Thoughts on Christ and His Word

Isaac Newton was a famous physicist, mathematician, and theologian among other things.  What does that mean?  He was smarter than you and I put together. He is known for coming up with Newton's Laws of Motion.   His third law of motion says the following:  "To every action there is always an equal and opposite reaction".   In the physical world that means that if Johnny pushes (action) Susie, Susie will fall to the ground (reaction).   But there is another reaction that Newton didn't really discuss --- and that's "emotional reaction".  This is when Susie stands up and yells nasty things at Johnny. In his book  Primal , Pastor Mark Batterson writes  "It's much easier to act like a Christian than it is to react like one.  Anyone can put on an act.  But your reactions reveal what is really in your heart.  And if you love God with all your heart  you won't just act like it.  You'll react like it." How do you react when

Bees weren't made just to produce honey and butterflies weren't made just to look pretty.  All things were made for the ultimate purpose of bringing glory to God - even you and me. For all things were created by him, and all things exist through him and for him. To God be the glory forever! Amen. Romans 11:36 GNT You and I are included in "all things".  I was created by God and "for him".  I cannot live to satisfy my selfish pleasures. I must live to bring maximum glory to God. Even a glass of water that I drink can bring glory to God if I give God thanks for it. Well, whatever you do, whether you eat or drink, do it all for God's glory. 1 Corinthians 10:31 GNT

People always invent stupid arguments to justify doing whatever their selfish selves want to do. In Paul’s day some were claiming that since their sin made God look more holy then, why did God condemn them?  They were making God look good by sinning.  In fact they said “let's do evil that good may result” "But," some might say, "our sinfulness serves a good purpose, for it helps people see how righteous God is. Isn't it unfair, then, for him to punish us?" (This is merely a human point of view.) 6 Of course not! If God were not entirely fair, how would he be qualified to judge the world? 7 "But," someone might still argue, "how can God condemn me as a sinner if my dishonesty highlights his truthfulness and brings him more glory?" 8 And some people even slander us by claiming that we say, "The more we sin, the better it is!" Those who say such things deserve to be condemned. Romans 3:5-8 Paul doesn't even address

At some point in our Christian walk all of experience doubts of various kinds.  One question that used to enter my mind a lot as a young Christian was "Am I really saved?  Did I put my faith in Christ for real?" Although obsessing over that question is not healthy, especially since I prayed to receive Christ many, many times (just in case), it is a valid question.  But perhaps the best indicator of whether someone really put their faith in Christ is TIME. Look at what the Apostle John wrote: They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us. 1 John 2:19 Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 2 John 9 John says that a person who leaves the body of believers and walks away from the TRUTH found in Christ, by so doin

Many times after playing football or basketball I stink.  Not even my wife wants anything to do with me until after I shower.  So much for unconditional love. But what do I smell like to God? But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. 15 For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.  2 Cor 2:14-15 To God I smell like Christ.  Since we who are saved have the Spirit of Christ in us, we smell like Christ to God. It's a good smell.  In fact we are the "aroma of Christ" .  The word "aroma" in Greek means a "sweet, savory smell". We smell sweet to God.   As our heavenly Father smells Christ's sweet aroma and loves Him with unconditional love, so He smells the sweetness of Christ in each of us and loves us with deep unmerited and unconditional love.

When one of my sons was young, he decided to close a door while his finger was between the crack on the hinges side.  Needless to say, he broke and bloodied his finger.  He learned an important lesson that day - if you're going to stick your finger in the crack of the hinges-side of the door, leave the door open. The Apostle Paul also had an Open Door lesson - when God opens a door for effective ministry, run right through it. Paul told the Corinthians: I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, 9 because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.  1 Cor 16:8-9 Apparently  many were getting saved and lives were being changed in Ephesus.  He didn't want to miss this great opportunity that God was giving to him to bear much fruit.  So he stayed in Ephesus for two years (longer than any other city he had been in) discipling, healing and preaching the gospel: This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who l

Many people avoid reading the Old Testament of the Bible because some of it seems boring.  But the stories are fascinating. We can learn a lot about God from the stories of Joseph, Abraham, David, Ruth, and others. Paul wrote in Romans 15:4: For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. So the O.T was written to encourage us to endure on our faith because God was faithful back then and He will be faithful now.

Jesus gave the fast-track to leadership: But Jesus called them to  Himself  and said, You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them.   Yet  it shall not be so among you; but  whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.   And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave. Matthew 20:25-27 NKJV Do you want to be a leader with others following you?  Learn to serve. Ask others the question Jesus asked the two blind men:  "What do you want me to do for you?" Matthew 20:32

Seth Godin, a guy who is kind of a guru of marketing and business wrote the following blog on anxiety which I thought was very good and biblical: "Perhaps your anxiety is specific to magicians" I found that quote in a strangely-translated instruction manual for an obscure but beautiful trick. But it has wide applicability. Perhaps your anxiety is specific to artists or musicians or to anyone who has to stand up and stand out and stand for something. It turns out that your anxiety isn't specific at all. Perhaps it is due to the fact that you're trying to control things that you can't possibly control. Your anxiety might merely be a sign that you care deeply about your work. Anxiety is almost never a useful emotion to carry around. Even for magicians. Now that you've been reminded that you care, it pays to let the anxiety go.  Good riddance. Here is the biblical exhortation: Do not be anxious about anything, but in eve

At the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Benjamin Franklin said "We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately".  He knew that unity was the key to victory in the fight against tyranny. As Christians, we face a greater threat than King George of England.  The Devil has a global kingdom full of demonic minions ready to pounce on us at the slightest sign of weakness.  One of the greatest weaknesses of Christians in the free world is their tendency to disunite - to leave their fellow believers over the smallest of issues.  Gossip, arrogance, slander, holding on to grudges, and the like have separated many a Christian from his/her church. God wants us to GROW UP and learn to forgive and to confront others in love so that his family (the church) could enjoy love and peace.  A church that can do this is a mature church full of the Holy Spirit and will bring maximum glory to God. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit

“Drop ‘Loyalty’ from your vocabulary”.  These were the words of Pastor Andy Stanley to a crowd of pastors and other Christian leaders.  He followed that up with a statement that loyalty didn’t even make it to the “fruit of the Spirit” list. While I’m sure he believes in loyalty, Andy understands that loyalty is not something we demand from people; it is something people freely give.  Loyalty is earned by leaders who through love and service have won the hearts of faithful friends and followers.  In the Bible there are many examples of loyalty, perhaps none more famous that Ruth’s loyalty to her mother-in-law, Naomi.  But Naomi did not demand it; just the opposite, she urged Ruth to return to her people and remarry after the death of her husband (Naomi’s son).  But Ruth remained loyal. Naomi had obviously been a great mother-in-law to Ruth, so Ruth was not about to let her go alone. So Ruth uttered those famous words to Naomi: “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn b

I got pooped on by a bird today.  I was sitting under a tree reading my Bible.  A bird was perched on a limb of that same tree, right above me.  The bird had to take care of his business, so he just let it fly---right on me.  Why was I pooped on today?  Because the Law of Gravity states: "You sit under a bird that needs to poop; you get pooped on". Minutes before I got pooped on I read this: The LORD has brought her grief because of her many sins.  Lamentations 1:5b The verse is talking about the city of Jerusalem.  The Lord summoned the Babylonians to destroy the inhabitants of Jerusalem because of their many sins.  The Law of God says: " the LORD disciplines those he loves " (Proverbs 3:12).  Discipline always involves pain and grief.   So as surely as poop falls on a person who sits under a tree with a pooping bird in it, so grief and discipline will come upon those whose life is full of sins.  The Law of Cause and Effect rules.

A lot of people hate tattoos.  Many others sport them with great enthusiasm. Many people get a tattoo to honor their girlfriends or mother or other significant people in their lives.  Some have had to erase ex-girlfriends names from their arms or backs (ouch, I think that must hurt). I don't know if what God is describing is a tattoo, but look at what he says through Isaiah: "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne?   Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands... Isaiah 49:15-16 Is an engraving in the hand a tattoo? I'll let you decide. But here's the greater point - God will never forget about you.  No matter how low in life you are, how terrible you feel, how beaten up Satan has you, God says " I will not forget you!" Next time you feel lonely, unloved, forgotten, or despised, REMEMBER that God has your name  engraved on the palm of

Country Singer Brad Paisley wrote a song called “Waiting on a Woman”.  In it an old man tells his story how since 1952 he’s been waiting on his wife who makes him late everywhere – but he’s learned not to mind, because she is worth the wait. Well I still haven’t learned to patiently wait on my wife, but one thing I know, God wants us to learn to wait on Him: 15  This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says:  “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it…  18  Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him! Isaiah 30:15-18 To wait on God is to trust Him in every situation of my life.  Singles want to get married yesterday; Businessmen want to get promoted “right now”; sick people want to be healed “today”; and those in economic crisis want to win the lotto just this once. But God wants

Leadership is a choice you make, not a place you sit.  Anyone can choose to become a leader wherever he is.  You can make a difference no matter where you are.  –John Maxwell Israel had many political leaders who were not biblical leaders: Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, 2 to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless. Isaiah 10:1-2 We have too many who sit in positions of leadership, in business, in political offices, and even in the church who are not biblical leaders.  Instead of having a “Serving” mentality they have a “Serve-us” mentality.  They rule only to serve themselves at the expense of the people they are supposed to lead.

Recently I read the story of a rural South Carolina church that has about 200 members and a 200 year history. It had never sent out a missionary and not one of its members had ever gone on a short-term mission trip.  To their credit, they had given money to help other missionaries, but as to personal involvement they were a zero. A new pastor came in whose heart God touched in the area of missions.  As he explored the possibilities of doing some mission work, God led him and a few from his church to Mali, Africa.  Once they returned and reported that quite a few former Muslims had put their faith in Christ, the church got excited and more of them joined in future trips.  Teams from this church are now going to Mali about every six weeks to preach Christ and disciple those whom have believed. Each believer who goes to Mali must pay their own way – over $4,000 each trip.  Some have gone multiple times.  They’re not rich – remember they’re from rural South Carolina.  But what th

Have you ever thought of how cool it would be to rule the world?  To be the King or Queen of the planet? God created us to rule - not for our selfish purposes, but to help Him rule the world for his glory.  Consider God’s instructions to the first humans: Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." Genesis 1:26 Mankind was to “rule” over all the animals and over all the earth.  God created us to reign with Him. Sin entered the earth and we became bad rulers.  We killed each other, abused one another, and were possible tyrannically ruled over others for our glory, not His. But for those of us who have trusted in Christ and made him Lord over our life, we get to somewhat regain that original purpose.  We lead churches, small groups, ministries, and even Sunday school to e

“without faith it is impossible to please God” Hebrews 11:6 If we want to please God, we are going to have to learn to grow in faith. Even before my kids could swim I used to put them at the edge of the pool.  I would be in the pool and tell them to “jump, daddy will catch you.”  Then I would move out of the way and let them drown (just kidding).  I would catch them every time and then have them do it again. At first they hesitated to jump.  Fear griped their heart.  They weren’t sure they could trust me or if I was strong enough to hold them up and keep them from drowning.  But after one or two jumps they put complete faith in me, that I would not let them drown. Similarly God will also ask us to jump (stretch our faith) so that He can catch us and our faith will grow.  Stretching our faith involves attempting things for God in which success can only come through God’s power. Paul jumped when God asked him to be the Apostle to the gentiles – to go on missiona