Where Are We Watching the Game?

Mark 14:12-15
And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the passover? And he sendeth forth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him. And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the goodman of the house, The Master saith, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? And he will shew you a large upper room furnished and prepared: there make ready for us.

Because of growing up in the south many of my Saturdays were spent in three ways. We were either fishing, hunting or watching college football during this season. I spent much time in front of a television watching and cheering on my team (which has just won their 17th National Championship). Missing a game was not accepted and then it became my habit of flipping through the channels for every game. Saturday after Saturday we gathered with friends and watched the games.

Now the fun of it all was the planning. The opening game of the season was planned out sometimes a month ahead. "Where you watching the game?" was the question of the month. The very next questions were, "Whose coming? What are we eating? What do I need to bring?" Our preparation for one event was like a military strategy.

Just as every game... People planned for this one opening event. They saved, or borrowed money for tickets and airfare. They counted the cost and said it is well worth it. Bags were packed, reservations were made and time was spent to either be at this event or just simply at home with friends watching it together.

Do you know how much effort that takes? Did you know that Christ Jesus has done that very same thing for you? He has all things prepared. Just as His disciples didn't know where they would celebrate the Passover (Big Game Celebration) together, Jesus knew. He had all things ready! What a huge disappointment it would be for Him to have all things ready and you never show. Just as these disciples came to find this place by faith, come to Jesus today by faith and trust upon Him.

One more question... Where will you spend eternity? It's similar to our title question but its results could be much more impactful.

I Love You

1 John 3:18

My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

I tell my wife and children that I love them many times during a day. Before we leave each other in the mornings we say we love one another. When we go different ways we tell each other that we love one another. Before we go to bed each night we tell one another that we love each other. It's something that we started because we want each other to know how we feel. But there are times that we say it because we are disciplined to do so. There are even times when we say it and it feels like it isn't enough, kinda like the words aren't sufficient. 

That's what this scripture is teaching us. To say it isn't enough. Love is an action word. Love must be shown in order for people to actually feel it. To tell someone that you love them and not show them would have no more meaning than telling them your middle name and never wanting them to call you by it. 

Love requires action. It demands it. Notice what the scripture tells us... Don't love in word. In other words, don't brag on how much you do or will do. Love isn't boastful about itself. Some think by always bringing up what they have done or bought, that their love is something great. Loving people doesn't always have an itinerary or price catalog. Sometimes loving people is just being there. Also look at what the scripture says... Don't love in tongue. How would you feel about love if someone told you they loved you but cheated on you?  How would you feel about love if someone told you they loved you but never talked to you again?  

The scripture is very clear on these two issues of love. Look at it and add it together. 

  - Don't love in "WORD", but love in "DEED"

  - Don't love in "LIES OF THE TONGUE", but in "TRUTH"

Am I Missing Something?

Mark 10:21-22
Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

Before I gave my life to Christ and followed Him I thought I had everything I needed. I really didn't lack for anything in my life. Now don't misunderstand me, I didn't have everything I ever wanted but I did have all I really needed. I had my family growing up. I had friends that stood beside me through some really crazy and dumb times. I thought I had love through girlfriends. As I look back I didn't think there was anything missing.

One night, after enjoying my sinful lifestyle, it hit me that I was missing something. The one who thought he had it all realized that he didn't have something. This one thing that I lacked seemed as though it was multiple things. I realized that I didn't have peace. I didn't have true love. I didn't have life. I thought I was good. I mean I knew scriptures and went to church. I even sang the songs when the congregation would sing. I went as far as to sing special songs in front of the whole church but I didn't have the one thing. Something was always missing.

Do you know what it was, or rather who it was? It was Christ. I didn't have Christ! How sad it would have been to have all of these other things in my life and not have Christ. I could of had my family, friends, relationships and popularity only to die lost without Christ forever.

This man walked away sad because he had great possessions. He settled for his earthly possessions than for what Christ has to offer for eternity. What will you do?

Is That Your Answer?

Isaiah 5:11-13
Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink;
that continue until night, till wine inflame them!
And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe,
and wine, are in their feasts:
but they regard not the work of the Lord,
neither consider the operation of his hands.
Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge:
and their honourable men are famished,
and their multitude dried up with thirst.

What happens when the party is over? The bill comes. If there is one thing that I can testify about is how much the bill of sin costs. Before Christ saved me I went to the extremes for parties. Hours of filling myself with the drink of the world, listening to the sounds of the music. I spent many nights inflamed as this scripture speaks of. Disregarding the word of God and never considering Him or His work.

This life was bondage. I thought that the answer was found in more and more of the things I was doing. When I felt down, one more party. When I needed and answer, I searched in a bottle. Only to find out these last verses to be true. Captivity overwhelmed me because I didn't know God. My honor was traded every time through my intoxicated state. By the end of the party I was still left thirsty. Although I had filled my life with drink after drink, I was still thirsty.

What I thought was the answer proved to be the problem. Thank you Jesus for living water and a thirst for you that is satisfied. Now that is the answer I looked for.

What’s Love Got To Do With It?

Matthew 5:46
For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

Some of you probably started singing the old Tina Turner song already. Do you remember the lyric, "it's just a second hand emotion"? Meaning that anyone can say or act like they love you. It travels from hand to hand or person to person. Leaving you with used goods or a used love.

Christ Jesus asked them in their day and us in our day "if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye?" If we only love those that love us then how could this seem good or rewarding? He takes it a step farther and says even the publicans do that. Wow, this is pretty harsh. He is telling us that if we only love those who love us then our love is as false as the tax collector.

If we only love those who love us then isn't our love motivated by what they offer us? I have seen children love people and other children only because of what they give them. I've seen adults follow suit with the same actions. Would you think a child would love me and show affection to me if I gave them a sucker? What about a teenager if I gave them an iPad? Or what about you as an adult if I bought you a new vehicle? Sure you would love me! But it would only be a temporal love because if I stopped showering you with gifts or didn't show you that I loved you then you would easily turn off your conversation, affection and love for me.

Why is there a reward for loving those that don't love us or hate us? Because there is labor involved! It's difficult to love those who refuse love. It is work. Lord, help me to be different and teach me to love those who don't love back or even hate me. I know that this help will come from looking at you and your sacrifice on the cross.

What's love got to do with it? Pretty much everything!

Hand in Hand

Psalms 40:11
Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O Lord: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.

Would we say that we have truth in one hand and love in the other? If so, I believe that we are doing it wrong. You can't have love in one hand and offer it to the world apart from truth. You also can't have truth in one hand and offer it to the world without love. We should know that this will never work.

Let's say that we offer truth from the left hand to people of our society. Will they accept it? What do you think the percentage of those who listen to us versus those who turn us off would be? I'm going with a high percentage. Truth today is very much unacceptable. We are told by scholars and professors that truth is only truth if it relates to you. We want commandments removed. We want laws removed. Truth is healthy, but many times too bland to swallow.

Now let's say that you have love and offer it from the right hand. Will they accept it? Absolutely! Love is the candy of life. Everyone is looking for love (in all the wrong places...). We will feast on love. But does love address the issue of sin, hell, eternity? No.

Truth and Love must be in the same hand when speaking of the Gospel of Jesus. The truth of the Gospel is that Jesus suffered a horrible death while the love of the Gospel is that through His death He has offered you life. The truth is that without Christ we are lost forever, but the love is that He has made the way for you to be saved. Law without Grace is no good, just as Grace without Law is void.

Speak the truth in love. There can be no other way. "O Lord: let thy LOVINGKINDNESS and thy TRUTH continually preserve me."

Think About It

Ecclesiastes 7:13
Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?

When I consider the work of thy hands O Lord I praise your name! Have you ever held a newborn baby? I don't know what you saw when you held them but I will never forget holding my boys for the very first time. When the doctor delivered them and handed them off to me, there was a feeling of extreme joy and thankfulness that came over me.

I thought about them for months. What will they look like? How big will they be? But when I actually held them those questions faded into the background. The thoughts of what they would become or whet they looked like disappeared. The first thing I thought of when holding them was how awesome of a God I serve. He wonderfully and fearfully created these babies. He will grow them and take care of them as they become older.

Who can do such a thing? Is it the parents, nature or just a circle of life? No it is God! Think of the heart and its functions, can this just happen? Think of the brain and its work. In a split second I can think of moving my hand and my brain sends the impulses to all systems which cause me to move my hand. Is this just science? No it is God!

God, when I consider your work I constantly am amazed. I love you and thank you so much for your work. Especially your work of salvation on the cross of Calvary. Just as no one could create a life, no one could give their life on the cross.