Month: December 2022

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The True Test of My Faith

Which way am I running?

James 3-5 James has been preparing his reading audience to hear from God about what He considers the true test of our faith. It lies in the practical, not the superficial. Paul captured it precisely when he said: “For I don’t understand what I am doing. For I do not do what I want—instead, I do what I hate.” [Rom 7:15] We lie betwixt these two lifestyles more often than not, which is why James has been hammering home the idea: you say you have faith, but your life reveals that you are double-minded. You stand beneath the cross and say you believe, but your life reveals the sin-encrusted life you carry about you just as Christian carried about his burden did in Pilgrim’s Progress. Perhaps that is why Paul wrote: “Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?” [Rom 7:24]

Today may I live the life I am to live: single-minded in all ways so that I may receive praise from the Father for a life that reveals my true heart. Which way am I running: God’s way or mine?

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What kind of sandwich are you?

Faith saves but works prove

James 1-3 The Outworking of Faith

The Hebrews author reminded us that without faith, it is impossible to please God, but the question is how do others know our faith but by our works. Hebrews and James offer the example of Abraham as a picture of one who believed God, and it was counted unto him as righteousness. Others knew and understood the faith of Abraham and his belief by how he demonstrated that in real-life scenarios. The best example was his demonstrated faith in believing God not only could but would resurrect Isaac should he die. How about us? How do we prove our faith to others as we live and move in our world?

It is sort of like a p&j sandwich. Peanut butter and bread stick to your mouth, but when Jelly is added, the sandwich takes on a different character quality. No longer does the bread remain sticky, but it is complete not just in sweetness but also how it is palatable.

So, where are you a p&j sandwich to the world? Do they see and just “taste” the peanut butter sticking to the bread, OR do they taste and feel the difference when our jelly “faith” is added, so it becomes our faith-based works?

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Christmas – by Faith

Christmas from long ago

Hebrews 11 to 13 Others Tell the Story of Faith

Long ago in a faraway land, isn’t that how fairy tales begin? Yes, they often do, but this is not a fairy tale! It happened long ago in a faraway land, and the voices of those in the story tell a story of faith that they hope you will embrace. 

The Hebrews author wants you to know the real Christmas story as told, not by words, but by the lives of Abel, Enoch, Noah, and others. Each one says, I never saw Christ or touched Him or heard his voice, but I believed by faith. Like Abraham, God took that as my confession and counted me, just as him, righteous. [Rom 4:3] Christ was the light that came into the world; centuries later, the Apostle Paul added that this light “died for our sins according to the scriptures; he was buried, and he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.” [1C or 15:3-4] Peter added his voice, “You do not see him now, but you believe in him, and so you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy…”[1Peter 1:8-9]

They all were telling about the Christ Child, the Messiah. Their story is true and not a fairy tale. We pray that you join them and believe by faith this Christmas so God can call you righteous.

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Are you/Am I a Hypocrite?

Beware of hypocrisy

Hebrews 8-10 Satan is not picky. He can use the hypocrisy of one to sway our minds not to obey Christ, who is the perfect sacrifice. His tool is to blind not just the unbelieving but also the mind of those who claim to be followers of Christ. He does it by the sin of one to determine our obedience to Christ. The author of Hebrews is warning us not to let the hypocrisy of one or others determine our walk. He forcefully reminds his readers not to fail in their assembling with other believers. In doing so, we trample the perfect sacrifice of Jesus and the Holy Spirit of grace.

How often do we hear I do not attend that or another church because the church is filled with hypocrites? Thus, he asks, are you not also a hypocrite by your judgment of them and your lack of obedience? The author is reminding them the world is looking for faithful believers. When they do not see us obeying, they have no standard by which to know the truth.

Know this principle: He who says he believes should obey to assemble with others of like faith. If you say you believe the Word of God, you should not let the hypocrisy of one determine your obedience. You are called to be faithful, not take on the job of judgment. That is God’s job, not yours.

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Jesus is Better

Study today

Hebrews 5-7 The author of Hebrews continues his point that because Jesus is the Son, He is better than angels who are just ministering spirits. He is better than any earthly high priest who God chooses to serve the people compassionately. He is better because he is unlike an earthly priest who is only here for his lifetime; Jesus is a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek, which the author repeats three times for emphasis.

We can hear the sadness in the voice of the Hebrews writer when he explains how these Jewish believers were lazy listeners. It seems, like many today, that they just wanted others to do the hard work of study to show themselves approved unto God instead of also studying. As one person told me yesterday at a brunch, you want us to work. 🙁 That is what the author of Hebrews is saying to these believers. They were saved but didn’t want to grow in their sanctification. I wonder if that is our attitude, more often than not?

Today, let me ask: how can you rightly divide or understand the Word if you do not study? What are you studying today? Do your conversations center on spiritual things or earthly things which tarnish?

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Angels or Christ?

Angel or Christ

Hebrews 1-4 It is Christmas time, and we spend exorbitant amounts of money to decorate our homes with Christmas trees. Usually, but not always, we place an angel at the tip-top. In reading these chapters, the early believers did much the same in their worship by elevating angels over Christ. He wrote to remind them that angels are merely ministering spirits. They are NOT the Son.

Over and over, as we have read the letters to the early believers, we have seen that the NT authors repeatedly remind their readers to stand firm and elevate Christ! The unknown author of Hebrews continues that train of thought; Christ must always be pre-eminent. He, not angels, came to earth to die for the people’s sins so that He could be their High Priest! He warns them to stand firm and not to harden their hearts. Did they, and do we get the point? Angels are ministering spirits; they are NOT the Son.

This Christmas, do I keep Christ first? When I look at my tree, do I see an angel there just as decoration? Is Christ first?

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The Power of Forgiveness

As Christ forgave we are to forgive

Philemon 1 One thought reverberates through Paul’s letter to Philemon, a slave owner. “I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers.” Paul is grateful and sets the standard for us. We are to be thankful for others in our prayers.

But Paul understood where Philemon stood as one with the power and authority to demand reparations for lost wages. We hear a lot about that today but not much about forgiveness. Paul reminded Philemon that before Christ, we stand equal. There is no slave or free. Onesimus had fled and perhaps stolen property. Forgiveness is complete, even if we must face the consequence of a past sin. Now Onesimus stands before Philemon with Paul’s letter in hand. Philemon knows he has two choices, and Paul is clear about what his choice should be. The principle is that as I have forgiven you, you are to forgive others.

Perhaps someone has wronged us and is in need of forgiveness. What will our choice be? God forgave us; will we forgive others?

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The Daunting Task Clarified

Wisdom for the task

Titus 1-3 Paul chose wisely those men that would carry on after his departure. He called both Titus and Timothy his sons in the faith. He had trained them well, and now he was passing the torch to them to lead the churches in Ephesus and on Crete. They were both young in years, and Paul reminded both not to let others despise their youth. He left them with a daunting task to lead and choose leaders to lead the next generation. They needed wisdom and discernment to choose as well discerning women and bondservants, so he gave them the traits that would be required. Paul left nothing to chance but listed those traits that would strengthen the church and be guidelines fo the future. Today, it is hoped we follow those same wise principles.

Is your church following the guidelines that Paul left Titus and Timothy? Is your church strong because you have strong leadership? Do we also have our ears to the ground, so to speak, to discern those who desire not godliness but only monetary gain? Today stop and pray for the leaders in your churches. Pray that they choose the next set of leaders wisely following Paul’s counsel.

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Wavering or Steadfast?

keep praying

2 Timothy 1-4 As Paul sat in chains in a darkened cell, his thoughts were not on himself but on those he had led to Christ. He recalled that some were steady, and others were wavering. He also was well aware of his protégé Timothy’s strengths and weaknesses. In addition, he was also discerning the ways of the evil intentions of Emperor Nero. Because of all of this, Paul knew that his time was drawing near to facing the end of his life. Therefore, he wanted to encourage Timothy as Ephesus’s new and young pastor.  He reminded him of three precious gifts he had been given: power, love, and a sound mind. That latter one will help him face the enemy’s tactics lest, as James says, he wavers like the sea. God knows the hearts of men, so don’t get in a dither about others; you remain faithful even if others are faithless. Spend your energy on those walking the path of God, and let God take care of the others. Your job is to be gentle, teach others the truth, be patient, and humbly correct those who are in error.

Who am I praying about today? Who is wavering and needs a message of encouragement to remain steadfast?


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Standing Firm in an Upside-Down World

Standing firm in an upside down world

1Tim 4-6 Paul wrote to Timothy to encourage him as he pastored the new church in Ephesus. Paul had warned the Ephesian elders that after his departure, grievous wolves would seek entrance to seek, kill and destroy the faith of the new believers. “I know that after I am gone fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Even from among your own group men will arise, teaching perversions of the truth to draw the disciples away after them.” [Acts 20:29-30] And what Paul told them was coming true for Timothy as the new pastor.

Timothy was facing an upside-down world, just as we are today. Men then and men today infiltrate the church seeking to teach that celibacy or a specialized diet must be followed for one to be sanctified. Peter had the same problem in Acts 10, and God spoke clearly: “What God has made clean, you must not consider ritually unclean!” [Acts 10:15]

Our hearts break when we hear of those who have departed from the faith. Be encouraged precious reader. Stand firm in your faith and rejoice in those living according to the truth.

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