A number of years ago, I attended a State Gideons Convention in Covington, Kentucky. We stayed in a large motel, and our meeting rooms were some distance removed from our sleeping rooms. In spite of having a map, I got lost numerous times trying to get to meetings and meals, and back again to the room. Many times I simply had to turn around and go back the way I came. This is nothing new for me; to use politically correct terminology, I'm "directionally challenged." The fact I saw many others, as confused as I was, indicates I'm not alone.
All of us start out in life going the wrong way. Every one of us is born a sinner, carrying the curse of Adam's sin. We're walking away from God, getting further away from him each passing year. The only way we can turn around, change our direction, is through Jesus Christ. This change of mind, and change of heart, is what we call "repentance."
Some people think that repentance involves just being sorry for our sins, but sorrow, even godly sorrow, is not enough unless it results in repentance. One of the saddest sights to see is someone weeping in agony, under conviction for their sins, who still refuses to turn his or her life over to Christ. No one will enter Hell with dry eyes.
We're used to the idea that sinners repent when they come to know Christ. Salvation is a life-changing, transforming event. Instead of rushing down the wide highway to destruction, with most people in the world, we choose the narrow, straight path to eternal life. Even Christians, though, need to repent from time to time. We're prone to take detours and shortcuts, and turn onto winding and devious paths. Christ warned several of the churches to repent in John's account of the Revelation. Our salvation removes the ultimate penalty of sin, which is death (Romans 6:23); it doesn't save us from the other consequences.
If we can look around us, and see the unsaved chugging alongside, going where we are, we're going the wrong way. If we indulge in sexual sin, greed, hatred, or anything else the Lord delivered us from, we bring dishonor to the name of Christ. This indulgence doesn't have to be some besetting sin; it can simply be a lifestyle too busy to make time for the Lord. If we spend our time wrapped up in our jobs, our families, or other interests, these are what we worship.
As Christians, we should be aware when we're doing things displeasing to the Lord. Like any good father, our Heavenly Father chastises us when we're disobedient. If we ignore his rebuke or punishment, we will eventually reach the point when we no longer care. If we can continue living in willful disobedience without once feeling any sense of the Lord's displeasure or grief, we are none of his. The pews in our churches are full of people who think they're Christians because they once repeated some prayer, but never really turned their lives over to Christ. A Christian, James says, should have evidence of their faith, which he calls "works." Paul calls this evidence the "fruit" of the Spirit, or the fruits of salvation. Jesus himself made clear that if we do not bear fruit, we are none of his, and he will cast us out of the vine.
What kind of fruit should we bear? The fruit of the Spirit, as described in Galatians 5:22, certainly. These involve both our inner and outer lives, our relationship with ourselves and with others. The working of the Holy Spirit should be evident in how we treat people day after day, both when they're nice and when they're not, whether they're beautiful or ugly. Inside, we should be at peace with ourselves and with God, with Christ at the center. This is the ideal; all of us fall short, but God made provision for that (see I John 1:9).
When we lead someone else to Christ, that's the best fruit of all. It's like a new plant springing up from the seed contained in a fruit; we have reproduced, and the new plant has the potential to do that as well. Whether or not we ever actively lead someone to the Lord, though (most Christians don't), we can still live in such a way that others see food fruit in our lives. A kind word or an act of compassion may prepare the soil so someone else can come along and plant a seed.
We can, and should, examine our lives, our motives and actions, regularly. This doesn't mean indulging in morbid self-preoccupation. It does mean, though, that we should take stock of where we stand, not in relation to other Christians, but in relation to the standard the Bible sets for us as followers of Christ. If we've turned aside, and headed off after our own wants and priorities, we need to change directions. In plain King James English, and any version of the language, we must repent!
He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust; his truth shall be thy shield and buckler…. Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation, there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. Psalms 91:4, 9-11
The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. Psalms 34:7
She stopped at the end of the side road before pulling out on the highway. As always, she looked both ways, and back again. Seeing nothing, she drove forward, intending to turn left. Seemingly from nowhere, a car slammed into her. She thought she was stepping on the brakes, but hit the gas instead. Her car shot on across the highway, through another side road running parallel on the other side, and up a bank. It flipped over, with her and her grandson inside. He managed to knock out a window with his elbow, and the two of them crawled out. Minutes later, for no other reason than by divine appointment, three of her children showed up, all in separate vehicles and without prior arrangement. Both of the vehicles in the accident were a total loss, but the three people involved were treated and released at a hospital that same day.
My sister and her grandson escaped with no more than pain and stiffness in their necks. It is so easy when such things happen to concentrate on the bad part; no one wants to have an accident. From looking at the condition of the vehicles afterward, though, it was remarkable -- we would say miraculous -- that no one was more seriously injured, or killed. The fact that several family members showed up at just the right time was no less a miracle. The Lord was at work, watching over his people.
Instances of the Lord's watch care over individuals, and over his people, are myriad in Scripture. From Noah to Abraham and Lot, from David to Daniel, God delivered his people out of fire and flood, out of the clutches of wild beasts, and out of the hands of powerful enemies. Sometimes he spoke a word to close the mouth of lions, sometimes he uttered a voice of thunder that set enemies to flee. He walked in the midst of the fiery furnace with the three children of Israel, shielding them from the flames. In the night watches he spoke in the dreams of his saints, warning them of impending danger. His angel led Peter out of prison (Acts 12:7-10), and comforted Paul with the knowledge that all those aboard a storm-tossed ship would be saved (Acts 27:21-25).
He is the Good Shepherd standing watch over his sheep, guarding them from wolf, lion and bear. When one of the flock strays away, he seeks after him, rejoicing when the lost one returns to the fold. He neither sleeps nor slumbers, and he looks over us with watchful eye when we lay our heads down to rest. Whether we're in our cars, in our homes, in businesses, on planes, or in some foreign land, he never leaves our side. Whether we live or die, he never leaves us or forsakes us. If God be for us, Paul wrote, who can be against us, and who can separate us from the love of Christ? (Romans 8:31, 35a) Some faceless enemy who strikes without warning? Some unforeseen accident or disaster? No! If we belong to Christ, our security doesn't consist in guns or planes or body armor or gas masks; nor does it require us to live as hermits cut off from the outside world. If we fear God, he promises that his angel camps around us. If we fear and reverence him, we need never fear the world.
Have you ever watched a mother hen with her chicks? Have you seen how she calls her little ones to her at any hint of danger? They rush to huddle together beneath the protective cover of her wings, where they feel safe. That's the image that David is presenting. When we rest and abide in the Lord, no matter where we are, and no matter what's going on around us, we're under the shadow of his wings. That's the whole basis of this newsletter ministry.
One of my friends sent me an email message yesterday. He said the Lord had moved him very specifically and very urgently to pray for me. I never assume that because something didn't happen, something wouldn't or couldn't have happened. The Lord has saved me from physical harm many times, from possible drowning to automobile accidents to deranged criminals. What I don't know is how many times he saved me from things I didn't even know about. Take some time this week to thank God for all the times he kept you from harm, whether you knew it or not. Take some time, too, every day, to thank him for watching over you, and to ask him to keep those you love or care about under his care. Remember -- there are angels encamped among us.
And not only so, but we glory in tribulation also, knowing that tribulation worketh patience, and patience, experience; and experience, hope. And hope maketh not ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which given unto us. Romans 5:3-5
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance; against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22
We had a cherry tree near the pasture gate when I was young. Around the latter part of May, I always went to scout out the current year's crop of fruit. With the right kind of weather, and without too many bugs, the tree would be heavy with red delights. Sometimes, I got a little overeager, and didn't wait for them to get completely red. If they were almost ripe, they weren't too bad, but if they had too much green they were really sour. I knew very well that the process of ripening took time, but I couldn't quite bring myself to wait. Besides the cherries I ate, some were ruined by worms and birds, and some fell to the ground during spring storms. For the ones that made it to be ripe fruit, the wait was well worthwhile, for me if not for the cherries.
Looking at a group of Christians is kind of like looking at a bowl of cherries at various stages of ripeness. Some are still green as grass, newly formed; others are the bright red of maturity; and most are somewhere in between. Still others give the appearance of being ripe, but their insides are eaten up with the worms of worldliness and disobedience. And some, unfortunately, are rotten, and threaten to spoil everything about them.
Paul, in his letters to Timothy, was a fully mature Christian, firmly grounded and rooted in Christ. Timothy, on the other hand, was still young, and immature, in need of good counsel and guidance. He was young, not only physically but spiritually, and apparently unsure of himself. Paul told him not to give in to fear and timidity, and not to let others put him down because of his youth. (2 Timothy 1:7) Study the Scriptures, Paul said, and avoid useless intellectual debates. (1 Timothy 6:20. 2 Timothy 2:15-16, 3:16-17) He had enough confidence in his young protegee to put him charge of the church at Ephesus, one of the most important of the early churches.
By contrast, Paul's letter to the church at Corinth was a stinging indictment of spiritual immaturity. The church had already split into factions, and emphasized the outward appearance of spirituality rather than true obedience to the Spirit. They were still babies in the faith, able to consume only the milk of the Word, the bare essentials, not the meat that Paul wanted to share with them. (I Corinthians 3:1-3) When they tolerated immoral behavior, particularly the man who committed adultery with his father's wife, they felt a sense of smug spiritual superiority, but they were actually spiritually bankrupt. (I Corinthians 5:1-2)
If there's one condition that typifies Christians today it's spiritual immaturity. Many, if not most, Christians never progress beyond the experience of their salvation, while others actually slide back even from that point. Just as with the growth of our physical bodies, or the ripening of fruit, Christian maturity is a process that continues over time. It doesn't happen overnight, and it must continue if we are to grow and develop normally. It's interesting to note that Paul viewed the process of maturity as beginning with tribulations, or the tests and trials we all encounter. Both James and Peter took similar views. (James 1:2-4; 1 Peter 1:6-7) Unfortunately, many Christians back off when faced with problems stemming from their beliefs, and the perceived sacrifice involved in putting God ahead of our other priorities. When we look around us at the fire, our concern is being burned; God uses fire to burn away impurities. (1 Peter 1:7) When we're stretched to our limits, we focus on the pain; God sees us being enlarged so we can hold more of Him in our lives.
No one who has been a Christian for ten or twenty years should still be living on baby food, always needing help instead of giving it. To me, there are several factors by which we can measure the degree of our maturity, none of which involve comparing ourselves to other Christians. These include our knowledge of our faith, our exercise of our faith in our relationship with God and others, the extent to which our self-control is Spirit-control, and the degree to which we manifest God's love in and through our lives.
As mature Christians we should be able to give an accounting of our faith, both knowing what we believe and being able to explain it to others. (1 Peter 3:15) Among other things, we should be able to discuss and define, and in many cases explain, terms and concepts like these: agape love, atonement, creation, grace, Heaven and Hell, joy, justification, Original Sin, peace, salvation, sanctification, the blood of Christ, the offices of the Holy Spirit, and the Trinity (no one can really explain it, but we should know what the Bible teaches about it). There are many others, and they aren't just words, but the heart of what we believe. An ignorant Christian is a defeated Christian; the only weapon we have against Satan is the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God.
We grow strong through exercise. We exercise our faith when we trust God from day to day, in great matters and small ones. As James said, "Faith without works is dead." (James 2:17) We're not saved by works, and we don't remain saved by works, but the things we do give evidence of our salvation to others. One thing that "keeping the faith" in times of trouble does is make our faith stronger on the other side.
It is no accident that self-control (temperance) is the last of the fruits of the Spirit Paul lists in Galatians. True maturity consists in finally giving ourselves over completely to the Spirit's direction. When the Lord controls what we think, say, and do, we have reached the final goal of Christian maturity. And what is the evidence of that control? Obedience! "If you love me," Christ said, "keep my commandments." (John 14:15) When we obey God, without questioning, we show we love him, and we show his love to others. Then, and only then, are we ripe fruit. The purpose of ripe fruit, of course, is to produce seeds to produce trees that in turn produce more fruit. That's where the pits come in….
I met Tom and Lirio at a prayer breakfast early in 1979. Lirio was a short little woman with a very big heart. She was a bundle of energy. This couple befriended me, and I spent a lot of time with them. In August of that year, they introduced me to a certain woman, a friend of Lirio's from her homeland of Puerto Rico. Three weeks after meeting this woman I asked her to marry me, and she agreed. And that, as they say, is the rest of the story.
Often we take for granted the things that happen in our lives. Had I not been at that prayer breakfast, and had the Lord specifically directed Lirio to introduce herself to me, I may well have never met my wife. Going back further in my life, had I not attended the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill I probably would never have come to Pikeville. Some of my friends there in North Carolina made it possible for me to be here. All of us probably can look back on our lives and identify times when things happened because we were in the right place at the right time, or the wrong place at the wrong time, for that matter.
In David's case, he was in a place where he never should have been. At a time when kings were supposed to go to war, he stayed home and left the fighting to his generals. The results were adultery, murder, and a curse on his entire family. Abraham's servant, by contrast, was exactly where he was supposed to be, "in the way," at just the right time. As a result, he found a wife for his master's son, Isaac, and Rebekah became the mother of Jacob, whom God later named Israel.
How can we be sure we'll be "in the way"? By being obedient to God's will for us. How can we determine what his well is? Through reading his Word, through prayer, and through the counsel and guidance of the Holy Spirit and of other Christians. If God has called us to serve, we need to serve where he has called us, whether in our hometown or in some foreign land. If we unite with a particular congregation of the body of Christ, we need to be with them in times of worship, prayer and service.
We’ve all seen or heard stories of people who went out if their way because of some very specific leading from the Lord, or just because of a strong "feeling" that they should. Sometimes someone's life was saved as a result; in some cases, someone's very soul. Though time or place certainly doesn't limit God, they do pose limits on us. Although God will accomplish his purpose, we can miss our chance to be his instruments through disobedience. We should never ignore a specific leading to go somewhere, or be somewhere. We should also not insist on going where God specifically instructs or leads us not to go, even if it's for a good cause. Paul and Silas had a notion about making a trip into Bythinia, but God forbade it. Instead, he sent them to Philippi, at the invitation of a man who appeared to Paul in a dream.
Jonah is the most famous example in scriptures of someone who refused to go where he was sent. We all know the result of that; three days in the belly of a great fish taught Jonah he couldn't run from God. Even in obedience, though, he grumbled and complained. How many of us do the same, when we know the Lord wants us to be somewhere, but we'd rather be somewhere else? Sometimes when we look around in church on Sunday morning there a lot of people who look very unhappy because they have to be there. Some of them even sit in the choir!
I've been here in Pikeville for about 22 ˝ years. It seems odd to me that I had to be here so God could send me back to West Virginia, where I came from, to minister. I don't believe, though, that the physical location is always important. What is important is that we maintain an attitude of obedience wherever we are. That is really the "way" we need to be in. If obedience means that we walk or drive a different way than usual, or that we go somewhere we had no plans to go, then that's what we should do. One of life's hard lessons, for me, has been to trust God when he sends me somewhere. Like Abraham, we may have no idea what we're going to do when we go where we're sent, but God knows. That's all that matters/
Matthew 13:37 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; 38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; 39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.
Acts 20:29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
Hayfields are not fun. As the old saying points out, you have to cut hay while the sun shines. In the middle of summer, out in a big field with little or no shade, putting up hay in stacks, or loading it onto trucks, is downright miserable. Besides the heat and the sweat, the grass makes you itch, and tiny bugs we called chiggers compound the problem.
One thing about hayfields, like wheat fields, is that there are always weeds among the grass, no matter how well tended the field is. It just isn't possible to separate out the weeds while the grass is growing, but you can do that to some extent once the hay is cut. With wheat, the process of separation is much more thorough, as indicated in Christ's parable. As long as the wheat is growing, though, so are the weeds. This reduces the size of the harvest, and takes nutrients away from the wheat plants.
We Christians don't like to accept the idea that the Devil goes to church. We assume that, once the ushers close the doors, Satan politely stays outside. Not only does he attend, through those who serve him, but he listens and watches closely. We might expect that he uses nonmembers, avowed sinners. To an extent, he does, but mostly he uses people whose names are on the church roll. After all, these are the ones that attend meetings, offer opinions, cast votes, and carry out the work of the church. These are also the people with the most potential to cause damage to the church's ministry.
Paul calls them savage wolves among the flock. They may attend church faithfully, teach Sunday school, serve on committees, and even get elected as deacons or chosen as pastors. They have one main fault: they never truly accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior. Sadly, many of them don't even realize they were never born again, because they didn't really understand what it meant. They assumed if they came forward in a church service and repeated the right words, that was all it took. Nothing really changed in their lives, except that they "got religion"; not Christ, just religion.
Others deliberately and knowingly live a lie, whatever their motives may be. They become experts at hiding, and distorting, the truth. Sometimes their goal is power, or maybe they hope to use the Gospel as an avenue to wealth. (Philippians 3:18-19) In still other cases, they are driven by lust, and use positions of trust to seduce weak and vulnerable people who come seeking help (2 Timothy 3:6).
As our pastor often points out, only we and God truly know whether or not we're really saved. There are signs we can look for, though, to spot the weeds among the wheat. As carnal, or worldly, Christians can cause many of the same problems as charlatans, we still don't really know for sure. If we see people in the body who cause division instead of unity, and strife instead of peace, and who are more prone to criticize than to praise, we should know that bad seed may well have taken root and sprouted.
One thing we can't do is try to use the Devil's own tactics to oppose his agents. It's far too easy to resort to accusations and counter accusations. I've seen my own church split to the point that both sides used sometimes vicious rhetoric and criticism against the other. No doubt, the Devil took both sides of the issue. Many members, and many sincere Christians, left the church. Christ understood well that trying to weed out Satan's followers from the church can destroy it. Not only does warfare in a congregation have the potential to expose sin and sinners in the body, it can also alienate and drive away believers.
That certainly is not to say we shouldn't oppose the Devil's tactics when we recognize them, whether he uses Christians or not. The weapons we use, though, are the ones Christ himself used: prayer, the Word, and the power of the Holy Spirit. Instead of cursing those who curse us, he said, we should bless them. Instead of striking back at those who hurt us, we should love them. (Matthew 6:44) Satan's lies we counter with the truth of the Word, not by engaging in an intellectual debate. (2 Timothy 2:23-24) When we do see sin the camp, no matter who commits it, we should confront the sinner in the way Christ says we should, first with two or three, then as a body. (Matthew 18:15-17)
Our church, Pikeville First Baptist, is in the early stages of revival, of that I have no doubt. The Spirit is moving in a mighty way in our worship services, the body is growing, and God is transforming lives every time we meet. Our choir, and our music director, are an integral part of what God is doing. I have never been in a congregation with so much freedom in worship and praise. "Pentecostal" and "Baptist" aren't often used together in a phrase, but I've heard that expression more than once these past months. The criticism and the rumors have already started; some of our members are offended because our services aren't quiet, sedate (and dead) as they used to be. Others took the occasion of a recent visit from a representative of the state Baptist Convention's music department to jump to some rather astounding conclusions; the man had come, they said, to investigate reports that Brother Greg, our music director, is some sort of heretic. The man actually is doing a study of worship around the state, and was quite impressed with our worship service and our choir. Still others said that Greg had been offered a six-figure salary at some undisclosed location, implying, perhaps, he was in the music ministry for the money. Both statements were preposterous, but some were willing to entertain them.
If nothing much is happening in your church, the weeds are hard to see. They just kind of blend in. Once good things start happening among God's people, though, expect problems to follow hard behind. If the Devil can get a church to spend its time putting out fires, or if he can cause division it, he has won that particular battle. Even if he doesn't succeed in stopping what God wants to do, he can divert energy and resources away from a church's ministry if it has to deal with internal problems. We must pray for discernment to recognize when Satan is at work, and for wisdom and power to meet his attacks.
Myrtle Clinebell was my fifth-grade teacher. It was in her class that I went from being a run-of the-mill student to near the top of the class. She helped me believe in myself, by letting me know she believed in me. She took me to her home, not once, but many times, so she could take me an appointment with an optometrist, or a meeting, or a competition. All through my junior high and high school days she encouraged and supported me in every way she possibly could. Other teachers also helped me greatly over the years, but Miz Clinbebell is the one I especially remember.
Some people have a special gift as encouragers. Like Barnabus, they are cheerleaders for Christ, always urging us on. When things look dark, they always find a ray of light somewhere. Paul and his shipmates were tossed about in a storm for days, and ready to give up hope. Comforted by an angel in a vision, he then offered the others the assurance that all of them would survive.
Encouragement doesn't mean flattery or false hope. Ancient Israel was full of prophets who offered words of encouragement in times of crisis, but they were all liars. Those like Isaiah and Jeremiah who predicted doom were ridiculed or ignored. In the same way, none of us should hold out hope to someone just to make them feel better, without any assurance from the Lord that hope exists. That kind of counsel is like throwing a rope to a drowning man – our end and all.
With the gift of encouragement comes a degree of discernment. It's not always easy to tell when someone needs to be lifted good, since many of us are accomplished actors. I am a past master at hiding my emotions. We must only be able to recognize signs of problems, but we must be willing to listen. Trying to impress someone else with our grasp of his or her problems, then proceeding to discuss our own, isn't very helpful or loving. To encourage someone, we must first show we truly are interested in them as human beings, not just as test cases.
What kinds of things can we say to build someone up? First of all, we must see them as Christ sees them, as being of infinite worth. If we then try to build them up, we can do it genuinely, not to just to make them feel better. Next, we need to look at their problems from God's perspective; if they belong to Christ, then he is in control, no matter how black things look. Finally, we must let them know that, not only do we and others care what happens to them, but God does, too, only infinitely more so.
Encourage is the opposite of discourage. If what we do or say tears someone down instead of building them up, then we need to examine our motives. When someone is discouraged, they are also depressed, down on themselves, and often mad at both God and the world. Although in some cases a confrontational attitude may just what we need to adopt, usually that only worsens a problem. Telling someone who is depressed or discouraged to just "snap out of it" works about as well as spitting into the wind.
As parents, we can and should encourage our children in their schoolwork, outside activities, and relationships, without driving them to distraction. As members of our congregation, we can encourage our pastor by praying for him, letting him know what a great job he's doing, and by pitching in ourselves to help with the work of ministry. As friends, we can look for ways to show concern (an unexpected gift or card, an invitation to dinner), and "stick closer than a brother" (or sister) in the bad times.
We don't have a special spiritual gift of encouragement to build others up. If we're employers, we can let our employees know how very much we value them as people, especially when things are tough for them outside the office. If we're employees, we can let our bosses know how much we appreciate them, and compliment our fellow workers at any opportunity. In the church, we can make a special effort to encourage those who don't often get much recognition, like the ushers or kitchen workers.
Spiritual gifts, Paul said, are given to edify, or build up the body of Christ, not to bring glory to any of us. Let's help others win a game now and again, and rejoice with them in their victory. We're all parts of the same body; when we reach out to help any of them, we're also helping ourselves.
All of the following scriptures are from the book of Proverbs, King James Version:
6:6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
6:9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?
10:26 As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him.
13:4 The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
13:3 He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.
18:9 He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.
20:4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
26:14 As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.
Thought of the Day
A little work now saves a lot of trouble later. Small bites are easier to swallow, and a job left undone tends to breed more work the older it gets. The hope of the lazy, of course, is that someone else will eventually do what they refuse to do themselves.
All of these selections are from the book of Ecclesiastes.
1:14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
2:1 I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity.
2:11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.
2:15 Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity.
2:21 For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.
3:19 For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.
5:10 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.
8:14 There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there be just men, unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked; again, there be wicked men, to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous: I said that this also is vanity.
12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
Thought of the Day
People try to fill up their lives with vain, or empty, things and activities. The only part of our lives of any real or lasting importance is our relationship with God, in Christ. Nothing else satisfies, no matter how busy we try to stay. Success that brings temporary pleasure, and no eternal value, is not success at all.
Psalms 51:1 <
2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.
Thought of the Day
No matter how vile our behavior, God is always ready to receive us back when we turn away from our sin, and turn back to him. David was guilty of adultery and murder, but when he repented, God forgave. God's children may stray far away from him, but never so far that he can't reach out and touch our lives once more.
Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Thought of the Day
If we're believers serving God, we will be involved in spiritual warfare. The only question is whether we'll go into battle naked and exposed, or equipped with the full armor of God. We can either be damaged goods, burned out and defeated, or victorious warriors. The difference is Jesus, always, and our relationship with him, in the Word, in prayer, and in fellowship.
Matthew 12:22 Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.
23 And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?
24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.
25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:
26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?
27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges.
28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
29 Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.
Thought of the Day
Christ has given us the power and authority to confront and overcome even the Devil himself, though the vast majority of us deal, not with him, but with hid demons. At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, and all believers can lay claim to his name. We are great because our Lord is great; we can overcome because our Lord has overcome.
1 John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
Thought of the Day
An old chorus says, "They'll know we are Christians by our love." The reverse is also true. If someone claims to be a Christian, but manifests none of the love of Christ, he or she is a liar. Love is the first fruit of the Spirit, and everything else springs from it. Someone who is spiteful, manipulative, and uncaring does not demonstrate Christ's love.
Proverbs 6:16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
Thought of the Day
The person described in Proverbs 6, with the list of seven things God hates, can be summed up in one word:: troublemaker. It all starts with pride, Lucifer's own sin. When we make gods out of ourselves, which is the case with humanism, the results are always disastrous.
Proverbs 13:24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
19:18 Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.
22:15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
23:13 Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.
29:15 The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.
Hebrews 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
Thought of the Day
Discipline does not mean, and should never mean, abuse, which is punishment for its own sake. Without discipline and correction, though, children grow up with no sense of limits or direction. In the same way, we who are God's children should not be surprised or offended when when he disciplines us as well. Disobedience without consequences encourages rebellion and selfish pride.
Psalms 29:11 The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.
Psalms 34:14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
Psalms 37:11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
Psalms 37:37 Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.
Psalms 119:165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Thought of the Day
Peace, inner contentment, comes out of our relationship with Jesus Christ. Although inward peace can also bring peace with the world around us, we can have God's peace even when we experience conflict all around us. The peace that the world gives lasts only as long as there is nothing in our circumstances to disturb it; the peace of God does not end so long as we are in fellowship with him.
Psalms 30:5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
Psalms 35:27 Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.
Psalms 126:5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
John 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
John 16:20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.
21 A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.
22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.
23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
Thought of the Day
Happiness depends on what is "happening" around us, and comes from the outside in. Joy depends on what the Lord is doing inside us, and comes from the inside out. When we abide in Christ, we have joy, regardless of what is going on around us. Our joy is full when we lift our petitions to God in faith, and we receive what he gives us
2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Matthew 6:14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Matthew 18:21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.
25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
31 So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
Thought of the Day
Forgiveness is the canceling of a debt. It is not an option, but a commandment. It is not an emotion, but an act of the will, a decision we make to no longer hold another to account for a wrong. God forgives us our sins, and we receive his forgiveness by our asking; we must forgive others, whether they ask it or not. That's not just for their sakes, but ours, so our fellowship with God can be restored.
Acts 16:30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
Acts 4:10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Thought of the Day
Salvation is not complicated. We don't need to learn some elaborate rituals, or recite endless prayers. It's all about Jesus, and our relationship to him. There is no price to pay; he's already paid it. All we have to do is believe on him, ask his forgiveness for our sins, and accept the free gift of eternal life. Salvation isn't something we feel, though the feelings will follow; it's something Jesus does.
Psalms 31:24 Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.
33:18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;
Proverbs 13:12 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.
Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Romans 8:24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
Thought of the Day
Hope, as the Bible uses it, does not mean "wish". Rather, hope is something we confidently expect, based on our experience of God as One who always keeps his promises. As Christians, our hope is eternal life, not as something we would like to happen, but as something that will happen, and, indeed, begins from the moment of our salvation. That is our assurance, our confidence, and nothing can shake it if we look to Christ as the anchor of our faith.
Psalms 84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
John 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
Romans 11:5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
Thought of the Day
Grace is not earned; it is given. There's an old anagram that says it is "God's Riches At Christ's Expense". Old or not, it's a pretty accurate description. Nothing we could ever do in this short life could earn us a shot at eternity, especially since we all have "come short". Some people, especially here in Appalachia, spend their lives wondering if they're "good enough" to get into Heaven. None of us ever are. It is only through the blood of Christ that any of us can have hope for anything good thing from God. That's more than enough.
Psalms 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
Psalms 32:10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about.
Psalms 86:15 But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.
Psalms 103:11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. {as...: Heb. according to the height of the heaven}
Psalms 103:17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;
Romans 11:32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
Ephesians 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
Thought of the Day
Mercy means compassion, kindness, or favor. In some ways, it is the opposite of grace; by grace, we are given what we don't deserve, but through mercy we are not given what we do deserve. God's mercy, as manifested in Christ, is itself am act of grace, though; God grants mercy and forgiveness even though we don't deserve it. Just as God shows mercy on us, we are to show the same compassion and kindness to others, without asking if they deserve it or not.
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
1 Thessalonians 2:7 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:
2 Timothy 2:24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
Titus 3:2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.
James 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
Thought of the Day
We always have choices as to how we react to people and situations. There are times when confrontation and hard words are called for, but never when the result is to damage someone else without cause or justification. Gentleness is like a balm or salve in times of trouble or turmoil. Proverbs says a soft answer turns away wrath, or anger (Proverbs 15:1), and Isaiah says the Messiah will not break a bruised reed (Isaiah 42:3). A gentle spirit seeks healing, not hurting.
Proverbs 15:33 The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.
16:19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
18:12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.
22:4 By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.
29:23 A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.
Micah 6:8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
Matthew 18:4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
23:12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
Thought of the Day
Humility does not mean to degrade ourselves in the eyes of others. It consists, rather, in seeing ourselves as God does, of infinite worth, not for our own sakes, but for the sake of the One who died for us. God is everything; I am nothing, but in Christ, I will glory. Pride says, "Look at me"; humility says, "Look at Christ in me."
Psalms 19:9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
Psalms 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
Proverbs 19:23 The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.
Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Thought of the Day
To fear God, as the Bible uses the phrase, means to give him the reverence, worship, and obedience due him. Unless we can do that, we can never learn the meaning of salvation, and can have no hope of pleasing the Lord. Understanding the Word, and dealing with the issues of life, begin with our relationship with God, in Christ. Having faith to righteousness is not possible without the fear of the Lord
Matthew 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
Luke 17:5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.
6 And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.
Romans 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Romans 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
2 Corinthians 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Thought of the Day
Faith is the currency of the Kingdom. Whether it's salvation, or righteousness, or justification, we can attain it only through faith in God, through Jesus Christ. We cannot even please God unless we have faith, no matter how hard we try in the flesh. Once it's planted, or exercised, faith grows, and the more we use it, the stronger it becomes. By faith, we not only believe, but obey. Faith says, "If God says it, that settles it."