Kindness is Refreshing

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The apostle Paul wrote a personal letter to a fellow believer and friend, Philemon. Now Philemon was a slave owner in the times of the early church. Paul also mentioned Apphia and Archippus in the letter. Scholars have noted that these two were most likely the wife and son of Philemon. This family had a slave named Onesimus, who had run away from their home. This, of course, was very upsetting to the family for various reasons. And somehow in running from his master, Onesimus found his way to Paul. And Paul learned to love this runaway slave as his own son. Somewhere in his life, Onesimus had become a follower of Christ. Was it because of his master’s Christian witness, or was it from Paul’s?

But matters needed to be settled between the slave and his master. Onesimus couldn’t keep running forever, so Paul wrote to his friend Philemon with the hopes of making amends for this errant slave. No one knows why Onesimus ran away. Was he mistreated? Or misunderstood? Was he dishonest or difficult to work with? It could have been that he just longed for freedom. But in those days, punishment for a runaway slave was not pleasant.

Onesimus had wronged his master. But Philemon was known as a kind man. His reputation was one of kindness. So he must have been disappointed, to put it mildly, to find his slave had betrayed his trust. And now his friend Paul was asking him to accept Onesimus back in the spirit of kindness. Could he make amends with the one who had wronged him? Would he? 

I have to ask myself how I would treat someone who had publicly wronged me. Because it wasn’t as if losing a slave was a private matter. Word gets around when a slave goes missing. Some owners might bend to threatening their slaves in case they get the same idea and there’s a made rush for freedom. 

What is the proper thing to do if the slave comes back seeking restitution?

The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. Proverbs 11:25

Am I known for kindness? Do I always offer the hand of kindness when I have been wronged? Would my first instinct be to play the victim and then speak ill of the offender? Or would I instead speak of their positive traits that I appreciate? Would I dredge up all the inconsistencies I’ve seen in their life or share the good I witnessed? Would I keep my thoughts to myself or would I share every dirty secret I know about the traitor?

When I am remembered by others, what do they remember? Is it my sharp tongue? My art of putting others in their place? Or am I fondly remembered for my kindness? Do others consider the kind deeds I’ve performed in their time of need? Do they know of my goodness and not only my badness? Not that my reputation is of necessity, but as a known follower of Christ, how do I represent the one I claim to represent?

The thing is. Paul expected Philemon to kindly welcome Onesimus back home. Oh. Maybe there would be restrictions on his freedom. There would most likely be a time of testing. But it was clear that Paul’s expectation was that Onesimus would be welcomed with outstretched arms. Philemon’s reputation preceded him, as he was known for his deep faith in Christ. Paul knew Philemon’s faith was proven and true and that it had produced in him the fruit of the Spirit, one of which is kindness. Philemon bore the image of Christ. And didn’t Christ tell us to forgive others as we have been forgiven for our sins? So wouldn’t it be natural to expect Philemon to forgive his disobedient servant? He had shown kindness to others in times past. Why not now?

Oh. No one said it would be easy to forgive a wayward slave. But as one whose faith in Christ had matured, Philemon knew the value of forgiveness. He knew the saving work of grace in his life, so why wouldn’t he extend it to others? As the Holy Spirit had worked to trim the unproductive vines in his life, he had become a solid example of Christlikeness to others. Now he must act on it.

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another. Galatians 5:22-26

Are the fruits of my faith and love on display for others to see? Do others know that I’ll treat someone who’s wronged me with forgiveness? Or, do they wonder how I’ll handle this obstacle in my life? Am I consistent in my faith, or do I act on my feelings and fears? Do I hold a grudge, or do I hold my faith strongly? No one knows our hearts but God, until we act publicly on our heart’s leanings. Then our true nature is on display for all to see.

And I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ. Your love has given me much joy and comfort, my brother, for your kindness has often refreshed the hearts of God’s people. Philemon 1:6-7

Hearts are unknown but to God, till overt acts discover them. Matthew Henry

Getting Your House in Order

~ mercyfortheday ~ 1 Comment

I’ve never lived alone until I moved almost three months ago.  And the only reason I’m living alone now is because my husband is still working in our former city. He comes home as often as he can, and he’ll be here full-time in a few months.  So I’m learning what it’s like to be alone more often than I’m with others.  Oh.  I get out often enough. That’s not the problem.

Here’s the problem.  I’ve run into more issues living on my own these past three months than is necessary, in my humble opinion. Take for example, the plumber was here twice in the first month to repair a leak in the kitchen. Then we learned that some of the ductwork in our crawlspace was not connected to the vents.

There are the car problems I had within the first month after moving. And the resulting purchase of a new car. Then there’s the leaky roof a couple of weeks ago after a heavy rain.  The next day when the hvac repairman were here to install new ductwork, they discovered water in the crawlspace. The man of the house who was in another state came home two days early to clear out the water. When the repairman returned the following week, they couldn’t finish the work because they didn’t have enough of the materials.  I’m still waiting for them to return.

Now onto issues of this week.   One evening while sitting on the couch, I heard something fall somewhere in the house.  I searched high and low in the entire house and garage but found nothing out of place. It was just very odd. At three thirty the next morning, I was awakened  by a very loud noise in my house.  I though for sure the furnace, which is twenty three years old, was dying.  And I assumed that the water I heard sloshing around was from my dog taking a very long drink of water. But no. The dog was asleep on the bedroom floor, and the furnace wasn’t running.  After walking down the hall, I discovered that the washing machine had somehow turned on and was running. In the middle of the night. Apparently washers are very loud when they are running without dirty laundry in them. And it is a very startling and disconcerting feeling to wake up to this situation. Especially when the washer isn’t a smart machine and can’t be programmed. And this is a brand new washer. I must say.  It took a while before I was able to get back to sleep. I was never so glad to see daylight that morning. After doing some research on this brand of appliances, I learned that this is a common problem. Yikes.

For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18

And when I stepped out of the shower the next day, I noticed the ceiling around the shower head looked odd, so I reached up to touch it.  It was wet. There’s a leak somewhere. So much for taking showers in that bathroom at present.

Oh. And our senior dog was recently diagnosed with a disease that causes her to want to eat and drink a lot. This means she has to take frequent trips outdoors at all hours of the day and night. Now I’m getting up with her and going out once or twice a night. Every night. I can’t even get a good night’s sleep and can’t even think of sleeping in. We’re up between 5:30 and 6:00 most every morning. 

As I type this, only a couple hours ago, while sitting on the couch I saw a mouse in the living room. Now I don’t feel safe sitting on the floor. And my sick dog is very needy and wants me to lay with her multiple times a day when she isn’t feeling well. I’m no longer comfortable slipping my feet into shoes because a mouse could be in there. And I’m not comfortable moving around the house in the dark not knowing if a mouse will scurry across my path. I just wonder. How many mice are in this house? Don’t worry. I’m taking steps to rid my house of those rodents.

What is my life coming to? I know. I know. First world problems. These are minor inconveniences in an otherwise quiet and easy life.  But man. Can this type of fun just stop? I’m ok with boring. I write all this as if these are the only problems of the day. They’re not. They’re momentary distractions that can be fixed.

In saying all this, I’m not meaning to complain. I’m just stating facts and trying to keep a positive attitude. My life’s circumstances could be very difficult, and I’m thankful for my home and all of life’s blessings. We felt God guiding us every step of the way in orchestrating this move, and we know we are very blessed.  Life has its ups and downs. I’m living in a home that wasn’t well maintained for many years by previous owners, and I’m the recipient of the consequences.  

Similar problems can happen in our spiritual lives if we don’t build and maintain a close relationship with God.  We need to confess our sins and root out all the bad habits, ungodly attitudes, selfish desires and lustful thoughts. We must keep our spiritual house clean and in a state of constant readiness for Jesus’ return. Otherwise, we’ll be in a heap of trouble on the day he does return unannounced, and we’ll miss the eternity of a lifetime with him. 

If we don’t keep a close relationship with Christ, we’ll find ourselves in situations we never expected.  We may find ourselves compromising our morals and ethics in life-altering way. We’ll be constantly cleaning up messes and emotions that are out of control when we don’t put our faith in God as our first priority. And we’ll wonder why our life is so messed up. It doesn’t have to be that way. Deliberately sacrificing our will to Christ on a daily basis will keep us walking the path of freedom and grace. Our lives won’t be perfect, but we’ll live forgiven.

We must pray because our days are uncertain. We must live as if today is our last day. We must keep our spiritual house in order. Our world could change in the blink of an eye. And who is ready for that?

So let’s pledge to keep a clean spiritual house. Let’s read our Bible and pray on a daily basis. Let’s meet and fellowship with like-minded believers. Let’s live obediently to Christ’s commands. And then let’s all meet in heaven someday where we will feast and celebrate for eternity. 

Identical Twins

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

We were born a few minutes apart. Same day. Same mother. Same womb. One egg split in two. We’re wombmates. We’re identical twins. Actually, we’re mirror twins. She’s right handed. I’m a lefty. We see a lot of things the same, but there are some differences of opinion. It’s only natural. We’ve lived apart for over forty years. We’ve lived through many different situations. We’ve had different influences in our adult lives. But now we find ourselves living a few miles apart.

I told her when I moved near her that I didn’t plan to copy her life. I would find my own way here. I would attend a different church. Frequent different places. I didn’t plan to choose her doctor or hair stylist. I’m used to being independent, so I don’t expect her to want a tag-along. I also didn’t want to always run the risk of running into people who think I’m her. But this is small town America. And small town people know each other. That’s what I’m learning.

I’ve lived here for two months now, and I had three separate incidents in the same evening where someone thought I was her. The problem was that she was standing less than five feet from me when each stranger approached me and started a conversation. Our hairstyles are obviously different, and I always wear glasses but she doesn’t. How could they think I was her? I’ve had two other incidents when I mentioned her name and the person either knew her or knew of her. I just sigh to myself when these things happen. I’ve let her know that I try not to invoke her name when I talk to others, because I’m afraid this could happen frequently if I’m not careful.

Oh. There’s nothing wrong with being mistaken for someone else. I guess it could be a compliment. But on the other hand. I’d just like to be known as me and not someone else. I’ve spent my entire life being me, and I’m ok with that. She and I are alike, but we’re not the same. And don’t get me wrong. I love being a twin. It’s all I’ve ever known.

My twin and I dressed alike until we were sixteen years old. Apparently, we didn’t want others to tell us apart. But then we wised up. If we didn’t always buy the same clothes, we would have double the wardrobe. That was a win-win. Oh sure. We copy each other from time to time. We’ll buy the same clothes. Or the same artwork. Or the same vehicles. We wore the same hairstyle for years. One year we both unknowingly bought the same Christmas cards and wrapping paper. And if I’m honest with myself, I feel as if I’ve copied her more than she’s ever copied me. But we don’t keep score. That’s another reason I wanted to have a different life than her now that we’re living only minutes apart. She doesn’t need a copycat. And I don’t want to be one.

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. Ephesians 5:1-2

One of the hymns we would sing at church as kids was “Oh, To Be Like Thee.” One of the lines in the song was “stamp thine own image deep on my heart.” When we would get to that line in the song, my twin and I would reach out to each other and press our thumbs together to stamp ourselves. I find that today I need to continually make sure the stamp on my heart is the image of Christ.

Stamp thine own image deep on my heart. There is someone I do try to copy each and every day. My ultimate goal is to be a mirror image of my Savior, Jesus Christ. When others see me, I want to be recognized as one who is like him. When I think of all his characteristics that I try so hard to perfect in my life, I know I fall far short. But I keep trying. As a human, Jesus was morally pure. He was free from sin. He submitted to his father. He was humble. He was willing to suffer. He is loving. He is kind. He is gracious and merciful. He is patient. He is wise. He is honest. He shows unconditional love. He is forgiving. And the list could continue endlessly.

The apostle Paul told the people in the Corinthian church that they should imitate Christ. His image needed to be stamped on their hearts, just as He was stamped on Paul’s heart. The same is true for us today. It’s a question I must ask myself daily. Does the stamp of Christ’s image show through in my life?

And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:1

Jesus, thy perfect likeness to wear. Do I wear the likeness of Jesus easily and naturally? If not, what must I do to change? Just as I am made in the image of God, I am to image God in my imperfect life. Each of us was made for God’s glory, and we can’t glorify him if we aren’t living in his image.

Since the beginning of creation, humanity has been designed to “image” God; this was the intended function. Edward W. Klink III

So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27

Bring all who claim me as their God, for I have made them for my glory. It was I who created them. Isaiah 43:7

Make me a temple meet for thy dwelling. I am to offer my body as a living sacrifice to God. I am to live a holy life that is acceptable to him. As a child of God, everything I do must be done in the transforming grace of God. And I think to myself. I can’t be like him on my own. Can I not bow to my own desires and wants and surrender to him completely? Am I totally and fully surrendered to him? Just as the nation of Israel was holy and set apart for God and by God, we too must be a place where God can dwell.

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:1-2

O to be like Thee! blessed Redeemer;
This is my constant longing and prayer;
Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,
Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.

O to be like Thee! O to be like Thee!
Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art;
Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;
  Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

O to be like Thee! full of compassion,
Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,
Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,
Seeking the wand’ring sinners to find.

O to be like Thee! lowly in spirit,
Holy and harmless, patient and brave;
Meekly enduring cruel reproaches,
Willing to suffer, others to save.

O to be like Thee! Lord, I am coming,
Now to receive th’ anointing divine;
All that I am and have I am bringing;
Lord, from this moment all shall be Thine.

O to be like Thee! While I am pleading
Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love.
Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling,
Fit for a life which Thou wouldst approve.

If you are properly devoted to the Lord Jesus, you have reached the lofty height where no one would ever notice you personally. All that is noticed is the power of God coming through you all the time. Oswald Chambers

Our Hope is in Christ

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As I write this, it’s in the morning hours of election day. I’ve voted and returned home. I must say that voting in a small town is much different from big city polling places. I actually voted on a paper ballot, and there were only five voting stations. Plus, there was no wait. It’s not what I’ve been used to for the past forty years, but it works.

Since it’s way too early at this point to know any results, I’ll settle in and wait for the numbers to start rolling in later this evening. I’m sure many will be stewing all day and probably most of the night to learn the results of this nation-defining election. People are on pins and needles wondering how our nation will survive if their candidate doesn’t make it to the needed number of electoral votes. Regardless of who wins, one side will breathe a huge sigh of relief and the other side will be in a stew for four years. Just as happened four years ago, many applauded and many were heartsick. So goes elections.

For those whose candidate is named the loser, they will be troubled and disheartened. For those whose candidate is named the winner, there will be a deep sigh of relief and a stirring of hope. Since this election has been so volatile with both candidates belittling the other, how can we rest easy with whoever is named our next president? We most likely will have four years of finger pointing, investigations, and unrest.

And if the House and Senate majority is not the same political party as the President, there will be trouble brewing and spilling over until the next vote in two years. There will be many promises and threats to impede progress. There will be chaos in the nation’s capital. And we the people will be the ones who suffer the most.

We tell ourselves that we aren’t cut out for trials and tribulations. We want to be coddled and given soft assignments in life. We don’t want trouble and we don’t want to have to speak hard truths to those who need to hear it. We don’t want to be persecuted for our faith or for our voting history. We want to be left to our own devices and just get on with life. We want easy and comfortable. We’ll leave the suffering at the merciless hands of the opposition to the future generations. They can be the ones to suffer tribulation types of trials. We can’t be the generation to suffer. We’ve grown up in an America that was the pot at the end of the rainbow. And we want to keep it that way. We don’t want trouble. We’re not made for that stuff. That’s what we tell ourselves.

I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. John 14:27

Now the election results are public knowledge. And the new reality is setting in. Many are distraught and angry. Many have cried many tears and pointed the finger of blame at others. Many more are relieved and thrilled. They’re pumping their fists in victory and shouting a battle cry for better days ahead. But deep down. This country still needs help. This country needs to wake up and realize that we as a nation have walked away from God. We can’t be saved by a billionaire. He isn’t God. He can’t forgive our sins. He can’t make all things right. Our trust needs to be in God and God alone.

Sure. Let’s continue to pray for our elected leaders. Let’s pray that they appoint godly and trusted advisors who will help right the ship known as the good ole’ US of A. Let’s pray for peace in the areas of the world that have been devastated by war. Let’s pray for the areas of this country that have been devastated by hurricanes and other events. Let’s pray for the economy to right size. Let’s pray for lower inflation and increased jobs. Let’s pray for our men to be godly leaders of their homes. And that women create a nurturing and loving environment at home. Let’s pray that the children in our country can be safe from evil intentions and harmful indoctrination. Let’s pray that America gets back to God.

This may be our last opportunity to set the nation back on the course our founding fathers set for us. Oh. They weren’t perfect men. They were very flawed, just as we are. But they built the country on the foundation of freedom of religion, and let’s fight to keep that freedom. Let’s work to make sure that our speech is free, regardless of our opinions.

Regardless of the candidate we voted for, let’s stand in unity for the country. Let’s stand in unity for our faith and freedom. Let’s hold fast to the truth that every life matters and that the sanctity and dignity of all lives must be honored.

The most important thing to remember is that our hope must be in Christ. He is the giver of peace. He is the Savior of the world. He makes all things right in their due time, not as the world sees things right, but as he knows them to be. And our trust must be in Him, the one who ordains all things and all our days.

We Need to Pray

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I read yesterday that one prominent newspaper which had publicly stated earlier they would not endorse either presidential candidate printed a scathing opinion piece about one of them. It was not an official endorsement of the other candidate, but it could have been. The piece left no doubt of their vile hatred for this particular candidate, because they named names and referenced incidents specific to this person. So. Was it an implied endorsement that they hoped no one would catch? Because they obviously said the quiet part out loud. They were warning voters against one candidate but didn’t go so far as to suggest voting for the other one. You can decide for yourself if that’s an endorsement or not.

Both candidates publicly insult each other. They stoop to the lowest of lows with their accusations and spin.  One speaks in what’s now referred to as word salads, while the other one slings insults out faster than he can toss fries. Shouldn’t this be a sign that we should pray for their dignity?  Because what is said in public is magnified in private. 

One candidate has an unusual first name, which can be pronounced a couple different ways. She has gone on record at different times in her life using each pronunciation, yet now people are publicly called out for using the wrong pronunciation. The other candidate verbally bullies people in public and seems proud to do so. I could list many other faults and offenses of each of them. But like it or not, one of them will be placed in the Oval Office to lead this once great but now faltering nation. Shouldn’t we faithful followers of Christ be on our knees begging God to convict them of their unconfessed sins? Shouldn’t we be praying that they appoint godly people as their advisors and advocates? Shouldn’t we pray for their safety? Shouldn’t we pray that the dangerous rhetoric stops before situations turn violent?

Do we intentionally use offensive names and words when we discuss the candidates? Would we say those same words about these individuals if Jesus Christ was standing next to us? Perhaps if we prayed for our candidates by name with conviction and the love of God, we might speak truth about them with a gentle and humble attitude. 

Not only should we pray for them, but we should speak about them respectfully. We don’t have to agree with them, but our government heads are in those exact positions because God has ordained their days. Even though they may speak and act against biblical principles, God has allowed them this moment in history. We must pray for their salvation. We believers must rally together and intercede for them, because who else can and will do so? They need God’s help, and we who call ourselves Christ followers must pray for our elected officials.

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. 1 Timothy 2:1-4

Many have voted early, so the vote has been cast. For those who are waiting until election day, there are still two days before you punch the ticket. Yours will be one of the million deciding votes. But just to state the obvious. Every vote is a deciding vote.

Do we really want our elected leaders to be men and women who love and serve God? Do we want a strong moral and ethical leader of the free world? We need to pray that people of the highest caliber and most noble character throw their hat in the ring when the next election cycle begins. We need to pray that God nudges godly people to run for office. We can’t leave our nation’s sovereignty in the hands of godless fools or our nation won’t stand.

When I reference ungodly people, I speak of those who haven’t acknowledged Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of their lives. I’m not saying they’re horrible people.  They’re capital G Godless people. We all serve a god of some sort. It may not be Jesus Christ the Savior of the world.  But we serve someone or something. We bow to another authority whether we acknowledge it or not. Just as Joshua commanded the people of Israel, we too must choose today who we will serve.

So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord alone. But if you refuse to serve the Lord , then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:14-15

Word has it that millions of believers won’t even vote. Perhaps they think they should vote only for someone who has openly confessed to being a born again Christian. Or perhaps they will only vote for someone they agree with on every issue. But do we hold everyone else we do business with to the same standard? If we did, we might just be sitting alone running the world by our unqualified selves. Wouldn’t that be a dreadful sight? Here is our choice this year. An unremarkable woman or a self-absorbed man.

Some say this is the most important election in the world. It’s make or break time. Do or die time. And we must get it right. But just know this. God already knows the final tally of the votes. He knows who will move into the White House. He who created the world allows good and evil to happen. He allows good and evil leaders to be inaugurated. We must trust him.

God is sovereign over the entire universe. He is still and always in control, and he allows evil to take place. We are a fallen people, and just as those before us made poor decisions and walked away from God, so has our nation. We are reaping the consequences. Be mindful of that. But also know that it isn’t too late to turn this country back to God. Oh. It would be a massive undertaking. But it isn’t an impossibility. God is a God of miracles. If we as a nation would humble ourselves and pray, he will hear our prayers. That’s why we must pray. Even for those we disagree with and don’t like. They too are made in the image of God. And they too will someday stand in judgment before him. We know the effects of others praying for us in our time of need. Let’s humble ourselves and do the same for candidates we stand for and against. 

If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14

Years ago there was a person in my life who rubbed me the wrong way. I just didn’t like them. We had different personalities. And different life stories. Different approaches to just about everything. And when I would see them, I would breathe an internal sigh of disgust. No. I’m not proud of myself. 

And then one day I realized I should pray for that person. They had become a Christian, but they carried a load of baggage that needed to be set aside. As we all do. So I began praying. And guess what happened. That person didn’t necessarily change, but my attitude toward them began to soften. Where once I was annoyed to be in their presence, I now had a softening of my spirit toward them. It didn’t change the fact that we still had many unresolved issues. And we never became best friends. But I now saw them as I am. A sinner saved by God’s grace in need of discipleship and love and correction.

Let’s learn the same lesson as we compare our own failings to those of our presidential candidates. We’re no better than them.  Our ugly words and demeaning actions are not in the public arena as theirs are. But we  are always on display in front of God. 

Shall we pray.

Sacred Traditions vs Sacred Surrender

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Will Duval

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

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

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

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

Lover of My Soul

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She walked into church with her three boys. As the boys jostled to get into the pew, I noticed they followed a particular pattern laid out by their mom as they found their place. The oldest boy went in first, followed by the mom. Then the other two boys were last. The final boy didn’t want to sit on the end of the pew. He actually wanted to sit by his mom but was told no. He sat down with a dejected look on his face which the mom noticed with a watchful eye.

I watched this family as the service got started. The boy on the end with the rumpled curly hair didn’t seem happy, but mom would glance over at him to confirm he was ok. He wasn’t really ok, and he sulked. Mom noticed but didn’t call him out. When we stood to sing, he was fidgety. She tapped him on the shoulder and said to stand still. The other two boys were standing still and acting content. Of course. They were both standing next to mom. One on each side.

As the service continued, the curly hair boy asked his mom if he could stand by her. She said he would need to ask his brother if he could switch places. Brother said no. Mom knew curly hair was needing her love, so she motioned for him to stand in front of her because both sides were occupied by the other boys. He gladly climbed past his brother to stand in front of mom, where she put her arms around him. He stayed in that position for only a few minutes and then sat back down and began drawing pictures.

A little later, he asked the brother on the other side of mom if he could sandwich between the two of them as they were standing. The older brother obliged, but instead of standing he sat between them as they were still standing. When everyone sat down, he finally crawled onto his mom’s lap. And as she placed her arms around him in a warm embrace, he laid his head back onto her shoulder. Content at last, he was in his mother’s arms. He reached back and wrapped his arms around the back of her head. She tousled his curly hair in love, and when their eyes met his eyes were filled with love and contentment. He was safe at home in his mother’s arms. All was right in his world.

He didn’t stay long on his mom’s lap. He soon had enough and moved back to the end of the pew where he sat contentedly until it was time to leave for children’s church. He just needed the reassurance that he was still hers even though he wasn’t seated next to her.

I don’t know why this particular son was unsettled. Both of the other boys sat still and stood quietly near their mom. But then. They didn’t have to fight to be near her. They both had the assigned place near her for as long as they needed. The third boy had to fight to get near her. At one point, he squeezed his fist tight and slowly brought it to the back of his brother’s head, as if to punch him. But no punch was made. No touch was made. His brother never knew. Perhaps he was acting out his hidden frustrations.

Who knows. Perhaps the three boys have to take turns sitting beside mom each week, since there are three boys and only two sides of mom. And this Sunday the curly haired boy was out of luck, but he was doing everything he could to get some mom time. He desperately needed reassurance of her love.

The mom would occasionally glance at each of the boys, one by one, with pure love in her eyes. It was obvious she cared deeply about these kids and wanted the best for them. She was training them the discipline of behaving and worshiping in church with adults. It was a moving scene if you were noticing.

But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. Romans 5:8

Our Heavenly Father shows his love for his children in a multitude of ways. He shows his love by holding us close when we are facing a difficult situation. By disciplining us when we go astray. By bringing us into fellowship with like believers. By providing for our needs. By hearing our prayers and answering them in accordance with his will. By showing favor on us.

We may not always feel physically close to God, but we can be sure that he has his eye on us. If his eye is on the sparrow, then he surely watches over those who call on his name. He knows when it’s our time to feel his presence near and dear to us. He knows when we’ve moved a little further from him. He always knows our name.

But most of all. God showed his supreme love for us by giving his Son sacrificially on the cross to die for our sins. He provided an alternate offering instead of asking each of us to die for our own sins. He punished his son for our sins, so we could have eternal life. And he willingly forgives us of our sins when we ask him. When we repent and bow to him, he forgives us and wipes our sinful slate clean.

The God of the universe created all of mankind to serve him. He created us with a love and purpose. He is the lover of our souls.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

How deep the Father’s love for us,
How vast beyond all measure,
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss –
The Father turns His face away,
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory.

Behold the man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders;
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished;
His dying breath has brought me life –
I know that it is finished.

I will not boast in anything,
No gifts, no power, no wisdom;
But I will boast in Jesus Christ,
His death and resurrection.
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer;
But this I know with all my heart –
His wounds have paid my ransom.

~Stuart Townend

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

Lawn Mowing 101

~ mercyfortheday ~ 1 Comment

I grew up on a farm where I was expected to help mow the lawn. And it was a huge lawn. No. It wasn’t a lawn. It was a yard. Nothing fancy. No landscaping. Just grass. All grass with a few trees thrown in. My siblings and I took turns mowing this big green space. We would set the timer on the oven for fifteen minutes and trade places when the timer when off. As far as I know, no one cheated and let someone mow longer than fifteen minutes. But what do I know? And not all of us seven kids actually took turns mowing. I guess some were privileged and never had to mow. They know who they are. For those of us who did, some years we used a push mower and other years we drove a tractor mower. So I have mowed my fair share of grass in my day.

Now that I’m living two states over from where I’ve lived for over forty years, it has once again become my responsibility to mow. The gentleman of the house is still employed in the other state, so he’s only home every now and then. So the task has fallen to me to do the yardwork. The lawn is bigger than comfortable for a push mower, so we purchased a new tractor mower.

I had my first experience at mowing the entire lawn this week. Now I must say. I haven’t mowed in almost 50 years. It’s not that lawns have changed. Or that mowers have changed. But the person driving the mower has changed. The gentleman of the house trained me on the use of the new mower, so I felt somewhat comfortable with it. But the maneuvering and plotting of the mowing path were almost foreign to me. Oh to be sure. I waited until late enough in the morning that my perfectionist lawn mowing neighbor had left for work. I didn’t need an audience for this first solo trip.

I wasn’t sure how low to set the blade, so I’ll just say that I set it low. Really low. And as I looked back at the path I was mowing, I realized that was a problem. Too low is not good. So I raised the blade a bit. Much better. But the first trip around the yard was lower than the rest. And it’s obvious. And to top it all off, the low row is right next to the perfectionist lawn mowing neighbor’s yard. There’s no way he can’t spot it. It’s a good thing that grass grows.

I finished mowing the lawn, and it turned out fine. All except that first pass. And of course. When the neighbor got home, he went out and started mowing his lawn. I’m sure he was rolling his eyes at my work, but I’ll never know for sure.

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. Hebrews 10:24

All this lawn mowing got me to thinking. Mowing a lawn is much like the life of a believer. Even though we may have been raised in church, and even though we know how to be a Christian, it’s not complex but it’s also not all that simple. There’s much to learn and experience as we grow in our faith. Oh for sure. I had to text my husband to see what setting I should use for the height of the mower. And when he didn’t respond instantly, I made my own decision which turned out to be incorrect. Just as we need guidance on performing new or unfamiliar tasks, we too need guidance and mentors when we face new hurdles as a Christian. We can’t do this life alone.

Oh. The longer we’re following Christ, it should become natural to lean on him for guidance and wisdom and strength. But we’re human, and we humans have a mind and a will of our own. We think we can make the right decisions in any and every situation, but we can’t. We get distracted by circumstances and desires that aren’t godly. We become dissatisfied with life and search for something better.

We need godly mentors to disciple new believers in the way of walking the path of Christianity. We need seasoned Christians to walk alongside newbies to guide them in growing in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior. We need people willing to speak truth to fellow Christians on the disciplines of Bible reading and study, praying, attending church and fellowshipping with other believers. Some things aren’t second nature to us, so we need help. We need mentors to share their up and down experiences and how to maneuver through this tricky thing we call life.

Oh. I’m sure the man of the house chuckled to himself at my explanation about this job mowing. And that’s ok. But he also gave me pointers on how to handle the situation the next time. That’s what we need in our spiritual walk. Not necessarily someone to laugh at us, but someone to give us pointers on how we can keep our walk consistent with the teachings of Jesus.

Yesterday the neighbor asked how the lawn mowing was going. I knew he could see my mistake, so I explained it to him He just shrugged it off. He said that grass will grow. He was kind. He’s always been kind to me. So maybe he isn’t standing back judging me for the poor decision making when it comes to mowing the lawn. We need those kind of neighbors and followers of Christ to stand beside us as we follow the path of life.

Honesty is Always the Best Policy

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Hoo boy. It’s been a week. I haven’t even lived in this new house for a month yet, and we’ve run into some pitfalls. And I don’t necessarily mean pitfalls with the house, but there are those, too. One of our cars was totaled earlier this year, so we had to hurriedly buy another one. Wanting to keep the price down, we chose what we thought was a gently used car. Small SUV. Four years old. Lower mileage. Sounded like a solid deal. But driving the vehicle on the way home from the car dealer, the check engine light came on. On the way home from buying the car, the check engine light came on. Yes. I repeated that sentence. We didn’t even get the car home, and it began to show its true colors.

After a couple of repairs in just a couple of months, we knew we had lost the bet. This car was going to be a financial drain. And we began hinting that this car may not be a keeper for the long haul, as we had planned. But we moved forward and we moved two states over taking the car with us.

Because the car was registered in my name, we decided that I should keep it after the move. The human of the house would drive the newer, more reliable car. I hated to give up the newer car, but I knew it was the right decision. I didn’t want him to drive an unreliable car for long road trips. I would sacrifice my comfort for his safety.

Then one day, the car wouldn’t start for me. The battery wouldn’t turn over. Long story short. Someone somewhere in the life of this four-year-old car had installed the wrong battery. Why? How? And when the repairman told me that the other repair was temporary and would require a hefty dollar sign to totally repair it, I had had enough. The car was a piece of junk. But I didn’t know why. How could a four year old car have so many problems?

When we bought the car, we had been told that it had been in one minor rear-end fender bender. Ok. We can live with that. But why were there so many problems under the hood? It didn’t make sense. So we made the ultimate sacrifice and traded the car in for a newer model. Oh. We had researched the value of the junker, so we knew what we should expect for a trade-in. But did we get the shock of our lives when we were told that the car had been in not one, but three accidents. One of those had caused major structural damage. No wonder there were so many problems with it. And we were offered a third of what we thought the value would be. We lost thousands of dollars in the whole ordeal.

The time is coming when everything that is covered up will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all. Whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be shouted from the housetops for all to hear! Luke 12:2-3

The car had been sold under false pretenses. It hadn’t been repossessed, as we had been told. It had most likely been totaled and incorrectly rebuilt and then sold at auction. None of this was listed on the supposed tell-all report that auto dealers provide these days. And we, the unsuspecting buyers at the dealership, believed that we were buying a reliable car. Perhaps we should have looked under the hood before we drove the car off the lot. If we had, we would have seen the black tape in several places holding parts together. But we did test drive the car, and it seemed fine at the time. No. Not shame on us. Shame on them.

Shame on anyone who covers their tracks hoping some innocent, unsuspecting victim doesn’t notice the black tape. And shame on anyone who tries to work in an underhanded manner to make a dishonest dollar. Honesty is always the best policy, no matter what line of work you’re in. Because. At some point, your dishonesty, your laziness, your lack of ethics, your selfishness will be found out.

Oh. Your dishonesty may not be discovered this side of eternity, but there is a great big God who knows all and sees all. Everything we’ve ever done and said. Even our intentions are being recorded. And unless we have repented of our sins and lived a holy life in continual submission to God, all those sins will be on display when we stand in front of our holy God to be judged. Only when we repent and confess our sins is our slate wiped clean and our sins are no longer remembered by God.

If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. Luke 16:10

I wonder. Do people like these auto dealers sleep well at night? Do they toss and turn knowing they’ve fooled some gullible sucker into buying a piece of junk? Do they laugh themselves to sleep knowing that some unsuspecting buyer is going to be forking over thousands of dollars for unforeseen repairs in the near future? Do people have no shame these days?

It’s not just auto dealers who pull off shady deals. It can be home sellers or repairmen. It can be politicians or pastors. It can be moms or dads. Students or businessmen. Any of us are capable of swindling others out of their hard earned money for a defective product. We’re a selfish, self-centered people.

Satan does this all the time. He doesn’t try to sell us a defective or offensive lifestyle. He shows us only the pretty and the fun and the glamorous. He shows us a life that is very appealing. It’s not until we get involved in the sin that we realize we’ve been duped by someone who wasn’t looking out for our best interests. He has his ulterior motives at the heart of every temptation he offers to us. He isn’t looking out for us at all. He doesn’t tell us that his lies could very well cause us to have to tape our lives back together, and then life might never be the same because of the train wreck we’ve put ourselves through. We have to be very mindful of the influences in our lives so we aren’t caught up in living a lie. So we aren’t caught up in a situation that we never imagined ourselves to be in. Satan wants to drag as many unsuspecting souls to hell as he can. And he will stop at nothing to charm us away from Christianity. We must stay alert at all times.

But if you fail to keep your word, then you will have sinned against the Lord, and you may be sure that your sin will find you out. Numbers 32:23