01.04.12
Posted in
God's Grace
| 08:23
From man’s days in the Garden of Eden he has sought a way, a way to be equal with God or to be above God. Man has struggled to find his way to accomplish immortality and life eternal. Ever since the fall of man the search has been paramount in the hearts and minds of man. Man has endeavored to build a tower to reach to the heavens, the abode of God. Man has devised all forms of religions and rituals to meet the requirements for eternal life. Man has searched and still today searches for the way; the Bible tells us that few there be that find it.
Proverbs 14:12 says “There is a way which seemeth right unto man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Are man’s attempts to find a way in vain? That is what the Bible seems to say. Man can look under every stone and behind every tree and the way won’t be there. Man will find ways that seem right but he will only find the path to his eventual spiritual death.
We are told that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). This is a fact, plain and simple. Someone must die for sin. There are only two choices: man can choose to die for his own sin which will take all of eternity to pay or man may choose the way that God established. Did we ever reduce the field of ways: no more being good enough, no more paying your way there, no more sacrificing enough, no more self mutilation, no more anything but these two.
Some seem to feel that this may be true for many and probably most of the world’s population but they have lived a good life and haven’t sinned; therefore they don’t have a debt to pay. Sorry, but this is wrong! Using the Bible as the authority, it says that all have sinned. If you wish to just use your senses and observe people then you know that all have sinned if you define sin as it really is. Sin is defined as the transgression of a religious or moral law. I fear that will include each and every one of us.
God didn’t want man to remain in a sinful state after the original sin in the Garden so He promised a solution (Genesis 3:15). God said that he would send His Son to die in the place of anyone that would accept that death as a substitute for the death that was required and would believe that God’s Son was truly God’s Son and that His death would pay the debt owed by the sinner. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”
We are now down to the two ways of satisfying the sin debt. The choice resides within man. Man must continue as man has throughout the ages seeking his way or man may accept the way given by God. What is the first step? Are you really a sinner? To accept God’s way you must admit you are and that you have transgressed against His moral laws. Don’t be bashful, you are joining everyone else that has ever lived; we are all sinners (Romans 3:23).
Once you freely admit that you are a sinner you must make the choice of one of the two ways given. You may decide that you will just take your chances and see what happens; maybe you are good enough to make it on your own. The best choice is to choose the way provided by God. The Son of God came to earth and became a man like we are yet he didn’t sin (Hebrews 4:15), he chose to be obedient to His Father. He came for the purpose of dying for the sins of man. Jesus provided the second option. I can die for my sins or I can accept the death of Jesus as settlement or payment of my sin debt.
If my choice is to take my chances and maybe in the end die myself eternally for my sins then I have to do nothing but if I choose to accept the death of Jesus then I must ask Him to apply His death to my sins. I must ask Him to be my Savior. Jesus surrendered His life on a cross in death for me but it is not applied to me unless I request it and accept it. Once I ask He will take me as one of His own and my account is covered with His blood and my sin debt is paid in full. I am totally forgiven and cleansed of all wrong; past, present, and future.
The Bible speaks of this happening as being born again (John 3:6-7). When we accept Jesus’ substitutionary death we are born spiritually and being alive spiritually means we now have eternal life. Until that new birth all we could look forward to was eternal spiritual death. Until we were born again we were spiritually dead.
Yes, there is a way! Actually there are two ways but one is just a continuation of our present state of death but the other is the entrance into a life; a life of light and glory; a life with our Creator, our Father, and our Lord. The choice is yours to make. Many will choose to remain on the familiar wide road but that will lead to destruction (Matthew 7:13); few will choose the narrow road that will lead to eternal life. The easy way may be the wide road but the correct way is the narrow road (Matthew 7:14) led by Jesus. Yes, there is a way and you must choose. It is an important choice; it determines your eternal destiny. Choose wisely when you have the opportunity, there may never be a second chance.
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01.03.12
Posted in
General
| 13:59
After we have humbled ourselves and honestly began to pray; converse with God, we have a third condition to meet. That third condition established in the verse under consideration is ‘seek My face’. Prayer is the beginning of accomplishing this third condition but there is much more; we now must seek the face of God and not just His ear. Have you ever attended a party or gathering where people wore a mask over their face; their identity was hard to discern? How about trying to talk with a person wearing sunglasses, I get the feeling I am missing a major part of the conversation? God wants us to spiritually see His face and His eyes; to see Him ‘up close and personal’.
King David in Psalm 27:8 wrote, “When You said, “Seek My face,” my heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.” I wonder how many of us can in honest earnest communication with God say what David said. David not only said it in the privacy of prayer but wrote it so even today we have a record of his words. From cover to cover in God’s word we find reference to God’s desire for mankind to seek His face and thereby seeking Him. Proverbs 8:17 says, “I love those who love Me, and those who diligently seek Me will find Me.” Jeremiah says basically the same when he wrote in Jeremiah 29:13, “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” Even in Matthew 7:7-8, we have these verses about seeking, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him that knocks it will be opened.”
God said for us to seek His face but is that what we really seek? I have been guilty of trying to butter God up and pretend to seek His face while all the time I was really seeking His hand and what He would do for me with that hand. I wasn’t seeking God; I was seeking things God could provide. The last thing on my mind was drawing closer to God but in obtaining the desire of my heart. Sure I played the game and prayed and asked because I was told to ask and then receive. In 2 Chronicles 12:14 we have a verse describing what I attempted; “And he did evil, because he did not prepare his heart to seek the Lord.” Sure my heart was prepared to enjoy the gift I was requesting but there was no desire to draw closer to the provider of the gift.
If we concentrate our seeking on what will be provided for us then we are not seeking God but only the bounty of God. Our thoughts and our desire or self centered and that humility described as the first condition has gone flying out the window. If our desire is for any purpose other than honoring a drawing closer to God then we are guilty of doing evil. We must prepare ourselves before we seek God and test our motives. When I seek God is much of the time spent in praise and worship? If yes, then your motive is correct. Do I come to God with judgments of other people’s form of worship rather than my own form of worship? If yes, you need to come to God and ask for forgiveness and repent; you have the wrong motive. Do you give thanks to God and offer praise for the beauty and blessing of the things around you? If yes, continue, you are on the right track.
I know from human experience than see the face of that person sought is worth any effort necessary. No matter how busy my schedule may have been I could always find the time to build a relationship and to look upon that face. What did I see when I would look upon that face? First, the face shows identity; a face hidden makes absolute identity difficult, there is some room for doubt if the face is not seen. The face in general shows feelings. Maybe because of my age and my upbringing I had much rather conduct business face to face than by phone or other methods we have today. Seeing the expressions and feelings displayed on that face gives me as much if not more information as the words spoken. Have you ever seen fear, love, sadness or nay other emotion on a person’s face? That feeling may have been missed if the face were obscured.
When you are face to face whether with a person or with God you must be willing to accept what that face reveals to you. With people the face reveals feelings that the words fail to show. God wants us so close to Him that we know His face and thereby know that His words and face are revealing the same. God wants us to absolutely trust Him even in those times when we are limited to just hearing His words. Just as you have a mental vision of those you love develop such a vision of the face of God as your relationship with Him grows stronger through prayer and study of His Word. On those occasions when seeing God may be hindered then you can resort to your mental image of Him.
If you decide to turn your back on God during your life, you have lost sight of His face. He may then hide His face from you until that time when you earnestly desire to restore the relationship you once had. It is very lonely when you begin to realize your wrong and turn expecting to see God waiting and find His face isn’t there to be seen by you. Now is the time to back up to the first condition, humility and restart the process. Sure God desires the renewed relationship but wants you to be sure you do. Remember you are the one that turned away so you are the one that must wholeheartedly turn back to God. With a humble heart and with much prayer seek God and if you truly do as 1 Chronicles 22:19 says, “Now set your heart and soul to seek the Lord God.” Then you will again look upon the face of the Almighty God and see His love for you radiating from His eyes.
Francis Frangipane said this about seeking God, “There are certain times when the Lord calls us out of the routine of our daily lives. These are special seasons where the only command is, ‘seek My face’. He has something precious and vitally important to give us that the familiar pattern of our daily devotions cannot accommodate. During such times people are often delivered of sins that have plagued them for years, others discover a depth in their walk with God that leads to greater effectiveness in ministry and prayer; still others experience breakthroughs in their families and are used by God to see loved ones brought into the kingdom.” God doesn’t request us to seek him to harm us or belittle us but to lift us and love us and to develop that relationship of a loving father and his child.
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12.25.11
Posted in
God's Love
| 11:33
Maybe it is a weird title but it expresses exactly what is within me just now. Yes, today is December 25, 2011; the day of this year set aside to recognize and celebrate Christmas: the birth of Jesus, the Son of God. I have visualized the scene of the birth of Jesus many times but this year at times I feel I am there not just seeing what happens but feeling, experiencing that most glorious first Christmas. I am so thankful that Jesus was obedient and came to the earth as a baby with the predetermined task of dying for the sins of mankind. I am thankful that I was born to a family that knew the story of the birth of Jesus and began even before I can now remember to share that story with me. I was told that my first visit to church was in the arms of my Mother. For many years I don’t remember not attending services on a very regular schedule. Yes, I could have been born into a family that either never had heard of Jesus or had chosen to not accept the story given in the Bible as valid. With either of these settings I may never have heard of Jesus and His purpose for coming to earth. I may have walked a path for my life contrary to that which God had ordained before the foundation of the world then at the end of that journey died never repenting of the many sins I committed during my walk and had to pay for those sins eternally in hell. I am thankful I had a choice based on knowledge I received from my family. I am thankful for all the Christian influence in my life as I grew up. I went to Sunday school regularly and each teacher worked diligently to teach me and the others of the class of Jesus and His sacrifice for my sins. Maybe even if I hadn’t had a Christian family I would have learned in Sunday school but then I wonder why I would have ever started attending if it had not been for my family. I had many older people praying for my salvation during my younger years and some even spoke to me of my need for a savior; I am so very thankful for each prayer and for each seed that was sown. I am thankful for that time when all I had been taught for so long became real to me and on my knees in front of a pew I accepted the sacrifice that babe of Christmas made. I realized I was a sinner as the Bible said I was and that the only hope I had was in Jesus. Jesus came to this earth to die for me and He died for you too. I am thrilled I didn’t continue to reject His drawing of me to Him. I am thankful for that portion of my life when I drifted from the path I was on and began to ask questions of all that I had just accepted as true as a child. With each new discovery of the truth I took a step back to God. It wasn’t a fast trip back and for a few years I dabbled in the things of the world. I did find that my dabbling was fun but in the long run wasn’t satisfying; I missed that peace and fullness I had had when I was close to God. Don’t ever think I ran back to God, I was determined to see what was on the other side of the mountain and only if it was really like I had been told would I come back to the side where I had spent my formative years. My exploration of the route to the other side of the mountain led me along some dark and troubling paths and I made many wrong decisions as to which path to follow. After a few years of doing it my way I am thankful I return to God’s path for my life. I would never say I have walked the straight and narrow daily; there have been many times when a detour seemed to be the best way to my destination only to find I had to seek God as my guide back to His path. I am thankful that God has been patient with me and always forgiving of me. I am very thankful that God blessed me with a wonderful family and If it is His will I will share a meal with them tomorrow evening but the meal isn’t the important part; it is the love that fills the house and the joy that each one here is a blessing to me given by God. We will take a few moments to revisit that scene of the manger and then think of the sacrifice given on the cross. We as a family will bow before our creator and thank Him for the love He has for us; that love that carried His Son to Bethlehem many years ago. We will thank Jesus for His willingness to suffer and die for us when within us there is nothing worthy of such a sacrifice. I am thankful that I have been given so many opportunities to share what Jesus did for me with others and I know that God will use what He has me to share to touch others. I am thankful for those around me who are my mission field and the ones that God gives me a chance to share the story of the Babe in a manger but not only that but the story of the Savior on the cross. Yes, I am thankful there was and is a Christmas to celebrate. Without Christmas we would all be walking down that broad road with no hope of any change in direction. We would all be heading to a common destination of eternal damnation because we are all sinners in common. Oh yes think deeply on the Babe in the manger; without Him there would be no Christ on the cross and there would be all of us walking the same road to hell. I am on this day the world is celebrating Christmas celebrating Thanksgiving Christmas; thank you Jesus for coming to a lowing manger, for dying on a rugged cross, for being buried in a borrowed tomb but most of all for rising on the third day so we have a choice of destinations. Now that we know there is a choice let us busy ourselves with proclaiming that choice and as the song says, “Go tell it on the mountain.”
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12.15.11
Posted in
General
| 15:11
Hanging on the wall of my office is a framed copy of a poem titled “I Have a Boy” by Hugh M. Pierce. The poem is written from the father’s perspective but I received this framed poem from my mother. It has many fold lines and in places hard to read; she carried this paper in her wallet for thirty years. On the back of the frame is a hand written note from my mother concerning this poem. Mother gave this to me on Father’s Day in 1975 and requested that I pass it to my oldest son when I no longer have use for it.
She explained that this copy of the poem was given to my parents on the day of my birth by my Uncle Ed; my Dad’s brother. After mother was allowed to get out of bed she placed it into her billfold for safe keeping. In her note she says she is sorry that she made mistakes and didn’t do everything perfectly but she said she did try to do the best she could. I will agree that my Mother wasn’t perfect but by my yardstick she did a wonderful job. The flaws I have today were not because she failed in raising me properly but in faulty choices I have made along the way.
Mother finished her note by saying she was extremely proud of me and that she loved me. What is this framed poem worth to me; with its many fold lines? As they say in that advertisement, it is priceless; maybe it isn’t the poem but the note taped to the back of the frame and just the thought of the love demonstrated by her actions of maintaining it and passing it on to me. Yep, Mother you did a splendid job being my mother’ it is a shame I haven’t done as good a job being a son.
I am just one of billions of boys that have been born on this earth and each of us has had a mother; I was the blessed one of those billions. I had both a biological mother and a nurturing mother. I had the privilege of knowing my mother as some haven’t been so fortunate. I had the honor of sharing time in this world for sixty five years with my mother.
All this talk of mothers and of boys being born and even the time of year as we draw close again to Christmas brings to mind another mother that gave birth to a boy. No that mother whose name was Mary wasn’t given a poem to mark the birth of her son as my mother was but the Bible says that “Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.” Just as my mother kept this poem in her wallet, Mary kept all the memories of the birth of her son securely in her heart.
Mary realized that this boy she had just given birth to was the Son of God and that He had a very special task before Him. As Mary looked into the face of her son that night of His birth I am sure she had a big smile but also tears when thoughts of His destiny floated through her mind. I don’t mean to show any disrespect or irreverence to Jesus, that boy born of Mary, but that boy born to my mother also had a destiny. In Psalm 139:16 we have reference to this when it says, ‘And in Your book they are all written, the days fashioned for me’. Just as God the Father had a plan for the life of His Son Jesus He had a plan for every boy ever born and every girl too.
I wasn’t born to my mother by accident and neither was Jesus or any other child. The mother that brings each child into this world was known by God long before that birth occurred. I once made the comment during a sermon that if you were conceived n the back seat of a 1957 Chevrolet you weren’t an accident. Does God micromanage the world, I don’t think so but He does know and has always known what will happen. Mary was chosen to be the mother of God’s Son for the purpose of nurturing and instructing Him during His early life. Yes, Jesus was God but when He put on his humanity He had to leave some of the attributes of His godliness behind. Jesus we are told grew in wisdom and stature as all boys must and to do this required the guidance of loving mother.
You may be reading this and saying, “But I didn’t have a mother to provide that love and guidance when I was young.” This is true in many lives but this isn’t something God didn’t prepare for in your development. You may be one that another relative must fill the void or a neighbor may step in. In many cases a friend, a Sunday school teacher or public school teacher fill the void. You may disagree but there is someone there for each of us if we only allow that person to do as God intended. We have to make the right choices.
If you are older, God may wish to use you to mentor some young person and fill that void in their life. You may be the one that shows them the road to God and eventually to Jesus and to that plan God established for that person even before they were conceived. It is hard for me to speak of those that have the void in their lives that not having nurturing parents present; I was so abundantly blessed with many around me to guide me properly. I didn’t always listen and made many wrong choices but I can’t blame it on a lack of love and guidance.
Yes, long ago my mother gave birth to a boy, a boy with a predetermined plan established for his life and an established appointment with death. Mother was only one of many that influenced me along the way; some have been good influences and some have been bad. When it is all said and done I had the responsibility of sifting through all the input that came into my life and make the choices as to how I would respond to each situation. No one has ever made me do anything. I always had the final choice to make. Satan can’t make me doing anything and God won’t make me; I am given the options and I make the choice and the results are the product of my choice, I have to accept the responsibility for my choices.
My mother worked long and hard to guide me as she thought best and to help me to follow the plan God set for my life. She said in her note that she had failed in many ways which I disagree with because all she did was with love and to the best of her ability. God loves me even in a greater way than my mother could possibly love me and His guidance is perfect. If I turn out bad it is not from a lack of love and proper guidance it is from wrong choices I make. Life is really rather simple, just do as God leads and how much simpler can it be.
What my mother, Jesus’ mother, and all other mothers have in common is that they were the conduit to bring a new life onto this earth. The new life was a planned life and here for a definite purpose. Mothers or their surrogate service to instruct, guide and nurture this new life and set it on the path intended by God. Whether you are a son or a daughter you are of great value; you are deeply loved. You have value first because you are a product of God’s will and of His prior planning; then you have value because you are so loved by God that he was willing to give His Son as a ransom for you. It was very important to me for my mother to write in her note that she was proud of me but I desire even more to one day hear God, my heavenly Father say He is proud of me. I can fulfill that goal if I will only develop a right relationship with Him and follow His leadership each day of my life. I am the boy born to my parents but eternally I am God’s boy.
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12.14.11
Posted in
God's Grace
| 04:14
So long ago, but in so many ways it seems as if were just yesterday. Why was I blessed to be there that night? The day had been very normal, had moved the sheep a bit to get them to greener pastures; had to run away a few dogs that were trying to fill their bellies with a nice choice lamb; yes, just your average day in the life of a shepherd. As the sun began to set, I helped the older shepherds to move the sheep closer to where we had set up our camp and begin to bed them down for another night.
We sat around a fire to knock the chill of the clear star filled night. I being the youngest of those working that night I remained quiet and just observed and listened to the older men talk. Much of what was said that night was a rehash of the day and a discussion of plans for the coming day. We planned, from what was being said, to remain in this location for a time since the grass was plentiful. Tomorrow we, in addition to care of the sheep, would establish a more permanent camp with better security for the sheep during the night.
The talk was beginning to wind down and the next watch was getting ready to relieve those that had taken the first watch of the night. Being so young and really not too knowledgeable of the shepherd’s trade I served as that one that did most of the unwanted tasks. I wasn’t completely trusted to take the role of watch in a sector of the sheep during the night so I was allowed to sleep and do my duties during the day; youth did have some advantage.
I and those of the first watch were just bedding down when suddenly there appeared this person. Well, was it a person or was it some ghost; I had heard tales from the boys around Bethlehem about ghosts. They made it sound so real and I was always a bit scared when any one of them began telling a ‘ghost story’. Now here I was seeing with my own eyes something. The men saw this at about the same time I had; we all sat up to get a better look and then I fell back to the ground and covered my head. Being scared is just not a good description of what I was feeling. If a pack of wolves had suddenly attacked the sheep they would have had all they wanted to eat because I could not move.
I finally peeked out from under my covering and now there was this very bright light around this person. As I looked more directly at our visitor I began to remember stories of the visitation of angels. I was a good boy and my parents wanted me raised with full knowledge of my people’s history. There were parallel lines for our history and our religion. Maybe what was standing before us was an angel.
Just and I and the others were sitting up and watching the visitor closely the person said, “Don’t be afraid”. Sorry, a bit late for that now; I had never been so afraid in my life and those with me later said they had felt great fear. You have to remember they were grown men and they were not about to admit the same level I had felt to me. I was just a boy and was expected to have fear but they were men and could handle anything. The visitor continued talking, “I bring you joyful news which is really for all people. On this day in the town of David a savior was born and this is the Messiah.”
This has to be an angel, I had learned enough from my religious training that news like this is always delivered by angels; my Mom had told me that angels were God’s messengers and anytime God want a message delivered He dispatched and angel. The angel continued by saying, “You will recognize Him because you will find this baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” When the original angel had finished talking there suddenly appeared a big group, probably more than we had sheep to watch, with first angel and they all began to shout “Glory to God in heaven and on earth peace among men.” Their voices were thundering but as I glanced toward the sheep they didn’t seem to be bothered. Maybe this peace the angels had spoken of applied to the sheep too; it sure did seem they were very much at peace.
Then as quickly as all this had begun it was over. We all looked at each other; not saying a word for what seemed to be a long time but I am sure it was only seconds. One of the older men, with a smile from ear to ear, said for us to hurry and find this baby we have been told of. Then we all began to talk at once agreeing with what the first to speak had suggested. Again youth had advantages as I ran out in front of the others. I knew my way around Bethlehem having been born there and as I ran I tried to think where a manger might be. Outside of Bethlehem there could be found many small farms with mangers but in town I only knew of a couple of place that had a manger. I remembered the inn and the stable; well, really it was a cave in a rock bluff that was used to house animals for those staying at the inn. Why would this baby we had been told about be in this stable and lying in a manger; according to what the angel had said this was the promised Messiah? I remembered being told that it had been predicted that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. People had a hard time accepting this prediction since Bethlehem was not one of the important cities of the country.
The older men seemed to have been given energy as they were running on my heels. I told one of the older men of my idea of the location of the manger and he agreed. We ran like we were being chased by hoards of wild animals. Soon we found that cave with a small light shining from it entrance. By this sign of light we knew we had found the right place. We anxiously we entered and just as the angel had said there was this baby lying in a manger. Yes, he was wrapped in linen and was awake. From the light of the candle I could see his face and as I looked upon that face I realized what the angel had said was true and I was seeing the face of the Savior. I had never experienced such a peace filling me.
We didn’t want to intrude too long and we did want to hurry to tell others of our experience. We all left quickly and taking differing routes began to tell to all we met what had happened. I had to first run to my family and share the good news; they were receptive but a bit guarded in their response. My father did comment that this couldn’t be the promised Messiah; God would have him born in a palace and definitely not in some dirty stable. But, I knew for sure from all I had seen and heard that I had seen God’s promised Messiah and I was not now the same person that I was when tonight’s events began. I believed wholeheartedly that I had seen that promised one that had come for the purpose of saving me and all of Israel.
Over the next days and weeks I continued to bubble with the joy I found that night and freely shared it with all who would listen. Over the years, the events of that night which began by a fireside as the sheep slept and ended with a visit to a stable to see my Savior, remained fresh in my mind and I tried very hard to hear news of what happened to this baby I had visited so long ago. Maybe twenty five or thirty years later I heard that this baby had grown up and was now going around speaking with those that would listen. I also heard that he had healed many people and even raised the dead. I smiled at this news as it simply affirmed what I began to believe so many years ago. Now that I knew he was traveling around and preaching a new message I wanted very much to see him again.
I was still a shepherd and had a small flock of my own now but I often mingled my flock with some of my neighbor’s flock and we all moved and watched them as a big flock. Having others available to watch my sheep for a short time, I decide to find a location where this Jesus, that is what they named him, was speaking and heard and see him again. My opportunity came and I anxiously made my way down the dusty road toward Bethany. He was supposed to be visiting some friends and this might be my only chance to see him. As I walked along I noticed a group of people walk in front of me so I picked up my pace some and caught up with the group. It does get a bit lonely traveling alone and the chance to talk with others would be welcomed.
I caught the group and began to listen as some of them talked with fellow travelers. I gleaned from what I heard that somewhere in this group was this Jesus I was seeking to see again. The last time I had seen him he was only a new born baby so after all these years I had no idea what he now looked like. I worked my way toward the center of the group and then toward to front. I as grew closer to the front and the leaders of the group one of the leaders stopped and turned. As this happened the others of the group stopped as did I. I stood looking at the one who stopped first and as I got a glimpse of his face I was seeing into the face of that same person I saw that night by candle light. He walked toward me and stopped a few feet from me and looked into my eyes. As he searched my eyes and I looked into his eyes I again experienced that joyful peace I had enjoyed that night in the stable. He smiled at me and me at him then he turned and again took up his journey.
I was shaking with excitement and to not hinder the travelers moved to the edge of the group. I found a rock at the side of the road and sat down to regain my composure. What is it that happens when I see him? What is that joy and peace I experience when I am near him? Truly, as the angel said that night long ago, this is the Savior. But I remember hearing that this man I just saw had predicted that he would be killed as the ultimate sacrifice to God for the debt of our sins. I don’t want him to die. I want to continue experiencing that peace I enjoy when I see him. But I know very well that if he truly must die for the sin of mankind that I will be included. Oh, yes, I am a sinner; I was even a sinner the first time I saw him and there have been many more pile up over the years.
Sure I sacrifice my best lamb as I have been told I should do but there never seems to end. I have to do that over and over and an ultimate sacrifice that would finish the payment for sin would be wonderful. Maybe he will be allowed to continue to preach and do good and then someday die of old age. We all have to die someday so this wouldn’t be too bad but if he is a sacrifice then I doubt if that is the way it will be. I have watched the priest kill the lamb of may sacrifice many times and it isn’t a nice thing to watch. If they are somehow going to kill this man, this one I first saw as a new born baby, then I am sure it won’t be something I want to watch.
Being a good Jewish man and following the teachings of my people I went each year to the temple at the time of the Passover. I was just entering Jerusalem when I see this throng of people coming down the road shouting and throwing palm branches on the road in front of someone riding a donkey. I work my way to the edge of the crowd lining the road in time to see the rider. Hey, it is Jesus and they are shouting something about him being king. What is going on here? I had believed that this Jesus was the Messiah, the Christ, and now the crowd is proclaiming him as king. Was I wrong all these years? Maybe what I had been taught about the Savior was wrong; maybe he was going to be king and cast out the Romans and Israel would again be a free nation and maybe this time follow God.
Throughout the week I did as I was supposed to do and observe all the teachings of the priest concerning Passover. I was haunted by what I had seen as I entered Jerusalem but tried hard to dismiss it and just do as I should and then go back to my home, family and sheep. I had planned to leave and return home so I could relieve those watching my sheep toward the end of the week and get home before the beginning of the Sabbath. I had be on my way back no later than Friday so if I left early that morning I would make it before sundown and the beginning of the Sabbath.
I awoke early on that morning and began my trip home but as I tried to exit the city as large crowd blocked my way. They all seemed to be very angry and were shouting “crucify him, crucify him”. I guessed they were going to execute should murderer or other criminal so I wasn’t very interest; just want to hurry through the crowd and get home. As I worked my way through the crowd I saw the one they were so ready to kill. Whoever it was, he hardly looks human anymore. He had been beaten so severely that in places his skin seems to be just hanging from his bones. There were rivers of blood streaming down his face and back. He had many puncture wounds around his brow as if spikes had been stuck into his scalp. My first thought was, yes crucify him and put him out of his misery but then for some odd reason I saw something about him I recognized. As I looked more closely as his face, my mind brought the picture of that baby in a manger to view.
Oh, it can’t be the baby; it can’t be Jesus that now looks almost dead but still walking. But it was, I know for sure it was for as I looked at him, he with whatever strength he had left turned and looked directly into my eyes. Where did it come from this time but I again was suddenly filed with such peace and joy; not joy that this man had to suffer but peace and Joy that he was doing this for me. Why would someone be willing to suffer for a shepherd boy; well I was when this began?
I knew now that I had to share my story with anyone and everyone that I had the opportunity. I know now why I was blessed that night to be a part of the angel’s visitation and why I was among the first to visit the baby in the manger. Through the years Jesus and I have shared much even if they were limited to me seeing him and him searching deep within my soul.
I didn’t make to the place where they crucified him but a few days later I heard the whole story from a friend who had remained in Jerusalem longer. My friend told me Jesus had been crucified as the crowd demanded and then taken from the cross and buried in a borrowed tomb. I was told that early on Sunday morning some of his followers had gone to visit the tomb and when they arrived were told by an angel, I wonder if it was the same angel I had seen years ago, that he had risen.
That day was the last time on this earth that I saw him but I am sure that when my journey here is over I will be greeted by him in heaven. I so look forward to looking on his face and telling him how thankful I am for what he did for me. As I said earlier I was a sinner and my sin and your sin is the reason he came to this earth. God had such love for us, His creation, that He was willing to sacrifice Jesus as the only payment for that sin debt we amassed. I was fortunate enough to be included in many of the parts of his early life but that is really unimportant. The important is that I was included in those whose sin debt he paid with his death. He paid for yours too; do you want to accept that payment, I did?
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12.07.11
Posted in
God's Grace
| 11:44
Once we as God’s people have achieved some level of humbleness we are to move to the second condition given which is to pray. I wonder how many books have been written on the subject of prayer. I seem to always like to condense everything so allow me to try to explain this condition in a very few words.
I, for one, had a flawed concept of prayer; believing it was so high theological happening and for a prayer to be proper nice big words and phrase must be used. I guess I thought I was suppose to speak as if what I wanted to say to God had been personally written for me by Shakespeare. Or there is also the other side; I could have spoken in a cute four line verse. In truth neither of these is the correct way to pray.
Probably the best way to explain this is for me to tell how I pray. When I seek to converse with God it is on the level of day to day communication. As you can tell from my writing I am not gifted with a vocabulary of eloquent words. I have learned that talking with God is no different than talking with any other person you care deeply about. The Bible speaks of God as our Friend and as our Father; those two descriptive terms show closeness and a familiarity. Yes, you are to demonstrate reverence and respect but don’t we normally do that with those you love.
I often, when desiring to have a longer conversation, will find a place of privacy and a place without distraction. Once I have found my place of prayer, my closet, I begin by addressing God as my Father and then out it comes. I have expressed frustration, anger, hurt, joy, gladness, thankfulness, and a multitude of other emotions during my talk but I always remember God already knows what is really on my heart and in my mind so why try to hide my true feelings. God is big enough to handle me being upset at Him and even truly angry at Him. I sometimes praise Him and usually simply thank Him for being my God and for being so concerned with me and all that is within me. It helps to humble me when I think of the greatness of God and how at this moment I am have a face to face talk with God; the Creator, Savior, Provider, and many other attributes.
For sure I will drag out my wish list and start going down them item by item. After a few of these I seem to feel that what I desire is not so important but what my Father wants is supreme. I will drop my list and then mumble the words, “I am sorry for being selfish and Lord help me to want what you desire for me.” Don’t get it wrong, I don’t always give in sometimes I beg for things that with time I become thankful that He answered my request with a resounding “NO”. After I tell God I want to want what He wants I then set back and listen.
It is amazing how He talks with me. I am not one of those that can say they have physically heard the voice of God but His Spirit and my spirit converse and what He has said will soon become the important thought and idea in my mind.
Prayer is nothing religious or some ceremony we need to go through to attain some desired level of religious wellbeing. Prayer is a conversation with my Friend and my Father. When my parents were alive we had many conversations and they weren’t always pleasant, neither is every conversation with God. I can get very stubborn and often rebellious and want only what I want. When I was in such a conversation with my earthly parents and I showed my rebelliousness they would listen and then say “no”, at times they would conclude by adding we will discuss this later when you are ready to openly talk.
This condition given in 2 Chronicles 7:14 is God saying,”Hey, remember me, come talk it over with me. I want the best for you but first I want you and fellowship with you.” If we are to meet this condition we must as His Word says, “Pray without ceasing”. This is saying we are to keep the lines of communication open; each time you go to God in prayer should the continuation of your last time talking with God. In any relationship there must be open lines of communication for that relationship to grow. What if you talked with your closest friend or family member no more than you do with God; where would that relationship be?
Forgive this comparison, but this all seems so much like the relationship between a man and a woman. It begins with an attraction and then moves into conversation to learn more of that one that has attracted you. If the courtship blossoms into something fruitful then much learning of each other has had to happen. How is it different that what our relationship with God is to be? Are we not suppose to acquire knowledge of Him and Him of us and as the relationship matures we look to the possibility of producing fruit?
Yes, you must be humble and then you must pray, communication and learning God and the next step is to seek God. Sounds so familiar of my days long ago when I was dating.
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10.09.11
Posted in
God's Grace
| 12:31
Today, in the course of teaching my Sunday school class, as the substitute, I was presenting a lesson on the Bible and how it is a tool, bread, light, sweetness, a mirror, and an instruction manual. During the presentation I read one of the verses I had found to illustrate that the Bible was an instruction manual. The verse was Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
In no way do I down play the importance of all the words of this first but the one word that caught my attention so dramatically is the word ‘first’. I am sure it, as what usually occurs, was directed toward me and to the lesson I need to learn. God has a habit of highlighting words and phrases as I read and when I reread them I know without doubt they are for me to consume. The word ‘first’ in this verse was for me to consume and to digest and allow to become nourishment for my spiritual being.
So often many of us read this verse and overlook the word under discussion; we read it and omit that word completely. Yes, we grasp the concept that we are to seek God’s kingdom and His righteousness but all in due time; we are to do these things when the time is more convenient. We hastily throw out our pet excuses and justifications which include: our job, you know and the Bible tells me I am to work; our family, the Bible says I am worse than an unbeliever if I don’t care for my family, or some of us may be so brazen as to mention our service in the church.
All the excuses and justifications I have mentioned are valid and they are set forth as important within God’s word but they are not mentioned as being our first priority. Allow me to rehearse each of these excuses and express my opinion. I mentioned our job or our work; this is vital and is the will of God that all who are able should work. The Bible tells us if we would not work then neither should we eat; Adam was placed in the Garden to care for the garden. Work is blessed and initiated by God. Adam got his first job from God and we today have to opportunity and ability to work because of God. Our job, though important, should never be our first priority; the will and guidance of God should be first. If we place God’s will and guidance first in our lives then we will work at the task God has ordained for us to do.
The second excuse I used was family. The mate you have and the children you have are there because God allows them to be there. I do hope that your mate is the one chosen for you by God and you spent much time in pray before becoming one with another. To become one with a person that is not the chosen one of God is disobedience and will block the full flow of God’s blessings. If you doubt there is a special chosen one of God for you then read the account of Adam and Eve. God made Eve and presented her to Adam; God’s chosen helpmate for Adam. Families are a gift of God but they are not there to remove God from the position of first in your life; as important as your spouse and children are they should never be your first priority.
The last excuse I used was your service to the church. Hopefully your service to the church is associated with service to God if it is for any other reason it is definitely wrong even if man may consider it as good. The Bible says we are saved for good works and our place or organization of work is to be through the church. If we elevate ourselves to the point that we determine our position within the church we are being disobedient and rebellious. God places into the church those that he wishes to have in that body for the purpose of accomplishing the work He has for that body. Again, the church is the body of Christ and that body is for the purpose of spreading the gospel to the world but your function within that body is should be under the guidance of God.
We are discussing the word “first’ as found in Matthew 6:33. The remainder of that verse says that ‘all these things shall be added to you.” In a very real sense this is just another of God’s many ‘if/then promises. If we meet His conditions then He will provide what He has promised. I always seem to take the view from the other side of the coin which shows us that if we don’t meet then conditions then He won’t provide what He has promised. To translate this, if I don’t put God first then I may not have a job or a family or an opportunity to serve within a church; I may not have a home, or food, or clothing.
God has the right to expect to be first in every aspect of our lives; He was first, is first and will be first in all things. Who do we really think we are when we demote God to a place other than first?
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08.11.11
Posted in
General
| 12:37
As we grow older and as we reach what has been determined as the retirement age we often ponder the idea of putting ourselves out to pasture. In some place they may give a watch when an employee retires but at one of the local school systems the gift is a rocking chair. We have worked long years and during most of those years we continually heard retirement discussed in some form. We were told to save for our retirement. We were told to stay active so we can enjoy our retirement. We were told to take up some hobby, if we had none, for enjoyment during our sunset years.
I have now reached that milepost along my life journey where retirement is a consideration. Many on reaching the ripe old age of sixty five proudly receive their parting gift and go home to enjoy those years of leisure. Now they can sleep later; no more alarm clock to interrupt that peaceful sleep. Now they can sit around that favorite meeting place of all other retirees and indulge in conversation and joke telling. Now they can catch up on all those things they had for years meant to do; if you have a mate still beside you, maybe you can work on that “Honey Do’ list.
Another problem we face as we grow older is the normal aging process; things just don’t seem to work as they once did. I once heard a man say he had pain in joints where he didn’t know he had joints. I was told by my doctor that I am not eighteen and I will never be eighteen again. I said, “Thanks, Doc I needed that diagnosis.”
Many of us feel a bit intimidated by all the technology around us. We were raise without television for the most part and if we did have it we got maybe two channels. The phone was on a phone stand and not something each individual carried with them. A calculator was that material between your ears with the aid of a pencil and paper. A computer was a fantasy. If we listened to music it was either on the radio or on 45 rpm records. Amazing how things have changed and yet we are still here and to function we think we must master all the ‘toys’ out there.
The world is for the young; it is bad when the President is much younger than you. When you attend church the pastor is the age of your children; a bit scary to think I might have to talk with him as my pastor and seek his guidance.
But, hey, we are still here. We have not left this part of our life. There must be some reason I woke this morning and was able to open my eyes and see; to get out of bed and get dressed. I have told many people throughout the years that they are here because God has a task for them to do. You are not going out to greener pastures until the Shepherd moves you.
Since we are still here and since by being here God is saying He has a work for us to do; just maybe, instead of retirement we should have a career change. Psalm 92: 14 says, “They shall bring forth fruit in old age.” I fit that according to this world’s standards; I am certifiably old. This verse from the Psalms says that even at an old age I can bring forth fruit.
Maybe I should have a conversation with God and see what His plans have for me to do. Maybe I can send some fruit ahead. Maybe some of that fruit I send will be others that were introduced to the Shepherd by me. Lord, You have work for me today; guide me to do the task You have set before me. Thank you Lord for one more opportunity to serve you and yield good fruit for Your kingdom’s sake.
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