A Simple Reminder

June 16, 2011 Leave a comment

The drunk who has been marvelously delivered from alcoholism by the power of Christ certainly has a testimony. But so does the Christian who by the same power of Christ has never even tasted alcohol. The adulterer who cheated on his wife, gave his life to Christ, and saw his marriage restored certainly has a testimony. But so does the Christian who has been married for thirty years and has never once been unfaithful to his wife. Do you see what I’m getting at?

In the realm of the church there has long been a tendency to marvel at those who have been forgiven and restored of sins that we deem uncommonly serious, even scandalous. These are the “exciting” and “interesting” Christians. All the while there has been a parallel tendency to yawn at those Christians whose lives have been marked by decade after decade of consistent holy living. It’s a shame, really, that we so take for granted these who are every bit as much “trophies” of God’s grace as those who have sinned spectacularly and been redeemed.

So I guess you can take this post as a call for you to show some highly consistent Christian just how much you appreciate them. Walk up to the person and tell them by way of a conversation. Send them a card or an email. You could even write them a letter. You can’t realize how much such a thing would mean to that person. We are so thankful for the likes of Moses, David, and Saul, murderers who found forgiveness and were mighty servants of God. But let’s also remember to be thankful for the likes of Joseph, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, and John, men who served God just as mightily without the unnecessary baggage of such sin.

Filed under balance, Character, church, Discipleship, Discipline, Marriage, Personal Holiness, Sin, Thankfulness Tagged with ,

A Different Way To Preach The Gospel

April 4, 2011 Leave a comment

An army private became a Christian and began to come under some persecution from his fellow soldiers. One rainy night he came in very tired and wet, but before he went to bed he got down on his knees and prayed. That simple act greatly irritated his sergeant, and the sergeant launched two boots, covered in heavy mud, toward the private. One boot hit him on the right side of the head, and the other one hit him on the left side. But the private just went on with his praying. The next morning the sergeant found those boots beautifully polished and placed by the side of his bed. In his own words, “I was saved that day.”

In 1 Peter 3:1, the Bible talks about how a Christian wife can win her unsaved husband to Christ without saying a word:

“Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives.”

It is this same principle that we see on display in the true story about the private and the sergeant. Christians can win people to Christ “without a word” by way of their deeds. There’s an old quote that is attributed to Francis of Assisi, and it conveys the point very well: “Preach the gospel at all times, and when necessary use words.”

Filed under Change, Character, Doing Good, Evangelism, Extending Forgiveness, Holiness, Humility, Influence, Mercy, Persecution, perseverance, Personal Holiness, prayer, salvation, trials, Witnessing Tagged with , , , , , ,

Too Close To His Price

April 2, 2011 Leave a comment

Back in the days of the Civil War, a smuggler asked a riverboat captain to accept an illegal shipment of cotton onto his boat. The smuggler said, “I’ll give you $300 to transport these bales.” The captain answered, “No, I don’t want to get mixed up in anything illegal.” “I’ll make it $1,000,” said the smuggler. “No,” said the captain, standing his ground. Finally, the smuggler made his highest offer of $3,000. At that point the captain pulled a pistol from his belt and said, “You get off my boat. You’re getting too close to my price!”

Let me point out two things about that captain. #1: He was moral enough to sincerely try to do right in a wrong world. #2: He was wise enough to know that even he was capable of yielding to temptation if the pay was too much to resist. I think we need more people like that today, people who have a ton of godly morality but who realize they are still sin-tainted enough to engage in immorality if the circumstances are right. Are you such a person? And, if you are, do you know your breaking point when it comes to temptation? If you don’t, you’d better figure it out fast!

Filed under balance, Character, Choices, Doing Good, Humility, Personal Holiness, Sin, Temptation, The Depravity of Man Tagged with , , , ,

Stretch Your Soul

March 24, 2011 Leave a comment

Many years ago The Alabama Baptist ran the following story told by R. Lee Sharpe:

“I was just a kid. One spring day, father told me to go with him to old man Trussell’s blacksmith shop. He had left a rake and a hoe to be repaired. And there they were ready, fixed like new. Father handed over a silver dollar for the repairing. But Mr. Trussell refused to take it. ‘No,’ he said, ‘there’s no charge for that little job.’ But father insisted that he take the pay. If I live a thousand years, I’ll never forget that great blacksmith’s reply. ‘Sid,’ he said to my father, ‘can’t you let a man do something now and then – just to stretch his soul?’”

James 2:18 says:

“Now someone may argue, ‘Some people have faith; others have good deeds.’ I say, ‘I can’t see your faith if you don’t have good deeds, but I will show you my faith through my good deeds.’” (New Living Translation)

Christian, do at least one thing today (for someone other than a family member or a friend) just to stretch your soul.

Filed under Character, Doing Good, faith, Influence, Personal Holiness Tagged with , , , , ,

Be A Good Neighbor

March 22, 2011 Leave a comment

“He who despises his neighbor sins…” (Proverbs 14:21)

“Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” (Romans 13:10)

“Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God will all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Matthew 22:38-39)

While I understand that Jesus told the parable of The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) to explain that my “neighbor” is anyone I meet, I also understand that I live on a specific street and have literal neighbors. Therefore, it is my Christian duty to do all that I can to get along with them and show them love and friendship.

A man bought a farm and went out to look at the line fence, which had been the source of much quarreling between the farm’s previous owner and his neighbor. The neighbor spied the fellow inspecting the fence and, in a huff, went out there and said in an agitated tone, “That fence is a full foot over on my side.”

To the angry neighbor’s astonishment, the new owner answered, “Very well then, we will set the fence over two feet on my side.” That offer rendered the neighbor speechless until he was finally able to stammer out, “Oh, but that is more than I claim.” “Never mind about that,” said the owner pleasantly, “I’d much rather have peace with my neighbor than two feet of earth.” But with the situation now difused completely, the neighbor said, “That’s very good of you, but I couldn’t let you do a thing like that. That fence just won’t be moved at all.”

Are you having a problem with one of your neighbors these days? Is a property line in question? Is a tree limb hanging over onto your place? Is a drainage issue causing you trouble? Is a barking dog keeping you up at night? Then by all means show love in your attempts to resolve the matter. Don’t turn the thing into the Hatfields and the McCoys. Ask God to give you wisdom and guidance in reaching a solution that is pleasing to Him. Remember that you can’t put a price on being at peace with your neighbor.

Filed under Character, Choices, contentment, Discipleship, Doing Good, Extending Forgiveness, Influence, Personal Holiness, Problems Tagged with , , , ,

The Next Day

March 10, 2011 Leave a comment

One day some of Napoleon’s officers came to him and recommended a young captain for promotion. When Napoleon asked them why they were suggesting the captain for promotion, they explained that he had used great courage and cleverness to win a victory several days earlier. To that Napoleon replied, “Good, but what did he do the next day?” And that was the last that was ever heard of a promotion for the young captain.

You say you went to church Sunday. Fine, but what did you do Monday? You studied your Bible Tuesday night. Okay, but what did you do Wednesday? You prayed a great prayer Thursday. Excellent, but what did you do Friday? You see, occasional flashes of brilliance in serving the Lord just don’t compare to a life that is wholly devoted to serving Him 24-7. So, how’s your case for a promotion right now?

Filed under Character, Church attendance, Commitment, Discipleship, faithfulness, God's Work, obedience, Personal Holiness, Priorities, Righteousness Tagged with , , , ,

“Let Me Tell You About My Better Half…”

February 23, 2011 Leave a comment

In volume 4 of his commentary set on Romans, the noted preacher Donald Barnhouse tells the following story.

“A man I knew through my ministry was going with a girl who, some of us thought, was not at all worthy of him. We breathed a sigh of relief when he went away into the army for two or three years (this was during the war). The girl drifted around with other fellows, and, most happily, the young man met a worthy girl in a distant city. He fell in love with her and married her.

When the war was over and he had returned to his home with his bride, the first girl drove by the house one evening and dropped in to see her old flame and meet his wife. But the wife was not there. The first girl made no attempt to hide her affection and moved in such a voluptuous way that the young man realized he had but to reach out his hand and she was his. He told me about it afterwards.

There was within him all that goes with male desire. There was something much more within and he began to talk about what a wonderful girl he had married. He showed the pictures of his wife to the first girl and praised his wife to the skies, acting as though he did not understand her obvious advances. It was not long before she left, saying as she went, ‘Yes, she must be quite a girl if she can keep you from reaching.’”

I wonder how many affairs could be prevented, how many temptresses and tempters defanged, if only spouses would start bragging on their better halves the way the fellow in Barnhouse’s story did. You see, happy homes make poor soil for sexual sin. Are you married? Then get in the habit of singing the praises of your spouse to others. That’s a great way to keep potential home-wreckers at bay.

Filed under adultery, Character, Choices, Desires, Husbands, Personal Holiness, Temptation, Wives Tagged with , , , , ,

Faithful Over A Few Things

February 22, 2011 Leave a comment

Here’s a short follow-up to yesterday’s post “You Just Never Know.” The two walk hand in hand.

George Matheson was a blind Scottish pastor in the late 1800s. While he was serving as the pastor of a church in Innellan, he preached to only a handful of worshippers one stormy winter’s Sunday. He left the service discouraged because he felt that his sermon had been especially good. But what he didn’t know was that a stranger in the congregation would never forget the sermon or the blind preacher who delivered it. Over seven years later, that man would recommend Matheson to become the pastor of St. Bernard’s Church in Edinburgh, a call which would lead to thirteen years of highly fruitful service for Matheson at the church.

In the parable of the talents, Jesus taught that the one who is faithful over a few things will be made ruler over many things (Matthew 25:14-30). While He gave this parable within the context of a teaching on prophecy and rewards in the afterlife, the basic principle can apply in this life. A proof text is His parable of the faithful steward (Luke 12:42-48), which isn’t found within the context of a prophetic teaching.

God is always on the lookout for good stewardship, and He always takes special notice of a George Matheson who will faithfully preach to the best of his ability for a bad-weather, poorly attended Sunday service. So don’t ever take lightly any opportunity that comes your way to do something in service to Christ. Remember that no job is too small for a servant big enough to do it well.

Filed under Attitude, Character, church, Church attendance, Doing Good, God's Omnipresence, God's Omniscience, God's Work, Leadership, obedience, preaching, Prosperity, Reward, stewardship, Trusting In God, weather, Worship Tagged with , , , , , , , ,

Man’s Spirit

February 15, 2011 Leave a comment

You’ve probably heard that God is a triune being. He is one God, but He is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. But have you heard that man is also a triune being? He is body, soul, and spirit. In 2 Thessalonians 5:23, the apostle Paul says to the Christians of Thessalonica:

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Of course, there is a major difference between God’s triunity and man’s. Whereas Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are each a distinct Person, the spirit, the soul, and the body can’t make that claim. But still, even with this difference clearly in mind, each one makes for an interesting subject, and with this post I’d like to say a few things about the spirit of man.

First, it is the spirit that brings life to the body. James 2:26 says:

“For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”

I would also mention Luke 23:46 here, where Christ’s releasing of His bodily spirit leads to His immediate death:

“And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, ‘Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ Having said this, He breathed his last.”

When you understand that it is the spirit that brings life to the body, you can understand why the Bible teaches that even animals have spirits. Ecclesiastes 3:21 describes the difference between a person’s spirit and an animal’s spirit this way:

“Who knows the spirit of the sons of men, which goes upward, and the spirit of the animal, which goes down to the earth?”

Second, a person’s spirit goes back to God the Father as soon as it leaves the body. Look again at the verse I just referenced, Ecclesiastes 3:21. It says the spirit of man goes upward (to God) at death, while the spirit of an animal simply goes down to the earth, nothing more. Another relevant passage here is Ecclesiastes 12:1-8, which is the Bible’s best passage on the subject of growing old and dying. Verse 7 of the passage says:

“Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.”

Along these same lines, in Numbers 16:22 God is called “the God of the spirits of all flesh,” and in Hebrews 12:23 He is called “the Father of spirits.” These verses simply mean that God is the one who gives life to each person, and He gives this life by way of giving each individual a spirit.

Third, man’s spirit is also a center of various traits, emotions, and activities. Isaiah 29:24 speaks of those who have “erred in the spirit.” Psalm 77:6 associates the spirit with both remembering and making diligent search. In Matthew 5:3, Jesus speaks of being “poor in spirit.” John 13:21 says that Jesus was “troubled in spirit.” Numbers 5:14 links the emotion of jealousy with the spirit. Proverbs 16:18 warns that a “haughty spirit” goes before a fall. In Psalm 34:18, David sings the praises of having a “contrite spirit.” In Psalm 51:10, he asks God to renew a “steadfast spirit” within him. Finally, in 2 Corinthians 7:1, Paul encourages us to cleanse ourselves from all “filthiness of the flesh and spirit.”

In the end, perhaps the best way to think of man’s spirit is to think of it as our “life force.” I know, I know, that’s a little too new-agey, but it’s about the best I can do. The spirit is that part of us that separates us from the deceased. If you are alive, you can thank your spirit. How you feel relates back to your spirit. How you carry yourself does as well. When you hear someone say, “I feel more alive than I ever have,” you know that person’s spirit is functioning in high order.

Filed under Bible Study, Character, Desires, God's Omnipotence, Human Life, Humility Tagged with , , , , ,

Wrongly Judged Anybody Lately?

February 12, 2011 Leave a comment

Years ago a young girl sat at the counter of a diner and asked the waitress, “How much is an ice cream sundae?” “Fifty cents,” answered the waitress, without even glancing at the child. The young girl opened her fist, looked at her coins, and asked, “Then how much is a bowl of plain ice cream?” Annoyed, the waitress snapped, “Thirty-five cents.” The girl carefully counted out thirty-five cents, handed it to the waitress, and said, “I’ll take the plain ice cream.” The waitress took the money without a word and brought the ice cream. But after the little girl had eaten and left, when the waitress went to clean up the area, she was overcome by a wave of shame. There, placed neatly beside the empty bowl, were two nickels and five pennies – her tip.

It’s so easy to make snap judgments of others, isn’t it? We only have to be around someone new for a few minutes, even seconds, before we have them stereotyped and appropriately categorized in our minds. We judge on the basis of clothes, hairstyles, language skill, dialect, and the way a person carries himself or herself. We do it every day without even thinking about it. It just comes naturally to us. But what does God say about the issue? You’ll find your answer in the following verses:

1. Deuteronomy 1:16-17 (Moses speaking to the people of Israel): “Then I commanded your judges at that time, saying, ‘Hear the cases between your brethren, and judge righteously between a man and his brother or the stranger who is with him. You shall not show partiality in judgment; you shall hear the small as well as the great…”

2. Proverbs 24:23: “These things also belong to the wise: It is not good to show partiality in judgment.”

3. John 7:24 (Jesus speaking): “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”

4. James 2:1-4: “My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, ‘You sit here in a good place,’ and say to the poor man, ‘You stand there,’ or ‘Sit here at my footstool,’ have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?”

Let’s all confess our sin in this area and make some real progress at repenting of it. Let’s stop assessing a person’s entire history and future by way of a fifteen-second conversation or a casual look. People are more complex than we realize, and they don’t fit so neatly into the limited number of pigeon-holes we use. Showing any kind of partiality is not good, and we must start seeing it for the problem that it is in our whole approach to dealing with others.

Filed under Attitude, Character, Doing Good, Dress and Appearance, Personal Holiness, Repentance Tagged with , , , , , , ,

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