Christian

It’s Ok

~ mercyfortheday ~ 1 Comment

I recently watched a video of America’s Got Talent from four years ago. A young woman singing under the name of Nightbirde sang an original song titled “It’s Ok.” But things weren’t really ok in her life. She had had cancer for several years and had been given only a two percent change of survival. Yet she lived with a life full of joy and happiness. She said, and I quote, “it’s important that everyone knows that I’m so much more than the bad things that happen to me.” And when she sang the words of her song, the calmness and confidence in her voice earned her the golden buzzer. She said that you don’t have to wait until your life is perfect in order to be happy.

And she’s right.

There was a look of astonishment on the face of each of the judges as they listened to her story. Those judges who had fame and fortune at their fingertips were very unsure of how to handle someone who was so calmly dealing with a life threatening illness. Little did they know at that audition that this young woman had only months to live. Oh. They gave her high praise, saying her performance was very powerful and authentic. They were touched not only by her voice, but also with her story.

You can’t wait until life isn’t hard anymore before you decide to be happy. That’s what she said, and she meant it. She lived through hard times, and yet she was glowing with peace and happiness. Knowing that she had only a two percent change of surviving the cancer that was ravaging her body, she lived well. And she lived forgiven.

This young woman was a child of God. She had laid her fears and faults and sins at the feet of her Savior, and he had forgiven her. She knew that if the ninety-eight percent chance of dying came true, she would spend eternity with Jesus Christ. And that’s where she is today. She’s in eternity. She didn’t let fear of the unknown diminish her joy.

I dare to ask myself. If I had a two percent change of surviving some horrendous disease, how happy and calm would I be? I’m not sure I can answer that today, because I haven’t been dealt that diagnosis. I don’t know how I would respond to a medical death sentence. Would I calmly look death in the face and keep moving forward? Would I fight back? Would I look for alternate treatments? Would I listen to my doctors? Would I stand strong in the face of pain and suffering? Would I shrivel up in the fetal position and not get out of bed? I don’t know.

And the song that she sang. It’s Ok. She believed it was ok that her life was falling apart. That there was a high probability she wouldn’t grow old. That she would lose her life before it ever really began. And she was ok with that? If I were in her shoes, would I be ok? I don’t know.

Her friend said that “Jesus is why Jane believed a painfully tragic life could still be worth living—that life could be beautiful even when the world came crashing down.” Do I believe that to be true? Absolutely, yes, I do.

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

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

We don’t have to be facing a death sentence in order for life to be difficult. We don’t have to be staring the end of life in the eye in order to be weakened by fear and the feeling of defeat. It could be getting up and going to a difficult job each day. Or, it could be facing a brand new situation that puts us way outside of our comfort zone. It could be a spontaneous moment when we are put on the spot and forced to defend our beliefs in a public setting. It could be a forced premature ending of a marriage we thought would survive until death us do part. It could be a financial crisis we’re facing. It could be the consequences of a very poor decision.

What I do know is that God is the God of the ages. He is the Lord of Lords and King of Kings. Everything that comes our way is ordained and approved by him. Just as he allowed Satan to sift the life of Job down to ashes, he could do the same to us without our consent. Will we still trust him? Will we, at the end of the day, say it’s ok that my life has fallen apart? Will we say that these grim circumstances that we face are worth every moment of suffering as we wait to stand in the presence of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ?

There are many curves in the road of life as our faith is refined, and much of that is out of our control. Oh. We don’t have to sit back and watch life fall apart. We can do our part to pick up the pieces as we place our complete trust in God. As we come to learn through our times of suffering that the sole source of our strength is the Lover of our souls, we can look forward to eternity at the end of our days with calmness and confidence in our Savior.

In the midst of our suffering, can we sing to the God who is with us in our suffering? The song may not be joyful, but the joy of the Lord can remain in us even during those low days. We can have the joy of the Lord within us regardless of our circumstances. During our pain, we can sing songs of lament but we don’t have to wallow in it.

Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. 2 Corinthians 6:10

It Will Be Worth It All

Sometimes the day seems long,
Our trials hard to bear.
We´re tempted to complain,
to murmur and despair.
But Christ will soon appear
to catch his bride away!
All tears forever over
in God’s eternal day!

CHORUS:
It will be worth it all
when we see Jesus!
Life’s trials will seem so small
when we see Christ.
One glimpse of his dear face,
all sorrow will erase.
So, bravely run the race
till we see Christ.

At times the sky seems dark,
with not a ray of light;
We’re tossed and driven on,
no human help in sight.
But there is One in heaven,
Who knows our deepest care;
Let Jesus solve your problems,
just go to him in prayer.

Life’s day will soon be o’re,
all storms forever past;
We’ll cross the great divide
to Glory, safe at last!
We’ll share the joys of heaven:
a harp, a home, a crown;
The tempter will be banished,
We’ll lay our burdens down.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23:1-6

Do You See What I See

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

Have you noticed the world events that have been taking place lately? World politics seem to be blowing up in major proportions. The leader of France was ousted in a vote by parliament. The South Korean president’s attempt to declare martial law was quickly voted down, and now he’s been impeached. Turkish rebels have overtaken Syria and sent the corrupt leader escaping to Russia by the skin of his teeth. The presidential election of Romania has been overturned. Israel has blown up pagers and cell phones in a direct response to enemies who attacked their innocent people and still hold some hostage. In an effort to ward off high tariffs, the newly elected President of Mexico and the Canadian Prime Minister have spoken with the incoming American President on border and fentanyl issues.  Antisemitism is on the rise around the globe. Regimes have been trying to wipe out the Jewish state for many years, and Israel is working hard to make sure that doesn’t happen.

Domestic events give us an assassinated healthcare CEO, and certain groups are applauding this horrific event. Posters calling for the assassination of other CEOs have been found in one major city. Music moguls are charged with heinous crimes, with more names expected to be released. Political appointees are targeted with highly publicized scandals that may or may not be true. Tiktok is close to being banned in this country in the new year. States ravaged by devastating hurricanes are still struggling as winter approaches, while our nation’s leaders send more foreign aid to a war that shouldn’t have taken place. A Marine veteran charged with killing someone who threatened subway riders has been exonerated. Members of violent illegal immigrant gangs have taken over apartment complexes in some cities. Multiple large mysterious drones have been spotted over different states. The American presidential election was won by a former President whose last eight years have been hampered by one unproven scandal after another.

The mayor in the largest city in the state where I live is proposing raising taxes in his fair city by an astronomical amount. A contest is underway for a new design of the state flag of this state, and ten finalists have been chosen. Aren’t there more pressing issues than the design of a state flag? A recent report shows that this state had the third highest number of residents leaving the state, mainly due to jobs and high taxes. The largest union for the teachers of this state is losing more members than it is gaining due to the organization’s increased spending. Nearly two million residents of this state were recipients of the federal food assistance benefit program.

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. John 16:33

You may wonder why I give all these details of recent news events. The world we live in is very unsettled. There are record levels of violence and hatred. Taxes, inflation and unemployment are high. There are wars and rumors of wars around the globe. Global Christians are being persecuted. It’s as if we are close to having a new world war erupt at any moment.

Jesus told them, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.“ Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come. Matthew 24:4-14

We see that violence and violent events are flooding the news. And this type of news won’t stop. It will continue to increase and worsen the closer we get to the Rapture. As God allows Satan to stretch his evil reach into all avenues of society, people of faith are being put on notice that different forms of persecution could be ahead. The Bible warns us that Christians will be persecuted in some manner. It doesn’t mean we’ll stand before a firing squad or sit in a prison cell. We may lose our homes or jobs. We may be debanked or endlessly prosecuted for crimes we’ve never committed.

Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 2 Timothy 3:12

As all the unsettling events take place in every area of the world and in homes across the globe, we pause to remember the birth of our Savior. We can still have peace on earth as the earth is in turmoil. Joy to the world is still possible as we celebrate the Promised Messiah who came to this earth long ago. Now, as the earth groans in anticipation of his return, we see and hear of the turmoil in places known and unknown. And yet we rejoice that those who have chosen him as Lord and Savior will one day be with him for eternity.

In this season, we celebrate the One who was born as a babe in the manger. Jesus, who was nailed to the Calvary cross and then buried, rose from the dead on the third day. We celebrate his ascension to heaven and now await his triumphal return to gather his people to him. Regardless of the events taking place throughout the globe, we can have peace in our hearts knowing that our Savior is coming to rapture his children. It could be at any moment. I pray that you’re ready.

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. For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:9-10,13

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

Gaming the System

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

When Your Time is Up

~ mercyfortheday ~ 1 Comment

His morning started rather early. It was still dark outside when he left the house. He hopped on his motorcycle and left to start the day. But somewhere during his ride, a horrible thing happened. A pickup truck rear-ended him and pushed his bike into the SUV ahead of him. He was ejected from the bike and died at the scene.

This man who breathed his last breath along the side of the road had just become a first-time father seven months earlier. A son who bore his name will never know him. His wife who is left to raise the child alone is now planning his funeral. He is in eternity. All his plans for the future have come to a grinding halt. No more work on earth to be done. No more goodbye kisses each morning. No more laughter from his lips. No more funny jokes and pranks to pull. What once was his future will never be.

I’ve recently read of a couple of freak accidents that have taken the lives of unsuspecting victims. Whether it was an act of nature or being in the wrong place at the wrong time no longer matters. The fact is, someone’s life was cut short by a situation that is difficult to fathom. And family members are left in a state of shock and grief that they never expected to experience. But they find themselves standing in front of a casket accepting condolences from friends and neighbors. Never in a million years would they have expected to lose their loved one in such a drastic and horrible situation. But it happens more than we realize.

Can we blame God when untimely death occurs to a loved one? Do we point the finger of blame at him and turn our back on him? Do we accuse him of not playing fair with our family? Why would he think it was ok to take them before they lived a full life to old age?

Someone else watches their elderly parent lose track of dates and names and events. And it could take years before they succumb to old age. And they may wonder why their loved one is allowed to linger when their quality of life is minimal. Others may wonder why their family member is walking through a painful, crippling disease with little comfort. And the suffering continues for years on end. We wonder why.

You have decided the length of our lives. You know how many months we will live, and we are not given a minute longer. Job 14:5

We know that our days are numbered, but we don’t know the number. We take each day as it comes and live life to the fullest. We are living at God’s disposal. Only he knows the length of our life. We don’t control God, and we don’t control life. Oh. We may think we do, but ultimately our life is in God’s hands. Nothing is by chance.

We can’t assume that old age or disease will claim us. It could be a horrible accident. A freak accident. Or, heaven forbid, an act of violence. We don’t know. But what we do know is that we must be ready at any moment to have our number called. We must be on call for the hand of God to sweep us into eternity and stand face to face with him in judgment learning our eternal destination.

We can wonder about the suffering God allows, and we will never know the suffering we’ve escaped. But we do know that God’s hand is moving in our lives throughout the difficult days.

In the book of Matthew, we’re told that God values mankind more than any other of his creation. Humans are the only part of creation that has a soul, a part of us that is kindred with God. We are his prized possession. He cares about every aspect of our lives, and he oversees even the smallest part. So when he sees us suffering, or when he calls us home unexpectedly, he knows the ripple effect that will cause.

What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin ? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows. Matthew 10:29-31

How do we know that God values us over every other living thing he created? He sent his Son to die for our sins. Jesus didn’t hang on the cross for the cattle on a thousand hills or for the whole flock of sparrows. They weren’t created with souls, a spiritual nature, that is. They don’t have an eternity. Only man was made in the image of God, and only man has the option to ask forgiveness for their sins and repent. Only man can become a child of God once they receive that same forgiveness. Nothing else with breath can.

So if God chose the human race to be recipients of his plan of salvation, he has his eye on every moment of our lives. He has his hand in every aspect of our days. Even when the days are evil and the circumstances are difficult, God is in them. Through it all, God is sovereign and omniscient.

It’s easy for me to say all this when I wasn’t the one who just lost my spouse. It’s easy for me to say that God is good in the midst of a deep, dark trial when I’m not walking through one. But I have walked through grief. I have lived through difficult moments, and God has proven himself to be all I need in those moments. He is faithful. My prayer is that when my next trial comes, and it will, I stand strong in his love and promise to always be with me.

You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. Psalms 139:16

Foolish Doings

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Asa. He was a notable king from the line of David. He trusted God. And God brought peace to Judah during the early years of his reign. But in his old age, he failed to ask for God’s help. Instead, he sought the help of the Syrian king, Benhadad, as he looked to stop the Israelite king, Baasha, from encroaching on his land.

What looks like an innocent request for help from a neighboring king was in fact a slap in the face of God. Asa was a faithful follower of God throughout the years of his reign in Judah. But for some unknown reason, when he needed help to stop his enemy, Baasha, from building a stronghold to stop the people of Judah from entering and exiting their own country, he turned to Benhadad instead of to God.  And what he didn’t know until it was much too late was that God wanted to help him. Instead of defeating Baasha and his Israelite army, God would have helped him to also defeat the Syrian army led by Benhadad. It would have been a double win.  A victory for the ages. But no. God wasn’t involved in this war at all. He had been pushed aside.

Asa somehow forgot that he had made a covenant with God many years earlier. When he asked Benhadad for help, he went with a bribe. He not only took gold and silver to his opponent, but they were treasures that belonged in the house of God. King Asa stooped low by offering God’s treasures to bribe King Benhadad to help him fight against someone that Benhadad had a treaty with. And Benhadad took the bribe and broke his alliance with Baasha, king of Israel. Shame on all of them.

When the prophet Hanani came to confront the king for the wrongs he had done, he boldly told the truth. And King Asa fumed at him. Asa didn’t want to be told he was in the wrong. He wanted to be congratulated on his victory against Israel. Up until this time, he had treated his people with kindness. But he threw Hanani in prison and treated some of the people with contempt. Asa was going down, and he was going down hard and fast. He had rejected God and God let him suffer the consequences.

Even when dying, Asa failed to ask for God’s help. He sought only the help of physicians, which in and of itself is not bad. But he had no desire for God to take part in his final years of poor health. The problem with the physicians of his day is that their remedies were superstitions and folk remedies. Relying on God for help with his health problem would have been much more effective. Once again, Asa failed to see that God was waiting for him to ask for help. But no. He had abandoned God, so God abandoned him. The story doesn’t tell us that God would have healed him if he had asked for help. But we do know that God would have been with him every moment in his final days on earth.

You can read the story of King Asa in 2 Chronicles 14-16.

The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. What a fool you have been! From now on you will be at war. 2 Chronicles 16:9

Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. When God leaves man to himself, he is a pitiful man. He becomes his own worst enemy and a tyrant to others. The Lord is looking for people who are fully committed to him so he can strengthen and help them. He knows we need his strength to win the battles the enemy is waging against us. But we must diligently seek his help. We can’t stand on our own. We can’t win spiritual battles on our own strength.

Of course. God puts people in our path to help us in our time of need and to give correction, as well. But our faith must be in God and God alone. Only he can fight our battles and heal our wounds.

It’s a long obedience in the same direction of following Christ that will ensure our entrance into heaven. We can’t think that we can be strong followers of Christ early in our life and then slough off at the end. No. As long as we have breath within us, we must fight the fight every day. We must put on the armor of God each morning so we can win victory after victory over the enemy of our souls. We must always be on guard for attacks of temptation and doubt. The enemy will not stop as long as we are breathing.

Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have declared so well before many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:12

Christian Obligation

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

King Saul. Oh. He was the first king of Israel, and he was a complicated man. He never asked to be king, but he was chosen by God to serve his nation. He didn’t know how to be a king. And he blew it big time. He blew it so bad that God instructed the prophet Samuel to tell him that the kingdom would be taken from his family. None of his sons or anyone in his family line would ever be king of Israel. A different family line would be placed on the throne after Saul. What a blow to an arrogant man’s ego.

Saul didn’t start out in a royal kind of life. He was from the smallest family of the smallest tribe of Israel. He seemed to start out on the right foot in his kingly life, but things went downhill. He had great military success. Wherever he turned, he was victorious in battle because God was on his side. After all, God chose him out of all the other Jewish men to lead the nation. But Saul got ahead of himself. He didn’t remain faithful to God and refused to obey his commands. God rejected Saul and was sorry he had made him king.

In one particular battle, God commanded Saul through the prophet Samuel to kill every living being. This meant every man, woman, child and animal should be wiped out. This may sound like a harsh command, but God knew that anyone from the opposing side who was allowed to live was a threat to his people. But Saul decided to keep some of the best animals for himself, and he captured the opposing king and let him live. Oh. Saul defeated the other king’s army and slaughtered everyone and everything else, but he didn’t fully obey God.

Samuel stopped by to check in with Saul. Saul greeted him with open arms and proclaimed that he had carried out the Lord’s command. But Samuel asked why he could hear animals. Oh. Saul said. We saved some of the best animals to sacrifice to the Lord. And then Samuel laid him out right there. He told Saul that because of his disobedience, God had removed his blessing from Saul. But Saul insisted that he had obeyed God. Samuel said no. Obedience is better than burnt offerings and sacrifice. He told Saul that rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness is as bad as worshiping idols.

You can read this story in 1 Samuel 15.

Saul’s disobedience cost him and his family the royal throne. While Saul thought that partial obedience was obedience, it really wasn’t. It cost him his soul. His obligation was to fully obey God to the fullest extent. And he didn’t. He had a rebellious streak that he pitted against God. Rebelling against God is never a winning strategy.

What can I offer the Lord for all he has done for me? Psalms 116:12

If we call ourselves a Christian, we have certain obligations. Oh. We may not like to hear that, but hear me out. To call oneself a Christian means that we have confessed our sins to God and repented of them. We turn our back on sinning and begin to walk in the teachings of Christ. We are Christ followers. And what Jesus Christ did for us before we confessed our sins was to die on the cross. He did that willingly and in accordance with God’s plan. Because once Adam and Eve sinned by eating the forbidden fruit in the garden, God offered a plan of redemption so we wouldn’t be doomed to hell for eternity. He offered us a way out of living in sin. And when we are forgiven, we are freed from our past. We can live forgiven, and we are no longer under a death sentence.

But is a free gift really free? The gift of salvation came with a huge price. Jesus died for everyone else’s salvation, so no one else would have to die. Christian faith costs something when we pick up our cross and follow Christ. The cross represented suffering, and it shouldn’t be taken lightly. Anyone flippant about Christianity isn’t serious about their faith.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. Matthew 16:24

Some may think Jesus is cool without ever taking their beliefs into consideration. Being a Christian doesn’t mean we have to be cool. Because very often, the Christian will be on the low end of the coolness meter, according to those on the other side of the fence. Christians don’t need to be cool. They need to be humble. Humility is a symbol of bowing to one’s own desires and submitting to the will of our heavenly Father. Obedience to the Father’s will is liberating.

We want to learn from Saul’s lesson of disobedience. Partial obedience is not obedience. We can’t have it both ways. We can’t just obey God fully when it pleases us and then turn around and partially obey. Dying to ourselves requires full surrender to God’s will and commands.

Religion is not a warm electric blanket, it’s the cross, and the cross holds the suffering of the world. This is a very profound symbol of human suffering and failure of community, that they can be presented with the child of God and crucify him. We live in a fallen world. To make it all nice and to make it all warm and fuzzy, you’re not really talking about faith.

Ethan Hawke

When Death is Gain

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We’re all alive but we’re heading for death. When we take our first breath, we are inching toward our last. We know we’re on a collision course with the grave. It’s a fact of life and death.  Every day we’ve been given to live is a gift to live for Christ. If we live for anything else, are we even truly living?

As believers, we are called to die to ourselves. That death can be very painful as we dislodge our desires from God’s. When we turn our life of self indulgence over to following God, the shackles fall off. When we turn our backs on sin, we gain everlasting life. When we allow our personal desires to be replaced with God’s will, we live in surrendered peace. When we die to ourselves, we live only for God.

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

Paul had been thrown into a prison in Rome. Oh. He hadn’t committed any crimes and he hadn’t been formally charged, but he found himself in prison anyway. There had also been a death threat against Paul because of his teachings. And those who disagreed with his teaching that Jesus had risen from the dead were replacing truth with doubt when they told their story in the courtroom. They were calling him a troublemaker, but they didn’t charge him with any crimes. They knew he wasn’t guilty of any crime but they wouldn’t set him free. By keeping him locked up, the Roman leaders thought they were appeasing the Jewish leaders. And Paul wouldn’t take a lesser plea just to get out of prison.

Paul knew he was unlawfully placed in prison. He knew he was being wronged, and he suffered for someone else’s wrongdoing. But his faith didn’t waver. He preached the gospel to governors who kept him locked up for years. He proclaimed his innocence when others tried to hijack his case. He even shared his testimony in front of a king who claimed he was out of his mind. He demanded to face trial in front of Caesar. That’s how he found himself in Rome. He had appealed to the highest court.

Paul didn’t fear death, because his hope was in Jesus Christ.

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21

I recently watched a short video where a man who searches for truth said that most people will do anything to survive. They’ll survive at any price. So he asked what was the right price to accept to remain alive. He asked. Is it ten million dollars? Twenty million? One hundred million? Then the next sentence he said stunned the audience. He said that if you are a truthteller, the price must be your life. Otherwise, you are for sale. And if you are for sale, then you’re not looking for the truth.

This man said that if I follow my conscience, I may die. But I can lie, and I will live. Truthtellers are strong. Liars are weak. Courage is contagious and intimidating at the same time. To those who are willing to take up the badge of courage, there are as many others who are afraid of those who speak truth. So have no fear. If your life is your price, then take pride in that fact but let it humble you at the same time.

And he’s right. If we can be paid off for keeping silent about the truth, then we’re not really looking for the truth. We’re looking for safety. We’re looking out for number one. Ourselves. But if the price is our life, then we’re willing to forfeit all we have to do the right thing. Telling the truth is costly. Oh. Not always. But in today’s world, the truth is spun so fast that what spills out looks nothing like truth. And it isn’t truth. It’s lies manufactured to make you safe and to put others out of the reach of safety. When if the truth were told, it would be the other way around. Your life could be at risk and others would be saved.

We know that death is not defeat to the Christian. The result of death is a win for those whose sins have been wiped clean. Death ushers forgiven souls into the presence of Jesus Christ for eternity.

Consider Daniel’s three friends. When commanded to bow before an image of the king, they refused. They said no. They would bow only to the God of the universe. So when they were given a second chance to bow, they still refused. Their punishment? They were thrown into a fiery furnace where the flames leaping out killed the ones tossing them in. But God honored their faithfulness, and they survived. Before being thrown into the fire, they said they would not recant their faith in God even if they didn’t survive the fire. Their faith was their priority in life and in the possibility of death. Their life was the price they were willing to pay for truth.

Read the story of Daniel’s friends in Daniel 3.

There was a life that was sold. Except the owner of the life didn’t make the financial exchange. It was one of his twelve closest followers. This follower was obviously living on the fringe. And in a moment of utter weakness, he approached the enemy and offered the life of the man he called Lord. And he sold that friendship for thirty pieces of silver. And when the guard came to collect their prize, Judas kissed Jesus on the cheek as a sign he was theirs for the taking.

Oh. The man who received the kiss knew the betrayal was coming. He knew his life was on the line. During the three years of his ministry, he spoke the truth plainly but eloquently to anyone who would listen. And he offered to them free of charge the gift of salvation and eternal life. It was his physical life that was on the line, though, as the sacrifice for the gift he offered. And as he hung on the cross, he paid the ultimate price. The truth of his message wasn’t silenced by his death. It spread like wildfire around the world, and it’s still spreading today.

The loss of the physical life of Jesus was our gain. Jesus’ death on the cross paved the way for our sins to be forgiven and our worth redeemed. Jesus paid it all. All to him I owe.

You can find the story of Judas Iscariot’s betrayal of Jesus in Luke 22:47-53.

How Bright is Your Light?

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Boy. Did I ever get a shock when I walked into his office. He was playing Christian music. And in the two years I’ve worked with this man, I never would have thought he would be associated with anything Christian. As I stood there talking to him, I wanted to join in singing “I’m a Survivor” with Zach Williams. But I didn’t. I kept a straight face and stayed in the conversation as my mind was running in circles trying to figure out this man I was talking to. Is he a Christian?

I wonder. If the roles were reversed and he walked into my office as I listened to Christian music, would he be as shocked as I was hearing it in his office? Would he question how I could be a Christian after he has seen the way I work and heard the words I say? Does he see an attitude of resentment or inconsistency in me?

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

I don’t mean to judge the man. But by what I see and know of him, I wouldn’t assume he’s a Christian. And I know. Just because someone listens to Christian music doesn’t mean they’re a Christian. But also, it doesn’t mean they’re not a Christian if they don’t carry their Bible to work. And, besides, Christians aren’t perfect people.

That gives me pause, though. What do others think of me? Is the love of Christ evident in my life? Do I work as if I’m working for the Lord? Does my work ethic speak of reliability and integrity? Do I always try to do my best, even when no one is looking? And it’s not just at work that I should consider my Christian witness.  Am I a godly neighbor to the family living next door? Oh. They see me leave for church each Sunday. But anyone can go to church. Does my life offer the sweet aroma of Christ to a lost and hurting world? Do my actions speak louder than my words?

So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Ephesians 5:15

How bright is my light in the world? If I don’t ever tell others about my faith, can they see it lived out?

Oh. I’ve never heard vulgarity spew from this man’s mouth, but I have heard him speak ill of others. It makes me question myself more than I question him. What have others heard me say about others? Do I look for the good in someone even when all that’s visible is not good? Do I voice those concerns for any ear to hear? Or do I place a guard around my negative thoughts? Just because I think something doesn’t mean I have to speak it. Just because something is true, doesn’t mean I have to share it with others.

And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:30-32

I noticed a mistake in my work the other day. And I noticed it almost too late. I had decided I would let it go and hope for the best. But I knew that it would eventually be discovered. I didn’t want to correct the mistake, because it would require me to undo some work and then re-do it. I was on a self-imposed deadline, and I didn’t want to be bothered. Would anyone even know if I left it? Yes. They would, but it probably would have taken weeks to be discovered. And maybe by then I would have forgotten about it. 

But then. I felt that thumping of my heart. I knew God was nudging me to do the right thing. So I did. I had to admit my mistake and ask for help. I had to undo the error and then correct it. But I did it. And now I have a clear conscience. As a Christian, I need to work with integrity and character, even when only God is watching.

And now I find myself wondering why I even considered letting the error go. Why would I do that? Don’t I want to do my best work possible? Would I have been tempted to lie later down the line when the mistake was uncovered? It was an honest mistake, after all. But the attempt to cover it up would have been dishonest. And I just couldn’t do that.

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Philippians 2:3-5

The ultimate goal of Jesus for His disciples was that His life be reproduced in them, and through them into the lives of others.

Robert Coleman

If no one can see the life of Jesus in our lives, what does our witness look like? What is seen in Christians if it isn’t the life of Jesus? Do we live out the ten commandments? Do we live by the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7? Do we deny ourselves and take up our cross daily? Is our light shining on a hill for the world to see, or do we keep it covered for safekeeping? If we’re not letting our light shine, then what are we doing? If others can’t see our light, is it even shining?

When Christianity Isn’t Christianity

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On the front sleeve of Yoram Hazony’s book “Conservatism”, we’re told that he shows in the book “that by identifying conservativism with ‘classical’ liberalism, conservatives embraced the very principles that led to their defeat”. He said “the survival of Western democracy requires a revival of the centuries-old legal, religious, and cultural traditions that made Britain and America models of national freedom for the entire world.” 

The same principle can used for describing Christianity today. If we say we’re Christians, then we must embrace the very principles that are in the Bible. If we want to see the survival of historical Christianity, then we need a revival of our hearts. When Christianity embraces the same principles as the non-Christian world, Christianity will face defeat. Perhaps not total defeat, for there will always be a remnant of faithful followers of Christ. But defeat, nonetheless, as it relates to being light in a dark world. Individual souls will face defeat when faced with God’s judgment.

When we identify Christianity as synonymous with today’s culture, something is wrong. It just doesn’t work. Christians should be identified by how they are not like the culture. Oh. Perhaps not in every way or in everything. But when it comes to the cultural lies that we all face, we know what we’re talking about without actually saying it. When Christians buy into the fact that they can live their lives the same as their unbelieving friends and still call themselves Christians, who are they really fooling?

Basic truth I wish every Christian realized: Silence in exchange for cultural respect is a deal with the devil.

Natasha Crain

The Greek empire was split into four kingdoms after the death of Alexander the Great. One of the four major players was a man named Antiochus Epiphanes, who was one tough cookie. He was out for blood. In particular, he was out for the blood of the Jews. He had conquered all the countries that surrounded Israel, and he had his sight set on Israel. His goal was to make himself the god they worshipped and bowed to. The problem was that they feared God more than they feared this man, so they didn’t follow his lead. And he made them pay for their disobedience. 

But there were others in the Jewish community who were in awe of the Greek culture and lifestyle. It was attractive, less restrictive and made fewer moral demands on them. It was an easier lifestyle. It seemed. They could throw caution to the wind and indulge their whims and desires. It felt as if they were finally free. So they indulged themselves in this newfound freedom. They gave up their faith for a lesser known religion of self-indulgence. They abandoned God and regarded man as their authority.

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 12:2

The same scenario is playing out before our eyes today. People call themselves Christians, yet they’ve abandoned God. They stand for nothing vaguely similar to Christianity. Their knowledge of the Bible is limited, and their church attendance is nonexistent. Yet they say they’re Christians.

Oh. This is a controversial topic. Calling yourself a Christian without fully knowing what being a Christian is all about. It’s an easy label to slap on your sleeve. And then change nothing else in your life. When someone says they’re a Christian but still follow unchristian ways, are they really a Christian? Are they a born again Christian? It’s not my place to say. I’m not the Holy God, the Judge of the ages. But the definition of a Christian is one who has repented of their sins and is committed to following Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. They’ve died to their own desires and live totally surrendered to God.

My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20

Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. Romans 8:12-14

We have to make a conscious choice not to make evil good. We must live biblically when we call ourselves Christians. Otherwise, what are we? When we become a Christian, we are, in essence, taking up the cross of Christ. We are wearing the blood stripes on our back. We have nail prints on our hands. Our side has been cut open and bodily fluids have been drained. We have died to ourselves. So there must be a change in us. We can no longer bow to the whims of soft Christianity. There is a price we pay to be an authentic Christian.

If you have not chosen the Kingdom of God first, it will in the end make no difference what you have chosen instead.

William Law

In Leviticus 10:10, Moses instructed the priests and the general population how to be set apart for God. He said they must know what is holy and what is common. They must be able to distinguish right from wrong. The same goes for Christians today. We must be set apart in our actions and responses to a culture that ignores God.

Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. Ephesians 4:22-24

You are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9