Listening and Living in His Law

Proverbs 28:9
He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.

God has given us His law. Now some would say that it is a law hard to keep and grevious and others would say His law is gracious that guides and governs our lives.

The law of God is first of all pure and holy. Pure to the point that it is the only real truth for our lives. We spend so much of our time searching for the truth and it is found in the law of God. David said that God's Word was the truth and he rejoiced in reading it.

God's Word is holy! Holiness is a lost word among the world today and sadly even with Christians. God's law demands holiness. Holiness is righteous living. Knowing that God's Word is right and living according to its teaching is striving for holiness. You may think it is being perfect and always being the best but it is our striving for holiness that we need. How can we accomplish this difficult task? Living in the law of God.

Now before you leave for the day this morning please understand that I'm not talking about being a legalistic lawyer for God or the soul patrol. I'm speaking about you living according to God's Word.

Could you imagine God not answering or hearing your prayer because you aren't following Him? God desires for us to follow His Word and live by His law.

Just Thinking

Psalms 119:59

I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.

Sometimes we need to stop and think about things. We should look BACK and see where we have come from. We should to AT where we are right now. See if anything has changed for the better or gotten worse. Then we should look FORWARD. Look at where we need to be in the days ahead. 

David tells us that he was thinking about his ways. Can you take the time this morning, before you do anything else, to evaluate your life? To sit for a moment and take an inventory?  Please just try it for 5 minutes. That's not much time. While you're thinking on your ways, ask yourself these questions. 

Looking Back...

  - What did I do right? Keep those things

  - What did I do wrong? Let those things fall away

  - What did God bring me through?

Looking At...

  - Where is my relationship with Christ right now?

  - What am I doing right?

  - What am I doing wrong?

Looking Forward...

  - Where do I want my relationship to go with Jesus?

  - What can I do right?

  - What can help me to stay away from wrong?

After David thought on his ways, he did the only thing he knew to do, which was/is the best thing we could ever do. He turned to the testimonies (The Word) of God. As you look back, look to His a Word for forgiveness. As you look at, Look to His Word for direction. And as you look forward, look to His Word for his will.  

Think about it...

Alone With God

Genesis 32:24

And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.

Our biggest fear sometimes is being left alone. Especially when firey trials come our way. But have you ever given thought to the fact that God may be doing something great in your life?  Through the greatest temperatures and pressures, we have our most beautiful diamonds. Through the furnace fires we create the purest of gold and silver. 

Do you ever feel singled out?  Like you are the only one going through something?  Maybe it's our God trying His best to get you alone. 

Look at what happened with Jacob when he got alone with God. Some say, that he was hurt by God and never the same. That is partially right. He was never the same again. 

Have you taken time to get alone with God today?  Have you found the desire to be alone with our great a God?  Don't let go because it gets difficult, Hang on!  Keep wrestling with God. 

Call Thy Husband

John 4:16
Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither.

What could have been wrong with this statement? Why would this statement make this woman crawfish backwards? It's because Jesus was speaking about more than a so-called husband. He was addressing this woman and her sin. In actuality He was asking this woman to bring her sin. No, her husband wasn't sin, although he was living in sin. Jesus was addressing the heart and sin of this woman.

If you can go back this morning and read the whole chapter you will see that there is an automatic division from the beginning. Jesus was "the Jew" and the woman was "the Samaritan". So from the beginning there was a division. Not because of Jesus, but because of the Jews and Samaritans. Then the conversation moves from her thinking that He is just a Jew to her referring to Him as "Sir". But then Jesus went and done something like this. He brought up her sinful life. How dare He do such a thing! We must bring our sin to Him for the forgiveness and salvation that we need. If we don't address the sin, then we cannot receive the living water.

When this command was given by Jesus the conversation took a nose dive. She quickly went back to the Jew/Samaritan debate. She told Him that her people says we should worship in this mountain but the Jews say we should worship in Jerusalem. Trying to divert the command of bringing her sin.

This morning, and every morning, don't get caught in the diversions of the flesh. All of that is smoke and mirrors. It is just an avoidance of the true matter at hand. Her worship would have been in vain if she had done it on Mt. Gerizim with the Samaritans or with the Jews in Jerusalem because she never confronted her sin, nor believed upon Christ.

When Will You Believe

Matthew 19:25-26

When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

Doubt, fear and disbelief. Those are killers among today's people. No one is courageous because they just failing. No one is fearless because of the fearful times we are living in. No one believes because so many people have let them down before. This isn't a new concept. Look in the Bible...

- In Genesis 18 – God told Abraham about his son, and Sarah laughed

- In Exodus 14 – Moses leads out God’s people and they didn’t believe

- In 1 Samuel 17 – David fought Goliath and the people ridiculed him

- In Jeremiah – God called Jeremiah to preach but he said, “I’m just a child”

The difference is... The world tells you to believe in yourself and you can do anything. But God's Word says to trust in Him because without Him you can do nothing. "With men" it is impossible, but "with God" ALL things are possible. 

So, when will you believe?  Will you believe that you can do nothing without Him?  Will you believe that you could have nothing without Him?  Will you believe that you can receive everything WITH Him?  Trust in Him today!

Work While We Are Up!

John 9:4
I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

Since I was seven years old this verse has been quoted to me. On the days I wanted to sleep in, because I stayed up late playing games, my dad would wake me up repeating this verse to me again and again. Soon enough it got to where I would finish it for him. "I know, I know, the night cometh when no man can work" I would say. Well this scripture has now become one of my favorite verses to repeat. During these summer months my boys have aquired a couple of yards to cut. They love making the money, it's what you have to do to get the money which is a struggle for them. Getting up early so that the heat isn't so bad is just one of the details that they don't like.

The other day we worked and worked until we just fell out. I had so much to do around the house and really needed the help from the whole family. Well all of the sudden everyone went missing. I was alone in my work. When I came around to the back of the house, my oldest son said, "All rise, our leader is coming."  That's when I proceeded to tell him, "We must work while it is...." He said, "Hold up, our scripture is work while we're up." He said this because we had worked for a couple of days from daylight till dark. At one point I sat in a rocker for a moment but then grabbed the broom. He looked at his mom and said, "Why can't he stop? He's sitting down and still sweeping."

Every since I was young a "finish the job" work ethic was taught to me. What if I apply that attitude to my walk and witness with Jesus? We need to work, or labor, for Christ today while we have the light because night is coming when we wont be able to work. The labor is out there. The souls are hungry. We the Chrsitans need to get up and go to work.

What To Do...What To Do?

Psalms 89:1
I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.

Have you ever been faced with the situation of what to do or which way to go? If you're anything like me you face this on a daily basis. Sometimes it is so difficult to know what to do that all I can do is bow on my knees and ask God for the guidance. Maybe this morning you are facing a mountain situation and you are struggling with which path to choose. Let me say this... Pray. Just be honest and open with the Lord and ask Him for the wisdom that you need.

When this Psalm was written it was during one of Israel's worse times. King David had committed adultery, committed murder and now his very own son, Absalom, was fighting against him. His family, his kingdom and his heart was in a million pieces. Because of his sin and the sins of his sons, trying to figure out what to do isn't coming easy to him. It is much like our families, nation and friends today. We find ourselves saying, "What to do...what to do?"

David made a decision in his heart. He said, "I will sing of the mercies of the Lord..." I don't know of any other thing to do than to sing of the mercy of the Lord. Notice how long David determined to sing of this... "forever". Have you made that decision? No matter what happens, no matter what bridges, no matter what valleys, no matter what sin, no matter what situation... Will you sing of the mercy of my Lord forever?

Because David made a decision with his heart to sing of the Lord he made actions with his mouth to make known the faithfulness of God unto all generations. How could someone who was going through so much difficulties say something like this? Because David finally stopped relying on himself and said, "What to do...what to do? I know! I'll thank God for his forgiving mercy and trust His faithfulness through this storm."

The Honorable Judge "______" Presiding

James 5:9
Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.

What is a grudge? The Bible defines this word as a groan or sigh. It tells us that Jesus sighed and looked up to Heaven for His Father to open the mouth and ears of a man. Paul uses this word as groan in the explaining of our bodies groaning for deliverance. He says that this tabernacle groans (sighs) because it is burdened. In these scriptures the same Greek word is used here in James, but the application is different.

He tells us that we should not grudge (groan or sigh) against another brother or sister in Christ. We should not be divided and grieve one another. We are to be known in this world by our love for one another and not our grudging against one another. Do you see how different this words meaning can become because of the word "against"?

Look at what James says... "Lest ye be condemned:..." How can we be condemned? Is it because the other person that we are grudging against us is eventually going to judge us? It very well could be. Maybe it's because someday we will stand before Christ and give an account of our grudging? This is true. Someday we will give an account of our actions and even our thoughts before the Lord Jesus, but look closer in the context of this scripture.

"Behold, the judge (lower case) standeth before the door." That's right! The one who is doing the grudging could eventually find out that you are condemning yourself. It may just be you who is presiding as the honorable, or probably humbled and embarrassed, judge at the door. One person said it like this... "Be careful when you point your finger at someone (grudge against them) because three more are pointed back at you." Too often Christians blow their sighs at those who have fallen only to find themselves in the same situation shortly. Look at what God tells us to actually do when we see someone who has fallen to sin.

Galatians 6:1
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

So don't just blow your hot air (grudging) about the wrong of the brethren, help them understand the truth of the error. Because it could be you in the defendants seat some day.

What A Rose Says

1 John 4:19
We love him, because he first loved us.

Tomorrow is my anniversary. Tomorrow I will have been married to the love of my life for 17 years. I never in my imagined that it could get better and better. That feeling that we shared on our wedding day is actually stronger now. I know you're thinking that there is no way you could feel any more emotional than you did on your wedding day, but I honestly do. Let me share something with you and how I feel about this woman named Patti Abney.

We have not always gotten things right. In every marriage there are times where it is difficult to find the right words.  It is easiest to hurt who we most love.  It is easiest to be most hurt by who we love most. It might be difficult sometimes to say the words, “I am sorry” or “I forgive you”, “I need you” or “I am hurting”.  Our marriage has had its share of petals and thorns. But through it all, she loves me and I love her. She makes it easy to love her, because she loves me.

Everyday of our lives we have told one another that we love each other. In the mornings after prayer, at 6:28am when she texts me before I begin my bus route, after my bus route, after every phone call or text, throughout the day and always before we go to sleep. "I love you" is so simple. So simple that sometimes it can seem shallow and not carry the weight that you want it to, just like roses. A rose many times can be commercialized and shallow, but a rose says, "I Love You."

A couple of years back, my wife and I planted a climbing rose at the front walk of our home.  It has bloomed every year since. What a beautiful picture, a picture of the life with each other, and that marriage comes with thorns and beauty.  It's a reminder of our love for one another. It says there will be days of sunshine and days of clouds, but I am here and I love you. But as I thought on it more and more, it reminds me of the rose of Sharon, Jesus Christ, and what He did for us years ago.

See He was the broken rose, beaten, battered, and crucified.  But the greatness of the story is that on the third day He came out of Death and the Tomb.  He now blooms in our hearts and lives. Now when I feel as if I failed Him, or as you may feel sometimes that it’s just an ordinary day, I look out our window or doorway and there in fullness is that beautiful rose, a true symbol of Jesus, in full bloom to remind me of His sacrifice and love for me.  It simply says, “Steve, I love you”.

SAVED!

Titus 2:11-14
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

What Grace, what Amazing Grace! Doesn't it just make you wanna shout? The Grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. Everyone, not just some men. Not a selection of men and women that are good enough. But the Grace of God has appeared unto ALL men. From those men and women that have kept themselves clean and pure from the desecration of this world to the men and women who have done just about every foul, nasty, disgusting thing you could hear about.

I'm so excited this morning to be saved! Saved from the man that I used to be. Saved unto the man God desires me to be. Saved by His power divine. Saved to new life sublime. Saved, Saved, Saved! To most people being "saved" is just a coined term for those church-goers. All they ever talk about is being "saved" or "have you been saved?" They may even say, "Why in the world do you talk about being saved all the time?" Well the only answer I can come up with is... I'm saved and you need to be saved!

Salvation is the Grace of God in action. When Jesus died on the cross for our sins, He saved us. In other words, He redeemed us from sin, death and hell. We are lost without the Grace of God. I'm so glad the Grace of God that saves us is not limited to the people who come to church. For you see the people who come to worship at church do so because they are saved by the Grace of God that has appeared unto all men.

Aren't you glad to be saved today? Aren't you excited about it? You did nothing for it. You do nothing to keep it. It's God's Grace, God's saving Grace. God's saving Grace that has appeared unto ALL men and women. Trust upon Jesus as your Lord right now. Be saved by His Amazing Grace. Maybe you too will become excited about that word, "SAVED".

The Pace Setter

Hebrews 12:1-2
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 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.

A couple of years ago I was just beginning to run. I started out by running a little and walking a lot. Then a friend of mine encouraged me to run in a ten-mile race. Needless to say, I laughed about it and thought he was nuts. But I prayed and begin to train for it. As I would train for this race he would often run with me. I can remember the first day we ran together because it was the first time I was to run five miles without stopping. After arriving at his house, I stretched a bit and found some music for my journey and he comes out the door and says, "Just follow me, I'll set a decent pace." And off we went.

Well you can imagine that my Army friend was breathing well and enjoying the run while I was gasping for air and about to die. But something happened to me. I just looked at his back, and the rhythm of his feet as he set the pace and I began to tune out the pain and began to breathe better. Before I knew it we were finished. On the day of the ten-mile race I brought this same attitude with me and finished in a decent time.

Our scripture this morning tells us to lay aside the things that will beset us or weights that will bring us down and run the race, here it is... "with patience". I wanted so bad to run the full ten miles in the spring while I was training and could never do it. I was not patient at all and would often get discouraged because of my impatience. Also look at the greatest blessing of this scripture. It says, "Looking unto Jesus" our pace setter. He is the author and finisher of our faith. He endured the cross. He despised the shame. Finally, He is now at the right hand of the throne of God.

As you are waking up to the new day that God has allowed you to have, listen to Him as He says to you, "Just follow me, I'll set the pace." This worlds pain and struggles will not go away during our race, but they can be tuned out by looking to the pace setter. Follow His steps.

Right In Front Of You

Acts 17:27
That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:

I know some today that will teach you that there is no possible way that you can seek the Lord. They will say that because you are lost and wicked, that you'll never seek God. But scripture teaches us that we can clearly see God in all of creation which brings about a truth in our lives that there is an Almighty God. After we have "known" God (Romans Chapter 1), people have turned from the truth unto a lie. This is because after the revelation of God in our lives we didn't seek Him.

Look at what the scriptures tell us this morning. That they should seek the Lord, if they might feel after or for Him, and find Him. Paul was preaching to these people of Rome about their altar to the "Unknown God". He made known unto them that if they will seek the truth, seek God, that they would find Him because He is not far from everyone of us. Why does this scripture say that God is not far from everyone of us?

Because it is God who does the original seeking. He is the one who does the saving. There is no man, nor will there ever be any man, who can save themselves. Never will we be able to pull ourselves up out of the pit of sin. But we will acknowledge our condition of helplessness. We should cry out and seek for help. This help can only be found in Jesus.

You may say today that you don't know if there is a God or not. You may want God to show Himself to you and reveal Himself to you. Let me tell you right now, He is right in front of your face. Could it be that you are not seeking Him? So why say that there is no God when you are not even looking? That would be like saying you can't find a job and just sit at home never looking. He is not far from everyone of us! Because He is seeking us. Now, call upon Him. Seek Him while He may be found. Call upon Him while He is near.

Administers of Grace

Ephesians 2:7
That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

As I was staring up at that bright light from my dental chair this thought came to my mind. You know the routine... They call your name and you walk down that hall toward the "chair". Looking left and right as you pass by those being scrapped and drilled on. The noises you hear are ones that should be found on a construction site. I finally take my seat and wait for my dentist. When she comes in she is polite and somewhat perky (but she's not the one in the chair right?)

As her assistant was setting up for the drilling session my dentist was applying the normal pink deadening jelly. With needle now in hand she is ready to start. She looks at me and says, "Now comes the worst part, you'll feel a big pinch." As much as I dread these shots in my mouth I have to be honest and say that they do not hurt.

She was slowly and steadily applying pressure to the syringe and injecting the medicine. After a few seconds she says, "That's it, let's let that take effect for a moment and we will do it in the tooth area." To make a long story short, she did this four times (twice on each side) and began her work. Oh the drilling sound! The cold water and suctioning! The holding my mouth wide open for about two hours and praying to the Lord that my breath doesn't stink or that I cough and spit all that water back at the two of them. During this process my dentist constantly asked if I was in any pain. Over and over she would question me. She didn't want to hurt me.

She administered grace unto me. Not only do I see the medicine as grace, because without it she couldn't have removed the rottenness of my tooth. But I also see her attitude as an administrator of grace. Constantly she wanted my comfort but at the same time she knew she had to go deeper to remove all of the decay. She knew that she had to remove this before ever beginning to restore my tooth for use.

Thank you Jesus for your GRACE. Thank you also for your grace administrators. You may think that preacher is just trying to call you out, but he is a grace administrator. Lord help me to be just like my dentist. Help me to reveal the decaying effects of sin, so that you may restore them for use. Help me to be constantly aware of pain and administer the grace that you have given unto me.