forgiveness

Join the Sin Resistance

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. I love chocolate. Dark chocolate.

I find that once I eat just a small piece of chocolate one day, I’ll want another piece the next day.  And the next day. And soon I find that one piece of chocolate isn’t enough. Then the day arrives when I convince myself that a second piece won’t hurt me. I can always go back to one chocolate tomorrow. That’s what I tell myself. But somehow when tomorrow comes, I get pulled into eating two pieces again. And then, over the next few weeks the number of chocolate pieces I eat each day continues to increase until it’s unhealthy. I’ve lost control, and I know it.

I can go for weeks or months without eating any chocolate, but the day I decide I “need” even one piece I start down a slippery slope. I don’t always go over the edge, but far too many times I have. I end up feeling like I can’t help myself, all the while knowing I can. I didn’t even need to start down the chocolate path, but I did.

That’s what happens when we don’t resist the urge to sin. If we’re not diligent, what started out as one small white lie will over time morph into a web of deceit that can’t be easily untangled. And then somehow we eventually find ourselves in a lifestyle of lies and deceit and sinfulness that has no easy way out.

So, I must ask. Is that first sin really worth it? And I also have to ask. Is sin really resistible? What does the Bible say?

So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. James 4:7-8

One step to resisting sin that isn’t discussed much is this. We have to make an effort not to sin. God is a God of miracles, but we must also do our part. He won’t stop us from sinning, but he can help us stop it. Sometimes it takes a lot of strength to not give in to our sinful desires. And we don’t have to resist all on our own. The closer we are to God, the less appealing sin is. The desire lessens the longer we serve God and the more we strive to be like him.

We must avoid the places that provide strong temptations or people we know who will lead us down the wrong path. We must look in the other direction when we’re tempted to lust. We have to make the effort to avoid sin.

I find that when I cut off my chocolate supply, I eventually don’t even crave it. Then I stop buying it and chocolate no longer lives in my home. It no longer rules my life. But I know that the temptation can creep in again if I allow even one small bite.

The same thing can happen with sin. One small deviation from the path of sinless living can open us up to a much broader descent into an unholy life. 

If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. 1 Corinthians 10:12-13

Receiving God’s forgiveness and mercy doesn’t remove temptation or cause us to always obey. It takes a consistent and intentional choice each day to resist sin, until one day we realize sin no longer has control in our lives. Our relationship with God has grown mature enough that we choose him over everything else. Even over the things that once were so enticing.

One small bite of chocolate may not send me over the edge, but it will reawaken my taste buds to what I have been missing. The same goes with sin. One weak moment can open the floodgates of the “good” times sin used to bring. And we lose the grip on what we once held close.

God doesn’t expect perfection. He knows it’s humanly impossible. But he does expect obedience and the pursuit of sinless living. And that is possible with the help of the Holy Spirit. Do we even ask for his help?

There’s always the one thing we forget when we’re tempted to sin. Satan. He’s a deceiver. He will lead us to believe that eating that one bite of chocolate isn’t a bad thing. It actually tastes quite good. All the while knowing that one bite will lead to wanting more and more and more. And eventually, the slide is inevitable. We’re soon wallowing deeply in the vat of dark chocolate with no plans to leave.

But here’s the other thing we forget. We can say no. We can refuse to sin. When temptation is lurking around us, we can turn and walk the other way. We don’t put that chocolate bar in the grocery cart. We don’t even go down the chocolate aisle. We skip it altogether. And when we envision how good that first bite would be, we turn to something that will remove that temptation. We don’t have to give in.

I’m not saying that eating chocolate is sinful. I’m saying that anything that entices us to act in a way that displeases God is sin. That’s what we need to avoid. Even considering the possibility to act or think or speak in a way that moves us further from God should stop us in our tracks. We should immediately turn the other way and ask the Holy Spirit to give us wisdom in our choices. It is possible to resist temptation and sin. Is that your desire? I know it’s mine.

When Your Heart Skips A Beat

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What crosses your mind when someone brings up their faith or Christianity or their church service last Sunday? Are you all in for the conversation, or do you try to duck out and spare yourself some grief? Does your heart skip a beat when someone mentions that God is good or that He has answered their prayer in a great and mighty way? Do you want to be swallowed up by the earth at that very moment because you’re uncomfortable with the subject? Or would you be genuinely interested in what they had to say?

Many people, Christian or not, try to avoid conversations about the Bible or church or faith in general. Perhaps they think they’re not educated enough to speak about those issues. Perhaps they don’t have faith and don’t want others to know. Perhaps they are a believer, but don’t want others to know. Some people just want to avoid the topic, no matter what.

If you had been alive during the time of Jesus’ birth, you would have been in one of two camps. Either your heart skipped a beat when you heard the news, because you knew this long awaited event was the best thing that had ever happened to mankind. You knew this was the event that had been promised so many years ago and it had finally happened in your lifetime. This was incredible news! Or. Your heart skipped a beat because you were enraged that someone, and of all things a tiny baby, was said to be the Savior of the world. You knew you would fight this announcement at all costs. Because it just couldn’t be true. How could it be? A baby is no savior. Who cares about the stories of the star in the east and the prophesies of a Messiah. This baby is nothing special, and you were determined to squelch all rumors that he was.

And here’s what we know today. The good news of Jesus Christ’s birth, death and resurrection still causes a mixed reaction. Multitudes experience a life-changing event when they repent of their sins and choose to follow Him. They know their lives have been changed, and they want to let others know. On the other hand, there are many others who reject the good news of salvation and want nothing to do with it. They reject it outright and oppose it as if it were the kiss of death. They will oppose all talk of the subject.

And here’s what we also know. We each have a choice as to how we will handle the news of Christ’s offer of salvation. We can accept it and follow the path to eternal life with him. Or we can reject it, which means we will wallow in sin. And living a sinful life will look different for everyone. The life of someone not following Christ may be very successful and full of material possessions. They may achieve at the highest level of corporate success. They may be able to afford all the latest gadgets and toys and vacations and pleasures that money can afford. But they reject any discussion about the Savior of the world. Success in this life doesn’t mean that someone isn’t a follower of Christ, but it also doesn’t mean they are. And just because someone doesn’t live a life that is questionable doesn’t mean they are living forgiven.

Choose this day whom you will serve. Joshua 24:15

God isn’t afraid of our choices, but he knows the end result of what we choose. After all, he allows his angels to choose and a host of them chose unwisely. And he’s not afraid of skepticism or doubt. That’s normal in life. But when we choose to challenge him, we need to know exactly who and what we’re dealing with. When we choose to ignore him, we need to know the full extent of the choice we’ve just made.

I want to be careful when I say this, but the rejection of Christ is an acceptance of the evil one himself, Satan. Many who reject Christ may say they’re not Satan lovers, but they’ve rejected Christ. So who do they think they’re following if it’s not Christ? I know. It’s an uncomfortable thought, and it may sound harsh. Most people who don’t accept the teachings of Christ don’t claim to be Satan worshippers. They don’t claim to follow the leader of the underworld. They may believe they are self-made and self-fulfilled and don’t need God in their lives. They don’t know the capabilities of the one who thought he could out-God God. They don’t know that he lost in his quest of self importance and pride to de-throne God. And that’s exactly why he’s no longer living in the presence of God Almighty. They don’t know that God threw him and his host of angels out of heaven and has doomed them to an eternity in hell. His name was Lucifer, and he was once a high ranking angel. Now he’s known as Satan and is the leader of darkness.

Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. Revelation 12:7-11

How you are fallen from heaven, O shining star, son of the morning! You have been thrown down to the earth, you who destroyed the nations of the world. For you said to yourself, ‘I will ascend to heaven and set my throne above God’s stars. I will preside on the mountain of the gods far away in the north. I will climb to the highest heavens and be like the Most High.’ Instead, you will be brought down to the place of the dead, down to its lowest depths. Isaiah 14:12-15

Many call themselves Christians, yet they haven’t repented of their sins. But Christianity is a humbling act of confession and turning from all sinful behavior. It’s a commitment to living a life in fellowship with Jesus Christ. There is no middle ground. If we haven’t chosen Christ as our Lord and Savior, he will not recognize us on the day we stand in judgment before him.

Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.’ Matthew 25:41

In Joshua 24:14-28, Joshua implored the Israelites to choose to serve the Lord, and they promised they would. He knew exactly what punishment would lie ahead for them if they turned their backs on God. He told them plainly that he and his household would serve the Lord, and they must choose who they would serve. Just as Joshua chose and all of Israel had to choose, so does everyone else even today. Who do you choose to follow? One more question. When you’re face to face with God on judgment day, will your heart skip a beat because you’re being ushered into his presence for eternity or because you’re not?

For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Romans 10:13

The Missing Dime

~ mercyfortheday ~ 1 Comment

There’s a certain spot on one of the streets I walk in my neighborhood that has something I’ve noticed. What I’ve seen is just a simple dirty dime that someone dropped on the road. And no one has picked it up. I’ve often thought to stop and put it in my pocket, but I never have. And then one morning last week, I noticed the dime was gone. I looked all around the area to see if it had just been moved. But no. Someone other than me had dared to pick it up and claim it as their own. And that suits me fine.

What can a single dime buy these days, anyway? Nothing. And I’ve noticed that now when I walk in that particular area, I don’t even stop to consider that a dime used to be on the road. I don’t even think of it. Before the dime went missing, I would start to wonder if it was still there whenever I approached the spot. Now I don’t have to wonder any longer. I can think on other things.

But I do wonder who might have collected the coin. Who thought a dime was worth saving? Would they add it to their rainy day jar? Or, did they wash it and give it to their child or grandchild? Did someone just push it into the grass? And I see others walking the same path I take, so it could be one of the other walkers who picked it up. I’ll never know. All I know is that it was once on the road and now it isn’t. It’s found a new home.

I also wonder if I would have felt that my life had changed it I had picked up that dime. Well, I already know the answer. It wouldn’t have. I’m not even sure what I would have done with it. I probably would have put it in my coin purse and carried on. I wouldn’t have given it a second thought. But I would have had an extra ten cents to my name. Now I don’t.

I didn’t leave the dime on the road because I felt it wasn’t mine to take. I’m not really sure why I never picked it up, other than the fact that it was only ten cents. Most likely, it was because I knew the dime wouldn’t change a thing in my life. Now, if it was a ten dollar bill, I wouldn’t have thought twice about it. But, a dime? It didn’t entice me.

And the thing is, the person who dropped the dime didn’t return to pick it up. Were they aware they had lost the dime, or did they just shrug and say, “it’s only a dime” and carry on? But here’s the other thing. The location where the dime was located wasn’t a spot where a car would park. And it wasn’t an area where someone would be digging through their pockets or wallet for change. It was close to the stop sign. So, how did they lose the dime in that exact spot? No one just throws a dime out a car window or empties their pocket while walking their dog.

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. Luke 19:10

I’m reminded of the parable in the Bible that tells of a woman who lost one of her ten coins. She searched diligently to find the coin. And when it was located, she called everyone to celebrate with her. Her ten coins were safe and sound.

The coin I found but never claimed wasn’t really mine. It didn’t bother me when someone else had picked it up and pocketed it for themselves. The woman in the parable knew the lost coin was hers and desperately searched until she found it. Perhaps the ten coins were all she had left. And she swept the floor and searched until the one was found. She called in her friends, and they rejoiced with her on that happy occasion. I had nothing to celebrate when someone else picked up the coin, but perhaps they thought it was a great find.

I think of the young man who made a decision earlier this year to follow Christ. He had been lost, but when his eyes were opened to his need for a Savior he accepted the call to surrender his life. And then he and his family celebrated his newfound faith. A sinner had been saved.

Every time a lost soul repents of their sins and makes a commitment to serve Christ is a joyous occasion. Even the angels celebrate. The soul of a man is worth much more than a lost coin. Lost coins can be found and then hidden away for safe keeping. A soul that has been found and saved has now entered into a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. There is much to be thankful for in that event. The coin is of little value, but God prizes the soul that calls on him. Those who call on the name of the Lord and are saved will be with him in eternity. Those who don’t will be separated from God.

The coin I found on the road was most likely very dirty. It had been run over time and time again by vehicles as they went their way, never knowing the coin was under their tires. A soul that is completely dirty with sin can be washed white as snow regardless of any type of sin. God’s forgiveness is full and complete and starts the slate brand new. It’s a liberating feeling to be cleansed by the blood of the Lamb in forgiveness.

Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents. Luke 15:8-10

Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. Luke 15:7

The Hounds of Hell

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It was an overcast morning as I started out on my daily walk. It’s a very, very small town where I live, and I passed five people who waved and said “good morning” as I walked my familiar path. Not bad for friendliness in small town USA. As I came upon one corner where I would turn to head east, I noticed a young mom pushing a stroller my way. She, however, took the shortcut through the church parking lot, and I headed toward the end of the street. We raised our hand in greeting as we moved on down the path.

Later in the walk as I was heading down the long stretch going west, I saw her in the distance. Once again, she was heading toward me. As I said hello to the older gentleman sitting on the tailgate of his pickup truck, I noticed the three dogs that lived on the opposite street corner out in their yard. They heard my greeting and ran to the fence barking wildly. Then they noticed the young mom and turned to run in her direction, once again barking wildly. As we met on the street, she said that the dogs seemed as if they weren’t sure which of us to bark at. I laughingly noted that it was obvious to the dogs that we both were a huge threat to their existence. Then we moved on down the path once again.

I’ve noticed these dogs on other mornings. They’re not always outside, but when they are they make their presence known to anyone passing by. They want to make sure someone coming near their territory knows that it’s their territory. I wave to their owners if they happen to be outside, but no other contact is made. I’m not sure if these dogs are friendly or aggressive. I’m just thankful they’re behind a fence while I can walk freely.

Oh. I come across other dogs on my morning walks. Some are friendly. Others aren’t. And still others pay me no attention. Some are behind a fence and others aren’t. There have only been a couple of incidents where the dogs came close enough to touch me, but no harm was done. A couple of the owners make sure to pull their dogs closer to their side as I’m walking past. They don’t want any ugly incidents, either.

Oh. The dogs at the fence may look harmless, but their bark sounds menacing. If the dog doesn’t know you, you just don’t know what it may do. Is it friendly or ferocious? Who wants to find out? If you’ve ever been attacked by a dog, and I haven’t, it’s not a pretty picture. Great harm can be done.

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. 1 Peter 5:8-9

Imagine yourself going through a busy day, and a pack of dogs started following you. You can see them. You can hear them. You don’t know their intent. But they sound like they mean business. Do you run or stand perfectly still? What should you do to avoid harm?

Do you ever stop to consider what you should do when you realize Satan is pursuing you? Do you run in the opposite direction or straight toward him? Do you stand perfectly still hoping to avoid detection? Do you flirt a little, trying to appease him? Do you introduce yourself, so there’s an air of familiarity the next time you meet? Do you make a scene and hope someone standing nearby notices and helps rescue you? What do you do? Do you want to be rescued?

Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.” Matthew 16:23

In 1 Peter, Paul compared Satan to a lion. He knew that Satan was a great deceiver and usually works under the cover of darkness. He’s sly and sneaky. He’ll attempt to trick anyone who isn’t paying attention. And sometimes, we’re easily fooled by what seems to be good intentions. He knows who he’s looking for. The weak follower of Christ. The one who isn’t in the Word of God on a regular basis. The one who is weary when their prayers aren’t answered in a way that pleases them. The one who is losing their way because they are following the wrong crowd. The one who is angry. The one who feels betrayed. The one who is proud and self important. I have to ask. Are you a weak target?

Don’t think that Satan is targeting those who aren’t following Christ. He’s not. He’s already got them where he wants them. They’re not a problem. He’s going after the ones who have rejected him outright. He wants them back, and he’ll do anything to get them.

Oh. Don’t worry. Satan doesn’t go instantly for the jugular. Once you’re in his grip, he likes to toy with his prey. It will be painful for the victim, but they won’t succumb to the wounds early on. He’ll continue clawing and biting to see how much he can get from you before he strikes the deadly blow. It’s a game for him. He wants to take another one to his lair with him. He’s aiming for a large den of victims.

But, just so you know. Satan doesn’t have to be the winner, just because you’re his prey. There is a way out from his manipulating power. He doesn’t hold all the keys. Even when in his death grip, the vilest sinner can call out to the Living God for rescue and salvation and they will be heard. God hears the sincere sinner’s cry, regardless of their situation. He will answer and he will save them from their sins.

The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth. He grants the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cries for help and rescues them. Psalms 145:18-19

Attitude Check on Aisle Four

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I was in the grocery store, and I was in a hurry. I was trying to get all my errands run before my appointment, and I was rushing. Oh, I know it was all my fault, but here’s how the grocery shopping went. I rushed through the store, gathering up the items I needed. Then I went to stand in line, and there were three people in front of me with only one cashier working.

This grocery store is known for slow cashiers and even slower baggers. But there I was standing in line behind two people who were waiting for the one at the cashier to finish, and that transaction was taking awhile. I’m not sure why, but they were going slow. I dared not look at the clock because I didn’t know want to know what time it was. I knew my appointment was fast approaching, But here I stood with a cart full of groceries, and I was determined to pay for them and take them home with me.

First cart in line went through with a few items, and they went slowly. As the couple in front of me was checking out, I saw the cashier put a package of meat under the counter. Toward the end of scanning their groceries, the woman customer left the line and went to get a new package of meat. I was annoyed, to say the least. I knew I had little time, and here I was waiting for somebody to get another item. They had picked up one that had an expired date on it and didn’t want to buy expired meat.

As I stood there waiting impatiently, I reminded myself that I was the Christian here. I needed to represent Christ, just as he would have lived. But in that moment, I wasn’t feeling holy. I wanted to become like Jesus as he threw the the money changers out of the temple. I wanted to act in a holy rage and tell them I was in a hurry, and could they please move along. I wanted them to respect my schedule and my needs, but I stood there quietly. Yep, I drummed my fingers on the cart. I tried not to look at them, because I knew I wouldn’t have a happy look. I had an attitude problem. Finally, the woman reappeared with a new package of meat. They got checked out, and then it was my turn to have my groceries scanned.

I emptied my cart as fast as I could, and the cashier began scanning the items. He picked up a can of green beans that was dented, badly dented. He asked me if I wanted the dented can. Yes. I said I don’t have time to get another can. And he said, I’ll give them to you for 50 cents or for $1. Which would you prefer? I don’t care. So he settled on $1.

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Philippians 4:8

The Bagger was slow as always, taking his sweet time. I finally had to help him put the groceries in my cart because he was just dawdling. I don’t know what goes through his mind. He never has a sense of urgency about doing his job. As we were putting the last items in the cart, he almost forgot one bag. So I had to hurry and put it in my cart. I needed to leave. I rushed to my car and unloaded all my groceries. As I pulled away from the grocery store, I realized I still had 30 minutes before I needed to get to the next appointment. I was going to make it on time. Why was I even worried? Why did I let myself get into such a stew over nothing?

When the spirit or the heart is the stage whereon sin is enacted, it is a spiritual sin; such are all impure thoughts, vile affections, and desires which do not break forth into overt action but are nonetheless real acts of the inner man. As with all sin, Satan is the great, unseen instigator of every sin of the heart. Keep a close watch on your heart.

~William Gurnall, The Christian in Complete Armour

My bad attitude might not have been obvious to the people standing near me in that grocery store, but I knew that God had seen it. I knew that he was probably shaking his head knowing I had plenty of time to get to my next appointment. And then once I got to my destination, I would have to sit in my car for 15 minutes before going into the office. Otherwise I would have been waiting an extra long time in the doctor’s office.

And I just have to ask, why do I do this to myself? Why do I get all in a tizzy for no reason? I don’t know. It’s just the way I’m made. Probably nobody else in history has this same problem, but there I am being so human. And all the while knowing I’m a Christian and I don’t know if these other people are, and they were kind. The woman was apologetic for having to leave the line and get a new item. Yet I was frustrated. Thank goodness I didn’t actually say anything, because there was no need. I knew there was no need, but in my frustration I had plenty of unkind thoughts swirling in my head.

I can’t even say, Father forgive me, for I know not what I do, because I knew what I was doing. I knew my attitude was wrong. I knew my thinking was wrong, and I thought it anyway. So still I must say, Father, forgive me, especially when I know I’m wrong. Help me to be more like you in my words, in my actions, in my thoughts, in my attitudes, in the way I approach people. Help me to show kindness. Even if someone isn’t doing a good job. I can help them. I can be a good example.
Help me, Father, I need you.

I need Thee every hour,
  Most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine
  Can peace afford.

I need Thee, oh, I need Thee;
  Every hour I need Thee;
Oh, bless me now, my Savior!
    I come to Thee.

I need Thee every hour,
  Stay Thou near by;
Temptations lose their power
  When Thou art nigh.

I need Thee every hour,
  In joy or pain;
Come quickly and abide,
  Or life is vain.

I need Thee every hour,
  Teach me Thy will;
And Thy rich promises
  In me fulfill.

I need Thee every hour,
  Most Holy One;
Oh, make me Thine indeed,
  Thou blessed Son.

~Annie Sherwood Hawkes/Robert Lowry

Immaturity on Display

~ mercyfortheday ~ 2 Comments

I sat at lunch the other day with people I didn’t know, and I witnessed something unsettling. Our church hosts a monthly potluck on the first Sunday of the month, and we were sitting with people unfamiliar to me. The husband and wife are both retired. Their nineteen year old grandson and his seventeen year old girlfriend were seated with us, as well. The grandson has lofty goals but a very slim wallet. He’s dreaming up schemes on how to get the “toys” he wants. Just that afternoon, he was scheduled to sell some tires out of his dad’s garage. He knew the price he wanted, and he knew exactly what he would do with the money. Part of it would be used to take his dad to dinner, and then a bulk of it would go to buy the gun of his dreams. The price of the gun is the same amount as his monthly car payment, which he can’t afford this month. So, instead of making his car payment, he’ll buy the sweet gun.

Oh. He’s starting a new job soon, which will mean he now has two part-time jobs. And he was bragging about the amount of money he would be making per month with those two jobs. He was so proud of that amount. His grandfather quietly suggested that he open an IRA. IRA? Said the grandson. What’s that? He had no clue about retirement savings. I understand that at nineteen years old, no one is seriously thinking about retirement, but planning and saving early in life greatly enhances a retirement plan. Every saved dollar goes a long way later on down the line.

Then he starting talking about the next toy he would buy after he got the gun. Honestly. I can’t recall what it was, but it was also not a smart decision for someone who doesn’t really have money and can’t afford their car payment. Oh. But he decided that he would sell the car he can’t afford and purchase a rust bucket he had found on social media. This young man does not live in reality. His dreams wore me out.

The grandparents acted as if they had heard similar dreams from him in the past. They weren’t shocked at his plans to spend money he didn’t really have. Because, at the same time, he’s dreaming up a scheme to buy an even bigger toy for himself. He said he didn’t mind if he lived in his dad’s basement all his life, as long as he could have all his toys. I wonder what his girlfriend was thinking. I was thinking she should run while she could, but I just sat and listened.

The reason this scene was unsettling was because it dawned on me that too many people live with the same mindset. They’re surrounding themselves with all the material and sensual pleasures they can buy, and they have no regard for their future or their need for Christ. They seem to think they can rule their own lives and that’s all that matters. What a tragedy. My prayer is that this young man’s eyes will be opened to the disaster that awaits him unless he matures and also pursues a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

This entire scene got me to thinking about how immature we can be as Christians. We can talk big about how good God is without ever having a personal relationship with him. But then. If we don’t have a personal relationship with God, we aren’t Christians. By personal relationship, I’m talking about repenting of our sins and asking God to forgive us. If we haven’t experienced God’s forgiveness, then we aren’t Christians. No matter what we say. We just aren’t.

And a personal relationship with God is not just a one-time transaction. It’s not a one-night stand. After repenting of our sins and seeking forgiveness, it’s a daily walk with Jesus Christ. Just as this young man and woman are building a relationship, while shaky at best, we must intentionally build a solid foundation of faith in our quest to live for Christ. It isn’t a one and done type of event. It’s a lifelong process, which unfortunately, many do not pursue. Many treat their salvation moment as a once in a lifetime event and never pursue Jesus with all their hearts. It isn’t a transaction. It’s a lifelong commitment.

Ask any Christian who is running the race in pursuit of pleasing Christ. The race is full of highs and lows, trials and temptations, growth and stumbles. It’s the race of a lifetime, and we can’t just claim salvation and call it quits. We’re running the long distance race of faith and obedience. We can’t just look for the “toys” of faith that will temporarily satisfy us. We must be all in.

I recall a song from my childhood Sunday School class about the foolish man and the wise man. The foolish man built his house on the sand without any foundation, while the wise man built his house upon the rock that would withstand any type of storm. That’s based on a parable that Jesus told to the crowds who had gathered to hear him speak. And the advice is true for us today, just as it was so many years ago. Our faith must be built on the solid rock of Jesus Christ and not on the sinking sand where it will collapse and drag us into spiritual ruin.

Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash. Matthew 7:24-27

I was listening to the podcast that our pastor’s record every week, where they dig deeper into the Sunday sermon. This week, they were talking about spiritual maturity. One of them said that spiritual maturity is doing the right things — loving God and loving others. It isn’t a list of things you don’t do, as much as a list of the things you do, is what he said. I agree with this. Sure. While there are things we shouldn’t do as believers, our faith grows by refusing to sin. It grows by faithfully obeying God’s leading, and not succumbing to every temptation that shines it bright light at us. That’s what roots our faith in Jesus Christ.

On Christ, the solid rock, I stand. All other ground is sinking sand.

Fighting the War

~ mercyfortheday ~ 1 Comment

When you read Numbers 31, you will find that God sent twelve thousand Israelite men to fight the five tribes of Midian. One thousand men from each of the twelve tribes fought the Midianites who were ruled by five kings. To understand why God wanted the Israelites to destroy the Midianites, we need to look at history.

God directed Abraham to leave the land of his forefathers to move to an unknown location. God told Abraham that he would show him where to go. And he did. Abraham, his wife Sarah and nephew Lot left the land of Haran and set out for Canaan. Due to a famine, they went through Egypt and landed in the hill country east of Bethel. Both Abraham and Lot owned large herds of cattle and flocks of sheep, so they decided to split up instead of sticking together. Lot chose the more fertile land of the Jordan Valley, leaving Abraham to settle in Canaan.

Lot and his wife had two daughters. They eventually moved into the town of Sodom, which became so evil that God declared he would destroy it. He sent angels to warn Lot and his family to leave the town immediately, so he and his wife and daughters were forced to flee the next morning. The two men engaged to Lot’s daughters refused to leave with them. And as Lot and his family were running for the hills, his wife turned to look back at the destruction. God had strictly warned them against this, and she turned into a pillar of salt right on the spot. Lot and the girls kept moving forward.

The story turns very sordid, because the daughters knew they would never find other men to marry them and have families. They somehow decided to get their father drunk and sleep with him. And, lo and behold, they both became pregnant. By their father. They each had a son, and the boys were named Moab and Ammon.

The Israelites were descendants of Abraham who had one son, Isaac, with Sarah. Isaac’s son Jacob had twelve sons. These twelve sons and their descendants were the nation of Israel. After Abraham’s wife Sarah died, he had several sons with Keturah. One son named Midian then had five sons, who were named kings over their own tribes.

God commanded Israel to destroy the Midianites because their women had seduced the Israelites into idolatry and sexual immorality. God would have none of it, and they had to be destroyed for their evil behavior and influence over his chosen people. During the battle, Balaam a Moabite, was killed along with the Midianite man and the five kings. Balaam was a key figure in Midian’s fight against Israel. He had been very influential in advising the Midianites on how to turn the Israelites away from worshipping the One True God to worshipping false gods. He had encouraged the Midianite women to seduce the Israelite men into sexual immorality and idol worship.

The Israelites won their battle that day by killing the Midianite men. Then the Israelites took all the Midianite women and children captive and plundered Midian, taking all the cattle, flocks and goods. And finally, they burned what was left. Upon the order of Moses, all the Midianite women who were not virgins and boys were killed, as well. Only the virgin girls were allowed to live. This may seem extremely harsh, but God does not play around with the worship of false gods. He will exact revenge however he deems best, and the Midianite women were the instruments used to entice the Israelite men away from serving God. The Midianite culture taught boys to avenge their father’s death, so they too were a continual threat. It’s a gruesome story, but God was fed up with any evil nation that would lead his chosen people, the Israelites, to bow down to other gods. He would not stand for it.

Although they had not been instructed to kill the women and children, the women were not allowed to live because of their earlier participation in leading the Israelites into sin. God exacted the appropriate punishment upon them and used Moses to correct that wrong in a mighty way. It wasn’t pretty and it wasn’t fun, but it was necessary in order to wipe out the threat of the Midianites.

When they went home and all the Israelite soldiers were counted, not one of them had been killed. Yes. All twelve thousand soldiers survived this huge battle. Oh. Some may have been injured. And I’m sure there was physical, mental and emotional trauma they dealt with. But none of them died. We would ask today how that could happen. But let’s look at the source of their strength. The giver of life and the taker of life won the battle through them. Supernatural protection by our God Almighty is real. God’s vast providence and protection in the battle was immense in preparing the Israelites in future battles against the Canaanites.

Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and my God. Psalms 42:5

Then the officers who were over the thousands of the army, the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds, came near to Moses and said to Moses, “Your servants have counted the men of war who are under our command, and there is not a man missing from us. Numbers 31:48-49

You can read the full story of the Israelite victory over Midian in Numbers 31.

We may ask what this story tells us today about our fight with sin and temptation and disobedience to God.

When we walk faithfully with God, we will fight many spiritual battles in our lives. They don’t have to destroy us. We may walk away from those battles with scars and wounds, hurts and aches. But we will survive them. With God’s help, we can be victorious over the tests and temptations thrown at us. We can stomp on Satan’s plan to destroy us and come out walking closer to the Lord. He is with us in our battles and he will fight for us.

In this historical story of the battle with the Midianites, the Israelites were led by God to eliminate these enemies who had swayed their hearts from serving God. Sure. They won the battle, but there was still a cleansing to be done. They not only divided the spoils of war with the people, the officers generously gave an offering to the Lord in gratitude for his provision and protection. They showed a reverent obedience to the God who had spared their lives.

We too must live and act in gratitude for Jesus’ sacrificial gift of dying on the cross for our sins. It was a necessary, painful death required by his Heavenly Father. We too may be asked to suffer for our Lord and Savior. Will we be faithful in our calling to serve him regardless of the cost?

We must prepare for spiritual battles on a daily basis. We must stay in prayer, asking for God’s provision and protection in our battles. We must surround ourselves with godly people who can mentor and support us. We must remain in God’s Word, taking life from his message of forgiveness, hope, sacrifice, justice and mercy. With God’s help, we can be victors over Satan’s ploys.

Read God’s Word attentively. It gives a history of the most remarkable battles between the great soldiers of Christ and their adversary Satan. You can read how Satan has foiled them and how they recovered lost ground. There is not a lust of which you are in danger, but you have it disclosed; there is not a temptation which the Word of God does not arm you against. ~William Gurnell, The Christian in Complete Armour

The Light of the World

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

I had just gotten into bed and turned off the light. Then I heard the doorbell camera chime. It chimes a lot when it’s windy outside, so I assumed it was just the wind. But then it chimed again, so I picked up my phone and opened the app. And I saw the beam of headlights heading straight toward the garage door. Someone was in the driveway. When I saw the vehicle, I knew immediately who it was. It was the neighbor plowing our driveway after ten o’clock on a snowy Saturday night. I nudged my husband, and he saw what I saw. A good neighbor, indeed.

This man who plowed our driveway is a good and thoughtful man. He’s been overly generous sharing the excess of what he has with us. He’s not typically one I would associate with, because our style of living is very different. He’s a little rough around the edges. I would say he’s not refined, but then I’m not sure I am either. We just have different priorities in life, and that’s ok. He’s good people.

He offered his lawn equipment and air conditioners to us to use free of charge. He freely gave of the excess of firewood to us and our friend. He’s taught his young adult son to be as thoughtful and giving as he is. He also works to make this small community of ours better and safer.

This man is no different from anyone else. He has his own set of faults and flaws. I’m sure if I spoke to his family, they might hint at some of his failings if the conversation went on long enough. I don’t need to know those things about him. I want to know him as a good neighbor.

Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” John 8:12

This man whose lights were beaming onto my garage door is a good man, but that won’t save him. He can perform acts of goodwill and kindness every day like it’s his job, but on judgment day that won’t be what God is looking for. God says that all mankind must seek forgiveness and repent of their sins. Jesus is the light of the world, for all of us walk in darkness. When we receive his forgiveness, we have received the light of the world into our lives.

For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. Ephesians 5:8-9

Jesus is the fountain of life. The thing is. We can’t just look at the light, like I did from my doorbell camera. We must follow the light of the world. Wherever he leads, we must follow. We must walk in the light, for it is not only a light for our eyes. It is a light for our feet. Jesus says that if we follow him, we won’t walk in darkness, but we will have the light of life.

When we walk in spiritual darkness, we can’t see the path ahead. We make wrong decisions. We act on selfish impulses. We take risks that can cause life-altering changes. We stumble around not seeing the trouble that could be right in front of us . And we say that we love our life.

And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God. John 3:19-21

When Jesus said that he was the light of the world, he had just forgiven a woman caught in the act of adultery. That act would have typically sentenced the person to death by stoning. Her accusers stood nearby pointing the finger of shame and accusation at her, ready to throw stones. After Jesus heard their accusations, he bent down and wrote in the dust. Then he spoke a profound sentence that stunned every one of her accusers. He told this group of important men that the person in their group who had never sinned could throw the first stone of death at her. And guess what happened. When Jesus stood up to face them, the woman stood alone. All of her accusers had silently walked away. They too were guilty of sin. Perhaps not sins that required them to be publicly rebuked and stoned to death, but their sins may have been even greater than hers. And they knew it. Their silent walk of shame spoke more words than their loud accusations of adultery.

Yet Jesus did not require them to repent. He allowed them to walk away unchanged with hardened hearts. He knew and they knew they were guilty and needed to confess their sinful ways. They had the option to repent and turn to faith in the One who knelt drawing in the sand before them. And they did not.

But this woman caught in an adulterous act was not condemned by Jesus. He knew her sin, yet he told her to go and sin no more. He offered her a word of hope because he knew she would be shamed by her community. He knew she needed hope because her sin would perhaps cause her lifelong harmful consequences. She needed forgiveness and hope, which Jesus freely offered. And she walked away forgiven.

Read the story of the adulterous woman at John 8:1-11.

God does not push us to seek him. He waits for us. He’s everlastingly patient with each of us. But the light of the world continues to shine for all of us to see. And in our moments of despair, when all seems lost, the light of the world is waiting for us to reach out to him and repent. He will accept with open arms anyone who calls on his name. But we have to know that faith in God and salvation are always optional. It’s a risk we take when we choose to walk our own path in the darkness. We may believe that our walk in the darkness is a great life, but little do we know the joy and peace we’re missing without the light. Only the light of the world can save us.

But God never coerces us. Sometimes we wish He would make us obedient, and at other times we wish He would leave us alone. ~Oswald Chambers

We have a choice today and every day. We can choose to walk in darkness, or we can choose hope and forgiveness and the light of the world. If you are still walking in darkness, open your heart today and seek forgiveness of your sins and repent. Your faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior will lead you into his light.

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. Isaiah 9:2

Mouse in the House

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

We have a mouse problem in our house. Yes, we’ve seen mice. It seems they like to taunt us, running to and fro throughout the living room as we sit and watch. We hear them feasting on the poison bait that we’ve set out for them. If we’re lucky, we’ll find the dead bodies the next morning. Sometimes we do, sometimes we don’t. I’m thankful that we haven’t noticed any bad odors, but I wonder where they go to die if not on my living room floor.

But now I’m hoping we’ve turned a corner for the good. I don’t want to be braggadocious, but we may have found a solution to keep our house rodent free. We’ve discovered a product that is supposed to repel all rodents with a high frequency sound that isn’t heard by humans. The first night these night lights were plugged in, we heard a bit of mouse noise but didn’t see any mice. I want to say that so far it seems to be working. We’re hoping to keep the winning streak going.

The problem with the mice is that we don’t know how they’re getting into the house. We’ve seen evidence of them in the kitchen, and we’ve seen them dead and alive in the living room. Oh. We had the same problem last year and never figured it out. But this year, we’ve already seen more mice in one month than we did all last winter. That’s a problem in my book. We did plug one hole in the kitchen with steel wool, so hopefully that problem is solved. But we have no idea how they are getting into the living room.

I walked into one room the other day, and I thought I noticed a bad odor. It smelled like a rotting carcass. It’s rather faint and intermittent, so I’m not sure if it’s real or imagined. If it’s real, then the evidence is hidden and I’ll have to find it. I’m not looking forward to that. I’ve started an investigation, but I haven’t found anything. I’m afraid to do a thorough search, because this is one time I don’t really want to find what I’m looking for.

I can’t say that our house is free of mice. It may take some time and some waiting. We’ll have to watch and look for evidence. Or maybe we’ll hear a mouse but not see one. It’s a bit of a wait and see time for us right now. Time will tell if these new magical night lights work long term.

Then just yesterday morning, as I was walking to the kitchen I saw it. A dead mouse near the front door. At least it was dead. That’s what I tell myself. When we installed the repellant night lights, I knew we might need to get a few more to thoroughly block the mice. Now I know where I need to place a few more. I’m glad they found the new treasure trove of poison traps in the laundry room that did the work. But my goal is complete eradication of these pests. I don’t want them lurking anywhere in my house.

I also noticed a couple of days ago that the poison trap I had set out near the front door last year was empty. It wasn’t touched last year, but I guess the mice are hungry this year. I need to replenish my supply of bait.

Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace. Romans 6:14

When we repent of our sins and surrender our lives to Christ, we are free from sin. The burden of carrying the weight of unforgiven sins has left us. We are free. But here’s the thing. We can’t keep on sinning. We must turn our back on any sins that had a stranglehold on us and walk away from that life. Otherwise, we’re like the mice that keep returning. We don’t need to return to our old way of life, because we live by another standard. We live by biblical standards and beliefs once we’ve rejected sin. We can’t just dodge sin. We must reject all acts of sin in our lives.

As new believers, we need to put barriers in our life to keep us from veering back to sin. We’re living a different life now. In this new forgiven life, we’re now living under the crucifixion of Christ.

As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died. Galatians 6:14

Just as I’m unsure yet if I’m smelling a rotting mouse carcass, sin can sneak in and entice us when we least expect it. The thing about sin is that we can’t wait to sniff it out. We must remove it immediately before it takes hold in our lives. Oh. We’ll notice the odor all right, because it doesn’t come off as a fine fragrance. It’s rotten to the core. And now that I know the mice have found a new path of travel in my house, I need to button down that area with more nightlights to ward them off. The same goes for my spiritual life. I need to equip myself every day with the full armor of God. Otherwise, a temptation to sin could catch me off guard.

A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:10-17

Most of us are not consistent spiritually because we are more concerned about being consistent externally. ~Oswald Chambers

Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace. Romans 6:12-14

Testing Her Religion

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

I had a Monday morning hair appointment scheduled. I arrived a few minutes before my stylist, so I waited. When she walked in, she told me that she was sitting in her car reading. We both are hobby readers, so I asked what she was reading. She said she had started reading about the forty days of Jesus. And she had inspired a group of coworkers in the salon to read the book with her. She was on day two, but she wasn’t sure if the others had started their reading yet. She also mentioned a couple other Christian books that she’s reading. She’s all shook up about the recent assassination of Charlie Kirk. Because of it, she said she’s testing her religion and wants to help her co-workers understand the Bible more.

In the few months I’ve been seeing her, I’ve learned that she is politically conservative. We’ve had some interesting conversations about politics in our state and country. We agree on some things, but not everything. And we don’t really dig deep into our agreements or disagreements. We’re cordial in our discussions. She’s talked about God and the Bible and church. She’s expressed interest but made no outward signs of getting back in church. At one point, she mentioned that she wanted to start reading the New Testament. When I followed up with her a month later, she admitted that she hadn’t opened the Bible.

I’ve read that there is a spiritual surge happening in our nation since the assassination. Many people are returning to church and seeking solace in God in answer to the harmful rhetoric and violence that’s continuing to roar loudly in our country. People are seeking to be filled with something more than hatred and anxiety. They’re looking for something to fill that deep longing of the heart. They’re searching for the meaning of life. Honestly. They’re searching for God.

Just as multitudes are turning to church to find the answer, so is my hair stylist. Oh. She knows a lot of the answers. She’s attended church. She’s read parts of the Bible. She’s familiar with Christianity and Bible stories. But she’s searching for more. And she’s searching in the right places. Oh. We’ve had conversations about church and God. I’ve invited her to my church. When I saw her earlier this week, she said she’s back in church. She and her kids. I guess her husband hasn’t had the awakening that she’s had. She’s hungry for biblical truth. I pray that she finds a deep and fulfilling relationship with her Creator. And I pray that she keeps seeking that close relationship with Him.

But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil. 1 Peter 3:15-17

The sad truth is that regardless of how many turn to God in these early days of awakening revival, many others will harden their hearts. They will want nothing to do with God. They will seek vengeance and resistance to the God of truth. Some will turn to violence and criminal activities. Others will harbor bitterness and hatred in their hearts. Many will numb themselves with alcohol and drugs or just plain scrolling. Others may end their lives and even the lives of others. God help us.

For those of us who come face to face with those who have experienced this renewed attention to spiritual matters, let’s keep the door of conversation open and civil. Let’s hear what they have to say. Let’s listen to their questions as they seek truthful answers. Let’s guide them to the ultimate truth, the Savior of the world. Let’s follow up with them in their search. They may need help in getting to the truth and may not really know where to turn. Let’s not be afraid to share the gospel with them. Because if we don’t share the message of salvation that we know to be true, someone who doesn’t know the truth may misguide them. We who have experienced the saving grace of our Lord and Savior must speak up. We must live our faith boldly in front of those who are searching and in front of those who are condemning us. We can’t look the other way and hope someone else takes up our cross. We must willingly take up the cross ourselves. Each of us. It’s our call. It’s our responsibility.

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” Romans 10:14-15

Regardless of where we’re sitting, be it a crowded hair salon or a quiet coffee shop, and someone asks us a spiritual question, let’s not shy away from the answer we know in our heart of hearts. Let’s share boldly. Even if others around us hear our conversation, let’s speak up. God is working in the hearts of many, and we each have a part in responding accordingly. People are opening up to the truth of Christianity, so we must speak it out loud. It’s not the time to be shy. God does not give us a spirit of timidity but of hope and power and self-control. Let’s spread the Good News in the power of the Holy Spirit.

For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his purpose and grace which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began. 2 Timothy 1:7-9

For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true. And you know of our concern for you from the way we lived when we were with you. 1 Thessalonians 1:5