The Plan

Coronavirus-19 is a public health concern and people are taking precautions to avoid the virus and stay healthy. It gives me pause that people are more focused on a plan for dealing with the virus than they about the plan of salvation. Jesus said, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows” (Matt 10:28 NIV).

Taking the Bait

In the trial of Roger Stone, the Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutors recommended Stone be given a nine-year sentence in federal prison. However, their boss, Attorney General Barr, recommended a sentence more in line with the crime and the judge in the case ruled for a 40-month sentence. A couple of the prosecutors stomped off in a huff and resigned from the case. The spin from most TV anchors and commentators is that the prosecutors showed justified indignation. Let me offer another perspective. Just as a petulant child tries to force their parents’ hand, the prosecutor’s maximum sentence was meant to force President Trump’s hand. In the political arena, as well as the spiritual arena, we must be aware of when we are baited. Paul said, “But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough” (2 Cor 11:3-4 NIV).

The Son of Man is Coming

A man from Mississippi was dealing with recent flooding and just couldn’t wrap his head around the fact that his home was under water. He told a TV reporter, “I knew we lived on a flood plain, but it hasn’t flooded for 40 years!” I’m always been taken-a-back by believers who have a similar attitude about living in a fallen world…they never expect the world to fall on them. Jesus said, “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man” (Matt 24:37-39 NIV).

Reverence and Awe

In my youth our church held week-long revivals every year. Every night we would have a fill-a-pew competition to see who could bring the most guests to pack the church. I would not classify the sermons as the Hell-Fire sermons of yesteryear, but there was an urgency to the message concerning the return of the Lord. The visiting pastor and the elders made a concerted effort to contact visitors and share the plan of salvation. We always had a number of decisions and baptisms. Revivals are no longer a part of today’s church and the church has lost that particular type of worship. The writer of Hebrews said, “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire” (Heb 12:28-29 NIV).

Player

My middle-aged friend, who is a believer, laments she can’t meet Mr. Right. She has what appears to be an on-and-off-again boyfriend waiting in the wings, and since I’ve heard only her side of the relationship, I’ve given her the benefit of the doubt. However, last week I watched her as she flirted with a new acquaintance who gave her his phone number. Straight out of a junior high playbook she said, “I told him if I breakup with my boyfriend, I’ll give him a call.” Proverbs states, “Even a child is known by his actions, by whether his conduct is pure and right” (Proverbs 20:11 NIV).

Vultures

Someone tossed a McDonald's sandwich out their car window as they drove by my house. It laid in the gutter for about four days before a murder of crows found it and took turns guarding, snatching and flying away with pieces of the delicacy and now all that remains is the distinctive yellow wrapper. I’m reminded of the signs of the end of the age. Jesus said, “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the desert,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather” (Matt 24:26-28 NIV).

Tolerance

It’s not unusual for a congregation to ask for a change in the pulpit or leadership, but those in positions of authority refuse to make changes for fear it will cause a split in the church. Personally, I find such reasoning to be Biblically unsound. John said, “To the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first. Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols” (Rev 2:18-20 NIV).

No Place to Serve

Service clubs such as the Elks, Masons, Lions and Rotary are on the decline. Their mission statements have not changed, but it appears that changes in leadership may be part of the problem. Unqualified people are maneuvering their way into leadership positions and the membership, rather that following inept leaders, simply stop participating. I see something similar happening in the church as members of the body of Christ are not allowed to function. Today’s church leadership has done away with Sunday school, youth programs, choirs, Bible study and potluck dinners. For example, my church no longer uses qualified teachers to teach from the Bible, but rather relies on videos and televised lectures. The mission of the Lord’s church has not changed, but there simply is no place in today’s church for believers to serve, or be trained for service. Paul said, “Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully” (Ro 12:4-8 NIV).

Laboring in Vain

The seasons in the life of a believer often bring change in our ministry. Your role as a youth Sunday school teacher may transition to that of an adult Bible study teacher, or your role as an elder may lead you to the mission field. Let me admit that I really don’t like those transitions. Most of us will do whatever the Lord calls us to do, but sometimes there is no clear direction. At those times I bombard the gates of heaven with, “Lord, what do you want me to do? Do you want me to teach, lead, or take a sabbatical?” For instance, as a writer, I don’t want my writing to be in vain. If a devotional book is not what the Lord wants me to write, and if there is no audience for the book, I need to go a different direction. Paul reminds me, “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Cor 15:58 NIV).

Nothing is Impossible

Attorney General William Barr recently stated that President Trump’s comments and tweets on the Department of Justice criminal cases makes it impossible for him to do his job. I certainly understand where Barr is coming from. However, it occurs to me that President Trump could say something similar…that the Democrats, the House of Representatives and the mainstream media have made it impossible for him to do his job as President. As believers we’ve all experienced situations that in our humanness we classify as impossible, but the angel Gabriel comes to us in Scripture to say, “For nothing is impossible with God” (Luke 1:37 NIV).

Be Courageous

I understand people being disturbed by President Trump’s uncouth attitude and personality.  However, there is something about his ability to speak unvarnished truth that gives me pause. I sense that in some respects Trump has shown Republicans, as well as people of faith, that we can speak the truth as we know it and not fear the consequences. The Lord said to Joshua, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9 NIV).

Now is the Time

After a year of driving on a learner’s permit my grandson just got his driver’s license and he is so excited he can hardly contain himself. We can all remember similar monumental moments in our lives, particularly that life changing moment of our salvation.  Paul wrote, “As God’s fellow workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.”  I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor 6:1-2 NIV).

The Golden Rule

I am a rule follower, so naturally I want others to also follow the rules. As a child when I committed to the Golden Rule to memory, I fully expected to be treated the way I treat others. What a disappointment. Even as an adult it can be disheartening because “doing unto others” is no guarantee that others will reciprocate. Jesus did not say we would be rewarded for doing unto others as we would have them do unto us, he simply said, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” (Matt 7:12 NIV).

Held in Honor

Some people who voted for Trump in 2016 have said they will not vote for him in 2020, not because of his policies, but because of his character. They find him crude, vulgar and undignified. I’m reminded of King David who, as he brought the ark of the Lord into the City of David, danced publicly before the Lord. David went home to bless his household and Michal, daughter of Saul came out to meet him, “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, disrobing in the sight of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!” David said to Michal, “It was before the LORD, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the LORD’s people Israel—I will celebrate before the LORD. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor” (2 Samuel 6:20b – 22 NIV).

Treasures of the Heart

When the Spirit lives within us we have those “ah-ha” moments where the He gives us a revelation. It’s not unusual then, that we want to share our excitement and we feel that it is our “duty” to enlighten others. However, consider that the Spirit moving in you maybe meant just for you…His message is not necessarily a message that you are to give to others. Mary watched her son Jesus grow and mature, “Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (Luke 2:51-52 NIV).

Acquittal

President Trump is basking in his acquittal. As believers we can appreciate his sense of victory. We too will stand before God where Jesus, our advocate, will acquit us from all the accusations of the evil one. John said, “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for£ the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:1-2 NIV).

The Mind of the Lord

TV commentators routinely ask their guests, “If you could advise the President, what would you tell him?” Unfortunately, teachers and preachers do something similar when they ask their audience to evaluate and question God’s motives and actions. On many occasions I’ve heard my pastor say, “I don’t know why God did XYZ, or chose this person over than person.” Paul said, “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen” (Ro 11:33-36 NIV).

Orderly Worship

While attending a government meeting the woman sitting directly behind me, who is a friend, allowed her internal dialogue to escape and become an audible running commentary. As a reporter I strained to hear the conversation taking place around the boardroom table and finally turned around in my chair and shushed her. When the meeting was over, I apologized and thankfully she was not offended. She explained she simply could not contain her frustration with the elected official’s discussion. I’ve had similar experiences in a movie theater and in the church worship service. Paul reminds us of why we need orderly worship, “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” (1 Cor 14:26 NIV).

One Body

In a corporate sense, my church offers very few opportunities for outreach, i.e. Bible study, youth groups, missions, Sunday school classes, etc. I spoke to an elder about the lack of outreach and he suggested that I independently start a Bible study in my home. It occurs to me that leadership may not want to expand organized outreach because they want to limit their oversight responsibilities. Certainly, any of us can do ministry on our own without being under the umbrella of the church. However, Paul reminds us we are no longer individuals, but we are a body, “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it” (1 Cor 12 :27 NIV).

Off Your Feed

After being sick and housebound for over a week I’ve come to the conclusion that I had flu…in spite of having had a flu shot. When it came to food nothing sounded good, tasted good, or satisfied. I dawned on me the flu has also hurt my spiritual appetite. There was no way could I feed on and mentally digest the Word of God.