He Did Enough!

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12.2

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith … ” Once translations reads, “Fixing your eyes on Jesus …” I’m not sure we realize the value of fixing our eyes on Jesus. We only fix our eyes on something or someone that becomes vitally important to us. It is like we become obsessed with that thing or that person. How obsessed are you with Jesus? Since Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith, He is responsible for our ability to exercise our faith in day-to-day living.

I have often struggled with this next phrase: “ … who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross … ” My question has been, “How can the cross bring Jesus joy?” my conclusion is this … because He knows that the cross was necessary for salvation to occur for anyone. He willingly “endured the cross, despising the shame” because nothing else could or would accomplish our peace with God. There is no more shameful death than crucifixion. The Romans were masters at it. The victim is stripped naked, physically beaten, suspended on a cross and left to die. If necessary, the shin bones were broken so the victim could not lift himself to take a breath.

Look at the series of events recorded here: (1) Jesus endured the cross, (2) Jesus experienced the same of the crucifixion, and (3) He is not seated at the Father’s right hand (interceding for us). What more could we ask of a Savior? Everything His Father required, He did for us. He was a willing sacrifice, a perfect sacrifice, and a resurrected sacrifice. That was enough for the Father and for us. Just my thoughts …

Do We Need to Change Our Focus?

“For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.” 2 Corinthians 4.16

It is good to look at this verse in connection with its context of vs. 17-18: “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; ¹⁸ While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” In this chapter, Paul is looking at the difference between viewing our temporary life in this body down here on earth and that life which is to come in glory.

In v. 16 he reminds us that our outward man is perishing, but the inward man is being renewed day by day. That may not SEEM very significant, but if we lose sight of the eternal because of the temporal, our life focus changes. Look at this phrase: “the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” It is easy to spend all our time focusing on that which is seen, but at some point, it WILL pass away. Paul reminds us not to forget the eternal. I believe it is vitally important that we remember that “yet the inward man is renewed day by day.” God sees to it, through His Holy Spirit, that our inward man is renewed. That simple truth allows us to keep on going and view the events of time through the lens of eternity. “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” (Romans 8.18) Just my thoughts …

Believe & Confess! Let’s Do Both!

“For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10.10

Over the course of my ministry, I have heard a variety of explanations as to how one gets to heaven. When I was a teenager, I heard a lady say, “Everybody talkin’ ‘bout heav’n ain’t going there.” I thought about that for a while and realized even then that she was right. A lot of people talk about heaven as though they have a guaranteed ticket and can’t wait to get there. But when you ask them about their experience with the Lord, their answer is either vague, or erroneous. Most folk reading these words already know that baptism and church membership have absolutely nothing to do with whether or not one will go to heaven when they die. But when you ask some people the question about going to heaven, their first response is, “I’m a member of ______________ church.” Or, “I was baptized when I was a baby.” Or, “My parents were some of the best Christians I have ever known.” My response to each of these statements and others like them is this, “So?” none of these have any ETERNAL value.

Here is the real statement of belief: “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness … ” Anything in life that is worth believing is worth believing with all my heart. Romans 10.9 tells us: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” This is just another way of stating verse 10. What do you believe with all your heart about God? Is He the only way to heaven – the only source of salvation? That what these verses are telling us. “ … with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Let’s be diligent in confessing with our mouth about this wonderful Savior. Just my thoughts …

Don’t Do It!

“Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.” Exodus 20.16

I don’t know anybody who likes a liar. Someone once said that a person who will lie will do anything. That may or may not be true, but I am not taking a chance on a liar. I have heard people say things like, “There are convenient lies. You know, just to save face.” I don’t know anything that is convenient about a lie.

Have you ever had someone lie about you? I don’t know of anything that is more frustrating than to have someone tell someone else something about me that is NOT true. What is the purpose in doing that? Is it to make oneself look good in comparison to the one about whom they lied? Is it to try to damage the reputation of the one about whom the lie is told? Sometimes we may say things we think are true but find out later they are not true. Do we ever go back and correct our mistake or do we just “let it go”? That is sin.

The words in this verse are a powerful reminder of our responsibility to others. There is NO OCCASION when it is OK to “bear false witness against thy neighbour.” As believers, we have a responsibility to ALWAYS tell the truth, no matter what the cost may be to ourselves. Just my thoughts …

Real Liberty!

“Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” 2 Corinthians 3.17

It seems that so many people who are ot Christ followers view the Christian life as nothing but a set of rules that keeps them from doing all the things that make them happy. That is trying to judge something that you have never experienced. I happen to like to cherry pie. Suppose I said to you that the piece of cherry pie that I was eating was the best I had ever eaten. And then I asked you how it tasted and you had never tasted it. I could not realistically ask you to give me any kind of honest answer. Anything you would say would be at best a guess.

That’s the way it is for those who want to judge Christianity but have never tasted or experienced it. Paul says in the verse above, “where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” Every believer has the spirit of the Lord living within him/her. Since that is the case, then every believer has liberty. What does that mean? Liberty is the ability to do something without fear of punishment. We have liberty because we have the Spirit of God living within us to guide and direct our lives every day. If we fail to allow Him to do that, it is not His fault, it is ours. When you and I fail to yield to the Holy Spirit, He does not force Himself on us and make us obey. Ephesians 5.9-10 says this: “(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) ¹⁰ Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.” Let’s find our liberty today and every day as we yield to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to “(Prove) what is acceptable unto the Lord.” Just my thoughts …

Where Are YOU Looking?

“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. ² My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.” Psalm 121.1-2

Let’s look at v. 2 first: “My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.” Would it be your expectation that the One who made heaven and earth could handle any problem that you encounter? That is certainly my expectation. When I try to absorb what I can see and experience here on the earth, my mind is literally overwhelmed. Yesterday I mowed my grass. I am amazed that the grass even grows and when it does, it seems to grow so quickly. And by the way, what makes it so green? You know what? God did that. So, this God who made heaven and earth can certainly handle ANYTHING that comes into my life that seems to be a problem.

Perhaps a legitimate question would be, “Who you turn to first, when a problem arises?” The natural inclination is to say, “Well, I always turn to God.” But you and I know that isn’t always true. We know it should be, but we know it isn’t always our first response.

1. 1 says, “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help … ” Several years ago my wife and I went to Sedona, AZ to see the Grand Canyon. I still have a volume of pictures on my phone that I look at regularly. The grandeur and majesty portrayed in the Grand Canyon is literally breathtaking. Since the God who “made heaven and earth” is the same One who made the Grand Canyon, it is easy to acknowledge that this is the God “from whence cometh my help … ” I believe we are in pretty good shape when it comes to having Someone help us when any need arises. Don’t you? Just my thoughts …

The Value of Believing!

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” John 3.36

Salvation, as far as you and I are concerned, is a very simple matter … believe on the Son of God. Everything that needed to be done in order for us to be saved was done by God through His Son, Jesus Christ. God did the work. The only thing we are asked to do is BELIEVE. To me, that seems like a very simple thing to do. However, in my hears of ministry I have been amazed at the number of people who seemed content to simply believe ABOUT God. “I believe there is a God. I believe God exists. I believe Jesus died on the cross.” These are all significant statements but they miss the point. They simply state a knowledge ABOUT God, not a belief IN/ON God. Look at the words of the verse again: “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life … ” to believe ON someone or something is to place our absolute trust in that person or thing with no doubt as to its veracity or ability.

The latter part of the verse is equally clear: “he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” We are born into this world in a state of unbelief. If we never do anything to change that, we remain in a state of unbelief and John tells us that the wrath of God abides on the one who does not believe. Everyone we know is born into a state of unbelief. We have a great responsibility to share the message of the gospel with everyone we know. We cannot BELIEVE for them, but we can bring them to a place of believing or remaining in a state of unbelief. Let’s do our job and let the Spirit of God do His job. Just my thoughts …

The Name of the Lord!

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” Proverbs 18.10

Why would anyone say that a name is a strong tower? I suppose it would matter what the name is and what the purpose is for a strong tower. “The name of the Lord is a strong tower … ” The name here is “the name of the LORD … ” That name should provoke respect from each one of us. That name strikes fear into the heart of Satan. What is the purpose of a strong tower? Is it not for protection and perspective? We are SAFE when we are inside the tower. When we take advantage of the unique features of the tower, we are able to gain a different perspective on the events happening around us.

The action described here is important for us to understand. “ … the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” How does one run into the tower of a name? We intentionally place ourselves in the presence of the One whose name we claim. When I am in the Lord’s presence, I am always safe. Why would I NOT want to run to the Lord, not just when I am in need, but also when I just want to fellowship with Him. Christopher Walker wrote a song and the words to the chorus go like this:

At the name of Jesus,
Every knee shall bow,
Every tongue confess him:
King of glory now.
Jesus is Lord king of glory now.

 

What great truth for us to embrace! Just my thoughts …

 

Let’s Do What He Says!

“He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.” John 14.21

This is an interesting verse the Holy Spirit gives us through John’s pen. Observe: “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me:” There are three significant thoughts in this phrase: (1) he that hath my commandments, (2) and keepeth them, (3) he it is that loves me. How do we know what Christ’s commandments are? We are not talking about the Ten Commandments here. We are talking about Christ’s teaching to His children. The only way to KNOW what His commandments are is to spend time in His Word. That seems so elementary, but it is amazing how many of God’s children don’t know what God expects them to do. I cannot keep what I do not know. It is MY responsibility to come to the Word of God and extract from it the teachings that Christ has for me. Jesus concludes this phrase with: “he it is that loveth me.” When we tell someone we love them, they want to see some demonstration of that love. Words are easy, actions are intentional. Jesus is saying, “Show me that you love me by keeping my commandments.”

This last phrase is such an encouragement for each one of us: “and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.” We know that God loves us. Jesus is simply affirming the importance of keeping His commandments so that we can have a deeper sense of God’s love for us. How wonderful it is to have Jesus show Himself to us through experiences is such a way that we are literally overwhelmed with the knowledge of His presence. I hope we can see the importance of keeping the Lord’s commandments on a regular basis. Just my thoughts …

Father’s Day

“Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.” Exodus 20.12

Both of my parents have gone on to be with the Lord, but I am so thankful for the things they taught me by example and in their times of pouring truth into my life. I lost my mother when I was just 11 years old through a car accident. But the things I learned from her and the godly life that she portrayed before me have never been forgotten. I remember seeing her on her knees beside the sofa in our little trailer asking God to “make my son a preacher boy.” How could I forget!

I was able to perform my father’s funeral. He died at age 78. I remember saying to those in attendance that there were some things my father didn’t teach me. He didn’t teach me how to take God’s name in vain. He didn’t teach me how to smoke a cigarette. He didn’t teach me now to drink alcohol. He did teach me how to love God. He did teach me how to be faithful to my church. He did teach me how to love my wife. Those are all valuable lessons.

I would like to think I have been a good father. Time will tell. I never wanted my children to see indifference toward God in anything I did. I always wanted my spouse was loved unconditionally. I always wanted my children to know there was nothing they could do to make me love them more and there was nothing they could do to make me love them less. Let’s make this Father’s Day a time of reflection on God’s goodness to us as the Perfect Father. If your father was not a good father in your eyes, forgive him and look to your Perfect Heavenly Father. Just my thoughts …