Do you not know you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
1 Corinthians 3:16
God lives in us and we are filled with His Spirit. We should not be surprised when this spills out on those around us. We are to take the Gospel to the world, and God has equipped us well for this task.
Enjoy the journey.
For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55:8-9
In 2005, I was completing my undergraduate degree at Bowling Green State University in Ohio. I soon became aware that as a Christian I was in the minority. In a community awash with intellectualism, there was a void of spirituality. Morality was based upon popular cultural norms. I could not see how God could use this environment for His good.
I took a women’s studies class that hit every hot button issue there was involving women, including abortion. Initially most of the students said they saw no problem with abortion because it was a personal choice. I said that the problem with abortion was not only the question of whether a fetus was human or not, but the long term psychological implications for the women. The instructor and many of the students opposed my view as being pro-life rhetoric.
The film had a dramatic emotional effect on the students. After viewing the film many students were horrified by what they saw. Several cried. One young man said, “I may never have sex again. I could never put a girlfriend through that.”
What happened? God opened His loving arms and embraced those students with His love and changed their hearts.
Who would have thought a secular film could accomplish that? The truth is, God hijacked what Hollywood made and turned things upside down.
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither …thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you; but you were sanctified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
For some reason we all like it when the preacher unloads on someone else for their sins. That’s what it sounded like the Apostle Paul was doing, and then he added, “Such were some of you….”
God does not rank sin by degrees. The drunkard who goes to work every day is a drunkard the same as the drunkard who is passed out on the street. No better and no worse are any of us in God’s eyes. We are all sinners and we all are sanctified by the Lord Jesus Christ. God looks at us and we are squeaky clean.
God says you are good enough. Ask Him into your heart today.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
Galatians 5:25
David L. Brooks wrote an article “Perceptions of religion collide with inner faith” (Toledo Blade. January 29, 2014. P. 9). Mr. Brooks said that religious people often behave in ways that contrast with the faith they profess to possess and that is why they are often considered to be “judgmental, hypocritical, old fashioned, and out of touch.” I think he is right to some extent. We may seem too holy or too busy being martyred to be taken seriously. Or, worse yet, we may take being right as being more important than being merciful.
In any case, if we Christians want to shake things up regarding popular opinions of “religious people” then the way to do it is to be the best that Christianity has for us. When we reek of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, we show the world the love of God and the love of Jesus and that is something that is hard to argue with and hard to resist.
We are called to take the Gospel to the world, and a good way to do that is to serve it up with the fruit of the Spirit.
A gentle answer turns away wrath,
But a harsh word stirs up anger.
Proverbs 15:1
Sometimes we become roaring angry because someone says or does something to us. Maybe your car got ran into or someone mistreated your child or it is an offhand remark that we take a little too personally. And, maybe we are perfectly justified to be angry or maybe not.
However, before we fire off our mouth and make a bad situation worse or stir up a fist fight, we need to pause and calm down. Grandma said we should count to ten before we speak, but it might be better to count to fifty. Then choose our words carefully so we make peace.
The time to defuse a volatile situation is before it gets volatile.
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
2 Corinthians 5:17
For those of us who have family and friends who live lives which are in violation of the laws of man and God, we have hope that they will know the transforming power of God’s love and undergo the ultimate makeover into children of God.
We thank God for things to come.
In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord, Jesus, that He Himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
Acts 20:35
We are all born selfish. We come into this world wanting what we want and wanting it now. It is a giant spiritual step to give to others. And, it is a step which changes our hearts.
Some people make it to adulthood without ever taking the step of generosity. The good news is that it is never too late to be generous. The act of giving to others helps others and it gives us joy.
When we give, we get blessed.
John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sin.
And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem: and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.
John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist, and his diet was locusts and wild honey.
And he was preaching and saying, “After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals. I baptize you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
Mark 1:4-9
God chooses who He chooses to be His messenger. We can get so wrapped up in the image we want for our church or our Christianity that we miss what God is trying to tell us.
John the Baptist was outlandish in his appearance, but the words of his message were ordained by God and brought people to Christ.
When it comes to the message of the Gospel, it is more important that it is delivered than who makes the delivery. If someone’s appearance is not to our liking, perhaps we need to close our eyes and listen to what they have to say. We might be surprised to find that the one who is not exactly who we expected has a message from God we need.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.
Psalm 118:8
The latest innovation in traffic control here in Ohio is the roundabout. Until a few years ago, these were unknown in Ohio; then the Highway Department started building them and roundabouts became the darling of road construction.
Many drivers are confounded by roundabouts. They do not understand that all traffic flows to the right and that they must turn right to get onto the circle and turn right to get off the circle. All the signs point to the right, but drivers still go the wrong way.
Sometimes that’s what happens to us when we find ourselves in a new situation. All the signs point us in the right direction, but we can’t decide what to do because we are over advised by friends and foes. That’s when it is a good time to take a break and pray for guidance.
When we look to God, He will point us in the right direction.
The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and delivers them.
Psalm 34:7
When we are afraid we need to remember that God has given His angels charge over us. God promises to deliver us and that promise is good enough for me.
Fear not, God’s angels are standing guard.
But if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.
1 Peter 4:16
People love to gossip and create a sense of wrong where there is no wrong. Past sins, which are forgiven and forgotten by God, make great conversation. It happens in the world and in the church. Those who specialize in delivering guilt and shame use it as a wicked weapon to try to destroy the confidence we have in Christ.
We are not ashamed, we are forgiven. We belong to God and He loves us. Nothing man can say or do can change that.
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
Ephesians 2:10
As Christians we do good works because we have this irresistible urge to make the world a better place for everyone. We may be thanked and we may not; it really doesn’t matter. We do what we do, because this is what God made us for.
Mother Teresa said, “The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow. Do good anyway.”
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
Romans 8:18
We all have times when things are not going so well. We can take comfort in knowing that this too will pass, because life is a series of cycles - some good and a few not so good.
So, don't get too bogged down when things seem not so good. Remember it will be OK and you will be OK.
And, know God's greater glory will be revealed
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
James 1:2-4
A few years ago, after we experience many trials we learned to recognize what trials we need to work on fixing, and what trials are just trials which we must go through and come out on the other side. Let’s face it, there are somethings which we cannot do anything about and worrying and concocting possible solutions will do nothing to change the outcome.
In all trials we can turn to God and ask for direction and the strength to do that which He would have us to do. If the answer is “nothing” then we need to have faith that God has it under control and stop stressing and worrying about it.
So, give those pesky trials over to God and have faith that God’s plans are far superior to anything we can concoct on our own.
I am praying for you, and if you will, pray for me.
Amen.
…the Lord spoke to Joshua…
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9
Are not five sparrows sold for two cents? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God. Indeed the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.
Luke 12:6-7
God loves every one of us. He has a mission for us. We are not all going to be famous or rocket scientist smart, but we are all needed to fulfill God’s plans.
We may think that a small kindness we show is nothing in the big picture, but the little things we do can change lives.
So, when you feel you should call a friend or take a plate of cookies to a neighbor or say a kind word to a stranger, do it. The very thing you do may be the only kindness a person experiences in a day.
We are God’s earthly agents and it is our mission to show His love to everyone.
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39
We can run and we can hide, but the love of God will find us. So, whether you are down in the dumps or flying high on a mountain top, remember this, nothing we do will separate us from God's love.
Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.”
Mark 2:27
Sunday is for you to do what you want to do. Relax, take a walk, visit family or friends, tend your children or go to church. Just remember, it is a day for you to recharge and know God cares all about you.
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty.
2 Corinthians 3:17
We think of liberty as the ability and the right to do whatever we want to do, but liberty in the Spirit is much more than doing what we want, it is the right to be liberal with the grace of God and with the love of Christ.
We become more merciful toward others and more sensitive to the needs of others. We are less narrow minded and better at seeing all sides of social issues. We are no longer trapped by our need to be right and free to minister to those with whom we differ.
Liberty in Christ makes us better human beings and isn’t that what God wants for us?
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works….
Hebrews 10:24
How do we get out of a slump? You know what I mean. It’s cold outside. We want to stay home and read or watch television or surf the net.
The best way to get stirred up is to go somewhere where there are people. We don’t have to spend money; we can go to the park for a walk or the library or if we are bold, try a new group or a new hobby.
You could join a Bible study and see what others are thinking and saying about the Word of God, and in the process enjoy some Christian fellowship.
The point is that God made us to be social creatures and when we socialize with others we are inspired and gravitate to projects we can do together.
So, put on your coat and your boots and go somewhere and stir and be stirred.
Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly I say to you they have their reward in full.
But you when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done will reward you.
Matthew 6:16-18
Jesus knows that when life gets difficult we spend more time praying and seeking God. He also knows that sometimes our problems overtake us and we let everything slide.
I think that Jesus tells us to put on our poker face so that that which we find so burdensome does not define us. Our outward appearance speaks to our inward condition. While it is true that for the most part we really do not look at each other, if one of us is a real mess we do notice.
So, we pray and we believe God will take care of all our problems, and then we wash our face, comb our hair and put on a clean shirt and go about living and greeting others in the name of Christ.
Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts, or a bag for your journey, or even two coats, or sandals, or a staff; for the worker is worthy of his support.
Matthew 10:9-10
When Jesus sent the Disciples out to preach the Gospel, He did not tell them to bring a U-Haul trailer full of equipment, He said, “Go, preach….”
When we go out to share the Gospel we need to take this to heart. There are critics who will tell you that you should not be sharing the Gospel or offering help and advice to people who have problems because “you’re not so perfect…. You have this and this and this that is wrong in your life.”
Jesus did not say, “Be ye perfect.” He said, “Go, preach… heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons….”
We should listen to our hearts not our critics, and minister to hurting people by praying with them and sharing the Gospel.
Travel light and take the light of the Gospel to the World.
And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you.”
Matthew 24:4
We being Christians sometimes like to think well of people's intentions. We may not take time to think about what they are saying or suggesting. What complicates this more is that we are afraid to challenge people who we think are smart or powerful or seem to have a following.
I do not like to say we are gullible, but sometimes we are and this is not good.
Even the Disciples, who walked with Jesus, were subject to this and that is why Jesus warned them about false teachers who bent and twisted and added to the Word of God to appear to be followers of Christ or prophets of God.
This caution is for us today, too. When we hear a new teaching and we think it does not sound right, we can to do a comparison of what is being taught and what the Bible says. If the new teaching lines up with what the Bible says, then it is acceptable for us to consider, but if the new teaching violates the principles of the Bible, then we need to run away.
And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.
I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men but on the power of God.
1 Corinthians 2:1-5
The Apostle Paul was an educated man and was capable of throwing around a lot of big words and complicated ideas, yet when it came time for him to preach the Gospel; he chose to present the Gospel in words that everyone could understand. He did not present the Gospel as something to be debated. He presented the Gospel as the truth.
So, when you have an opportunity to share the Gospel, do not hesitate to speak. Your ability to lead others to Christ does not rest on big words, but on the power of the Word of God.
Learn the Romans road to salvation and share the Gospel:
Romans 3:23
Romans 6:23
Romans 5:8
Romans 10:13
Romans 10:9-10.
Happy traveling.
For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
2 Timothy 1:7
It is easy for someone to say “get a grip,” when they are not the one who is upset or stressed or worried. We in and of ourselves have nothing to grip, but we do have our faith that God is on our side and that He will take care of us and all our needs.
If we believe that God’s word is true, then we can know that God is in control and that He is watching out for us. We cannot change anything by worrying, but we can change our attitude to one of trusting God.
Memorize this scripture and when anxiety reaches out to grab you, say this out loud once or twice or three times or more. Let your heart and mind find peace.
The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease,
For His compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“Therefore I have hope in Him.”
The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,
To the person who seeks Him.
Lamentations 3:22-25
Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise;
When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.
Proverbs 17:28
I am a talker. Sometimes I do not know when to shut up. My foot is frequently in my mouth. It took me a long time before I realized this about myself. Then I began to understand the power of silence. Silence sends a message because even when we are not talking we are communicating.
This is not to say that when we see wrong doing that we should not speak up and defend the defenseless, but to say we need to know when to stop talking and listen.
I will add that the ability to talk with people and take an interest in people goes a long way when it comes to taking the Gospel to the world. While it would be nice if the world showed up at church and the pastor could do all the work that is not the way it works. Even the Apostles had to go out and talk to people to get them to the point where they were interested in the Gospel message.
So, if you are a talker like me, maybe you can talk a little less and if you are quiet maybe you can talk a little more, and we will see if we can fill up the Church with new faces for the New Year.
And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt:
“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself; ‘God I thank You that I am not like other people: Swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
‘I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’
But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast saying, ‘God be merciful to me, the sinner!’
"I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Luke 18:9-14
We think we are nice. And, for the most part we are, but you and I both know that occasionally our own opinions about ourselves can get in the way of what God wants us to do and be.
Jesus wants us to remember that we are all sinners and that we are all forgiven by grace, not because of anything we do. We live righteous lives not so people will think well of us, but because it is what Jesus would have us to do.
And, likewise, Jesus wants us to be merciful to those who struggle in life. Not everyone can be wealthy and not everyone has an easy ride in overcoming sin, but just the same, salvation through Jesus Christ is available to everyone, and we need to be mindful of this and keep our less than kind judgements to ourselves.
Be thankful, be merciful and be kind.
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts than your thoughts.”
Isaiah 55:8-9
We think we have everything figured out and then BAM! Everything falls apart or at least that is what we think.
God’s plans are much more complicated than our plans and reach far beyond the here and now. What we think is a mess may be God sorting things out and into the proper order for what He has a mind to do.
This can be hard to accept when the car won’t start or when our human relationships fall apart or when the bills pile up, but what we need to keep in mind is that we are part of God’s plan and that when everything seems out of balance we need to watch out because God is going to do something.
Remember, things are not falling apart, they are falling into place.
Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
Isiah 43:18-19
Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The Everlasting God, the Lord, the creator of the ends of the earth
Does not become weary or tired.
His understanding is inscrutable.
He gives strength to the weary,
And to him who lacks might He increases power.
Though youths grow weary and tired,
And vigorous young men stumble badly,
Yet those who wait for the Lord
Will gain new strength;
They will mount up with wings like eagles,
They will run and not get tired,
They will run and not become weary.
Isaiah 40:28-31
A New Year inspires us to think that things will be different. We make resolutions to change our lives. We gain new confidence that the New Year will bring better things. We are on a positive self-possessed roll.
Then a couple days later we wake up and discover that nothing has changed. Last year’s problems still dog us. Our boss is still mean, the car won’t start and we, who felt so empowered, are once again feeling defeated. Why is this?
Perhaps we missed something and that something is that God has a plan, and that plan includes us and everything that happens to us. Every day we are given opportunities to see the hand of God moves in our lives and opportunities to tell others how God has blessed us and will bless them too.
In the New Year we can change our attitude to one of praising God and thankfulness for even the smallest victories in life. Life will not be perfect, but God is perfect and He loves us and for us.
God promises us power and strength. Let us claim those promises.
Happy New Year!
