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"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 5:16)
Let's face it, beloved! The world in which we live lies in the deadly grip of utter spiritual darkness! In fact, the Apostle Paul referred to the world without Jesus Christ as "the domain of darkness" (Colossians 1:13). Imagine, then, a world and its inhabitants not only living in but reveling in the darkness of sinfulness and rebellion against God. Not only can lost mankind not save himself, he does not even want to!
As dark as is the sinful lostness of this world, so bright is the "light" that God Himself is. The Apostle John declares this pure quality of Holy God in the following way:
"And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all" (1 John 1:5)
Into a world of darkness came Jesus of Nazareth, the only begotten Son of God, announcing to lost mankind that He is Himself "the light of the world" (John 8:12). He came to bring the light of God's own personal holiness into the black void of man's sinful condition. You see, beloved, it is so very important for us to understand that "darkness" is not a color, but a void. It is what is left when the "light" of God is not present. And Jesus as "the light of the world" called men and women and boys and girls to Himself.
So what does that have to do with you and me? Simply that, as our focal verse makes so clear, you and I as followers of Jesus Christ are ourselves "the light of the world." Specifically, we are to "reflect" the light of Jesus into our world. And that reality is precisely where we run headlong into the issue of the wattage of our walk.
Have you ever noticed the difference between a lamp with a 25 watt bulb and one with a 100 watt bulb? Amazing, isn't it? One gives a soft, often almost imperceptible light, more of a glow, and the other beams brightly and sends its rays into the darkest part of the room. So dark is the darkness of this world's sin, beloved, that Jesus needs for us to let our light so shine into it that we shine with the highest possible spiritual wattage! You see, the "light" of our personal walk must first be bright enough to pierce the darkness of the sin around us. In other words, our "light" must be brighter than the darkness of the sinful world in which we live!
Just what is the "wattage of your walk," beloved? Are you sending forth a 25 watt "glow" or a 100 watt "beam"? How brightly are you shining today for Jesus Christ? Why not polish your reflectors and start burning brightly? Men need to find the light of Jesus Christ and your "beam" is what God wants to use to draw them to Himself!
Ron
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Playing the Blame Game
"He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion" (Proverbs 28:13)
Did you ever "play the blame game" as kids, beloved? You know, pointing the finger at the other kid when it was actually you who did the deed? When it comes to such an example from Scripture, we are always quick to point out Eve blaming the serpent when confronted by God about the forbidden fruit, or how about Adam blaming God because He was the One who gave that pesky woman to him in the first place!
Playing the blame game is always deadly when it comes to our relationship with God. This writer declares definitively that "he who conceals his sins will not prosper," no if's, and's or but's about it! To "conceal" one's sins is to hide them in any of a number of ways that we humans have become notoriously adept at doing. Sometimes we simply deny that they even exist. "What sin?" we ask with that babyish look of innocence upon our faces. If we do so long enough, perhaps those asking will just go away and we won't have to deal with them.
Or perhaps we "conceal" our sins by blaming them on someone or something else. If he or she had not said what they said to us or had not done what they did to us...you know, that sort of thing. Counselors like to call this little practice "transferal of guilt." Sometimes it is "circumstance" upon which we lay the blame for our actions. We blame the pressure or the stress or the "no way out" that we claim led to the bad choice that we made.
Whatever the "cover" that we may use, beloved, the Scriptures make it clear that such action won't cut it. The focus of "prospering" here is primarily that of the spiritual realm. In other words, God's not buying it! There will always be a ripple-effect that will eventually catch up with us whenever we "conceal" our sins and refuse to deal with them honestly and, most of all, biblically.
So what is the alternative to "the blame game"? First of all, this writer indicates that "confession" is necessary. Have you ever heard the expression that "confession is good for the soul"? Well, believe it! The word "confess" in the New Testament means primarily to agree with God or to speak the same thing that God has spoken. When God calls a thing a sin, just agree with Him and call it that in your own life. The road gets much easier when you don't start out by disagreeing with God! Just admit up front that you did the deed. Then the writer adds the quality of "forsaking" to the equation. It is far too easy, as human nature today has proven, to go and "confess" to someone, then keep right on committing the same foul deed! True confession requires total abandonment of the action. Get as far away from that sinful act as you possibly can. Put it completely and permanently out of your life. Come to hate it as much as God has always hated it, even when you were relishing the temporary pleasure of it.
God's personal promise to us is that, whenever we "confess and forsake" the sin, He will be abundant in His compassion, His mercy upon our life. Forgiveness and restoration will be ours, the welcoming back of the prodigal, whenever we face up and 'fess up as God's word here clearly commands.
Don't play the blame game, beloved. It's a dead-end street with no alleys for a quick way out. Come straight to the God who loves you and plead the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Take it from one who knows - it is the only path to cleansing of spirit and mind, to restoration of purpose and fruitfulness, to the return of joy and genuine worship. Don't play the blame game!
Ron
Did you ever "play the blame game" as kids, beloved? You know, pointing the finger at the other kid when it was actually you who did the deed? When it comes to such an example from Scripture, we are always quick to point out Eve blaming the serpent when confronted by God about the forbidden fruit, or how about Adam blaming God because He was the One who gave that pesky woman to him in the first place!
Playing the blame game is always deadly when it comes to our relationship with God. This writer declares definitively that "he who conceals his sins will not prosper," no if's, and's or but's about it! To "conceal" one's sins is to hide them in any of a number of ways that we humans have become notoriously adept at doing. Sometimes we simply deny that they even exist. "What sin?" we ask with that babyish look of innocence upon our faces. If we do so long enough, perhaps those asking will just go away and we won't have to deal with them.
Or perhaps we "conceal" our sins by blaming them on someone or something else. If he or she had not said what they said to us or had not done what they did to us...you know, that sort of thing. Counselors like to call this little practice "transferal of guilt." Sometimes it is "circumstance" upon which we lay the blame for our actions. We blame the pressure or the stress or the "no way out" that we claim led to the bad choice that we made.
Whatever the "cover" that we may use, beloved, the Scriptures make it clear that such action won't cut it. The focus of "prospering" here is primarily that of the spiritual realm. In other words, God's not buying it! There will always be a ripple-effect that will eventually catch up with us whenever we "conceal" our sins and refuse to deal with them honestly and, most of all, biblically.
So what is the alternative to "the blame game"? First of all, this writer indicates that "confession" is necessary. Have you ever heard the expression that "confession is good for the soul"? Well, believe it! The word "confess" in the New Testament means primarily to agree with God or to speak the same thing that God has spoken. When God calls a thing a sin, just agree with Him and call it that in your own life. The road gets much easier when you don't start out by disagreeing with God! Just admit up front that you did the deed. Then the writer adds the quality of "forsaking" to the equation. It is far too easy, as human nature today has proven, to go and "confess" to someone, then keep right on committing the same foul deed! True confession requires total abandonment of the action. Get as far away from that sinful act as you possibly can. Put it completely and permanently out of your life. Come to hate it as much as God has always hated it, even when you were relishing the temporary pleasure of it.
God's personal promise to us is that, whenever we "confess and forsake" the sin, He will be abundant in His compassion, His mercy upon our life. Forgiveness and restoration will be ours, the welcoming back of the prodigal, whenever we face up and 'fess up as God's word here clearly commands.
Don't play the blame game, beloved. It's a dead-end street with no alleys for a quick way out. Come straight to the God who loves you and plead the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Take it from one who knows - it is the only path to cleansing of spirit and mind, to restoration of purpose and fruitfulness, to the return of joy and genuine worship. Don't play the blame game!
Ron
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Excellence: The Only Way to Live
"Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men" (Colossians 3:23)
How many times have you ever heard someone say, "I hate my job!" speaking of their employment situation? Unhappiness in the work place seems to abound today, beloved, and because of it lives seem full of resentment and anger. It is difficult to maintain a positive and effective work-ethic whenever we feel in such a way about the work to which we have been called.
So what can we do to change such an attitude back to that which is honoring to the Lord and productive in its final result? The Apostle Paul in writing to the saints in Colossae gave a clear call to believers everywhere to focus their energy, especially in the work place, on their relationship with Jesus Christ rather than upon how an employer might be treating them at any particular point in time. Paul first called upon us as Christians to forget about doing what we do each day just to please men, here our employers. Once a worker has lost respect for his employer for any reason whatsoever, it is difficult to find motivation to "work heartily."
The apostle's command, however, was that we as believers focus our attention in the work place upon "the Lord" instead of upon men. Instead of trying to impress employers or fellow workers, we should focus rather upon pleasing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Such an attitude recognizes that our work situation, whatever it may be, is all part of God's plan for kingdom growth. He has us where He has us in order to use us as instruments of His grace in the lives of those around us! Thus, to "work heartily as for the Lord" is not only to recognize that unique calling and placement, beloved, but it is to accept it fully and to give allegiance to Jesus Christ in how we do what we do where we have been placed by Him.
Would you be an effective witness for Jesus Christ, child of God? Then begin by focusing upon the establishing of "excellence" in the way that you do your job! Let Jesus Christ be your motivation for going to work every day. Let your role in the building of the kingdom of God spur you on to give 100% in the expending of your energy. Let your love for and burden for the souls of men and women who do not know Christ inspire you to a level of visible "excellence" that will draw them to ask about "the hope that is in you" (1 Peter 3:15).
EXCELLENCE! It really is the only way to live, beloved! What level of living are you demonstrating as a Christian right now to those who know you and especially to those who may work alongside you?
Ron
How many times have you ever heard someone say, "I hate my job!" speaking of their employment situation? Unhappiness in the work place seems to abound today, beloved, and because of it lives seem full of resentment and anger. It is difficult to maintain a positive and effective work-ethic whenever we feel in such a way about the work to which we have been called.
So what can we do to change such an attitude back to that which is honoring to the Lord and productive in its final result? The Apostle Paul in writing to the saints in Colossae gave a clear call to believers everywhere to focus their energy, especially in the work place, on their relationship with Jesus Christ rather than upon how an employer might be treating them at any particular point in time. Paul first called upon us as Christians to forget about doing what we do each day just to please men, here our employers. Once a worker has lost respect for his employer for any reason whatsoever, it is difficult to find motivation to "work heartily."
The apostle's command, however, was that we as believers focus our attention in the work place upon "the Lord" instead of upon men. Instead of trying to impress employers or fellow workers, we should focus rather upon pleasing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Such an attitude recognizes that our work situation, whatever it may be, is all part of God's plan for kingdom growth. He has us where He has us in order to use us as instruments of His grace in the lives of those around us! Thus, to "work heartily as for the Lord" is not only to recognize that unique calling and placement, beloved, but it is to accept it fully and to give allegiance to Jesus Christ in how we do what we do where we have been placed by Him.
Would you be an effective witness for Jesus Christ, child of God? Then begin by focusing upon the establishing of "excellence" in the way that you do your job! Let Jesus Christ be your motivation for going to work every day. Let your role in the building of the kingdom of God spur you on to give 100% in the expending of your energy. Let your love for and burden for the souls of men and women who do not know Christ inspire you to a level of visible "excellence" that will draw them to ask about "the hope that is in you" (1 Peter 3:15).
EXCELLENCE! It really is the only way to live, beloved! What level of living are you demonstrating as a Christian right now to those who know you and especially to those who may work alongside you?
Ron
Thursday, September 10, 2009
God Always Has the Last Word
"Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?" (1 Corinthians 1:20)
Anyone who has ever listened to radio at all will recall famed commentator Paul Harvey. And anyone remembering Mr. Harvey will also recall with fondness his well-known telling of "The Rest of the Story." When it comes to the wisdom of this world, beloved, that so-called human "wisdom" which always finds itself at odds with what God declares to be true, Scripture teaches us that again and again God makes such worldly wisdom appear foolish.
Recently I was doing some reading and came across a wonderful example of God doing just that, this time in that realm of human knowledge and science which man loves to call "evolution." The debate between supporters of this theory and those who are creationists and stand upon the clear teaching of God's Word has long raged, as we all know well. One such example concerns that which we know today historically as the "Neanderthal Man." In the late 1800's, I believe it was, while mining limestone in a valley in Germany, workers discovered bones in a cave that appeared human. Scientists of the day declared this find to be a "missing link" between ape and modern man and proof positive of the reality of evolution. While that myth has certainly been largely disproven over time, still there are those who point to Neanderthal Man as evidence that creation cannot be true.
What is so amazing (and amusing) about Neanderthal Man is just how he came to get his name. He was so named because he was discovered in a place called "Neanderthal" or translated from German the "Neander Valley." And where did the Neander Valley get its name? Two hundred years earlier, in the late 1600's, Lutheran theologian Joachim Neander, a gifted writer of prose and poetry, would wander in that region near Hochdal, Germany, and commune with God. He would compose verses of worship and sing them to the Lord. One of his favorite spots for such personal communion with God was a gorge not far from Dusseldorf through which the Dussel River flowed. He strolled in that valley so often, in fact, that he became identified with it and it was eventually named after him, being called "Neanderthal" or "Neander Valley."
And what hymns of praise did Joachim Neander compose there in the same spot where Neanderthal Man would be discovered two centuries later? You and I should be very familiar with certain of his writings, at least:
"Praise to the Lord, the Almighty,
The King of Creation!
Oh my soul, praise Him
For He is Thy health and salvation!
All ye who hear, now to His temple draw near!
Join me in glad adoration!"
Joachim Neander would certainly have been horrified to learn that his name was ever associated with such a baseless God-rejecting theory as that of "evolution," beloved. The fuss over Neanderthal Man has largely disappeared and is no longer much of an issue today, even among those who reject creationism completely. But the wonderful hymns that Joachim Neander penned still continue to bless followers of Jesus Christ today as we worship and glorify our Creator together! As this godly Lutheran theologian himself wrote:
"Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of Creation!"
And we can almost hear that wonderful voice of Paul Harvey saying, "And now you know the rest of the story!" Glory to God!
Ron
Anyone who has ever listened to radio at all will recall famed commentator Paul Harvey. And anyone remembering Mr. Harvey will also recall with fondness his well-known telling of "The Rest of the Story." When it comes to the wisdom of this world, beloved, that so-called human "wisdom" which always finds itself at odds with what God declares to be true, Scripture teaches us that again and again God makes such worldly wisdom appear foolish.
Recently I was doing some reading and came across a wonderful example of God doing just that, this time in that realm of human knowledge and science which man loves to call "evolution." The debate between supporters of this theory and those who are creationists and stand upon the clear teaching of God's Word has long raged, as we all know well. One such example concerns that which we know today historically as the "Neanderthal Man." In the late 1800's, I believe it was, while mining limestone in a valley in Germany, workers discovered bones in a cave that appeared human. Scientists of the day declared this find to be a "missing link" between ape and modern man and proof positive of the reality of evolution. While that myth has certainly been largely disproven over time, still there are those who point to Neanderthal Man as evidence that creation cannot be true.
What is so amazing (and amusing) about Neanderthal Man is just how he came to get his name. He was so named because he was discovered in a place called "Neanderthal" or translated from German the "Neander Valley." And where did the Neander Valley get its name? Two hundred years earlier, in the late 1600's, Lutheran theologian Joachim Neander, a gifted writer of prose and poetry, would wander in that region near Hochdal, Germany, and commune with God. He would compose verses of worship and sing them to the Lord. One of his favorite spots for such personal communion with God was a gorge not far from Dusseldorf through which the Dussel River flowed. He strolled in that valley so often, in fact, that he became identified with it and it was eventually named after him, being called "Neanderthal" or "Neander Valley."
And what hymns of praise did Joachim Neander compose there in the same spot where Neanderthal Man would be discovered two centuries later? You and I should be very familiar with certain of his writings, at least:
"Praise to the Lord, the Almighty,
The King of Creation!
Oh my soul, praise Him
For He is Thy health and salvation!
All ye who hear, now to His temple draw near!
Join me in glad adoration!"
Joachim Neander would certainly have been horrified to learn that his name was ever associated with such a baseless God-rejecting theory as that of "evolution," beloved. The fuss over Neanderthal Man has largely disappeared and is no longer much of an issue today, even among those who reject creationism completely. But the wonderful hymns that Joachim Neander penned still continue to bless followers of Jesus Christ today as we worship and glorify our Creator together! As this godly Lutheran theologian himself wrote:
"Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of Creation!"
And we can almost hear that wonderful voice of Paul Harvey saying, "And now you know the rest of the story!" Glory to God!
Ron
Monday, September 7, 2009
The Joy of Fellowship with One Another
"But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin" (1 John 1:7)
There is no greater joy than that of genuine "fellowship" among Christians, beloved! This past weekend we thoroughly enjoyed spending time with Christian friends with whom we have served the kingdom of God in the past and just catching up on what's been going on in our lives respectively. As we sat and talked and laughed for hours together, the time apart and distance melted away and the bond that holds us closely in Christ manifested itself in wonderful ways. Though we had to say "goodbye" to them last night, knowing that they are headed back home today, still the memories of those hours together will linger and bless our spirits and renew us for the challenges which God's Spirit has for us.
Is that not how it ought to be whenever true believers get together? When our hearts are focused upon the "light" of God's perfect holiness and we are seeking diligently to "walk" in that light for all to see, should not God's own koinonia or "fellowship" be the natural result? What a blessing it is, then, that God pours out upon us whenever we, as John so eloquently put it, "walk in the light" of God's holiness, enjoying that continual cleansing from sin and our relationship by grace with our heavenly Father!
Let me encourage you today to stop and give thanks to God for the "fellowship" of friendship with brothers and sisters in Christ, for that oneness that we have in Him as we with one accord and one spirit seek to live for God's glory and to follow the leading of our Lord and Savior wherever it may take us. And let me also encourage you to keep on "walking in the light" of God's holiness as you pursue the path of personal righteousness and are able to be an instrument of God's grace in the lives of others. Now more than ever, this crazy world needs to see the consistent lifestyle of true believers who are sold out to Jesus Christ. Will you be one of those?
Ron
There is no greater joy than that of genuine "fellowship" among Christians, beloved! This past weekend we thoroughly enjoyed spending time with Christian friends with whom we have served the kingdom of God in the past and just catching up on what's been going on in our lives respectively. As we sat and talked and laughed for hours together, the time apart and distance melted away and the bond that holds us closely in Christ manifested itself in wonderful ways. Though we had to say "goodbye" to them last night, knowing that they are headed back home today, still the memories of those hours together will linger and bless our spirits and renew us for the challenges which God's Spirit has for us.
Is that not how it ought to be whenever true believers get together? When our hearts are focused upon the "light" of God's perfect holiness and we are seeking diligently to "walk" in that light for all to see, should not God's own koinonia or "fellowship" be the natural result? What a blessing it is, then, that God pours out upon us whenever we, as John so eloquently put it, "walk in the light" of God's holiness, enjoying that continual cleansing from sin and our relationship by grace with our heavenly Father!
Let me encourage you today to stop and give thanks to God for the "fellowship" of friendship with brothers and sisters in Christ, for that oneness that we have in Him as we with one accord and one spirit seek to live for God's glory and to follow the leading of our Lord and Savior wherever it may take us. And let me also encourage you to keep on "walking in the light" of God's holiness as you pursue the path of personal righteousness and are able to be an instrument of God's grace in the lives of others. Now more than ever, this crazy world needs to see the consistent lifestyle of true believers who are sold out to Jesus Christ. Will you be one of those?
Ron
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