faithful

Coyote Alert

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

Our doorbell rang the other night. Our next door neighbor and his seven-year-old daughter popped over to introduce us to their new eleven-week-old puppy. He was a tiny thing and may only gain a couple more pounds during his lifetime. He’s such a cutie. That little girl was so proud of her new puppy. She said she lets him sleep with her. I told her that she could bring him over anytime she wanted.

A few months ago, I was having a conversation with that same neighbor. He had told me that, at one point, they had owned a dog. He said he wasn’t sure he wanted to get another one, because he was concerned about coyotes in our area. Now. They have a new puppy. All fears of coyotes attacking a very small dog must have been put to rest. Or. Perhaps it was the constant asking and asking for a puppy by his ever loving daughter. It doesn’t really matter the reason that worn him down. What matters is that they never let this tiny dog outside unattended. Especially in the dark. I’ve never seen a coyote in the area, but I have heard them. And they sound like they’re the ones being attacked and torn apart.

I’m reminded of the neighborhood we left ten months ago. For some unresolved reason, I still follow that neighborhood page on a popular social media site. That small neighborhood nestled in the midst of a large city has recently been targeted by a band of coyotes. And these coyotes aren’t being shy about their intentions. In full view, they follow people walking their dogs during the daytime. They’ve been caught on camera walking right up to someone’s front door or just sitting near the driveway. They’ve made themselves known, and not in a good way. They’ve become a menace to the neighborhood. Recently, one person who lived two doors down from us uploaded a video of the woods behind the neighborhood. The only thing visible was the trees, but the sound was ominous. The coyotes were in perfect harmony with the sirens going by on the freeway. I would hate to be a pet owner in that neighborhood these days.

As I said, I haven’t seen a coyote in my current neighborhood. I’m not sure what makes me more uncomfortable. Seeing the threat or not seeing it. It pays to always be on guard for unseen predators. We can consider ourselves warned when we see or hear predators in our neighborhoods. We have to be prepared for the unthinkable. And we have to know that a predator can appear at any time, ready or not.

I realize a coyote isn’t a wolf, but they both have cunning tendencies. The coyote likes to hide in tall grass in search of its prey. And there is a plot of land behind my neighborhood that the owner doesn’t keep mowed. The grass has been getting tall. It would be a fine hiding place for an animal of prey seeking its next victim. My neighbor has a rightful fear of leaving his small dog unattended near that area behind our houses.

Test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. 1 Thessalonians 5:21

These situations remind me of a podcast I listened to earlier in the week. The president of a Christian university was being interviewed about how he makes sure the university he leads remains a solid biblical school. The conversation revolved around un-Christian biases that have penetrated biblically sound schools of higher education. They talked about secular schools where it’s common practice to teach from a secular worldview. And the fact that, at those schools, they don’t have to be dressed as sheep when they’re clearly wolves.

But a school that calls itself Christian is another beast. While the school may have the word “Christian” in its name, does it require students, faculty and staff to sign a covenant attesting that they are living biblically? Does it hire only sound Christian staff and faculty? Does it accept only students who are determined to live a biblical worldview? Because if the school doesn’t have a strong, unwavering standard, secular ideologies will creep in. Oh. It may takes years for the change to be noticeable, but there will be change over time.

The concern is that schools that have always been touted as Christian have been infiltrated by non-Christian leaders and teachers. They also admit a high percentage of nonbelievers into their student body each year. The belief has always been that they will convert the nonbelievers to faithful followers of Christ. But the statistics have shown that the opposite happens. The problem is that once people who don’t profess that Jesus Christ is their Lord and Savior are allowed into the school in different roles, they will begin implementing nonbiblical teachings and practices wherever they can. And over time, the school will be turned into a den of wolves, hardly recognizable in the Christian community. Is that what Christians want?

Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions. Matthew 7:15-20

Wolves don’t destroy the church from the outside — they lead it from the pulpit. ~Bible in Context

The church’s greatest threat today isn’t from other religions. It’s from false teachers within the church who are leading unknowing believers far from the truth. It happens not only in Christian schools, but also in churches and businesses. Any organization that says it stands for Christian values must be on guard against the devil’s ploys. Their hiring practices and organizational decisions must reflect a biblical worldview. Otherwise, it’s a counterfeit Christian organization.

Christian teachers and leaders must faithfully and humbly live a Christian life? Are they honest, or are they a hypocrite? Do they cheat or take questionable shortcuts in their work? We all know that actions speak louder than words. Evil and deception can be found in Christian settings.

As followers of Christ, we need to know what a sheep wearing wolves clothes looks and sounds like. We can’t claim innocence if we haven’t done our due diligence and can’t spot a fake. That means we need to study the Bible so we know what we’re looking for. We should be able to evaluate someone’s words and lives in comparison to the Bible. Do they pass the smell test of biblical Christianity? They may be friendly and nice, but they’re enemies of the kingdom of God. They are counterfeit Christians. Basically, they’re double agents. We have to be on guard against those who appear to be Christian, but inwardly they are agents of Satan.

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8

The forest was shrinking, but the trees kept voting for the Axe, for the Axe was clever and convinced the Trees that because his handle was wood, he was one of them. ~Turkish Proverb

The Heart of It All

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

So. We bought this house late last summer. Oh. The stone on the front facade is a look I have always disliked. I’ve just never cared for it, but there it is on the front of a house that I willingly bought. And I’m definitely not going to invest money to replace it with something I prefer. That’s just not in the budget. There are many other updates that I want to put my money and hard work toward, so I ignore the ugly stone as much as I can and concentrate on the parts of the house that I love.

And then I step inside my home. Oh. Every wall is still currently painted white. The floor is a lighter color than I would have chosen. I have paint swatches and wallpaper samples taped to the walls, and I’ve placed rugs in a couple of rooms. I’m making plans to update light fixtures and to paint the cabinets. I’d like to replace the garden tub with a walk-in shower. Those things will happen, but they will take time because we have some big ticket items to consider. We need to install a new HVAC system, and we need to replace part of the roof. We have foggy windows that need replaced. And these updates will come all in good time.

We’ve made this house our home, and it’s a comfortable place to live. Bright light shines in through the tall living room windows and the doors. Fresh breezes flow through the house on nice days. I’m working to make this house a cozy place where we will enjoy growing old. And so far, it’s working. We love being in our home.

The thing is. If I had to buy this house based on the exterior of it alone, I would have passed on it. Not because I disliked the shape of house, because I don’t dislike it. I just don’t like the look of the stone. It’s dated and ugly and way too expensive to replace. But it was the inside of the house that drew me in. The layout. The beauty of the tall wooden ceilings. The shape of the A-frame feels rustic and homey. It is a welcoming place.

The way I’m working on making my home a place I genuinely love reminds me of the story of how David was anointed as the second king of Israel. God was displeased with King Saul’s continued disobedience, so he let Saul know that none of his sons would inherit his place on the throne. Imagine being the prophet Samuel who had to break that news to the king of Israel. But he did it. He shared the bad news.

And God then told Samuel to go to the house of Jesse and anoint one of his sons as the next king. The problem is. God didn’t tell Samuel which son he had chosen. He told Samuel he would let him know who was the chosen son when he arrived in Bethlehem. When Samuel arrived at the house, he came with an offering to present to God. It was a heifer. Jesse and his sons were invited to the sacrifice where God would tell Samuel which son was to be the next king.

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

When Samuel saw the first son, he was impressed and thought this must be the one. But God told him to keep looking. After checking out six more sons, God had still not given the green light to any of them. So Samuel asked if there were more sons. Oh. One more. The youngest. You don’t want to see him. He’s not worthy. Bring him to me, said Samuel. And when David was brought in to face Samuel, God let him know that the future king of Israel was standing before him. Samuel then anointed David in front of his father and brothers before they sat down to enjoy a feast.

Each time one of the first seven sons stood before Samuel, he thought they looked fine. All he could see was their physical appearance. But God was looking at their heart. And God had told Samuel earlier that he was looking for someone with a heart toward Him. He wanted a king who would obediently follow God while he led his country. Not a small task, at all. And when David entered the room, Samuel knew this was God’s chosen one.

Oh. We would later learn that David was far from perfect. He messed up big time. But he always turned back to God and repented of his sins. The results of momentary temptations and lusts brought him to his knees as he watched the son born of his sin die in infancy. But he arose from his knees a forgiven and changed man. He was a warrior and led the nation of Israel in many victorious wars against enemy nations. He planned and prepared for the temple that his son Solomon, the next king of Israel, would build. He was a man after God’s own heart.

Too many times we look at ourselves and wonder what God sees in us. But when we faithfully follow him, even though we may stumble, he is faithful to us. He will forgive us when we sin, as long as we repent. He knows our hearts. He knows if we have a true leaning toward being a child of God, or if we’re just playing around with our faith. He’s looking for seriously committed followers who will live out their beliefs in public. Oh. We’re not faultless, but we must be repentant when we do sin.

Just as my new home needs repairs and updates that may not be visible to the naked eye, so is our heart when it comes to spiritual growth. God sees us as we are, and he knows the work he has ordained for us. Throughout our lifetime of serving him, God will work on the areas of our heart that are not fully in tune with him. When we allow God to correct and prune us, we will grow in his likeness. When we surrender our sinful nature to him, we will experience a lifetime of growth. Just as my house has not been well cared for through the years, we can’t allow our spiritual growth to become stagnant, because our faith will erode and decay. We need daily spiritual nourishment from God’s word, prayer and fellowship with other believers. It is a lifetime of faithful obedience that draws us closer to God and makes us more like him.

Faithful Few

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

Well. We went and did it. We joined the new seniors group at church last week.  I keep asking myself if we’re really seniors. I don’t feel like one, but I also know I’m not a spring chicken. I guess it’s time to admit the inevitable, because we’re not getting any younger. 

We met some new people that night. Some younger than us and some older. One couple has been around since the church was founded, and the man built the current church building. There’s some history among the older ones in the church, that’s for sure.

I find it very inspiring to know that multiple families who have attended this church throughout its life are still attending. Their longevity at the church speaks volumes. I’ve heard talk of some tough times in the past where many in the church left. Never to return. But it’s obvious that not everyone ran away from the troubles. Some stuck around and have since seen a healing in their church body.

The past few years have seen a resurgence in attendance, and the growth of the church continues. It appears to be a healthy and thriving place for folks of all ages. There’s a nice mix of young and old in the congregation. I like that. 

And then there’s our small group. It’s a group of less than ten people who are in our age range. And the beauty of this group is that they have been together for a long time. They not only have been in the same small group, but they have attended the same church for years. Their kids grew up together and know each other. They all know the good, the bad and the ugly about each other’s families. And yet, they’ve welcomed the two of us with open arms. They’ve welcomed newcomers to their community of believers. And it feels so right.

Oh sure. In this small group, we study the Bible. And we pray together. But there is also a time of lighter conversation as we partake of some light dessert. These people genuinely care about each other. And as they talk about their children and grandchildren, there is a deep sense of pride. They greatly enjoy spending time with their adult children, and they freely admit it. I recall one man recently beamed with pride when he spoke of his son telling him that he would like to spend his Sunday afternoon one on one. Tears easily flow down the face of another of these gentlemen as he is moved by the commitment each of his children has made to faithfully serve God. He cherishes the time he gets to spend with them.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Hebrews 12:1-2

And no. Their families aren’t all perfect. There are some deep hurts and disappointments they’ve experienced over the years, but the frailty of family relationships hasn’t dimmed their love for their families or for their God. They remain deeply committed to both. Some of their children are currently walking down a road away from biblical principals, yet their parents remain committed to an open relationship with them. And when they take the opportunity to speak biblical truths at the appointed time. Regardless of the decisions their children make, they still love and pray for them.

These couples have stood the test of time in their faith and their marriages. They are a shining example of living a committed and faithful life not only to their chosen spouse, but also to their God. They have lived an imperfect Christian witness throughout the years, as any of us do, but their faith has only deepened throughout the hills and valleys of the years.

We don’t have to be perfect to be lifelong followers of Christ. We need to be consistent in our commitment of obedience when the Holy Spirit nudges us. We must be open to conviction when we are made aware of inconsistencies in our lives. Oh. These people I’ve recently begun doing life with don’t always get everything right. They would be the first to admit their flaws, but their walk with God through the years has proven that God is true to his word. His is faithful to those who call him Lord and Savior, and these few who call him Lord and Savior are faithful to him. Does life get any better than that?

And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:5-9

We’re pilgrims on the journey of the narrow road
And those who’ve gone before us line the way
Cheering on the faithful, encouraging the weary
Their lives a stirring testament to God’s sustaining grace
Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses
Let us run the race not only for the prize
But as those who’ve gone before us
Let us leave to those behind us
The heritage of faithfulness passed on through godly lives


Oh, may all who come behind us find us faithful
May the fire of our devotion light their way
May the footprints that we leave lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey
Oh, may all who come behind us find us faithful


After all our hopes and dreams have come and gone
And our children sift through all we’ve left behind
May the clues that they discover and the memories they uncover
Become the light that leads them to the road we each must find


Oh, may all who come behind us find us faithful
May the fire of our devotion light their way
May the footprints that we leave lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey
Oh, may all who come behind us find us faithful
May the fire of our devotion light their way
May the footprints that we leave lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey
Oh, may all who come behind us find us faithful

~Steve Green

Don’t Be Misguided

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

The guy on the podcast I was listening to said that the world is watching to see if a believer’s conduct lines up with their confession of faith. And we know that’s true. There are watchers of people of faith. Who knows if they’re intentionally or unintentionally watching anyone who calls themselves a believer, but some notice when a Christian is in or out of line with what they say they believe. But we also have to know that God himself knows all about us. All the good and the bad and the ugly. He knows it all. He sees it all.

Justin Martyr, a Christian apologist from AD155 said that it is for us Christians to offer to all the opportunity of inspecting our life and teachings. That means we can’t rely on our own understanding, but we must trust in the Lord. We aren’t reliable when left to our own devices. We’re easily swayed by the ideas and opinions of others who seem confident in their own beliefs. We can be easily misguided if we’re not careful of who we’re following or listening to. Whether it’s the pastor of the latest megachurch. Or the best selling author. Or the most downloaded podcaster. Or the slickest politician. Or the newest spiritual fad. We can’t just trust every word we hear from those we listen to. We must do our own study and research. And most importantly, we must study to show ourselves approved when it comes to living out our faith.

Oh sure. Others will be watching to see how we live out our faith. But our Heavenly Father is watching always and forever. We can’t escape his eye or his knowledge of our ways. So, more importantly than doing the “right thing” for others to see, we must most importantly do the “biblical thing” as God directs us. And in order for us to know the biblical thing to do, we must read the Bible. We must study God’s word so we know exactly what God requires of us.

I recently read that, as believers, we shouldn’t have to ask God to guide us because He is automatically guiding those who have put their faith in him. But we must know the truths that he has put in place for his followers. We must be prepared to act on the trust we say we have in Him when push comes to shove. We can’t depend on our own understanding, our own interpretation of right and wrong, when we’re in the fire. We can be wishy washy. Untrustworthy. Unless our complete trust is in God, we may lean on our own misguided ideas.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:5-6

The question is. Do we really trust Jesus? As believers, do we put our entire trust in Him for every aspect of our lives? If not, what are we holding onto for our own personal purposes? What part of our lives do we trust ourselves with more than we trust God? Are our ways higher than God’s ways? The Bible would say definitely not. So, why do we think we know better than God?

For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:9

We’ve heard the famous saying “come as you are” when we come to Jesus. We’re told we don’t have to pretty up our behavior. We can come to Him asking for forgiveness with all the ugliness and awfulness of our lives in tow. But does Jesus really say that in the Bible? Actually, there’s no Bible verse that says those specific words, but Jesus does accept us as we are when we come to him in genuine repentance. We don’t have to change before we seek his forgiveness. But the thing is. We can’t stay as we are. We must change after we have asked him to forgive our sins. If we say that Jesus is Lord of our lives, then we must live as if what we said was true. We must live in accordance with our repentance and confession of faith. Otherwise, we are lying not only to ourselves but to the world and to God himself.

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. Luke 9:23

So. If we say Jesus is Lord of our lives, then we have to trust Him. Oh. It’s a daily dying to ourselves and laying down our faith in ourselves. We must daily hand over our own desires and leanings to Jesus Christ. We must allow our will to be bent to line up with the teachings of our Savior. We aren’t better than Him. As ones who say we have bowed our wills to Him, we must then bow daily to His will. We must honor him not only with our lips, but also with our hearts and actions. How can we say we follow our Lord and Savior if we neglect His teachings and corrections? How can we say we’re His followers if we continually disobey and dishonor Him? Who do we think we are?

And so the Lord says, “These people say they are mine. They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. And their worship of me is nothing but man-made rules learned by rote. Isaiah 29:13

When Persecution Matters

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We are told throughout the Bible that as Christians we can expect to be persecuted for our faith. After all, the disciples of Jesus were imprisoned, beaten, tortured and killed for following him. Our culture may not be as barbaric as theirs was, but we should not be surprised when we face persecution of some sort. Oh. We may not be put in prison or beaten or tortured or killed. But then again, we may.

Our lifestyle of faith will not be accepted in many circles these days. Does that mean we should stay sequestered in our homes? Does that mean we should remain silent about the God we serve? Should we abstain from speaking up about our convictions when they differ from those who could make life difficult for us in our place of employment or any other place we go?

Have you ever wondered what would happen to someone else’s faith if they knew you were facing heavy persecution? Do you imagine that they were be silent and run in the opposite direction? Because some would. But not everyone. All some people need to see is that one who speaks up. The one who stands up for truth at all costs. And they are emboldened to do the same. Most people don’t really want to be the one to start a revolution, but it takes one willing soul to start it. Oh. It may be only one person who steps forward to continue the fight. But one is better than none. 

The knowledge that someone is being persecuted for their beliefs may cause some to remain silent. Not everyone is a risk taker or is willing to pursue the truth, come what may. But there are those who are willing to pick up the mantle and carry the fight through for the next generation. 

The apostle Paul knew what it meant to suffer for his faith. While he was in prison, he wrote to the church in Philippi encouraging the believers to stay strong in their faith. And because of his eloquent faith, the believers were emboldened to speak confidently of theirs, as well. Knowing full well that they could come to the same situation as Paul found himself in, they stood by him and stood strong. They were not deterred by seeing one of their own being persecuted for voicing his beliefs.

If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you. Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you. John 15:18-20

And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear. Philippians 1:12-14

The spiral of silence theory tells us that an individual’s perception of the distribution of public opinion influences that individual’s willingness to express their own opinions. John Stonestreet of the Colson Center says that when people are silent about an injustice or falsehood, even if they personally disagree, more people will be silent. So it’s easy to see why people stay silent. But when only one person dares to speak up, others feel empowered to speak, as well. No one wants to be alone.

In his book, The 1916 Project, Seth Gruber tells the story of Anna Bowden, who was a missionary in India. She had a burning desire and calling to share the good news of Jesus Christ to a lost country. Earlier missionaries to the area had not challenged the cultural beliefs and practices, even if those practices opposed biblical teachings. But Anna was different. She courageously spoke up against the Hindu practice of the infanticide of girls and sacrificing widows on their dead husband’s funeral pyres. She was killed in an attack on her mission station due to her outspokenness against this pagan cruelty. Gruber writes that “Anna Bowden changed the world by her life and by her death because she knew the kingdom of God would have the final say. Though our circumstances may be quite different from Bowden’s in rural India, we have the same choice before us. We can hide our lives in safety and security, or we can spend them on that which is eternal.”

But this young woman’s death ignited the courage of other missionaries. Gruber continues on to say that “within India, missionary communities that had played it safe previously were emboldened and renewed their efforts. The result was the sort of fruit that hadn’t been seen in a generation.” Just as Paul’s imprisonment caused other believers to gain confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear, Anna Bowden’s death stirred other missionaries to take up the cause of the the sanctity of life regardless of India’s Hindu culture.

I wonder if the silent Germans ever looked back at the end of their lives and wished they had spoken up in support of their Jewish neighbors who were marched off to internment camps, never to be seen again. As we go about our lives, can we stand tall with a clear conscience because we speak up for our beliefs, or are we unable to look those in the eye who have suffered because of our silence? It’s not only that we must speak up for our biblical beliefs, but we must also speak up against the wrongs being doled out in the name of cultural acceptance. When we know how to biblically treat our neighbors and don’t do it, how can we expect to stand in judgment before our God and be rewarded for a life well lived?

Always remember that Jesus Christ, a descendant of King David, was raised from the dead. This is the Good News I preach. And because I preach this Good News, I am suffering and have been chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained. So I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen. 2 Timothy 2:8-10

Sacred Traditions vs Sacred Surrender

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Jesus challenged the religious leaders who were trying to trip him up for not following their traditions.  The fact is that he did follow many religious traditions, but he didn’t require his disciples to wash their hands before eating. Washing your hands before eating does seem to be a really good idea, but these Jewish leaders did it out of a ceremonial obligation unrelated to hygiene. And they disavowed those who didn’t follow this practice.

Jesus called out these leaders for following the religious traditions so strictly that they neglected God’s commands. This group of men accusing Jesus of ignoring their traditions of ceremonially washing hands regularly disregarded the commandments and any other truths from the Scriptures that didn’t fit their agenda.

He called them hypocritical. To their face. He didn’t back down from challenging their misconceptions about his calling and ministry. His life and death and resurrection did away with the need to practice the law, but their eyes and ears and hearts weren’t open to accepting him as the Promised Messiah. Oh. Perhaps behind closed doors and in whispered conversations, they acknowledged who he was. At least one member of their sacred sect privately approached Jesus and acknowledged his Lordship. But publicly, there was no way they were going to hand the name of Promised Messiah to a man from Nazareth. After all. It had been said that nothing good comes from Nazareth. So they denied his deity.

How many of us are in the same boat today? We don’t publicly recognize the Savior for who he is and his ultimate sacrifice for us. Or maybe we do recognize him, but we don’t give him the time of day. We won’t admit that he is the ultimate author of truth. We don’t acknowledge our need to put away our legalism and foolish pride and rely on his love and grace and mercy. We just want to point our finger and call out those who disagree with us.

You like to appear righteous in public, but God knows your hearts. What this world honors is detestable in the sight of God. Luke 16:15

Some Pharisees and teachers of religious law now arrived from Jerusalem to see Jesus. They asked him, “Why do your disciples disobey our age-old tradition? For they ignore our tradition of ceremonial hand washing before they eat.” Jesus replied, “And why do you, by your traditions, violate the direct commandments of God? For instance, God says, ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and ‘Anyone who speaks disrespectfully of father or mother must be put to death.’ But you say it is all right for people to say to their parents, ‘Sorry, I can’t help you. For I have vowed to give to God what I would have given to you.’ In this way, you say they don’t need to honor their parents. And so you cancel the word of God for the sake of your own tradition. You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote, ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.’ ” Then Jesus called to the crowd to come and hear. “Listen,” he said, “and try to understand. It’s not what goes into your mouth that defiles you; you are defiled by the words that come out of your mouth.” Then the disciples came to him and asked, “Do you realize you offended the Pharisees by what you just said?” Matthew 15:1-12

As I read this week, Jesus didn’t come to make us religious. He came to save us from our sins. The Pharisees and religious leaders were all about being religious. They expected complete compliance with the Jewish traditions, at all costs, even if the traditions they held sacred were just acts of personal piety. And Jesus was bucking every demand they threw at him. No wonder they hated him and sought to kill him. He was a threat to their establishment.

Jesus didn’t come to make us religious; he came to make us God’s children by freeing us from bondage to sin.

Will Duval

Do we sidestep God’s law in order to hold to our own sacred traditions? Would we rather appear holy by our false pretenses? Or, would we rather speak boldly for Christ when called to do so? Which is better? To reject Jesus in this life and be shamed for eternity in hell. Or, to accept Jesus in this life and be accepted by him for eternity in heaven. I know which path I’m choosing.

C.S. Lewis says it best in his classic Mere Christianity:

And the present state of things is this. The two kinds of life are now not only different (they would always have been that) but actually opposed. The natural life in each of us: something self-centered, something that wants to be petted and admired, to take advantage of other lives, to exploit the whole universe. And especially it wants to be left to itself: to keep well away from anything better or stronger or higher than it, anything that might make it feel small. It is afraid of the light and air of the spiritual world, just as people who have been brought up to be dirty are afraid of a bath. And in a sense it is quite right. It knows that if the spiritual life gets hold of it, all its self-centeredness and self-will are going to be killed and it is ready to fight tooth and nail to avoid that.

I pray that I’ll be consistent and constant in my desire to follow Jesus and serve him until my dying day. It is a daily dying to my selfish interests and laying down my pride and greed to faithfully follow in the Savior’s footsteps. I humbly bow in surrender to my Lord and my Savior, Jesus Christ. Will you join me?

Gaming the System

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

We’re the new people in our neighborhood. Three of the neighbors have stopped by to introduce themselves and welcome us to the town. They all seem to be very pleasant people. It’s a quiet little town where some people seem to know what’s really going on. And they’ve shared bits of information that we probably don’t need to know, but now we do.

The neighbors to the left of us are very kind and friendly. They’ve extended a warm welcome and made us feel at home in the neighborhood. The man stops over to chat. He’s offered to help with small yardwork tasks. Our house had sat empty for a year before we moved in, and this neighbor kept our lawn mowed the entire time. They’re good people.

The house on the other side of us is empty. Our view of the house is a boarded up window in their garage. Not too pleasant, if you ask me. The lawn isn’t mowed regularly. And they always have two vehicles sitting in the driveway. A few days ago, a crew showed up and began tearing out drywall and two by fours. Rumor has it that the house is full of mold. And it’s going up for auction soon. One neighbor mentioned that he hoped the house would be torn down.

Oh. We’ve never met the neighbors who own the empty house. The story goes that they are in foreclosure and have moved into government assisted housing less than a mile from us. But here’s where the story gets interesting. Both the man and the woman work. They drive very nice vehicles. In fact, we’re told they have four vehicles. Two personal cars and two work cars. Since they’re only allotted two parking spaces in their new housing complex, they keep their personal vehicles parked at their foreclosed home during the week. At the end of the workweek, they trade vehicles and park the work cars in the driveway next to us for the weekend.

My question about the situation is this. How do two working people who drive nice vehicles qualify for government assistance? Why did they forfeit their home? I realize that financial circumstances can upend us at times, so I’ll give them that. But I’m just wondering if they are gaming the system. Are they playing with fire? I mean. Technically, they aren’t allowed to be on the property at this point. But the man has been there the past couple of days working on one of the vehicles. And the lady was there a few days after we arrived. She must have seen me through the door, and she had an odd grin on her face. Yes. She had been seen walking around a property that technically is no longer hers.

Now granted. I don’t know their situation. It may all be legit. I’m not trying to be judgmental, but from what I see and know I have questions. And the neighbors told me other unsavory stories about these people. So I think there was bad blood in the neighborhood, and some neighbors were glad to see them go.

And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. Colossians 3:17

I wonder if I’m guilty of gaming any system that I’m involved in. Do I overstep my privileges? Do I shirk my responsibilities? What areas of my life am I overlooking because I’m comfortable with how I do things? What might others see in me that causes them to question my motives and intentions? Do I represent Christ well in every area of my life? Do both my public and private actions scream selfishness and privilege, or do they show the love and adoration of my God and Savior?

Not that it matters so much, but what do others say about me when I’m not around? Do they complain about how I treat others? Do they notice that my walk doesn’t match my talk? Do they say that I speak out of both sides of my mouth? Do I?

What kind of representative am I for the gospel of Jesus Christ?

I recently read an article that said we should be a Christian in every situation. That means whether someone is watching us or not. Even when we’re alone or in the privacy of our own home, our attitudes and actions should mirror those of Jesus. The way we conduct business, whether it’s personal or professional, should be a statement to the fact that we are followers of Christ. There should be no question as to how we will conduct ourselves in any situation. We will be better and do better when we make a deliberate decision to represent Christ in every facet of our lives. Oh sure. We’re not perfect, and we’ll fail. But we can always rise and try again. This life is a life of choosing daily to live for Christ.

Do nothing that you would not like God to see. Say nothing you would not like God to hear. Write nothing you would not like God to read. Go no place where you would not like God to find you. J.C. Ryle

Stepping Out of the Fire

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Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego defied King Nebuchadnezzar’s order. They refused to bow to an idol that he insisted everyone bow to. They stood straight and tall and did not submit to a command to worship a false god. Oh. Nebuchadnezzar was furious. He had his men raise the heat in the furnace. And then he had these three faithful followers of God thrown into that unbearably hot fire. The heat killed the soldiers who threw them into the furnace, but soon Nebuchadnezzar saw not only those three but a fourth person walking around in the fiery pit. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego survived the death sentence.

These three young men had made a decision that they would rather suffer than sin. They knew they must not do evil so that good would come to them. Oh. It might have seemed like a fine line they were crossing, but they knew that to bow with the knee even though their hearts weren’t bent was too big of an ask. So they refused. They wanted to stand before God with pure hearts and clear consciences.

Walking through the fire is not for sissies.

This wasn’t the first time they chose not to defile their bodies. Early on in their captivity, they were among an elite group of young men selected for a rigorous training program for royal servants. And they were given food and drink that would have defiled their Jewish diet. They refused and were granted a reprieve and given appropriate foods. Now here they were being asked to bow to another god. They weren’t being asked to give up their God. All they had to do was just bow their knee. Just for a second or two. They couldn’t do it. Imagine the searing guilt on their consciences if they had just bowed. It would have been a quick and easy thing to do. Just dip the knee and stay out of trouble. But they knew in their hearts it was wrong So they said no.

You can read the story of these 3 brave young men in Daniel 3.

When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord , your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. Isaiah 43:2-3

If you’ve read the story of these three guys, you’ll notice that when they walked out of the fire they were inspected closely by those who had watched their fiery trial. There was no smoke damage. No singed hair. No ashes. No scorched clothes. In fact, they were still fully clothed. The fire had not damaged them at all. Because with the fourth person in the fire with them, not only were they surrounded by flames but they were surrounded by the presence of God. An angel of the Lord was in the midst of the fire with them.

Oh. The cords that were wrapped around these men were burned off. But the clothes on their backs didn’t even smell of smoke. Isn’t it odd that the things that were binding them were removed during the fire, and the items of clothing that protected their dignity weren’t touched by the flames? Or, is it odd? The God of the universe is much more powerful than we give him credit for. He allows what he allows, and he forbids what he forbids. Only he has full control. Oh. Mankind likes to manipulate events to their own advantage, but God is still in control.

Then Nebuchadnezzar came as close as he could to the door of the flaming furnace and shouted: “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stepped out of the fire. Then the high officers, officials, governors, and advisers crowded around them and saw that the fire had not touched them. Not a hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched. They didn’t even smell of smoke! Daniel 3:26-27

What do you look like when you walk out of the fire? Are your clothes scorched? Is your hair singed? Do you smell of smoke? Does a pile of ash drop to the floor? Do you appear as damaged goods for having suffered for Christ? Are you angry? Are you insulted? Or, do you praise God that he was walking with you every step of the way? Do you thank God for the lessons learned as you were engulfed in flames?

Once out of the fire, we must realize the power that God has over even the worst moments of our lives. When we suffer for Christ, he is with us in those moments of crisis. He does not leave us to walk alone.

When we step out of the fire, our witness is on display for the world to see. And what do others see? They may know we have just come from the fire, but they will be watching our witness of God’s goodness and grace. They will want to know if we walk our talk. Even King Nebuchadnezzar praised God when he saw the three men totally uninjured from the fire. When he commanded them to walk out of the furnace, he saw a miracle appear before him. And he praised the God of these three men. He knew he was an eyewitness to the great power of the God of the Universe, and he gave God all the praise and glory.

We never know who our example of faithfulness and obedience to God will influence. We don’t know who’s watching, but we better believe that someone is. And they will note our obedience or lack of it. And then some will be influenced to follow our lead, regardless of whether we’ve obeyed God or not. Let’s be faithful to the God who has orchestrated every second of our lives, even those that are a fiery furnace experience.

Sons of Abraham

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God promised Abraham that he would be the father of a great nation. The only problem was that Abraham and his wife Sarah had no children. And a nation can’t be built without children. The other thing. This couple was past their prime. As in, the woman’s childbearing years were behind her. But God told them that they would have a son. He just didn’t give them a timeline for when to expect this baby. And the years continued to roll on with no child.

So. One day Sarah thought of a brilliant idea and shared it with Abraham. She suggested that he sleep with her maid, Hagar, to see if they could have a son. So Abraham foolishly obliged his wife. And a son was born. Hagar named her son Ishmael. And, of course, as time would have it, Sarah and Hagar had words. After their falling out, Sarah begged Abraham to send this servant and her son away. Abraham loved his son, but he sent them out into the desert to fend for themselves.

Twelve years after the birth of Ishmael, God’s promise to Abraham and Sarah came to pass. Abraham was one hundred years old and Sarah was ninety when their only son, Isaac, was born. God’s promise was fulfilled. Now the promised nation had begun.

After Ishmael was born, God had promised both Abraham and Hagar that Ishmael would be the father of a great nation. Just to be clear, this was a different nation than the initial one God had promised to Abraham. Abraham’s descendants formed two different nations. Two warring nations. The two brothers, Ishmael and Isaac, appeared to be civil to each other in their day, but history has shown that their descendants are still at odds with each other to this day. Ishmael is viewed as the father of Islam, and Isaac is the father of Judaism. Interesting, huh?

What went wrong with the brothers? The first was conceived outside of God’s plan, and the second was God’s promise fulfilled. Abraham and Sarah stepped outside of God’s timeline, and the result was a nation that would not exist today if they hadn’t taken matters into their own hands.

You can read this story of Abraham in Genesis 15-21.

Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith. Genesis 15:6

When we consider the cultural, political and theological differences between the Muslims and Jews, we can get a clearer picture as to why there is so much upheaval in the world. Throughout history, not only the Muslims have been against the Jews, but other nations have joined the fight against God’s chosen people.

I wonder. If Sarah hadn’t made such a ridiculous suggestion to Abraham and if he hadn’t acted on it, would there have risen another nation to take the place of Islam? Am I just fooling myself thinking that perhaps a lot of the discord and turmoil we hear about today in the Middle East could have been avoided if that son had never been born? Is that too simple of a solution?

It doesn’t mean that the Jews would have been deeply loved and valued by others throughout the years if Ishmael had never been born. Others have come along to try to erase them from the face of the earth. The Egyptians tried to destroy the Jews, but God ensured they grew to be a strong nation. Hitler wasn’t a Muslim, and he sure did his part in trying to move the Jewish nation into extinction. Still today, there are many forces working to depopulate the Jewish race. But here’s the secret. God won’t allow that to happen. Once God makes a promise, he keeps it. And it doesn’t matter how long it takes to fulfill the promise, he doesn’t go back on his word.

God loves the Jewish nation and wants the best for them, even though they have strayed from him. They have not remained faithful in following his commands. Sure. There is a remnant of faithful Jews, but they still don’t believe Jesus was the Messiah. But the day will come when the remnant believes and they will be saved.

God promised that he would destroy nations that come against Jerusalem. He says that the nations who come against Jerusalem will only hurt themselves. We must seriously consider the ramifications for our country if our leaders do not stand with Israel. We must stand with Israel at all costs.

On that day I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock. All the nations will gather against it to try to move it, but they will only hurt themselves. Zechariah 12:3

For on that day I will begin to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. Zechariah 12:9

If you don’t know why there is so much hatred toward the Jewish nation, you might consider reading the entire Bible from cover to cover. I would suggest buying a chronological Bible to take you through the events as they occurred in order. Understanding the history of mankind is an important part of understanding today’s cultural moment.

Well then, has God failed to fulfill his promise to Israel? No, for not all who are born into the nation of Israel are truly members of God’s people! Being descendants of Abraham doesn’t make them truly Abraham’s children. For the Scriptures say, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted,” though Abraham had other children, too. This means that Abraham’s physical descendants are not necessarily children of God. Only the children of the promise are considered to be Abraham’s children. Romans 9:6-8

When the Forsythia Blooms

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It’s March, and I see the yellow blooms of the forsythia in my yard. But it’s not the first time this year that I’ve seen this phenomenon. The forsythia bush started waving yellow during a warm spell in January. The bush must have become confused by the sudden turn of weather in a month that is typically frozen and snowy. As the temps cooled down again, the forsythia stalled in its attempts to force its bright color upon us. But now. Now that it’s March and warm temperatures are again teasing us, the forsythia is once again attempting to bloom.

It’s pretty safe to assume that its efforts this time will be successful, since the days of the year are moving along. Is it safe to say that spring is just around the corner? I think so. But lest we be fooled into thinking that warm temperatures are here to stay, the weather has once again turned from warm to crispy cold. It’s a game that the seasons play on even the most weathered individuals. Each year, we face the same teasing of cold to warm and then back again to cold. Until one day, the cold is gone.

I find that life is the same as the forsythia bush. We see the much anticipated days of goodness ahead and try to rush headlong into them before it’s time. We’ve just survived our latest hurdle, and now another is on the horizon. The weather of life snaps, and we find ourselves in the midst of a heavy, burdensome load of trouble. We wonder if life will ever be good again. And so we wait. And then one day, we see the first sign of our burden easing and we breathe a little easier. Will it last? We’re not sure. But our hope is rising. And then one day, we find the burdensome problem has been resolved and we’re free to be carefree for a time.

Oh. If only life was simple.

For the Lord God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right. Psalms 84:11

In the ninth chapter of Daniel, Daniel writes of a glimpse of hope for his people, the nation of Israel. He apparently took advantage of the great libraries and learning centers of Babylon and read many books. After all, he had been living there since he was a teenager. Oh. It wasn’t his idea to move many miles from his home in Jerusalem, but he had been captured and taken prisoner by Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon. And Daniel had been forced to work in Nebuchadnezzar’s royal palace after he underwent an intense three-year re-education program.

For the rest of his life, Daniel worked in the royal palace of Babylon. He served many kings, as they would come and go. At times, he was placed in very powerful positions if he was favored and respected by the king. Some of the kings had a very high regard for Daniel’s God-given wisdom and intuition and trusted his advice. He would interpret their dreams and then give all the credit to God, for it was God who had given him the ability to understand and interpret dreams. However, other kings demoted him to lower positions and didn’t even know his name or past accomplishments. There were times in his service to the kings that his life was threatened. The possibility of bodily harm was a natural fear to have while serving people in high places. One wrong decision or word could have your life coming to a dramatic end. As Daniel served the kings, God watched over his life and once spared him from an untimely death when thrown into the lion’s den. Daniel didn’t waver in his faith and devotion to God. He honored his commitment to God and prayed faithfully each day.

But back to the ninth chapter of Daniel. He had somehow received a copy of Jeremiah’s prophetic letter. As he read it, he realized that God had sentenced his people to seventy years of exile in Babylon. Daniel was living this prophecy in real time. And he realized that the seventy years were soon coming to an end. Instead of being ecstatic about a possible return to his homeland, he fell on his knees and repented of his and his nation’s sins. He cried out to God to forgive the nation of Israel for defying God and turning their backs on him. As he read Jeremiah’s letter, he saw how God had punished them for their belligerent actions against an almighty God who had given their nation a favored status above all other nations. And they had rejected God’s favor. Daniel cried out in horror that his nation had been so blind and unrepentant.

Daniel realized that he was receiving the punishment due his forefathers for their sins of disobedience. His generation was the one to receive the just penalty of a ruined nation and exile to a hostile, foreign land. Oh. Daniel didn’t beg God to let him return to Jerusalem to live out his final years. No. He never said those words. He asked for forgiveness and mercy instead.

We may not understand why the forsythia gets confused when the weather wreaks havoc on its blooming cycle. But we do understand that eventually the forsythia will bloom once the conditions of spring are met. And then its beauty will shine forth. Daniel, too, realized that his nation’s punishment would soon end and his people could return to their homeland. Hope was on the horizon.

When he was led as a prisoner to Babylon, Daniel didn’t know he would live to be an old man and die there.  He didn’t know that he would never return home to see Jerusalem again. He didn’t know the obstacles he would face. But he had a strong faith in God. He knew that his God would not fail him. And he knew that at the right time and in the right condition, God would strengthen and encourage him when all else seemed lost. Daniel never wavered in his faith. His faith only grew stronger as time passed. Soon, he was an old man and had lived his entire adult life as a servant of kings in a royal palace that rebelled against God.

Daniel didn’t realize that as he was serving in this foreign land, God was also judging the evil leaders of his day. As part of God’s plan, Babylon too would be taken captive and be forced to bow to foreign kings. And through the downfall of Babylon, Daniel stood strong in his faith in God. As the new rulers took their place on Babylon’s throne, once again Daniel was placed in a position of authority serving another ungodly king. His faithfulness to God made him a highly sought after ally for a king needing self-assurance and stability. Even at the age of eighty, Daniel was still a trusted leader.

I’ve read that when people are hurting, the entire world looks bleak. We see no way out of our situation and feel like we’ll be stuck in this never ending cycle of pain. We don’t know when the waves of uncertainty and trouble will enter our lives, and we don’t know how long they’ll last. But we can live in peace and contentment when we are serving God.

We never question if the forsythia will bloom each spring. Our only question is when it will bloom. Because we know it will. Perhaps it’s time for us to use the same logic when we face our own devastations. We shouldn’t ask if life will ever be good again. We should ask how we can accept our situation even when it’s not good. We must hold onto the knowledge that God is good all the time. And all the time, God is good. Regardless of the unfortunate events we have faced or will face in the future, we can rest assured that God is in control. And God always wins. Our hope must be in God alone.