gospel

But No One Asked

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

I moved to this state eight months ago. My. How time flies. I buy groceries every week. The problem is that none of the grocery stores where I shopped in my previous state are available where I now live. None. There is no Kroger. Or Giant Eagle. No Whole Foods. Or Fresh Thyme. And no Trader Joe’s. None of them. Oh sure. There is a Walmart. And a Meijer. I just don’t shop at those stores. So, I’ve had to visit all the grocery stores in the area to find one I like. And it took weeks to settle on one. My favorite is farther away than I want to drive. And it’s the most expensive one. The next one is owned by the expensive store, and it’s a little pricey, too. So, I’ve settled on a third choice. It’s a good store. It’s clean and fully stocked. However, it doesn’t carry some of the items I am used to buying. But none of the others do, either. And that’s not really the issue for today.

The store that I’ve settled on is a decent one. I have no problem shopping there. But I’ve noticed I think is peculiar. They offer some type of rewards program. I’m not sure what it is because no one has explained it to me, and I haven’t asked. But here’s the thing. Every week when I go through the checkout line, the cashier asks if I am a rewards member. I say no. They say ok and continue with checking me out. They don’t ask if I want to join. And they don’t ask if I want to know about the program. They don’t say anything but “ok” when I tell them I’m not a member.

I find it odd that in all these months no one has asked if I’m interested in becoming a card carrying rewards member. Maybe they’ve asked others in the past who have refused. I don’t know. Or maybe the workers are trained not to offer the rewards program unless someone asks about it. I’m not interested in the program, but I find it very odd that they don’t wonder why I’m not a member. I’m assuming they don’t care. After all, the cashiers are just doing their job by scanning and bagging my groceries and then taking my payment. They don’t have to offer anything extra. And I’ve never been approached by a manager. I’m not even sure who the manager is. Or the assistant manager. I’m sure they’re busy working in their office or scouting through the store. I just find it odd that no one has asked.

And then there’s the sub sandwich shop that I seem to be frequenting more often than I should. They, too, offer some type of rewards program. Every time I order at the drive thru, they ask if I’m a rewards member. When I tell them I’m not, they just give the total that I owe for my sandwich. And when I pull up at the drive thru window, they’ve never asked if I wanted to join the rewards program or offered any information about it. What’s up with that?

In both instances with the grocery store and the sub shop, I’m sure I would be allowed to become a rewards member if I wanted. I’m assuming they wouldn’t deny anyone access to the program. After all, it’s free, aside from making purchases at their stores. And I’m not offended that neither of them has asked. I just find it odd that no one has asked.

For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news! Romans 10:13-15

As Christians, we come into contact with people every day who aren’t believers. And we say nothing to them about our faith. Oh. They may know that we attend church, but we never invite them. Heaven forbid that we ask someone to visit our church. And we sure don’t tell them about our relationship with God. I mean. We may say that it’s the most important relationship in our lives, over that of even our spouse and children. As it should be. But we don’t share the good news of salvation with anyone. We say we don’t want others to be uncomfortable with such a personal question, but I can guarantee most of us have probably discussed divisive politics with them. Or our personal problems. Or other people’s problems. But we don’t share how the most important decision we’ve ever made in our lives has changed our life forever.

How will unbelievers come to a growing relationship with Christ if no one tells them? How will they know that the only path to eternity with Jesus is through the old rugged cross? How will they know that they need to repent of their sins and commit to following Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior if they want to see him in heaven someday? If we who have received eternal life don’t tell them, who will?

So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ. But I ask, have the people of Israel actually heard the message? Yes, they have: “The message has gone throughout the earth, and the words to all the world.” Romans 10:17-18

We have to stop assuming that the next person will fill in the gap for our lack of obedience or initiative. We must step up and reach out to the lost. If all Christians are silent, how will we win the lost? Are we ashamed of the gospel? Oh. I’m just as guilty as the next person about keeping my faith to myself. I’m preaching to myself here.

I follow several influencers on social media. They are continually telling their followers about the new and awesome products they use, hoping to gain a commission from the sales. Oh. You say. That’s different. Influencers actually get paid for telling others about their favorite products. Does everything have to be about the almighty American dollar? Do we always have to expect something in return for a good we’ve done for others? We are not building up an earthly prize when we share the love of Jesus with others. Our reward will be in eternity. Isn’t it fulfilling to see others come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, just as we have? Wouldn’t you breathe a deep sigh of relief and joy knowing one more sinner has turned from the path to hell and is now marching to Zion?

Oh. We seem to be willing to express our opinions openly about topics we disagree with. If we have a bad experience at a restaurant or hotel or with a business, we want to tell the world. And sometimes we see people posting photos and a description of the bad service they’re received. They feel free to share their experience and anger or hurt feelings with even online strangers. But tell someone that Jesus is the light of the world? Share how Jesus has changed your life? Of course, we can’t. We’re too shy. It wouldn’t be right. It would be uncomfortable. What if I’m ridiculed? That’s what we say. So, we’re quiet. Too quiet. We’re so quiet, in fact, that we never share our faith at all. And we wonder why others don’t know.

One writer asks the question, “Do we see any secret-agent, underground Christians in the New Testament church?” I think not, he writes. So, we are not off the hook for sharing the gospel. We may not all be extroverts and find it easy and comfortable to share our faith, but we still must be faithful to speak when God opens the door for such a conversation. Just because someone doesn’t ask about our faith or about Christianity or the Bible doesn’t mean they’re not interested in learning about it. Perhaps they just don’t know anyone who is versed in such topics, as we live next to them tightly clutching our faith to our chest. And if we who know don’t speak up, shame on us.

If we believe God’s ways are truly best, then out of love of neighbor we need to promote God’s ways.

Dr. Glenn Sunshine

Know Your Instructor

~ mercyfortheday ~ 1 Comment

I’ve never been good at what we used to call “new math.” Oh. I can add, subtract, multiply and divide. That’s all I need to know for what I do in my life. I don’t need new math. I just need the old, basic arithmetic. But I remember my high school algebra teacher. Well, here’s what I remember. I didn’t learn much, and I’m not sure how I even passed the class. I never took another math class in high school. Then I went to college, and one math class was on the agenda. The instructor was amazing. She made learning math seem easy. I’m not sure that I aced the class, but I learned more than I ever had in high school. But the information didn’t stick with me because I never needed to use it again.

Years later when I went back to school, math was one of the required courses for the degree I was pursuing. But I had to take a placement test to determine my proficiency level. It was maybe a fifteen question quiz. When I took my finished quiz to the proctor, she started grading it. Then she looked at me and said that I must have mixed up the answers to the questions. I said no, I didn’t and walked out. I knew I would have to take the most remedial math class that was offered before I could take the one math class required for the program.

I began the class. The instructor was good. He explained things well. I thought I was catching on, but then I would go home and start on the homework. I wasn’t keeping up with the work. My math knowledge had reached its limits. I quit the class and the school. Years later, I opted for another school and degree that didn’t require math.

From my failed math experiences, I learned that I need a math instructor who keeps things simple and uncomplicated. If I had had that type of instructor in high school, perhaps I would have been able to go further in my “new math” skills. But ever since then, I’ve opted for a life without the requirements of too much math, and I’ve survived just fine. And I’ve decided that if math becomes a requirement in my life, the key for my success is having the right instructor. I need someone who is patient and keeps the instructions clear and simple.

I realize that math proficiency is not related to only the instructor. It lies with me, too. And I realized many years ago that math just isn’t my strong point. And I’m fine with that. But I do need to have math skills in order to be proficient in this life, whether I like it or not. It’s up to me to take the initiative to learn the basics and apply them to the areas of my life where arithmetic is needed. I can’t slough off on it just because it’s not one of my strengths.

Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you. Psalms 25:4-5

Life can teach us hard lessons if we live a hard life. If we always seem to go against the teachings of those in authority, we can end up in tough life lessons. And it’s not really necessary, but we do it to ourselves because we think we know best.

The same can be said for our spiritual lives. We want what we want. And we don’t want God telling us what we can and can’t do. We want to set the rules for how we live our lives. And we let our social influences lead us. Even when they lead us down a dark and winding path that moves us further from God, we seem to follow blindly.

Oh. We may think we’re following God because, after all, we’re Christians. We go to church. We give money to the church. We may even volunteer to work in different ministries in the church. But we may find ourselves following the latest spiritual leaders who aren’t leading us biblically. And we think they are because their teachings sound so easy to follow. They don’t require use to change to do anything uncomfortable or self-sacrificing. But when we don’t read and study God’s word, we can be easily led astray. It’s easy to trust anyone who tells us to do only comfortable things. But when we read the Bible and Jesus teaches us that those who call themselves his followers must deny themselves, take up their cross and follow him, then we start squirming in our seats.

Just this week, I saw a conference posted online where speakers and pastors were teaching other pastors unbiblical lessons. And then those pastors will go back to their churches and possibly teach their congregations these same unbiblical lessons. What is going on?

The only instruction that believers can trust is Scripture, which was inspired by God who doesn’t lie. He doesn’t bow to the latest fads. He doesn’t show favoritism. He offers full and complete forgiveness when we confess and repent of our sins. He instructs in the way we should live. He corrects us. He shows love and justice to everyone, regardless of the color of our skin or our birthplace.

Oh sure. We need others to come alongside us to mentor and disciple us. We need pastors who speak solid biblical truths preaching to us from the pulpit every Sunday. And then we must read and study the Word of God and apply it to our lives. There’s no way around this requirement, because it’s the only way we get to know God.

Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. Matthew 7:15

But there were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them. In this way, they will bring sudden destruction on themselves. Many will follow their evil teaching and shameful immorality. And because of these teachers, the way of truth will be slandered. 2 Peter 2:1-2

God’s instructions are straightforward, not complex. The ten commandments clearly tell us how to live. The Sermon on the Mount spells out the gospel of holy living in clear and concise words. Jesus didn’t beat around the bush when he preached to the multitudes, and those same simple words of instruction are given to us today to hear and obey. And every word written in that precious Book leads us to God. The story of salvation is not rocket science, and it’s definitely a math assignment. No one needs an advanced degree to understand it. The homework given to us is to obey the message of Jesus and embrace a life of repentance and forgiveness and then walk in obedience.

As Oswald Chambers says, if God speaks to us then we either do what he asks or tell him that we will not obey. We’re more than happy to listen to what other people say about God. We just don’t want to hear from God directly, because then we have a decision to make. And if the decision to obey God may cost us something more than we’re willing to give, we turn in the opposite direction. As a pastor recently said, there is a point of no return, and it’s either at our last breath or at the second coming of Jesus. Let’s not wait too late to make the decision to follow Christ.

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

Every Church Is Not Alike

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My new neighbor. The good one. The one who works hard to support his family. The one who’s been very kind and generous to his new neighbors. I’ve talked to him more than almost anyone else since I’ve moved. The mister of our household had noticed this particular neighbor was wearing a shirt for a local church. It’s actually the church that some of my family attends. He asked the neighbor if he attended the church named on his shirt and was told yes. When his family attends church, that is. He told the neighbor the first weekend we moved in that we were visiting a church close to our house on our first Sunday.

The neighbor happened to be doing an installation at my house a couple weeks later, and he asked if I had been attending the church near us. When I said yes, he mentioned that his family had attended there for awhile, because it had a good children’s program for his daughter. But now they attend the other church when they attend church. He told me of the church he grew up in, and he added that they’re all the same. All the churches are the same, so it doesn’t matter. That’s what he said.

I didn’t beg to argue his point or correct him, but it made me question why he felt that way. Oh. I didn’t question him, but I pondered his words in my heart. Perhaps there will be room for further conversations about faith and beliefs and churches down the road. Perhaps he’s searching for a deeper relationship with Christ and doesn’t know it yet. Perhaps his new neighbors have been divinely placed next door to be Jesus to him and his family.

Now. It’s not my place to say he isn’t a Christian. I don’t know. He may be a solid believer, yet I know he isn’t in church every Sunday. And some may say people don’t have to attend church every Sunday in order to be a Christian, but there is a verse in the Bible that tells us not to stop meeting with others as some are in the habit of doing because the day of Christ’s return is close. Attending church doesn’t make one a Christian, but avoiding church is not the way to go. A Christian should have a desire to meet with likeminded people to worship God.

And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. Hebrews 10:25

And I’ve been at this new address for several Sundays so far, and he hasn’t attended his sometime church in these few weeks. I know what time the service is that he attends, and he’s been home at that time. I’m not judging him. I’m just observing. As, I’m sure, he’s observing us. And that’s ok. We’re all under someone’s observation, whether we know it or not. Whether we like it or not.

But there were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them. In this way, they will bring sudden destruction on themselves. Many will follow their evil teaching and shameful immorality. And because of these teachers, the way of truth will be slandered. 2 Peter 2:1-2

But back to all churches being the same. They’re not, and there’s plenty of proof for that. Just because a church claims to be a Christian church doesn’t mean they preach the Bible accurately. There are churches that don’t preach sound doctrine. They may not even preach the Bible. The pastor may give book reports. Or political commentaries. Or politically correct speeches. Or really motivating ted talks. Or he may just share his opinions. They may never preach from the Bible or even quote a Bible verse.

Some churches preach a gospel other than the gospel of the Bible. The goal of some churches is for those attending to have a great experience. They don’t look to bring the person closer to Christ or to learn a biblical truth. Their goal is hyping up feelings and making people comfortable. And that isn’t a biblical church. Biblical churches preach the Bible, and that isn’t always comfortable for the listener. We may hear things that tell us we need to make changes in our lives. Preaching biblical truth should be a common denominator, but it isn’t. And the Bible warns us that there will be churches and teachers whose aim to to push away from the truth rather than toward it. We must be on our toes and know what to listen for at church. We need to be able to identify sound teaching and teaching that isn’t so sound.

When we turn away from the true gospel, we’re turning away from Jesus Christ. We can’t be fooled by teachers who call themselves Christian but don’t teach biblical truth. The apostle Paul thought it serious business if someone taught something other than the truth. He called down curses on them.

Let God’s curse fall on anyone, including us or even an angel from heaven, who preaches a different kind of Good News than the one we preached to you. I say again what we have said before: If anyone preaches any other Good News than the one you welcomed, let that person be cursed. Galatians 1:8-9

And then, some people don’t want to hear the truth. They will surround themselves with teachers who teach anything but biblical truth, and they seem to thrive on it. But they are only fooling themselves because there will come a day when the truth will be brought to light. And it may be too late for them to change their tune.

So, no. All churches aren’t the same. There are a host of theological and doctrinal beliefs that cause biblically sound churches to teach different biblical concepts, but that doesn’t mean they’re teaching false ideas. If a person studies the Bible, they will see there aren’t always black and white to all the teachings. Some passages of Scripture are left up to interpretation and conviction. The reason for the different church denominations is based on interpretation of Scripture and practices of worship.

The bottom line is this. We need to gather with fellow believers to worship God in a biblically sound church.

For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths. 2 Timothy 4:3-4

Selling Soap

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I meet with my friend once a month, and we talk for hours. I told her that I recently discovered that I have crossed the threshold into old age. I think I had shingles. And only old people get shingles. Right? And I told her that I had been going to the local farmers market every Saturday morning. One of the vendors that I found is a soap maker. I’ve begun buying my soap and shampoo from this family. After the shingles popped up, I visited my local soap maker and unexpectedly found a soap called Problem Skin. After using it for a few days on my itchy skin and then covering it with beef tallow, I discovered that the shingles were gone. And boy. Was I ever relieved. The soap lady even suggested using their salve to help with the nerve pain. And it worked, too.

Oh. I wasn’t looking for a soap called Problem Skin to soothe my itchy skin, but I found it anyway. I didn’t even know that a homemade soap could be used as a treatment for shingles, as well as for eczema and poison ivy and other rashes. But the soap actually works. I’m amazed and relieved.

My friend and I also talked about many other things that day. We talked about our faith. We talked about politics and conspiracy theories. We talked about work. We talked about family. We prayed together. And as we sat out in the warm sunshine, the time together felt like a breath of fresh air. It was good to be with her again.

I realized later how simple and easy it was to tell her about the new soap I had found that helped with my itchy skin. If I’ve found a treatment that works for me, why wouldn’t I want to tell others about it? Maybe it would work for them, too. I’m no doctor, so don’t take this as medical advice. I just know that it worked for me.

I recalled how the soap maker had explained some of the other soaps in her shop. She told me how she used the shampoo soap and now only needed to wash her hair once a week. Another soap she mentioned had one ingredient that was a natural deodorant. She bathes with the soap and hasn’t used deodorant in over ten years. She was excited to explain all the different natural soaps she and her husband made. She didn’t hesitate to talk about her life’s work, and she placed a business card in the bag with each purchase. She wanted everyone to know about her handmade soap. And she wanted others to share it with their family and friends.

The husband and wife soap making team are in the process of handing the business over to the next generation. They’re busy teaching soap making to their daughter and son-in-law, so the family can continue the small business for many more years.

But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!” Romans 10:14-15

If it’s so easy to tell someone about a new product I’ve found, why isn’t it easy to tell someone about the God I serve? Why isn’t it easy to tell them how he is the best and most trusted friend I’ve ever found? Why isn’t it easy to tell them that he loves me unconditionally, and he loves everyone equally? Why isn’t it easy for me to tell someone else who is also made in God’s image that they too can have a close personal relationship with him? Why isn’t it easy for me to tell someone that God forgave all my sins, and he’ll forgive theirs too if they ask? I would hope someone would tell me about God if I hadn’t learned about him early on in my life. Why would anyone hide such good news?

If we call ourselves Christians and really believe without a shadow of a doubt that the Bible is God’s Good News to the world, why do we keep quiet about it? Oh. We are quick to say that we are supposed to hide God’s Word in our hearts so that we might not sin against him. We are only fooling ourselves if we think that means we’re to keep the good news to ourselves. What that verse is telling us is that we need to study God’s Word and make it real in our lives. But do we even do that?

I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Psalms 119:11

And then, what about the verse that asks how people can believe in God if they never hear about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? How do we explain keeping our lips sealed when we know the secret to eternal life and keep it only to ourselves?

Just as the soap lady is so eager to share her message, all who call themselves followers of Christ must willingly share the Good News that has been shared with us.

How much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize? How much do you have to hate someone to believe everlasting life is possible and not tell them that?

Penn Jillette

Even Penn Jillette, the outspoken atheist magician, knows that if the good news of Jesus Christ is actually true, then we who believe must not keep it to ourselves. And he is right. Maybe calling the act of silence hatred seems a bit strong, but keeping quiet about a life-saving faith certainly doesn’t sound very loving, either.

No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. Matthew 5:15

We Need A Savior

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It’s Easter. And most people celebrating the holiday are focusing on the eggs dyed to match spring colors. Or the baskets filled with sugar coated candy and other useless trinkets. Or they’re focusing on the ham and scalloped potatoes. And the family members who will be sharing the meal. Most of these people won’t give a thought about the true meaning of the holiday. Yes. It is a religious holiday. It’s not meant for the Easter bunny or Easter eggs or Easter baskets or bonnets or new church dresses.

Easter is a celebration of the Savior who had died on a cross two days earlier, and is now risen from the dead. The Savior is Jesus Christ. He is the Son of God who came to earth in human form. He lived on earth for thirty three years in a human body, but was fully God at the same time. He came to fulfill the promise of being the Savior of the world. His crucifixion, death and resurrection fulfilled that promise. Yet many people don’t know or care that they even need a Savior.

Why do we think we don’t need a Savior? We look for instant gratification. We want whatever we want whenever we want it. And that’s usually right now. We’re looking for something, but we don’t necessarily know what we’re looking for. We have deep longings. We look for love in all the wrong places. And still can’t find it.

Perhaps it’s important to note that if someone doesn’t accept the fact that they need a Savior, they will see him as a threat. He’s a threat to their independence. Their self reliance. Their identity. Their lifestyle. Their habits. Their dreams. Their goals. He’s a threat to the god they worship without realizing they’re worshiping a hollow god. They’re worshiping a god that can’t do anything for them.

Is it true that we think we don’t need a Savior because we’re too self sufficient? We don’t want to be told what to do. We want to do things our way. We want to make our own decisions. We don’t want to be told no. But with all of our self sufficiency, who do we trust when life gives us lemons? Who is going to hold our hand when we’ve lost our last friend? Who will guide us when we’ve lost our way?

But regardless of what we think we know. Regardless of what we do. Regardless of what others tell us. We really do need a Savior. And we need him right now.

“But you are my witnesses, O Israel!” says the Lord . “You are my servant. You have been chosen to know me, believe in me, and understand that I alone am God. There is no other God— there never has been, and there never will be. I, yes I, am the Lord, and there is no other Savior. Isaiah 43:10-11

Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus. God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:1-10

We need a Savior, otherwise we will think the truth of the gospel is foolish and foolishness is gospel. We don’t know the truth, because we aren’t looking for it. We look for our truth instead of the truth. We want to hear only feedback that makes us feel good, not words that may convict us.

Oh. We’re all looking for a savior of some sort. We all need God. We know we need something more than what we have. We have an emptiness. A hole in our life that needs filled. And instead of filling it with God, we fill it with anything and everything else. Until we can no longer fathom the need for God, we continue an unending search. Because the idea of God in our lives is too foreign to comprehend. No one is looking to find God. After all, why would we need God in our lives? We’re told in so many ways that we’re enough on our own. So who needs God? Who needs a Savior? What do we need to be saved from?

As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous— not even one. No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one.” Romans 3:10-12

We need a Savior because we are sinners. We need a Savior because we need forgiveness. Without a Savior, sin controls our lives. It separates us from God. So Jesus bridges the chasm between us and God. Oh. We may say we’re good people. Sure. There are many good people in this world. But being good isn’t good enough. Good people are sinners and need to repent of their sins.

There is still time today to repent of your sins and become a child of God. You can pray that initial prayer acknowledging your sin and asking for forgiveness. God will forgive your sins and wipe the slate clean. Do it now. While there’s still time.

If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. Romans 10:9-10

Peace or Sword

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

There they were. Sitting around the table. Thirteen of them. One was the leader. Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The other twelve were hand picked by Jesus to share his message with the world. They were gathered to observe the Passover meal. And as he broke the bread, Jesus said it was given in remembrance of his body. They drank the wine together, for it was the last time Jesus would partake of it with them.

Then he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. Then he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. For I will not drink wine again until the Kingdom of God has come.” He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” Luke 22:17-19

After the meal, Jesus raised another toast and proclaimed the cup was the new covenant between God and his people. He confirmed that his blood would be spilled as a sacrifice for all people. Yet the disciples didn’t understand the veiled truth that Jesus was speaking. Oh. He often spoke in parables. Later he would offer explanations of the parables to his chosen twelve. But on this night. On this occasion, Jesus was preparing them for the suffering that lay ahead for him when he walked out the door.

Not everyone is ready for truth when it is spoken, so it is unclear. Truth, at times, is unclear because of unbelief, fear or misunderstanding.

Jesus went on to tell them that one of them sitting at the table would turn against him. This man would turn Jesus over to the authorities. And this act of betrayal would propel Jesus down a path of no return. Oh. He knew it would happen. He was, after all, God Incarnate. He was God in human form come to die a brutal death for the sins of all mankind. And this was the moment. And yet. As he sat there with the twelve, knowing that one would betray him, he offered the cup of wine to everyone. He didn’t share it with only the eleven who would remain faithful until death. He also offered it to the one who had already made arrangements to sell him out. Yet he didn’t speak the man’s name. And the remaining group was unaware of their friend’s impending betrayal. Nor the cost of it for all seated at that table. They had no idea what lay ahead for them even that very night.

But here at this table, sitting among us as a friend, is the man who will betray me. For it has been determined that the Son of Man must die. But what sorrow awaits the one who betrays him.” The disciples began to ask each other which of them would ever do such a thing. Luke 22:21-23

As plans were being put in motion to celebrate the Passover meal, Jesus could have uninvited this one man. He could have offered the man a reason to excuse himself from the dinner. But he didn’t. This man. One of the twelve, chosen specifically by Jesus, would betray him with a kiss in front of the others. His fellow disciples. No one knew he was planning to abdicate his position. Imagine how the eleven felt seeing their brother betray the man they followed and believed. Yet here he was. Kissing Jesus on the cheek to show the authorities and soldiers who had come to make an arrest. He was a traitor and his closest group of friends suddenly saw him in a new light. And it wasn’t a pretty sight.

Sure. It’s obvious that Satan had planted the seed of betrayal in Judas’s heart. There’s no other way to explain it. Judas was the treasurer of the group. So he held all the money. Perhaps he had delved into the funds on different occasions to make his life easier. After all. They didn’t get a paycheck from Jesus. Their loyalty was on them. And a group of donors helped fund their travels. This was not a paying gig. In spite of the fact that Jesus knew in advance that he would be betrayed, he ate the last supper with his traitor. And he loved him still. He was willing to give his life for even back stabbers. Because some backstabbers do repent.

But this traitor. He was hiding in plain sight of the Savior of the world. Oh. Jesus hadn’t been crucified and risen from the dead yet. But Judas traveled with Jesus and the other eleven. He was a follower of the Way. He believed Jesus was the Messiah. But yet. His humanity was evident in the way he conducted business. He was known to pilfer money from the group’s funds. He helped himself to cash when he ran short. Oh. It must not have bothered him. And there’s no evidence that any of the group were aware of his theft. So no one ever confronted him on it.

We’ve all heard the saying. Keep your friends close. Keep your enemies closer. But that only applies if we recognize the enemy. What if we don’t realize the enemy is in such close quarters? It isn’t even a fair fight. But not all fights are fair.

Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword. Matthew 10:34

So why should we expect any different in our circle of friends?  Why should we expect those closest to us to stand with us when we stand for truth?  Why should we expect allegiance and support when we don’t know the other person’s heart?  We see what they want us to see.  And the reverse is also true. How can we support someone close to us when we disagree with them?  How do we maintain that close relationship when it’s been fractured by disappointment and disbelief?  When trust has been shattered, how do we move forward in the relationship? 

Who sits at the table of fellowship with us?  There may be ones at the table who have turned their allegiance to another.  They may no longer be in a position of agreement on key issues.  They may offer betrayal when least suspected.  Are there any red flags?  Or are we too blind to even consider we’re close to being betrayed?  And then once the traitor has been exposed, what comes of the relationship? 

As believers, we can expect to be fired upon by Satan. We need to know that he will use all his evil ways to lure us away from faith in Christ. When he successfully uses these same tricks on our loved ones, the fallout can be enormous. He will use his wiles against everything we stand for. And everything we hold dear. Even at the expense of relationships and close ties to others. Sometimes the relationships that are severed are the ones we thought would stand the test of time. And then when testing comes, cracks in the relationship appear. At times, there are permanent consequences. Are we ready for that? Do we know who is sitting at the table with us? Of course. It’s impossible for humans to know the full extent of someone else’s intents and purposes. So we must always be careful listeners and godly examples. We must always be fully dressed in the armor of God. We must be peacemakers even when being obedient to the Word of God causes division.

Oh.  Jesus was God come to earth as man.  So he knew the hearts of the men celebrating the Passover meal with him.  He knew one would betray him.  He knew another would deny knowing him, not once, but three times before the rooster crowed.  And he knew that every man sitting there at the table would desert him that very night.  Yet he chose to eat with them.  He broke the bread and drank the wine with this group of disciples.  Knowing all the while that in a few hours he would be standing alone. It’s easy to walk away from friends when they’ve hurt us. But Jesus knew his group of rugged disciples would turn away before they even committed the acts. And he still sat and served them. Knowing the hurt and aloneness he would face in his final hours. Would we do the same for those who will turn against us in our greatest moment of need?

Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to divide people against each other! From now on families will be split apart, three in favor of me, and two against—or two in favor and three against. ‘Father will be divided against son and son against father; mother against daughter and daughter against mother; and mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.’ Luke 12:51-53

Division

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

He was a killer. He was a tyrant. A bully. A fighter. Oh. I’m not sure that he actually killed anyone out right. But he approved of Stephen’s killing. He stood by while an innocent man was stoned to death. And then he moved on. Looking for more victims. You see. He was looking for believers. Men and women. He would drag them from their homes and families and put them into prison.

He was a man who thought he was working for God, but instead he was working against God. He looked to bring down anyone in opposition of what he stood for. He was trying to destroy the church. He frightened anyone who came near him. His reputation preceded him. Those who had heard of him would do anything to stay out of his path.

Why was he being such a brute? His victims were believers of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. He believed in God, but he didn’t believe in the risen Christ. He stood against everything they stood for. And he was determined to take down that group of believers. Oh. The devil had his soul, all right. And he didn’t care.

Who was this man?

Saul was a Pharisee. He had studied the Hebrew and Greek Bible. In his day, he would have memorized many Scriptures. He knew the law inside and out and obeyed it religiously. He once said that he was the best Jew one could find. He was a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin. His heritage could not be denied. So, why was he against this group of believers?

Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. 1 John 3:18

There was another man. He was Stephen. He was a man of God. A follower of the Way. He was a member of a group who believed that Jesus Christ, the Messiah had been born and then died on a cross. He was among a group of seven chosen to distribute food to the widows. And with this responsibility came boldness. He boldly preached the new message of salvation.  He even performed miracles. He was not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.

So it was widely known that Stephen was a believer of the message of the Messiah, just as Saul was well known for hunting those believers. They were on a collision course. One fateful day, their paths met and it changed the course of history. Stephen’s physical life ended and he entered heaven’s gates. Saul continued on his path of destruction.

At some point, Saul took his beliefs too far. That’s when he started persecuting Christians. He was out for blood. He was a zealot for revenge. What was he trying to prove? He was trying to protect the traditions of his ancestors instead of seeking salvation from the Savior.

History shows that Saul disagreed with the message Stephen was preaching. They stood on opposite sides of an argument that no human could settle. One group of Jews believed in the Messiah and others didn’t. They had never met, but they couldn’t agree to disagree.

Saul belonged to the group who didn’t believe in the Messiah. Stephen believed in the Messiah, the risen Savior.

So there stood Saul. Standing guard over the coats. Some might say he was minding his own business.  But really. He was an eyewitness to a murder. He could have stopped it. Or he could have gone for help. He could have spoken up. But no. He watched Stephen die. The man was stoned to death. I wonder if Saul even flinched when he saw the stones made contact.

Saul stood up for his beliefs and others paid with their lives. Stephen stood up for his beliefs and he paid with his life. It didn’t have to be that way.

You can read the full story of Saul and Stephen in Acts 6-8.

As in the day of Saul and Stephen, today’s church isn’t a perfect place. It’s filled with people who have differing opinions and beliefs. Many today have opposing thoughts and convictions about so many topics. There will always be rumblings of discontent. In the church and outside the church walls. Some believe one way. Others believe another way.

The question is. Do the beliefs point back to Scripture? Are the opinions and rumblings based on Biblical teaching or personal preference? Are we holding on to the traditions of our ancestors when they only followed rigorous laws and rules? Or are we following the teachings of the Messiah and seeking redemption for our sins?

I wonder. When we can’t agree to disagree, are we holding onto an idol of our own making? Are we more concerned with having our way instead of building up the church? If believers can’t agree, what message does that send to those who are questioning their own faith?

As believers, we really do need each other. We need to build up one another. Support and encourage each other. We must pray for each other. Times are tough. They may be tough for a long time. We’re not guaranteed an easy life. So, during these times of uncertainty and uneasiness, let’s pull together and support one another.

And if we disagree, let’s agree that we disagree.

The heart of the gospel should be the gospel of the heart.