Our Only Obligation

Our only obligation is to love. The 1st commandment is to love God-(Matt. 22:37). The 2nd commandment is to love others-(Matt 22:39). Love is the anchor of our soul. The anchor that holds us close to the Lord. It's the plumbline that keeps us lined up with God. Love is the guard that keeps us on the narrow way, the level that keeps us "on the level". Anyway, why is it that so many Christians obviously do not realize this? Why is it that I haven't realized the importance of love as much as I have in the past few years? I didn't focus on love for approximately 30 years of my Christianity. I've focused on different things off and on throughout the years such as ministry, gifts of the Spirit, evangelism, Bible study, etc. None are as vital as love. At times I would remember reading 1 Cor. 13 and casually thinking that I should be more loving. I even would pray at times for God to help me love others more. Well, I now realize that out of my love for God and personally experiencing His love, I am able to truly love others. I want to suggest to you that we are not taught enough to love and submit to the fact that without love in our hearts and life...we are NOTHING or a USELESS NOBODY (1 Cor. 2). These are very strong words. Is all that we do in vain if we are not motivated by the true love of God? Now let's look at Rom 13:10>it says that "love does NO WRONG to others. We are not obligated to like everybody. We are not obligated to live our life for everybody else (only for God). But, if we ever wrong someone or cause harm to them, we are not acting in love. I believe that covers bodily harm, neglect when it is in our power to care for someone truly in need> (ex.-the "good Samaritan"), emotional abuse and insensitivity, not speaking the truth (in LOVE) to someone who really needs to hear it, being gentle, kind and caring, just to cover a few characteristics of love. 1 Cor. 13 is an overview of what God's authentic kind of love looks like. I think we Christians need to meditate on 1 Cor. 13 regularly. We do not naturally walk in love as we ought. In John 15 we find that if we don't abide in the Lord and His love, then (vs 6) we are considered withered, dead, and will be gathered up to be thrown into the fire. (You determine what He means by that!). Thank the Lord, (vs2), He will prune us as needed. Just don't refuse His pruning work. The alternative isn't pretty. That's why I'm soooo glad He loves me, and that He disciplines me. One of my first memory verses was Heb. 12:11, "No discipline for the moment brings joy, but seems grievious and painful; but afterwards it yields a peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Vs 8 says that you are a child of God only if you are being disciplined by Him. Welcome His love and discipline. And rejoice in the fact that He loves us enough to change us! Make it your priority to let Him reduce you to love>the only thing that will count!

The Evil of Dead Works

To continue on the last posting, I want to touch on the subject of how one falls from grace (Gal. 5). It's by seeking justification in religiosity (the Law and dead works) as opposed to the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus (which is daily walking in the Spirit, and submitting to God's will>Gal. 3). First of all, I believe that the temptations Christians face today are the same in nature as the temptations all Christians have faced from the beginning of Christendom. But, there is a difference and that is the temptations come in contemporary forms. It's one of the saddest things in the world when a gifted Christian becomes prey to pride, bringing self-deception, and they fall from grace into an irreversible pit of darkness and destruction. One of the pitfalls that I believe take many wonderful men and women of God down from grace is the grasping of a ministry and recongnition. In our world today people idolize movie stars, rock stars, politicians, etc. In the Christian world, we have the same sin of idolatry. Many Christians lust for spiritual positions where people will look up to them and this is creating in many a lust for recognition. If the recognition is not found, this becomes their ambition. If it is found, then the temptation for pride and self-righteousness raises it's ugly head. The evidence is striving and self-promotion. Ps 75:6 says in essence that God promotes and lifts up. We don't always understand why we don't get promoted or honored when others do. One thing I've noticed is that when I think I need to be promoted and am not, and if I can't be honestly happy for the one that has been, then I am committing the sin of jealousy and envy. (James 3:16) This is EVIL! I am not humble and therefore God will resist me>1 Pet. 5:5-6. Jesus said that the greatest in the kingdom of God will be a servant>Matt 18;23. And the wisdom from God that prepares you for promotion is evident by peacefulness, one being courteous, yielding to reason, full of compassion and good fruits, impartial, sincere, agreeable, harmonious with others, undisturbed, free from fear and moral conflicts>James 3:17-18. I challenge you and myself today to hold true to these things: stay humble by always being a servant, check thoughts and motivations. I want God's recognition, even if that means that's all the recoginition I may ever get.

What about the Pigmys in Africa?

This question comes up so often when I am sharing the gospel on college campuses. Faith in Christ Jesus is trusting in, and relying on Jesus alone for salvation>Acts 4:12. In Romans 10 we see clearly and specifically the answers to this dilemma. The A. Paul clearly points out to us in this chapter that, #1. It is necessary for believers to preach the good news of the gospel to all people so that they can (if they choose to) hear, have faith, and get saved>(vs. 5-7, 13-15,17). #2. Because the Jew (and anybody else) who doesn't have their righteousness (the means of salvation) found in God through Christ Jesus, will not be saved>(vs 1-4). #3. And for the ones who have not heard the gospel? Well, according to Ps. 19:1-4 and Rom 10:17-18 (AMP version), all have heard the gospel already through nature>"...Have they not heard? Indeed they have; for the scripture says, Their voice (that of nature bearing God's message) has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the far bounds of the world." So, the preaching of the gospel is just one more effort God uses to reach out in hopes that people will respond to His love and give their heart and life to Him. Even "Christians" in error and with great effort, try to establish their righteousness through their own good works. It won't happen! Rom. 9:31-33 declares that like the Jews, pursuing a right standing with God, without faith in Christ, will make one fall short and not attain salvation. No religion in the world will accomplish the task of providing salvation. It's through a personal relationship with Christ alone. I hope that on the day I stand before the Lord, I will hear Him say, "Enter in thou good and faithful servant!">Matt. 24;25> When we all stand before Him, He will not be tallying our works, but will measure whether we have been good>(Greek-valuable; virtuous), and faithful>(Grk.-trustworthy) servants. This takes relying on a personal relationship with Jesus in which He will provide the knowledge of His will for our lives. We then must be obedient. There will be those who will know God's plan, but will reject it>Rom 10:19-21. God forbid we be unyielding, disobedient, and self-willed (vs21). Please read all of Col.1. > I pray "that you may be filled with the full knowledge of His will...that you may walk in a manner that is worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him in all things...bearing good (valuable) fruit in works, steadily growing and increasing in the knowledge of God...giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints...the riches of the glory of this mystery which is Christ in you, the Hope of glory...Him we preach and proclaim...and for this I labor, striving with all superhuman energy which He so mightily enkindles and works within me."

Stifle the Destroyer and Enable the Power

Every thought that goes through our mind must be scrutinized and dealt with (2 Cor.10:5). Our life depends on it! Most of my Christian life I have been strong in faith and rather postitive about the future, always thinking that in Christ, everything will be wonderful! Well, it's not at times. In this world we will encounter tribulation >Jn 16:33. But, we will be seated with Christ in Heaven IF we overcome in this world>Rev.3:21. Included in our tribulations are hurtful people, disillusionment, and disappointment. But God has made a way for us to walk in love and trust without the worry of being taken advantage of. We are assured of blessing, deliverance, and victory! Fear is not based on fact >God's promises, but on anticipation of an ultimate negative outcome. This perspective is rooted in mistrusting God. On the contrary, faith in God says that He will take care of us. Now watch out! Fearful thoughts tend to proliferate. They reproduce themselves and before long they are invading our lives by stealing our peace. They adversely affect our decisions and esp. our relationship with God and others. 1 Cor.13:7 & 1 Jn.4:18 says, "God's perfect love casts out ALL fear." A spirit of fear isn't of God, BUT He gives us POWER to overcome. He gives us LOVE pervading every area of our lives. And He gives us a SOUND MIND so we won't go insane>(2 Tim. 1:7). I have decided (again for the approx. 100th time) that it is not foolish to trust God! He is well aware of every motive, action, and intention we all have. He is involved in every detail of our lives. (That is IF we want Him to be and IF we obey Him.) It is not stupid to trust God and walk in love. On the contrary, it is wise. Don't be thrown off by disenchantment. Life happens! God is challenging me to live in a deeper level of His love and trust. Therefore I am becoming wiser. Wisdom says to do things God's way and He will care for you. It says relax, don't worry, be happy, God's in control! Wisdom says to go to God, hear from Him, obey Him and He will work it all out for your good and His glory. Rom. 8:27-28 says that the Holy Spirit searches hearts, intercedes for us, and we should be assured that God is working all things together in His plans for good to and for those who love Him and are called according to His design and purpose. When we depend on Him, He always comes through! But, don't forget>LOVE is the enabler. Enable Him to work on your behalf. He will!

Issues, Issues, Issues

It seems like every time I turn around, I hear about Christians having "issues". In other words, so many Christians I know are having problems and the problems are getting the best of them. They are not overcoming, but succumbing to them and doing things that don't please God or that would make for a better outcome. I was sharing a sad and grievious story with a friend about a family we know who once had major issues (as most of us have). They got saved and seemed to be doing great for years. Sadly to say, the family has fallen apart and are experiencing some terrible and traumatic situations resulting from poor choices. I knew of problems the family had been having all along, but I assumed that they were working through them. Things seemed to continually go down hill these past few years. As I shared the story, I aknowledged the fact that we all have issues! The difference is, those of us who work through our problems with resolve in the power of the Lord, will overcome them and will bring glory to God. I'm sure that there is yet hope for them, but not without devastating consequences. In Rom. 8:24-28 the Apostle Paul speaks of hope. Hope is when you desire to see something happen that hasn't happened yet. He exhorts us to hope in God and to wait for His help with patience and composure (tranquility). That means we don't take matters into our own hands. That means that we cooperate with the Holy Spirit. With His help, we are assured and know that all things work together for good to and for those who love God and are called according to His design and purpose. The problem lies in the heart. We will all encounter trials and tribulations, but how we handle them determines the outcome. 2 Pet.1:1-10 gives us an indepth look into how we can overcome the corruption (ruin; destruction) that is in the world. Please read this passage and meditate on it. Not just for your own sake, but for the sake of others also. This is a treasure chest of God's gold, and it can be yours for the taking!

God Weeps?

I'm so glad that our heavenly Father loved us so much, He gave His Son to suffer and die for us. I can't imagine how awful it would be to witness the torture and death of your child. Although it happens often in some parts of the world, the fact that the Most High God had to endure this, is beyond belief. But I am so grateful that He did. This past week as I did my study out of the Beth Moore, "Breaking Free" book, I saw in week 3 a verse that I've never noticed before. She asked a question,"What did God say would happen if His people, due to pride, did not listen to Him?" The reference is in Jeremiah 13:17>it says that God will weep in secret for us bitterly, because the Lord's flock is taken captive. Have you ever thought about the fact that God has emotions? His emotions are not always positive or happy! I've never thought about God going off in secret and crying bitter tears. And it is because His beloved, but (sometimes) stupid children, get taken into captivity by obstinance and disobedience. It truly broke my heart to get a glimpse of how our precious and loving Father in Heaven weeps for His children when we don't listen to Him and we get into trouble. I hope and pray that during this Easter season, we His children, will be aware of the fact that Jesus and our Father paid the ultimate price for our freedom from stupidity and the tendency to sin. He has made a way for us to be good children and be able to bless Him! He so wants to bless us and take care of us, but we must be obedient. Let's make Him happy and not sad. Col. 1:22-23 (Amp.) says that the Messiah reconciled us to God through His death, in order to present us holy and faultless and irreproachable in His presence; and this will He do provided we stay with Him and in faith, well-grounded, settled and steadfast in the hope of the gospel. Have a blessed Easter rejoicing in the fact that as we hope in Him and obey Him, we are pleasing to Him and we are making Him happy! He's happy when we are blessed! And we'll be blessed as we obey Him. I love Him so! Please read Eph. 1:16-23. This is my prayer for you!

Finally Surrender

I do the computer on Friday at Victory Friday Nites (our campus ministry). A worship song being sung was titled "Finally Surrender". As we sang it over and over, I didn't realize that I would be waking up the next morning with it playing over and over in my head. As I began to think about this phrase, the depth and truth of it was revealed to me in a deeper way. I thought that I had surrendered all to the Lord 32 years ago. I guess I did to the best of my knowledge, but I am seeing surrender in a new light contiunually. It is an initial decision, but is also a future, moment by moment choice. It's taking up my cross everyday because I want to be His disciple and because each new day our decision will be challenged. Jesus addresses surrender in this story of the rich young man(Matt. 19:16-30). The man was asking Jesus what deed He must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus answered not with a particular deed, but with a total lifetime committment challenge to follow Him. Jesus said that to "enter into life eternal one must continually keep the Ten Commandments. The man replied that he had kept the 10 from his youth and yet the man acknowledged that he still lacked. I believe Jesus was getting the man to the place where he could see that a "good" life is not enough. Eternal life is becoming His disciple and walking with Him daily. We must be in a perpetual state of FINAL SURRENDER.
Sometimes I find that I am happy with being a "good"person for a period of time. I then notice that I miss the Lord. I miss the evidence of His presence. I love His presence. I love it when He walks with me and talks with me. Surrender makes Him prominent in our life. The "10" naturally happens when we continually walk with Him, but we experience satisfaction and fulfillment that comes with final surrender. In Phil 3:10 A. Paul said, "For this is my determined purpose that I may know Him, that I may become progressively more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His person..." On this Palm Sunday, let's follow Him, praising Him and adoring Him. But, let's keep following Him all the way to the cross. This is eternal life, that I may know Him. (1 Jn. 5:11) ...God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who possesses the Son has this life..." I want this life forever! How about you?