Month: January 2024

We are tempted everyday from every side. Jesus said this to His disciples in Luke 17:1, “Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come…” We are constantly tempted by our own evil desires (James 1:15) but the real danger lies not in the temptations but in our thinking that we can dabble with sin and not get drawn in. Charles Spurgeon wrote, “Christian, beware of thinking lightly of sin. Take heed in case you fall little by little.” And that’s what usually happens…we toy with sin…flirt with it, and think our will power is stronger than its seduction. We look at sin casually and trivialize it with a “I’ll just try it once” attitude…not realizing that you can’t play with fire and not get burned.  That’s because there’s nothing small or insignificant about sin…and there’s no such thing as innocently dabbling in it…this will only lead you down a very dark path.

Have you ever really thought about the expression, “To take offense”? Wrapped up in this phrase are the feelings of being wronged, insulted, or attacked by someone…but to “take” offense means that we have to first choose or accept what has been said or done as a willful gesture of disrespect. And many times what we thought was intentional was far from it. Our ears are deceived in hearing “things” that were never really said. Our mind perceives wrongly that words spoken by others are meant to be an insult when it wasn’t that way at all. And our eyes think we see someone shunning us when in fact they didn’t even realize we were there. Taking offense often can blow things way out of proportion and cause unreconcilable riffs in relationships, work, and at Church. But we don’t have to “take” offense when we rather rely on wisdom, self control & forgiveness instead.

Why are we so good at putting limits on God’s divine generosity towards His children? We’re reminded in the first verse of Psalm 23 that, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want.” So all we have to do is remember that everything belongs to God, for He created it. And if He feeds the birds and clothes the flowers (Luke 12:27)…He’ll take care of us. For God is fully capable of satisfying every material & Spiritual need we’ll ever have with the inexhaustible riches of His Kingdom… or as II Corinthians 9:8 tells us, “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”

Job’s misery and grief mirrored Proverbs 27:3 that says, Sand is heavy, but no where near as burdensome as sorrow and affliction. When the crushing weight of loss, illness, or fear overwhelms us, it does feel like the sand on every seashore has been dumped on our chest… but that’s the time to roll the burden over onto Jesus’ more than capable shoulders for Him to bear it for us.

The call of God is an expression of His nature…the purpose only being for our good and His glory. My service which results from this call on my life is always unique and suited just to me. That’s because His call always takes into account my human nature, character, gifts, talents, and passions. God will never call you to something you don’t already possess. (Even though it may be a talent you never knew you had!) Another thing is that God will never recall His giftings or call from our life. (Romans 11:29) Therefore God’s call prompts within me a desire to serve Him out of love and devotion in ways I’m familiar with.

Paul had been put on a ship sailing to Rome to stand trial before Caesar, but as it attempted to reach a safe harbor to Winter over in the ship was caught up in a violent storm & driven helplessly along by it. For many days the ship was battered by ferocious winds with neither the sun nor stars for guidance. As the storm raged on it says all aboard gave up all hope of being saved…but then God intervened with a message to Paul that all was not lost. The storms that enter our lives are very much like that…the winds turn against us… it seems like we’re being swept along against our will as we’re battered from all sides…finally finding ourselves overwhelmed by hopelessness. But just like Paul, God is there to calm the sea of chaos around us…reminding us to set our eyes on Him and not to be afraid.  

In a way our old self must be nailed to the Cross…or as Oswald Chambers called it, we need to have a White Funeral… a burial of self. Both Ephesians 4:22-24 and Colossians 3:9 speak of this taking off of our old self and putting on our new self…the imagery being that of taking off old frayed & tattered clothes and a putting on brand new ones. Thus a White Funeral is where our old self dies in order that our new self can be dedicated wholly to Christ. The term White, in a White Funeral, references back to Revelations and a sign of purity as the saints washed their robes white in the blood of the Lamb. (Revelation 7:14)  

Jonah couldn’t run away from God anymore. He was hemmed in from every side…in the innermost part of this giant fish with no where to go. It was just God & him, and Jonah knew his time was very short. This type of situation can be a very sobering time for anyone who’s near death…alone with just their thoughts…reflecting back on their life…either with peace or with fear.  But it says that despite Jonah’s disobedience, he still considered God his, so he called upon the Lord his God and pleaded for deliverance…knowing that God would not only hear him but save him from Sheol or death. God has a way of putting us in serious predicaments to get our attention… so we are then forced to consider making the good decision of asking for forgiveness & repenting of our waywardness.

Jesus used Parables to explain Spiritual Truths…comparing one thing (Spiritual Truths) to another (natural things). To most of the crowd, they were just nice stories, with the true meaning going over their heads. But to the Twelve disciples, when they were finally alone with Jesus, it was the time to ask questions about what He really meant & clear up their confusion. And Jesus was always ready to explain carefully & thoroughly, in order for the Twelve to gain intimate knowledge of said Spiritual Truth. So are you confused today? Are you baffled & bewildered by troubles, illness, sorrow, or pain in your life or the life of another? Is your life a confused jumbled mess right now with no answers? Might I then suggest you do what the disciples regularly did…they got alone with Jesus. For when it’s just Jesus & you, He will give insight, discernment, perception, and most of all wisdom into the most confusing of predicaments.

When everything around us is dark & chaotic it’s difficult, if not almost impossible, to make good decisions. Our mind goes blank, our emotions get the better of us, and even simple choices are hard to make. But if we ask the Lord to send us His light and truth into the confusion, He is faithful to bring clarity, order, and understanding. We can then be confident, as we walk in this light and truth, that He will supply wisdom to make good decisions. As it says in Psalm 25:4-5, ” Make me to know Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my Salvation.”