Matthew 19:16
And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
A rich young man once came to Jesus. "What good THING shall I DO, that I may have eternal life?" he asked. Maybe Jesus could have told him to go feed and clothe the poor. He could have commanded him to wash or baptize himself in a certain spot of water. He could have told him to read his scrolls, pay his tithes and attend the synagogue daily. But Jesus chose to tell him to sell all that he had, give it to the poor and to come follow Him.
Is this the "good THING" that we all have to do to inherit eternal life? No. There is no "good THING" that we could do. This young rich man's mind was set on doing more or accomplishing more in order to have more. He was deceived into thinking that there could be one task or a "good THING" to do. Christ is the "good THING"! Eternal life is through belief in and a life surrendered to Him.
So why did Jesus tell him to sell all that had, give it to the poor and come follow Him? Because through believing in Jesus we must surrender our lives to Him. We must deny what our "good THING" is and know that it's Him. He knew that this young rich man loved what He had more that what He was asking for. If we love our sin, which is separating us from God, more than we love Jesus and His payment for our sins then eternal life with Him will not be. Our God is not against riches. It is by Him that we are blessed. He is against that which keeps us from Him. He loves us so much that He sent His Son to die so that we could have access to Him and eternal life with Him.
Do you think that there is a "good THING" you are doing that is giving you or keeping you in His salvation? You're wrong. You could never preach enough, sing enough, serve enough or give enough to be saved. There is no "good THING" in us. The "good THING" was given to us and it is salvation through this man named Jesus!
Friday, July 1, 2016
Thursday, June 30, 2016
Can't Get Any Gooder!
Proverbs 16:16
How much better [is it] to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!
A few years ago I was preaching with an evangelist friend in Baltimore. We were just two country preachers from the south who loved Jesus. During that week my accent seemed to be thick and funny to those in the congregation. I was a babe preacher and the evangelist that I was with was seasoned and his accent was much thicker than mine. What was funny was when we went out through the city on visitation that weekend before the meeting started and met many people who talked different than we did. Needless to say, I tried my best to not let my country tongue interfere. I suppressed it daily but my friend on the other hand did not. At the close of the meeting he announced from the pulpit our appreciation. I will never forget his words, "Me and brother Steve would like to thank all y'all for everything. It couldn't have been any gooder."
When I read this scripture today I was taken back to that moment. Their hospitality and care for us was second to none. It was much better than many others had treated us and God began to stir in my heart about this scripture. "It's much better than gold!" said Solomon. Understanding is rather to be chosen than silver! I would rather have God's wisdom and understanding than gold or silver!
We would do good today to just stop and thank God for His wisdom and understanding as if we were running our fingers through gold and silver. Page after page of gold and silver! How valuable! How immeasurable! How priceless! God, I am so thankful for your Word. I am thankful for your wisdom and understanding. How much better it is than anything I've ever known... It couldn't get any gooder!
How much better [is it] to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!
A few years ago I was preaching with an evangelist friend in Baltimore. We were just two country preachers from the south who loved Jesus. During that week my accent seemed to be thick and funny to those in the congregation. I was a babe preacher and the evangelist that I was with was seasoned and his accent was much thicker than mine. What was funny was when we went out through the city on visitation that weekend before the meeting started and met many people who talked different than we did. Needless to say, I tried my best to not let my country tongue interfere. I suppressed it daily but my friend on the other hand did not. At the close of the meeting he announced from the pulpit our appreciation. I will never forget his words, "Me and brother Steve would like to thank all y'all for everything. It couldn't have been any gooder."
When I read this scripture today I was taken back to that moment. Their hospitality and care for us was second to none. It was much better than many others had treated us and God began to stir in my heart about this scripture. "It's much better than gold!" said Solomon. Understanding is rather to be chosen than silver! I would rather have God's wisdom and understanding than gold or silver!
We would do good today to just stop and thank God for His wisdom and understanding as if we were running our fingers through gold and silver. Page after page of gold and silver! How valuable! How immeasurable! How priceless! God, I am so thankful for your Word. I am thankful for your wisdom and understanding. How much better it is than anything I've ever known... It couldn't get any gooder!
Wednesday, June 29, 2016
You're Better Off With It
Proverbs 16:8
Better [is] a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.
God's Word is so deep sometimes with truth but so shallow sometimes that even the youngest person can understand it. Do you know what is the hardest thing to convince people of? That they don't need something they want.
When someone's mind is set on something that they want it's almost impossible to get them to think of anything else. Let me use myself as an example. I love musical instruments. When I see one that I really like, then my like turns into a need. I'll usually say, "Patti, I like that guitar." Then a day, sometimes a moment later, I'll say, "You know I could use that guitar. I need it." I don't even have to tell you of her response. Before long I can't get the guitar off of my mind. I begin to think of cutting back on meals to have the money. Bologna and cereal aren't that bad right? I'm consumed by what I want.
While that example may be on a smaller scale the principle is still the same. Many, many people (even professing Christians) have sold out to their wants. The Bible tells us that just a little with righteousness is better than great revenues or riches without right. Some will allow their desires for what they want in life to override their walk with Christ and bring them into sin. The Bible is filled with stories of men and women who allowed their desires for great revenues to bring them into sin and its destruction.
Listen to God this morning as He is telling us, "You're better off with it." My parents used to say, "Son, you're better off without that..." Which is absolutely right! I'm better off without the riches this world can offer me. But I love how God used the scriptures to show me the same lesson with a greater meaning. I'm better off with it! I'm blessed to have little with righteousness than to own the whole world through sin. I love being the poorest rich man!
Better [is] a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.
God's Word is so deep sometimes with truth but so shallow sometimes that even the youngest person can understand it. Do you know what is the hardest thing to convince people of? That they don't need something they want.
When someone's mind is set on something that they want it's almost impossible to get them to think of anything else. Let me use myself as an example. I love musical instruments. When I see one that I really like, then my like turns into a need. I'll usually say, "Patti, I like that guitar." Then a day, sometimes a moment later, I'll say, "You know I could use that guitar. I need it." I don't even have to tell you of her response. Before long I can't get the guitar off of my mind. I begin to think of cutting back on meals to have the money. Bologna and cereal aren't that bad right? I'm consumed by what I want.
While that example may be on a smaller scale the principle is still the same. Many, many people (even professing Christians) have sold out to their wants. The Bible tells us that just a little with righteousness is better than great revenues or riches without right. Some will allow their desires for what they want in life to override their walk with Christ and bring them into sin. The Bible is filled with stories of men and women who allowed their desires for great revenues to bring them into sin and its destruction.
Listen to God this morning as He is telling us, "You're better off with it." My parents used to say, "Son, you're better off without that..." Which is absolutely right! I'm better off without the riches this world can offer me. But I love how God used the scriptures to show me the same lesson with a greater meaning. I'm better off with it! I'm blessed to have little with righteousness than to own the whole world through sin. I love being the poorest rich man!
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Be Careful With Today
Psalms 118:24
This is the day which the Lord hath made;
we will rejoice and be glad in it.
As we follow Christ we can get out of focus at times. One example would be living in the past. We could use our day to think and share about everything we used to do or used to be for Jesus. I know that many days I'm tempted to do this. I want to look back at my days of evangelism and tent revivals. I love to think about those who have come to Jesus throughout the years of my life. If I'm not careful I could spend my whole day thinking about all I have done for Christ.
On other days I think of all I want to do, or will do for Christ. I talk about dreams and ambitions of souls who would come to Jesus. I think of the books and messages that I would someday like to write and preach. I set goals for church and ministry in my future. Using every minute of that day thinking of what I could do tomorrow or be for Christ in the future. But again, if I'm not careful I could spend the whole day thinking of what I want to do for Jesus.
Please understand me. Looking backward in our lives brings encouragement. It shows what God has done for us and how His grace has been there all the time. Looking forward gives us hope that He will continue to be with us. It's with anticipation we look forward to His coming. But if you're not careful you will bypass the day that He has given you today. Honestly, yesterday is gone! Tomorrow is not promised! But THIS is the day that the Lord hath made!!!
What will you do with today?
This is the day which the Lord hath made;
we will rejoice and be glad in it.
As we follow Christ we can get out of focus at times. One example would be living in the past. We could use our day to think and share about everything we used to do or used to be for Jesus. I know that many days I'm tempted to do this. I want to look back at my days of evangelism and tent revivals. I love to think about those who have come to Jesus throughout the years of my life. If I'm not careful I could spend my whole day thinking about all I have done for Christ.
On other days I think of all I want to do, or will do for Christ. I talk about dreams and ambitions of souls who would come to Jesus. I think of the books and messages that I would someday like to write and preach. I set goals for church and ministry in my future. Using every minute of that day thinking of what I could do tomorrow or be for Christ in the future. But again, if I'm not careful I could spend the whole day thinking of what I want to do for Jesus.
Please understand me. Looking backward in our lives brings encouragement. It shows what God has done for us and how His grace has been there all the time. Looking forward gives us hope that He will continue to be with us. It's with anticipation we look forward to His coming. But if you're not careful you will bypass the day that He has given you today. Honestly, yesterday is gone! Tomorrow is not promised! But THIS is the day that the Lord hath made!!!
What will you do with today?
Monday, June 27, 2016
Training Wheels
Hebrews 5:12
For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
When my boys were little I can remember teaching them how to ride a bicycle. They both started with training wheels. They thought it was the greatest thing ever. Jumping right on the bike and taking off. It was simple and fast. Pedal and steer was the only skill set needed. But then came the day when the training wheels needed to come off. They hated it. I remember Andrew throwing his bike down and not wanting to try it anymore cause it was too hard. But they had to come off in order to grow. A two or three year old looks normal with training wheels but a twenty year old looks a little different.
God has called us to move forward with Him but some can't let go of the training wheels. He wants to take us to bigger and better places of ministry but we will not let Him. We can't go because of the training wheels.
Do you know what is more disturbing than a twenty year old with training wheels on his bike? A child of God that has spent the majority of their lives on spiritual training wheels. Never able to go farther for the Lord because they didn't grow up.
God, remove whatever is holding me back from growing up. I'm ready for you to remove my training wheels. Stop being taught and become a teacher.
For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
When my boys were little I can remember teaching them how to ride a bicycle. They both started with training wheels. They thought it was the greatest thing ever. Jumping right on the bike and taking off. It was simple and fast. Pedal and steer was the only skill set needed. But then came the day when the training wheels needed to come off. They hated it. I remember Andrew throwing his bike down and not wanting to try it anymore cause it was too hard. But they had to come off in order to grow. A two or three year old looks normal with training wheels but a twenty year old looks a little different.
God has called us to move forward with Him but some can't let go of the training wheels. He wants to take us to bigger and better places of ministry but we will not let Him. We can't go because of the training wheels.
Do you know what is more disturbing than a twenty year old with training wheels on his bike? A child of God that has spent the majority of their lives on spiritual training wheels. Never able to go farther for the Lord because they didn't grow up.
God, remove whatever is holding me back from growing up. I'm ready for you to remove my training wheels. Stop being taught and become a teacher.
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
My Chains
Luke 8:29, 35
(For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.) ... Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.
A few days ago I was watching one of my favorite television shows called "How It's Made". On this episode they were making chains. Some of them were huge logging chains and others were smaller chains. I watched as link after link was put together. These machines would stretch the material to a certain diameter, cut and bend it on a machine, weld some of the links together and finally run it through heat and water to strengthen their breaking points. I was fascinated. You could say I was chained to it.
Some chains are made to hold things down such as the ones in our scripture this morning. They were placed on this man because of his demonic behavior and the safety of those around him or even himself. Over and over this man would break free only to be captured and chained again. But then came Jesus...! When Jesus came to his life and spoke freedom to him, those chains fell off. No longer was he naked and chained to demons. Now he was seated at the feet of Jesus clothed and in his right mind. Praise the Lord!
Something else that hit me during this show I was watching was that some people still wear chains. Some are chained to their sin as Legion was. It will not leave them because they are bound to it. But some people have chains of glory. They are bound unto Jesus Christ as a servant. Chained to Him through love. Those old logging chains of sin are gone and have fallen off, but I see some people with a gold chain around their necks carrying a golden cross. Our Savior was bound to that cross because of our sin, but that cross necklace linked around our necks are a testimony of our lives bound to Jesus! Victory in Jesus!
(For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.) ... Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.
A few days ago I was watching one of my favorite television shows called "How It's Made". On this episode they were making chains. Some of them were huge logging chains and others were smaller chains. I watched as link after link was put together. These machines would stretch the material to a certain diameter, cut and bend it on a machine, weld some of the links together and finally run it through heat and water to strengthen their breaking points. I was fascinated. You could say I was chained to it.
Some chains are made to hold things down such as the ones in our scripture this morning. They were placed on this man because of his demonic behavior and the safety of those around him or even himself. Over and over this man would break free only to be captured and chained again. But then came Jesus...! When Jesus came to his life and spoke freedom to him, those chains fell off. No longer was he naked and chained to demons. Now he was seated at the feet of Jesus clothed and in his right mind. Praise the Lord!
Something else that hit me during this show I was watching was that some people still wear chains. Some are chained to their sin as Legion was. It will not leave them because they are bound to it. But some people have chains of glory. They are bound unto Jesus Christ as a servant. Chained to Him through love. Those old logging chains of sin are gone and have fallen off, but I see some people with a gold chain around their necks carrying a golden cross. Our Savior was bound to that cross because of our sin, but that cross necklace linked around our necks are a testimony of our lives bound to Jesus! Victory in Jesus!
Tuesday, June 21, 2016
Son, Be a Man!
1 Kings 2:2-3
I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man; And keep the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself:
In our scripture we find King David talking with Solomon about his days being few here on earth. David said that the time for him to die, just as all others on earth, was soon. So in his final words to his son David said, "Be strong son, show yourself as a man."
What does this mean, show yourself to be a man? If you don't play manly sports such as football, baseball or rugby then you're not a man huh? If you can't take a whoopin' without crying then you're not a man huh? What if you don't carry a long barrelled 45 and spit tobacco? Still not a man some would say. But what is David telling Solomon? Show yourself as a man. Be a man son! We could speculate on what David was getting at or we could read the Word of God and see exactly what David classified as a man. Now remember, this was the David who tore bears and lions into with his hands and cut off the head of the greatest soldier that came against Israel.
A man is one who would "keep the charge of the Lord thy God." A man who would "walk in his ways." A real man who would "keep his statues' commandments, judgments and his testimonies (written word) found in the law of Moses." I can hear David, "Solomon, when you do these things as a man of God, you will prosper in all that you do and wherever you go."
Dads, what is your standard for being a "man"? If it's not after this pattern, which is actually God's pattern more than it was David's, then you are measuring up your child with the wrong ruler.
I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man; And keep the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself:
In our scripture we find King David talking with Solomon about his days being few here on earth. David said that the time for him to die, just as all others on earth, was soon. So in his final words to his son David said, "Be strong son, show yourself as a man."
What does this mean, show yourself to be a man? If you don't play manly sports such as football, baseball or rugby then you're not a man huh? If you can't take a whoopin' without crying then you're not a man huh? What if you don't carry a long barrelled 45 and spit tobacco? Still not a man some would say. But what is David telling Solomon? Show yourself as a man. Be a man son! We could speculate on what David was getting at or we could read the Word of God and see exactly what David classified as a man. Now remember, this was the David who tore bears and lions into with his hands and cut off the head of the greatest soldier that came against Israel.
A man is one who would "keep the charge of the Lord thy God." A man who would "walk in his ways." A real man who would "keep his statues' commandments, judgments and his testimonies (written word) found in the law of Moses." I can hear David, "Solomon, when you do these things as a man of God, you will prosper in all that you do and wherever you go."
Dads, what is your standard for being a "man"? If it's not after this pattern, which is actually God's pattern more than it was David's, then you are measuring up your child with the wrong ruler.
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