Month: February 2021

We often think of doubt as a bad thing. Can there be even a shadow of a doubt in the mind and heart of a Christian after we have known the love, mercy and grace of God? Not only is the answer to that question yes; God uses our little doubts and skepticism to keep us humble and relying on Him. Time and time again we see human doubt in the face of God’s blessing.

Abraham and Sarah laughed to themselves as they were told by an angel that they were going to have a son and that son would make Abraham the father of a great nation. How could an old man and woman have a child? (Genesis 8:9-15)

Moses, while watching a bush burn without being consumed and hearing the voice of God, still asked, How can a man who can’t even talk without stuttering be God’s spokesman and lead His people out of Egypt? (Exodus chapter 3)

When an angel told Gideon he had been chosen to lead God’s people to victory and freedom, his first reaction was. How can I, a member of the least family of my tribe and the least person in that family do such a great thing? (Judges 6:11-16)

A teenage girl was visited by an angel of the Lord and told she had been chosen to give birth to God’s Son. Instead of saying, “That is so cool,” Mary’s first reaction was, “How can that happen?” She may have been inexperienced and naïve, but she knew what it takes to get pregnant and she had not had that experience yet. (Luke 1:26-38)

I used to think it was a contradiction when the man seeking healing from Jesus for his son said, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:17-27) The truth is, even though we know God can do the impossible, our human minds still ask, “How?” As we read the end of each of those stories I listed, we see how God kept His promises every single time.

Let me add a modern story that happened this week. I have been having greater and greater difficulty getting out of my Lazy Boy easy chair and onto my walker. My sisters in Christ started looking for a chair with a power lift to help me stand. My first doubt was, “How can you find such a chair that I can afford?” Then they found one a woman was willing to donate to me. Although she lives about two miles from me, the chair was in her basement and is very heavy. My next doubt was, “How can I possibly find a way to get it to me?” I contacted the community outreach pastor at my church and he arranged for movers to get it to me. This chair which God has provided for me that I’m sitting in as I write this continues to exceed my greatest expectations in spite of my doubts.

My brother or sister in Christ, don’t ever feel ashamed to have doubt. Just cling to God’s promise and then sit back and watch God turn your “How?” into “Wow!”

Have you ever been awaken from a sound sleep in the middle of the night by the Holy Spirit? It happened to me a few nights ago. It wasn’t the first time and, God willing, it won’t be the last. Sometimes it is an instruction for me to pray for someone who needs prayer. I usually know who I’m praying for, but not always why. Sometimes it is a message He wants me to write down and share with an individual or maybe share with everyone through my blog. Although I often hear my name when I wake, His promptings are normally not audible, but a mental process that clearly comes from Him. After all of these years I immediately recognize His promptings and messages. It is not an accident that He communicates at night when there are no distractions; nothing He does is by accident. I have found I do my best work with Him on my blog between ten and midnight. None of this is surprising. Jesus prayed before sunrise in the calm and peace of the night.

Why am I sharing this with you? It is because it is a common occurrence in the life of Christians, not something special for me. Many of my brothers and sisters in Christ have related similar experiences to me. Many of those stories end with a praise report from the person for whom they were instructed to pray, but all of them describe the peace that experience gives them when they obey the Holy Spirit and communicate with Him. It is a peace we should always feel when we worship or pray as well.

One of my favorite Old Testament stories is found in 1 Samuel chapter 3. As a young boy, Samuel had such an experience while asleep in the Tabernacle. He awoke hearing his name and thought it was Eli calling him. He woke the old man to see what he wanted, but was told to go back to sleep. After the third time, Eli realized it was God calling Samuel and he told Samuel how to respond. The next morning he reluctantly shared the message he received with Eli and that began Samuel’s career as a prophet and messenger of God.

Every Christian, not just one with a special calling, is a messenger of God’s love, mercy and grace; God’s good news to a lost world. Never be surprised or alarmed if you are awakened by the still small voice of God inside you with a prayer request or message especially for you to share. It is our duty and privilege as God’s children.   

A brother in Christ and friend on Face Book recently posted this quote from Charles Spurgeon, “When asked, ‘What is more important: praying or reading the Bible?’ I ask, ‘What is more important: breathing in or breathing out?’” That quote reminds me that just as our bodies require certain things to keep us alive and healthy; our spirits require certain things to keep them alive and healthy too. One of those things is not more important than the others; they work together to keep us alive and healthy physically and spiritually.

My doctor reminds me of the importance of proper breathing techniques to get the oxygen I need and get rid of the carbon dioxide I don’t need. He also stresses the importance of ingesting the nutrients needed by my vital organs; the importance of exercise for my joints, muscles, heart and lungs; and the importance of getting enough rest. None of those things is more important than the others. Without any one of them my physical health and my life itself would be in danger.

Bible study and prayer are just two of the important necessities of my Christian life. The analogy with breathing in and out is on target because reading the Bible is one of the things we need to take into our spirit and prayer is one of the things that come out in the form of words or actions. I am reminded again of the computer term GIGO (garbage in, garbage out). In order to produce the fruit of the spirit in our words and actions, we must take in the spiritual nutrients that are needed. In addition to reading and studying God’s word, we need to be careful of other sources of information we take into our minds and hearts. You don’t have to be on social media more than a few minutes to realize there is a lot of garbage to avoid taking into our spirit. If we concentrate on those things what will be produced in our words and actions won’t be the fruit of God’s Holy Spirit, but just more of the world’s garbage. On the other hand, I have Christian friends on social media, like the one who posted the Spurgeon quote, who encourage me and keep me accountable. There are two tests for everything I take into my Christian life: it must be in agreement with God’s word and it must have the seal of approval from the Holy Spirit within me. If we only accept as true the things we read or hear that pass those two tests, we can be sure that our words and actions will be pleasing to our Father in heaven.

Comparing the importance of people and our actions is futile. Just as everything I do that nourishes my physical and spiritual life is equally important, every Christian is equally important for the health of the universal church – the body of Christ. (1 Corinthians 12:12) The Christian custodian who cleans and sanitizes the sanctuary between services; the Christian volunteer who provides needed help to the community; each musician and singer in the worship team; even the parking attendant, greeter and usher are each just as important as the one who preaches and shepherds the congregation. Whatever your talent or calling, you are an equally important part of sharing God’s love, mercy and grace here on Earth.   

What is happiness? How do we attain it? Our Declaration of Independence mentions “the pursuit of happiness”. Some people seem to pursue happiness their entire life and never possess it. I recently ran across this quote by Robert Holden that describes that type of pursuit: “Beware of destination addiction: The idea that happiness is in the next place, the next job, or even with the next partner. Until you give up the idea that happiness is somewhere else, it will never be where you are.” So, unhappiness can actually become a state of mind. A mindset that reasons, “If only I had what that person has, I could be happy”.

There are some problems with that mindset. Things aren’t always what they seem on the surface. That lush green lawn on the neighbor’s side of the fence may turn out to be Astroturf covering a bare and ugly yard; their car and home might be heavily financed; or they might not be happy at all. Some people are adept at putting on a show for others that hides their misery. If they are happy, the source may be an intangible that is not connected to what you see. No, seeking the happiness of others is not the way to find happiness in your life.

What about holidays or celebrations? We wish our friends and family a happy New Year, merry Christmas, happy Easter and happy birthday. We celebrate with them when our favorite sports team wins. There is happiness in celebrating, but it is only temporary. What about the time between holidays, birthdays and victories? We are getting closer to the answer, but we aren’t quite there yet.

If unhappiness can be a state of mind, can’t happiness also be a state of mind? I am so thankful that with God’s help I was able, as a young Christian, to flip “destination addiction” into “happiness addiction”.  I think happiness addiction might be what the Apostle Paul was referring to when he wrote: “Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have.” (Philippians 4:11) The happiness of others makes me happy – not envious. I experience happiness whenever I can make another person smile and feel happy. I found happiness in my job by striving to make my coworkers and boss successful and happy. But most of all, I found true happiness in my marriage by making my wife happy instead of relying on Carol to be responsible for my happiness. I have found that when Christians love others as Christ loves us, happiness will pursue us and find us.

I can identify with the Christians in the church in Philippi. Paul brought the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to them and they believed; but even though they were born anew spiritually, their circumstances didn’t change much. They continued to live in the same world as the unbelievers around them. They faced the same troubles, challenges, grief and pain. They even faced some additional ridicule and persecution because of their faith. I’m sure they wondered at times (as I have) if living the Christian life is simply preparation for a much better life after this one. What makes the Christian life better while we are here? Are we making a difference in this world that seems to be stubbornly unchanged or even getting worse?

Paul gives them (and us) an answer in the letter he wrote to them. He encourages them to; “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say again – rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.” (Philippians 4:4-5) It is a reminder of the joy that flooded my soul when the Holy Spirit began to dwell within me as a new Christian. I wanted to share that joy with the world. That joy in the Lord has remained with me through all that I have been through over the more than six decades of my Christian life. Joy in the Lord is different from elation, happiness or contentment. Those feelings are a result of our circumstances, but joy in the Lord remains constant and strong even in our darkest hours. It is joy that comes from knowing God’s love and sharing that love with those around us. God’s love and joy changes us and it can change the world when we share it.

Having such a great joy within us, it is not possible to keep it to ourselves. The world can and will question our faith, but they can’t deny our experience and our personal testimony. When we follow Paul’s advice and rejoice in spite of our circumstance, our life will speak volumes about God’s love and our joy in the Lord. Some of the greatest testimonies of God’s mercy and grace that I have encountered were not spoken – they were lived.  

As for Paul’s statement that the Lord is coming soon, I’m not a student of the prophets, nor do I possess the gift of prophesy myself. I have no idea when Jesus will return, but there are some things I do know for sure; He is coming (Matthew 25:13); He has delayed His coming to give everyone a chance to accept the gift of salvation and choose eternal life (2 Peter 3:9); His return is two thousand years closer now than it was when Paul wrote that letter to the church in Philippi; and whether Jesus comes back before or after I die, I will join Him in paradise (Luke 23:43).

We all want to escape the fires of hell somehow. Some people actually attend church religiously because they think that provides them with insurance against those fires. God gives us that protection as a gift. It is not something we can earn. Believing Jesus died for our sins, repenting of them and following Him into eternal life is God’s fire insurance for us. After receiving God’s gift of mercy, grace and love, our worship and continual service in His name will show our sincere appreciation of that gift.

There are still other fires we go through in our Christian life here on Earth; but we never go through them alone. Jesus is right there with us and His Holy Spirit is within us; just as He was with the three young Hebrew men who refused to bow to the idol of gold. He brought them through the flames and out of that fiery furnace unharmed and without even the smell of smoke on their clothing. (Daniel Chapter 3) God uses the fires of adversity and trials to refine us by burning away the impurities within us until He can see His reflection in us; as a silversmith uses fire to purify silver. It is never a comfortable process, even painful at times, but even though it seems like it at the time, He will never allow the flames to devour us or be more than we can stand. He won’t leave us in the fire, but will bring us out of it a much better Christian with an even stronger testimony.

We also encounter pressure in our Christian life. There have been times when I felt like the weight of the world was on my shoulders and it was crushing me. The world was pressuring me to be squeezed into its sinful mold. My boss pressured me to do more; Christian leaders pressured me to take on even more responsibility in God’s service; my wife needed me to do more for her and for us. Pressure was coming from every direction, but the greatest pressures of all were the ones I placed on myself; to be a better employee, a better husband and a better Christian living in this world but unlike this world. This stressful pandemic we live in now is adding to the pressures most of us feel.

One day, when I was feeling under a lot of pressure, I looked at the diamond ring on my wife’s finger that I had placed there many years earlier with a vow to love, honor and cherish her until death do us part. That diamond began as a common lump of coal. It was tremendous pressure that turned it into that brilliant, lasting symbol of our love. It was then that I realized that God was using pressure to turn me into a brilliant symbol of my love for Him and His love for me.

Do you know a Christian who has been through the fires and pressures of life? Maybe it is even that person you see in the mirror each morning. Can you see the brilliant light of God’s love reflected in their eyes, their smile, their words and their actions? Even more beautiful is the light that emanates from within them like the light through a stained glass window. Ask them if it was all worth it and they will smile and say, “I wouldn’t take nothing for my journey now”.      

Because of my positive attitude, I have been accused of looking at the world through rose-colored glasses. What those who say that don’t understand is that I see the same things they see; disease, crime, hate, injustice and a seemingly endless variety of sins. The difference is I am not affected by it as they allow themselves to be. How is that possible?

One reason is that the Holy Spirit continues to remind me this is not my permanent home. None of those things can exist in the full presence of God in His kingdom that is my future home. Another reason is that I look beyond those negative things and focus my attention on things that are true, honorable, right, pure, lovely and admirable. (See Philippians 4:8) That is easy for me to do because I have so many wonderful Christian friends in my life who are not a part of all of the negativity. Finally, we may seem to be outnumbered by evil at the present time, but I have sneaked a peek at the last chapter and I know how the story ends. God is Holy and all powerful. Evil cannot and will not win.       

“For the Scriptures say, ‘You must be holy because I am holy.’” (1 Peter 1:16) Holy is not a word we normally use to describe ourselves. We know every sin, mistake and wrong we have done. We know the stains, scars and blemishes those actions have left on us and on others. The enemy is quick to remind us about any of them we try to forget. Our hymns and worship songs declare that God is holy. Jesus even calls His Spirit within us the Holy Spirit; but me be holy? No way!  

Mary Hollingsworth has an interesting take on the holiness of Christians. She writes that God looks at His sons and daughters through crimson lenses, stained by the blood of Jesus. He can’t see our past sins and mistakes because they are covered by that blood. As a result, when He looks at us He sees us as holy. She concludes that when we look into our mirror, we should see what our Father sees through His rose-colored glasses.

God sees us as holy, but He also knows we are not perfect even after accepting Christ as our savior. As Christians, we need to recognize our sins, mistakes and wrong decisions and repent of them. By listening to the promptings of the Holy Spirit within us and obeying Him, we will have fewer and fewer things for which to repent, but we won’t be perfect as well as holy in God’s eyes until we enter that perfect mansion He has prepared for us. 

As I was growing up, older family members would always advise me, “Look before you leap!” What they meant was that I should think about the possible consequences of my action on myself and others before taking that action. The problem with that advice was my inability to see into the future. Jesus told Thomas, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.” (John 20:29) It took a blind leap of faith for me to believe in and follow Jesus Christ, but that is an action that I will never regret.

Paul writes a very confusing statement in his second letter to the church at Corinth; “So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.” (2 Corinthians 4:18) What in the world is Paul talking about? How can we fix our eyes on something we cannot see? Before I became a Christian, I was spiritually blind and that would surely have been impossible, but Paul was writing to believers, including you and me. Because God has placed His Holy Spirit in our hearts, we can look at things through His eyes, not our own. He can not only see tomorrow or next year, He can see beyond this life into the next. When we follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit, we are in effect asking Him to look before we leap.   

The entire 9^th chapter of the Gospel of John tells the story of a man who was blind from birth; sort of like our spiritual blindness from birth. Jesus healed him in an unusual way and on the Sabbath. As a result, the former blind beggar was called before the board of deacons (they called them Pharisees back then). They demanded to know who healed him on the Sabbath; so he told them he heard others call him Jesus, but by the time he washed the mud from his eyes and gained his sight Jesus was gone. They called his parents before them. They were scared of being tossed out of the church, so they just said that he was their son, he was born blind and now he can see. They said as far as how it happened they would have to ask him. They called him back and he said that he had already told them everything he knew and asked them if they wanted to find out more about Jesus so they could follow Him; that got him kicked out of the church. Jesus heard about what happened and found the man. He identified himself and that man then gained his spiritual sight as well as physical. Can you imagine the thrill of being led to Jesus Christ by Jesus? I recommend you read that chapter of scripture and put yourself in that man’s place, just as I have. It will open your eyes in more ways than one.