”  2 Chonicles 15:1-7

This week has been enlightening.  I have heard news of the passing of a colleague that saddened me, but it also gave me great courage and joy to know how strong her faith was.  I have watched a hero draw criticism but gain newfound respect for simply giving God the glory.  I have shed tears over God’s greatness and His grace.  I feel God’s presence is all around me.  Not in the sense that I did not know it before.  Instead, it was in the sense of heightened awareness.  Everything done and said and each motion and emotion was seemingly God centered.

We should embrace the moments that our spiritual awareness of God’s greatness is raised.  In today’s verses, it centers about a king of Judah named Asa.  Asa was one who faithfully followed the Lord and was both aware of God and listening to Him faithfully.  As a result, he ruled a time where his country had peace . . . for 35 years!  Continual awareness of God’s presence assures us that we can always find Him, and if we can be attune to His will, we can have confidence that our ‘work will be rewarded.’ 

Staying attune to God is not easy.  The world sends information that distracts us all the time.  Even the most dedicated Christian can be diverted for a moment.  However if we read for knowledge of God and live by guidance from the Holy Spirit, we can assure ourselves that those moments of awareness will be both frequent and enduring.  How spiritually aware are you?  How can you be assured of God’s will?  My prayer is that we appreciate a heightened awareness of God’s presence in our lives.  Amen.

Tues Devo: Choose your attitude

Philippians 2:5-7 “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.”(NASB)

Hello,

This winter has been a blast…..of cold air and snow!!!! I was reflecting on what seems to be a drawn out winter I got to thinking about how I cannot change what winter is, but I can choose my attitude. My attitude is something that is visible to others, and it will point to either our trust and reliance on Christ, or illustrate that we are not letting our relationship with Christ properly impact our choices.

When Jesus was here, He didn’t gloomily go about His life/death. He did it in a way of humility and a an attractiveness that drew crowds to Him.

How is our attitude? What are we conveying about our relationship with Christ?

Will Hill

Are You Truly Redeemed? ~ 10 Hallmarks of a True Christian (Part 3 of 6)

Hello Friends!

Welcome back to our study of the book of 1 John as we seek to answer the eternally important question: Are You Truly Redeemed?

Several years ago, there was a book written entitled If Christ is the Answer, What are the Questions? We as Believers in Jesus Christ believe He is the answer, right? Then, if this is so, what are the questions and why don’t more lost people ask us questions about the hope within us? In fact, how many people have asked you about your faith in Jesus Christ? Perhaps we should ask ourselves this question: “Why don’t very many people ask me about the hope within me?” Think about it…

Are You Truly Redeemed? ~ 10 Hallmarks of a True Christian (Part 3 of 6)

The overall theme of 1 John is “a recall to the fundamentals of the faith” or “back to the basics of Christianity.” The Apostle John deals with certainties, not opinions or conjecture. He expresses the absolute character of Christianity in very simple terms that are clear and unmistakable, leaving no doubt as to the fundamental nature of those truths. A warm, conversational, loving tone occurs, like a father having a tender and intimate conversation with his children. I like that!

3. A true convert does not harbor hatred for the Christian brethren

They display forgiveness, love, and compassion:

He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes – 1 John 2:9 & 11

Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him – 1 John 3:15

If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? – 1 John 4:20

4. A true convert does not love the world or the things of the world

They have a disdain for the world's system of evil ruled by Satan:

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world – 1 John 2:15-16

Remember: Our faithfulness to proclaim the Truth of God’s Word as well as defend the Gospel of Jesus Christ may very well assist others in examining their own faith to verify if they are indeed a true convert of Jesus Christ – their very soul may depend upon it!

Please join us next week as we continue to further investigate this promise of eternal assurance from the Word of God – Are You Truly Redeemed?

May the Lord Jesus Christ continue to bless you with His perfect love, mercy and grace!

Keep looking up and sharing the Gospel while there is still time… Hallelujah and Maranatha – come quickly Lord Jesus!

Blessings!

Shane <><