What if it Were You? part 2

Last week we looked at some of the amazing things God asked men to do in the past. We saw their faithfulness. We saw even some reluctance but a redirection of that focus to do what is right. The focus of the article last week was to make you think about what if it were you that was asked to build an ark, or to offer your son as a sacrifice, or to prepare the way for the Lord. We aren’t asked to do those things these days. However, we have been asked to do several things for God. My question still stands: What if it were you? Are you ready to do what God asks of you?

Jesus said that if we love Him we will keep His commandments (John 14:15; 15:14). The amazing thing is that those commands by God are not too difficult for us to follow (1 John 5:3). Jesus is the author of eternal salvation for those who will obey Him (Hebrews 5:9). Will you obey Him?

What if you were asked to:

· Believe that Jesus is the Son of God (John 8:24). And just so you know, belief is a work. “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent” (John 6:29). Most people in the U.S.A. claim to believe but do you honestly believe with such faith to follow His instructions?

· Repent of your sins (Luke 13:3,5; Acts 17:30). Would you really be willing to change your life from worldliness and sin toward Christian living? Would you have godly sorrow that leads to repentance (2 Corinthians 7:9,10)?

· Make the good confession before men of your faith and your desire to live for Christ (Romans 10:9,10; Acts 8:37;  1 Timothy 6:12)? After having made that good confession and becoming a Christian, have you continued to make the confession of your faith in Christ before men as you live daily (Matthew 10:32,33)?

· Be baptized for the remission of your sins (Acts 2:38), put on Christ in Baptism (Galatians 3:27), be added to the church by the Lord (Acts 2:47), which will save your soul (1 Peter 3:21), and give you a new life in Christ (Romans 6:3,4).

· If you were asked to do these things, would you do it? I am sure that most of you would and have.

However, there is more to faithful living than obedience of the plan of salvation. We must be obedient in all aspects of our lives:

· Parents who teach their children the will of God

· Husbands who love their wives

· Wives who love their husbands

· Marriages devoted to God and to one another

· Children who obey their parents

· Members of society who are obedient to government, who work hard, who help our fellow man

· Christians who are faithful to the Lord by attending Bible classes and worship at every opportunity

· Christians who tell their family and friends about Jesus

· Christians who give generously

· Christians who keep themselves pure and holy as they keep themselves separate from the sinful ways of the world.

When we look at it, there really isn’t much that God asks of us for all that He has done for us. He gave us life, breath, and all things. It is in Him that we live, move and have our being. He sent His Son, Jesus the Christ, to die on the cross for our sins paying a debt that we owe and can never earn. In return, He asks that we follow His plan for living.

Too often in life, man chooses to do things His own way. In worship, man has created his own devices. In marriage, man has decided that divorce is acceptable regardless of the words of Jesus stating there to be only one accepted reason for divorce and subsequent remarriage. In living, man has determined that we can live like the world 6.5 days a week, but if we somehow show up for one hour of worship on Sunday morning then we are pleasing God. I wonder how well that kind of thinking would have worked for Abraham, Noah, or John.

The question is not “what if it were you?” but will you obey the commands of God? He has given us instruction. He has given us His word to guide us. He has given us forgiveness of sins and an eternal home in heaven, but you must obey!!! There is no other way but His way.

The Law of the Lord is Perfect

Psalm 19 – The Law of the Lord is Perfect!

The nineteenth psalm is a beautiful expression of the power of God. From it we learn that God created the world and creation proves there is a Creator. We learn of the circuit of the sun (we are part of a planetary system with a star with planets orbiting it as the system itself orbits within the Milky Way Galaxy). Thus God has revealed Himself in nature (v.1-6).

God has also revealed Himself through His word (v.7-10). The Psalmist wrote, “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.”

If you think of all the problems that exist in this world, it seems that there is no hope. But the truth is that God’s word provides us with the answers for the world today. God’s word converts the soul, gives us understanding, gives us joy in righteous living, opens our eyes in pure living, and are more valuable to us than the greatest possessions or pleasures. The word of God should be our guide and then we would conquer our problems through Christ and Christian living (Philippians 4:13).

The way we live demonstrates our devotion to God (v.11-14). We should be servants worthy of reward. We should strive to be free from error, secret faults, and presumptuous sins. Instead we should be clean, blameless and innocent of great transgression (or sin).

God created the world, sustains the world, His word directs the world, and our lives should be devoted to Him. Our goal should be to live according to the perfect law of the Lord saying, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer” (v.14).

Are you living in a way that is acceptable to the Lord? Do you know what the Lord wants for your life? If you would like to know about the perfect word of God or what it means to be a Christian, we would love to help you as you open the wonderful words of life. Let us know if you would like to have a home Bible study or if you would like to study on your own through a free DVD. We would love to help you. 

What If It Were You?

In the gospel of Mark, John the Immerser is introduced by describing his role in the preparing the way for the Lord.

“Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way before You. The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths straight.’” (Mark 1:2,3).

John was a wonderful man who lived in service to the Lord. He kept himself pure. He stood up to the sins of the spiritual leaders of the day. He stood up to the sins of the King. He did his job and he did it well. He was faithful until death. He died at the hands of the very King and Queen he opposed because of their adultery. John was truly a wonderful soldier. Jesus praised him highly in Matthew 11:11 saying, “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” What an amazing statement! When the Son of God says you are the greatest man born that is saying something.

There are many wonderful lessons we could learn from John, his parents and his life’s work. However, my question today is not about John, his baptism, his preparation for Jesus, or his stance against sin that cost him his life. My question is what if it was you that were asked to carry out such a great task for Jesus? What if it were you?

What if you were asked to give a great sacrifice like Abraham sacrificing his son Isaac? Would you be faithful to God?

What if you were asked to stand opposed to Pharaoh like Moses and Aaron and demand “let my people go?” Would you stand strong before him?

What if you were given the opportunity to stand in faith against a giant like Goliath with only a few stones and a sling? Would you understand like David that you were actually fighting for God and He is on your side? Would you run toward Goliath?

What if you were asked to march around the city of Jericho for 7 days rather than use conventional weapons and wisdom to fight your enemy? Would you put your trust in the Lord?

What if you were asked to fight your enemy with only 300 men being completely outnumbered and for weapons you carry pitchers and torches while the enemy had swords, spears and more? Would you come boldly to the outskirts of the camp with truth that the Lord was fighting for you?

What if you were asked by the Father, to give up the glory of heaven, to come to this earth, to live as a man, to be persecuted unmercifully, to be rejected by your own, and to be crucified by your creation? Would you have the dedication to the Father to say, “Not My will, but Thine be done” like Jesus?

I am afraid that too many are like Naaman and think that what we have been asked to do isn’t worthy of us or is too simple. We are asked to worship in spirit and truth. We are asked to tell our friends and family about Jesus. We are asked to be faithful in life and service. Sometimes we act like Naaman. We need someone to remind us that it isn’t beneath us and why do we think we need to be asked to do “some great thing” before we obey the Lord (2 Kings 5).

I am afraid that sometimes we act like Jonah and run and hide from our responsibility. Sometimes we try to pretend like we are doing more than we really are like Ananias and Sapphira. Sometimes we love the world more than Jesus like Demas. Sometimes we elevate ourselves and want preeminence like Diotrephes.

When you examine your life, what do you see? We must examine ourselves to make sure we are living in the faith (2 Cor. 13:5). Be honest! When you look at your life, are you a soldier like John? Or do we question what we are asked like Naaman or Jonah? What if you were asked to do something for God?

Often we I read my Bible or study a person’s life, I look at their life and their faith, and then I look at my life and wonder how I would act in the same situation. We are so blessed with air condition, plumbing, refrigeration, vehicles, internet, TV, radio and so many other blessings. We could do so much. Yet, a man eating locust and wild honey, wearing camel’s hair and living in the wilderness puts us to shame. What if it were you? Would you be praised by the Lord for your faithfulness?

Psalm 17 - Walking in His Footsteps

Walking In His Footsteps (Psalm 17:4,5)

“I have kept away from the paths of the destroyer. Uphold my steps in Your paths, that my footsteps may not slip.”

This time of year, many make new resolutions to improve their health, their finances and their relationships. In so doing, plans are made to make changes. Most of these plans come from man’s ways. Self help books and tapes fly off the shelves this time of year. It is good to make changes for the better, but who determines the right changes? Is it the latest guru? Do we devise our own plans? In truth, God must determine our paths.

The Wiseman said, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12). Jeremiah wrote, “O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps” (Jeremiah 10:23). Instead of coming up with our own ways, we must put our trust in God. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5,6).

It is good to make changes to improve our condition in this life with our health (physically and spiritually). We should all strive to be better people in the new year. But in order to be truly productive in this life, we must follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ. In fact, if we are to be Christians, we must walk as He walked (1 John 2:6). Turn to the Bible for your answers. If you need help finding these answers, please contact us. We would love to study with you.

Psalm 18 - I Will Call Upon the Lord

The 18^th Psalm contains the words to one of my favorite songs. Verse three declares, “I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praise: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.” At the time of writing these words, David was being pursued by Saul. David was in a fight for his life, yet he wasn’t worried because he knew what to do. He knew that God would protect him. He wrote, “I will love thee, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower” (v.1,2).

As we begin 2014, let us take the same courage and confidence in trusting in the Lord. Surely there will be good days this year, but there may also be very difficult times. Rather than letting our enemies or circumstances hold us down, let us remember that we can call upon the Lord! He will provide for and protect His children. However, even if we must deal with terrible tragedy in the New Year, let us have courage to trust in God and the confidence to take up the cry of Paul, “For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21).

The 46^th verse declares, “The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.” When times do get tough, stand upon the Rock! Remember that all things work together for good for those who love God, for the called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

Put your faith in God, call upon Him in time of need and in time of joy, and remember that in the end, if we live faithfully until death (no matter how hard life may be), we will have eternal life through Christ who makes possible our salvation.

If you would like a home Bible study to learn more about Christ and His church, or if you would like to study from a free DVD, please let us know. God provides us with solid footing when we stand upon the promises of His word. Make every opportunity in 2014 to study from the word of God. Let us know if we can help.

The Loving Father Listens

There are times in our lives when the pressures of this life beat down upon us with such intensity that it is hard to pick oneself up and keep going. In times like these, it doesn’t seem anything will work out the way we hoped. Then when we try to talk to others about our pain and suffering it seems nobody wants to listen. On these occasions, it would be easy to just give up and throw in the towel. Don’t be hasty! Never forget that God loves you and He will listen to you.

In Exodus 2, we are told of Moses’ actions stopping an Egyptian from beating a fellow Hebrew. He killed the Egyptian and buried him in the sand. The next day, Moses stopped two Hebrews from fighting. The response was “Do you intend to kill me as you did the Egyptian?” Moses knew that his actions would be found out. Rather than being a source of strength for the Israelites, a deliverer of the children of God, and a source of power to stop the bondage, Moses was looked at in a negative light. Moses fled to Midian and tended flocks for Jethro.

 

In the process of time (40 years — Moses being content living with Zipporah, his wife, serving his father in law) things did not get better for the children of Israel. They “groaned because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry came up to God because of the bondage” (Exodus 2:23). God’s children, His chosen people, were crying out for help. They were hurting. They were oppressed. They were forced into labor. They needed help. They needed a deliverer. They cried out to God who not only would hear, but would respond to help His children.

God Hears His Children: God heard their groaning (2:24). He heard their cry (3:7,9). When a father hears the cry of his children, he wants to help and does whatever he can to provide for his loved one (Cf. Matt. 7:7-12). God, our Father, hears our cries (1 Peter 5:7). When others do not seem to care, when it seems others will not listen, take your heartache to the Father.

God Knows Our Sorrows: God knew the sorrow felt by the children of Israel because of the taskmasters (3:7). Likewise, God knows our hearts (Luke 16:15). The Father knows what we need before we ask (Matt. 6:8). God will supply all our need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:19). Because of the great gift of Jesus Christ, we can come “boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16). God knows and sympathizes with our pain.

God Watches Over Us: God looked upon the children of Israel (2:25). He saw their oppression (3:7,9). “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cries” (Ps. 34:15; 1 Pet. 3:12). As much as we try to look out for one another, we cannot always be there. As much a blessing as it is to have a judicial system to punish the evil, and law enforcement to help enforce and execute the laws, harm sometimes comes upon us. The best security system in the world cannot guarantee that they will be there for us when we really need them. However, we have a Father who is always watching over us. What comfort it should bring to us to know that God is always there for us.

God Remembers His Promises: God remembered His covenant with Abraham (2:23). It isn’t that God had forgotten, but that the time had come to deliver on His promise. The children of Israel were about to start home. This is good news for Christians. God will keep His promises. We can trust Him. He is faithful and just (1 John 1:7-9). God has promised those who obey Him eternal life and one day, He will deliver.

God Knows His Children: God acknowledged them (2:25). God knows those who are His (2 Tim. 2:19). He cares about us and recognizes us as His.

God Delivers The Oppressed: God came down to deliver His children out of the Egyptian bondage (3:8). God sent Moses to lead the people to the promised land of Canaan. Our loving Father sent His Son, Jesus, the Christ, to be our Savior. He delivered us from sin, bondage and death.

When times get tough, remember, God knows His children, watches over us, hears our cries, knows our sorrows, keeps His promises, and will and has delivered us from oppression. Our loving Father is listening!

Noah's New Year

Noah’s 500^th-600^th year on this earth were eventful ones. It was a time when God saw, “that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil  continually” (Genesis 6:5 — ASV). “And the earth was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God saw the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth (Genesis 6:11,12).

We live in pretty rough times. Many vile and wicked activities are being promoted as being a choice of lifestyle: alcoholism, drug abuse, homosexuality, same sex marriage, abortion, and more. Even so, there are many good people doing good things for others. While they are not all Christians, many do good for orphans, widows, the sick, the poor, those who have lost homes and family in tragedies, and those who suffer from horrible illnesses. Times are tough, but surely they are better than the days of Noah.

Noah had received a great challenge by God. Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. He was a righteous man, and perfect in his generations (Genesis 6:9,10). Therefore, God chose him to build an ark, fill it with food and animals, and to preach to those who were around him to save the lost. Noah did exactly what God told him to do (Genesis 6:22).

During Noah’s 601^st year, he opened the roof of the ark to a whole new world. On New Year’s Day, Noah saw the sky and the earth again. “And it came to pass in the six hundred and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from off the earth: and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of the ground was dried” (Genesis 8:13).

When it was all said and done, Noah, his family, and the animals spent over a year in the ark (one year and 17 days if you count the 7 days in the ark before the flood began). While we do not know all that occurred inside the ark during that year, you can imagine that there would have been difficulties. Can you imagine not seeing the sky for over a year? Can you imagine the work that must be done to feed the animals and clean up after them? Can you imagine being stuck in one place with your family for a year? Ok, I am just teasing, as I love my family but you must admit there would have been some difficulties.

But on that New Year’s Day, when Noah opened the roof of the ark and saw the sky and the ground, a new excitement must have been racing through his heart and soul. After leaving the ark, Noah prepared a great offering to the Lord. He was thankful for sparing his life and the lives of his family. In this New Year, are we thankful for our families? Are we grateful for all they have helped us to overcome? Do we praise God for His blessings in providing for our family (Matt. 6:33; Js. 1:17)?

Then the Lord gave several blessings to Noah and all men. The Lord declared that man would enjoy the seasons. In Genesis 8:22, the Lord declared, “While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.” Seasons are a blessing for man today and provide many benefits such as the freeze which kills bugs, helps open the cotton bowls for harvest, etc. There are many wonderful blessings provided by God’s design of the seasons. In the New Year, let us be thankful for the seasons.

Noah also received the promise that the earth would not be destroyed again by water. The sign to confirm this promise by God was the rainbow in the sky (Genesis 9:11-16). In 2 Peter 3:5-10, the flood is called to remembrance with a promise given: the earth will one day be destroyed for a second time, not with water, but by fire. This being the case, we must live holy and godly lives, looking for the day of the Lord.

When Noah left the ark, he was to be fruitful and multiply. He was to live faithfully to God. Surely, when he opened up that door, he was excited about the future. It was a New Year with new blessings and new possibilities. As we approach 2014, let us be excited about new opportunities. Let us be thankful for all God has blessed us with and let us never forget the day when God destroyed the earth and that there is a day coming when this world will end. Are you ready for that day?

Thankful for Brotherly Love

There are many wonderful blessings that I am thankful for that occurred in 2013. Of course the year was very difficult in many ways. On July 28, at 1:00 pm, after teaching class, preaching a sermon and sitting down to lunch with my wife, I had a heart attack. As it turned out, I had 100% blockage resulting in the widow maker heart attack. The term widow maker is a nickname used to describe a heart attack from a blockage in the highly stenotic left main coronary artery or proximal left anterior descending coronary artery. The term is used because if the artery gets abruptly and completely occluded it will cause a massive heart attack that frequently leads to sudden death. The blockage is made up of platelets that have streamed to the site of a cholesterol rupture. I am very fortunate to be alive, especially considering I did not have a stent put in place until a little after 2:00 am on Monday morning. I spent 6 days in the hospital and am still struggling to recover. So why am I thankful?

I am thankful for the medical care I received and the teams of men and women who worked so hard to save my life and to give me an opportunity for recovery. Many in the medical field are overworked and overstressed. Yet the people at Hendricks Hospital in Abilene treated me like a member of the family or a close friend. The staff at the Comanche County hospital in the recovery department were especially helpful in providing encouragement, support and education as I began my recovery. I am thankful for their care and hard work.

More than that, I am thankful for my personal family that came from all over Texas to come provide support and encouragement. I am thankful for their prayers. I am thankful for their encouragement to Robyn and the kids. I am thankful for their financial help in our moment of need.

I am especially thankful to my spiritual family. There have been many individual Christians who have sent cards and encouragement, who have prayed for me and my family, who have sent financial support, and who continue to encourage us in our recovery. There have been congregations from around the country (Lubbock, Odessa, Vernon, Brownwood, Hamilton, Gordon, and Burnett) that have helped us by sending cards, letters, praying for us and sending financial contributions to help us in dealing with the great financial burden. I don’t know what we would have done without you.

I am thankful for another day to spend with my wife and kids. I am thankful for the opportunity to spend time with my family. I am thankful for the blessing to keep preaching and teaching the gospel. What a blessing it is to have life, breath and all things that God provides for us! It is ever more clear to me that life is but a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. I hope and plan to use my opportunities well this year.

The Hebrew writer said to let brotherly love continue (Heb. 13:1). Paul wrote, “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Gal. 6:9,10). Jesus said, “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you” (Luke 6:28). He also said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).

I am so thankful for brethren who have love for Christ, love for Christians, who sow without weariness, who have given beyond measure and who have blessed us with the generosity of their hearts in emotion, spiritual and financial support. I know the Lord will repay your efforts and love. I hope and pray 2014 is a rewarding year for each of you. More than that, I pray you live faithfully unto death and receive the crown of life. We love you!