The Flesh is Weak

The only Sam’s Club in my area is 60 miles away. When I went this week, I picked up a couple of rotisserie chickens and on the way home the aroma of the roasted chickens filled the car. Even though I returned home before noon, by the time I got home the smell had my stomach growling, I felt famish and thought I was starving to death. I’m reminded of Esau coming in from the country and finding his brother Jacob cooking stew and I have to wonder if the aroma of the stew played a part in Esau decision. “Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” (That is why he was also called Edom.) Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.” “Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?” But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright” (Gen 25:29-34 NIV).

The Kingdom of God Within

 We know that no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again; however, after our re-birth we often fail to recognize the kingdom of God that is within us. “Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is within  you” (Luke 17:20-21 NIV).  

Predestined

I understand that some people don’t like President Trump; however, their desire to destroy him is not in keeping with the Spirit of God within them. Paul said, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified” (Ro 8:28-30 NIV).

Inner Ear

My friend Betty, who is in her late 90’s, began hearing songs and music, but couldn’t find the source. She searched for a radio that might have been left on and even went outside to see if neighbors were playing music. She said, “It was so beautiful. A man and a woman singing were singing “The Old Rugged Cross.” Betty became worried when no one else could hear the music, “I didn’t know if I was losing my mind, or if the Lord was calling me home.” The music accompanied her to a chiropractor’s appointment and remained present even when she took out her hearing aids. She said, “The music is still keeping me company, but now I’m hearing different hymns.” She laughed and said, “I keep wanting to say to my daughter, “Isn’t that pretty?”” An internet search revealed a condition called Musical Ear Syndrome where instrumental music or songs can play in your head over and over. It really makes no difference whether it’s Betty’s physical ear, or her inner ear that hears praises hymns. Proverbs says, “Ears that hear and eyes that see—the LORD has made them both” (Proverbs 20:12 NIV).

Meaningless Talk

As people of faith, many of us look for a silver lining around the dark cloud of COVID-19. I see such a silver lining around the educational system. From local to higher education, most teachers and professors have a liberal bent and they push their own agenda. It occurs to me that the recent forced virtual teaching will severely impact the teacher’s ability to indoctrinate students with a liberal agenda. Paul said, “As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God’s work—which is by faith. The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk. They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm” (1Tim 1:3-7 NIV).

Prepare the Way

Today’s modern highways no longer follow the natural terrain. Highway departments cut through mountains, build bridges over rivers, and fill ravines with rip-rap and dirt to level the landscape and make roads smooth. The words of Isaiah the prophet apply to John the Baptist, “A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all mankind will see God’s salvation’” (Luke 3:4-6 NIV).

Scammers

The headline on a Facebook re-post for a ministry said, “If You Don’t Really Need Your Stimulus Check, Would You Prayerfully Consider Giving It to God’s Kingdom?” I’m not surprised when the world tries to scam people in a crisis, but I’m taken back when people of faith do so under the guise of giving to God’s Kingdom. It seems to me that the writer of the post classifies the stimulus as a windfall and because some people may not “need” the money, others can put it to better use than the recipients. I’m reminded of the time Mary took a pint of expensive perfume and poured it on the Lord’s feet and wipe his feet with her hair. “But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it” (John 12:4-6 NIV).

Two or More

A woman put out a Facebook post that her mom has heart disease, diabetes and now COVID-19. The woman said, “Please everyone share, the more prayers the better. I JUST WANT TO KEEP MY MOM!!!!!! No-one is sharing my post. Please share guys. I need my mom and lots of prayers is a huge help." I find it curious that the woman measured the strength of prayer by counting the number of shares on Facebook. Jesus said, “Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them” (Matt 18:19-20 NIV).

Failing to Give Praise to God

Last week during a press conference New York Governor Andrew Cuomo boasted about how much New York had done to curb the spread of COVID-19. Cuomo said, “The number is down because we brought the number down. God did not do that. Faith did not do that. Destiny did not do that. A lot of pain and suffering did that, that’s how it works. It’s math.” Cuomo’s jarring statement reminded me of Herod. “On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. They shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man.” Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died. But the word of God continued to increase and spread” (Acts 12:21-24 NIV).

Cast All your Anxiety

Because of COVID-19 some people feel compelled to help calm the fears of others through posts on Facebook. I often find the comments to the post more interesting and thought provoking than the post itself. One such comment from a person of faith gave me whiplash, “I pray that God will not be needed.” Seriously? Peter reminds us, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:6-7 NIV).

Enemies of the Gospel

Mike Lindell, the My Pillow guy, is using his factory to make Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), such as masks. Lindell, as well as other manufactures helping with the pandemic efforts, was invited to the White House and he took opportunity to tell America they need to get back to God. Reporter Jim Acosta, as well as other liberal reporters, were incensed and publicly ridiculed Lindell. I have to laugh as the liberal media is looking more like the enemies of the Gospel than news reporters. When Paul told the crowd that he was sent to the Gentiles, “The crowd listened to Paul until he said this. Then they raised their voices and shouted, “Rid the earth of him! He’s not fit to live!” As they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, the commander ordered Paul to be taken into the barracks. He directed that he be flogged and questioned in order to find out why the people were shouting at him like this” (Acts 22:22-24 NIV).

Stopping the Spread

The government and health professionals are doing everything they can to stop the spread of COVID-19. While their efforts may be slowing the virus down, it continues to spread. I’m reminded that the priests, the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees were disturbed when the heard the apostles teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. Many people believed and their number grew to about 5,000. Peter and John were called before the Sanhedrin and after they conferred together, they said, “What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it. But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name.” Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:16-20 NIV).

Everyone’s a Preacher

Preachers often struggle with finding a fresh slant for their Christmas and Easter sermons because they think everything that could be said, has already been said. Regardless of the repetitive nature of a holiday themed sermon, generally speaking the preacher has no competition with their message since they own the pulpit and hold the microphone. However, that is no longer the case. In this season of COVID-19, with lock-downs and social distancing, it seems everyone has become a preacher. We are being inundated with words of encouragement, special passages of Scripture, video clips, virtual music concerts and prayers. Renowned church leaders are having to compete, not only with one another for profound soundbites, but with the spiritual man in the pew who knows how to use social media. Even in today’s virtual church Paul’s words are applicable, “What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church” (I Cor 14:26 NIV).

When You Ask for an Egg

My neighbor has a few chickens and when they are laying, she shares with us. Last week Jessica left a dozen eggs on the back patio, so I decided we should have a Sunday Easter breakfast with fresh eggs. I couldn’t help but smile when I opened the carton to discovered a variety of naturally colored Easter eggs — blue, beige, light and dark brown. Jesus said, “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him” (Luke 11:11-12 NIV)!

GoFundMe

The news is reporting some places of worship started GoFundMe pages so that during the pandemic they won’t have to lay-off church staff. I have visions of the Apostle Paul turning over in his grave. When Paul set out for Macedonia the Philippians were the only church who shared with him in giving and receiving. Paul said, “Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account. I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:17-19 NIV). I can’t understand why people look to GoFundMe, rather than to God to meet all their needs.

Inward Appearance

We measure people by their actions and it’s not unusual to hear, “He calls himself a Christian, but he doesn’t act like one.” It occurs to me that in using such a declaration makes people guilty of using outward appearances to judge someone’s inward heart. Paul said, “A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man’s praise is not from men, but from God” (Ro 2:28-29 NIV).

Be Still

As parents we’ve all, at one time or another, sent our children to their room for a time-out until they could behave, or to give them time to contemplate a situation. In light of the Coronavirus Task Force asking all US citizens to confine ourselves to our homes it almost feels like we have been sent to our room for a few weeks. God said, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”  The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress” (Psalm 46:10-11 NIV).

The Narrow Door

My friend’s neighbor is an elderly woman who, according to the husband, has suffered a mental breakdown. The woman now wanders the quiet neighborhood, stands in the middle of the street, and takes a broom with her when she walks in the dry irrigation ditch. Last week the confused woman knocked on Betty’s door and said, “I’m ready to come in now.” Heartbroken, COVID-19 necessitated Betty telling the woman she could not come in. The Lord’s teaching on the Narrow Door comes to mind. Jesus said, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ “But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from” (Luke 13:24-25 NIV).

Ship of Fools

I’ve been interested in the two Holland American cruise ships that reported cases of COVID-19. When 11 South American countries would not let them dock, they set sail for Florida hoping to get the passengers off the ships. At first, Florida’s Governor Ron DeSantis cited lack of medical accommodations and refused the request to dock because he thought the passengers were all foreign nationals. However, when he learned some of the passengers were Floridians, he agreed to let them disembark, but insisted the foreigners be sent to their home country. Many of the passengers cried foul and insisted this was a humanitarian situation. At first blush I might agree with them. However, the passengers knew two weeks previously that COVID-19 had caused cruise ships off the coast of California to be quarantined and yet these people boarded ships for their own 14-day cruise around South America. According to Proverbs, “Every prudent man acts out of knowledge, but a fool exposes his folly” (Proverbs 13:16 NIV).

The Role of Women

Scripture has the church structured in such a way that women have very little place to participate in today’s organized religion. For instance, becoming a preacher, teaching men, becoming an elder, or becoming a leader are roles for men. However, being left out of the organized church leadership should not be taken as a slight. Rather we should all realize the same Spirit that is poured out on men is poured out on women. Quoting the prophet Joel, Peter said, ““‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy”” (Acts 2: 17-19 NIV).

From the Grave

In my family we sometimes grudgingly carry on traditions and relationships because, “That’s what Mom did and she would want us to continue.” You really have to laugh when you realize that some of us are still controlled by those who are in the grave. Paul said, “Do you not know, brothers—for I am speaking to men who know the law—that the law has authority over a man only as long as he lives? For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage” (Ro 7:1-2 NIV).

Media Stumbling Blocks

Some television outlets have decided they would no longer broadcast the daily briefings of President Trump and his COVID-19 Team. These “news” outlets determined they didn’t like what President Trump was saying and accused him of spreading misinformation. How dare these media outlets censor and ax what, in this case, can be life-saving information from medical and governmental officials. Making a spiritual application Paul said, “So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way.” (Ro 14:12-13 NIV).