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Who Are You Following? Part Two

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Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.

1 John 2:18-19, NKJV

Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.

Matthew 24:11-12, NKJV

In my last post, I wrote about the importance of having wise discernment in choosing the Bible teachers and preachers we will listen to and follow. There are many who would lead us astray through their erroneous interpretation of Scripture. The question is, why would they choose to deceive others? What is their motivation? What do they hope to see accomplished through their false handling of the Word of God?

I am not suggesting that what I am about to say is an all-inclusive, comprehensive answer to those questions. This is, indeed, a topic of enormous proportions and concern. But, for the sake of being as concise as possible, I would like to suggest two possible reasons why we see this happening at such an alarming rate.

First, consider with me the fact that some deceive because they are deceived. In my previous blog I focused my thoughts on the statement of Jesus that if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into the ditch. These are the ones that are blinded to the truth of Scripture. They are spiritually blind, so they cannot grasp the true meaning of the Bible’s teachings. The Apostle Paul tells us that the carnal mind cannot grasp the true meaning of Scripture because of the individual’s spiritual condition: they are spiritually dead.

Many, if not most, of those in Jesus’ day who were assigned the task of interpreting the Bible for the people were of this type: spiritually dead. Their interpretation of Scripture was based solely on the traditions of man, and not on the sincere truths propounded in the Bible. They may have been sincere in their desire to teach the people, but they were sincerely wrong in their teachings. They were deceiving others out of their own state of deceit.

Today, it seems that the words of Jesus quoted above (Matthew 24:11-12) are being fulfilled. Many false prophets are on the scene, deceiving many. Some of these we come across in our daily walk of life. They are common, ordinary people, just like us. We work with them, go to school with them, live next door to them. They are good people. They are the kind of people who would literally give you the shirt off their backs. But they have a faulty understanding of Scripture, and they embrace the spirit of lawlessness which is prevalent in the world today. Instead of standing on the sound doctrines as taught in the Bible they have chosen rather to base their understanding of Scripture on the shifting sands of cultural relativism. Social concerns such as abortion, human sexuality, biological necessity, basic human rights, political disparities, religious disparities, etc. etc. are interpreted by cultural beliefs and practices.

Most horrific and dangerous of all are their teachings on the basic tenets of the Bible. Take just one as an example: salvation. If we take the words of Jesus seriously, then we must understand that there is only one means of salvation: no one goes to heaven by any means other than Jesus. He is the way, the truth and the life. There is no other means of salvation, and no other way to gain entrance into heaven. So, again, it is imperative to choose with spiritual discernment who we will follow.

However, it is not only those that are deceived who deceive others, but there are those who deceive because of a desire to deceive others. Some of these may do what they do out of selfish ambition. Others may be motivated by a desire for personal recognition and respect. Still others may do it because of a sinister desire to lead others astray. But regardless of their motivation, they do what they do with their eyes wide open.

Years ago I read a description of a preacher that has haunted me my entire Christian life. This is not a direct, word-for-word quote, but the gist of the description was as follows:

When he is in the pulpit, he preaches with such eloquence, I think that he should never come down. But when he is down from the pulpit, he lives with such carelessness and sinfulness that he should never go up.

Perhaps you know of someone who fits this description. Are you willingly, knowingly, submitting yourself to their teachings? Are you, by your acceptance of their teachings, giving your consent to what they are propounding? If you should, for example, hear your preacher say that Jesus is not the only means of salvation, but that there are many roads that lead to heaven, would you still follow them? If you heard a preacher say that abortion is a viable option for birth control, would you continue to listen to them?

There are many who know what the Bible teaches, but still choose to embrace their interpretations of Scripture by the traditions of man, and the ever-changing climate of cultural relativism.

Many false prophets and teachers are in the world today. Let’s be very careful as we choose those to whom we will give our attention.

Until next time:

Blessings!

Who Are You Following?

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If the blind leads the blind, both will fall in a ditch.

Matthew 15:14, NKJV

If I am going to follow someone, I want to have confidence that they know where they are going. I don’t want to end up getting lost, or worse, by following someone who is only guessing about the route we need to take. This is bad enough when we are talking about following someone to a physical location, but it is much worse when we are talking about someone leading us in spiritual matters.

Let’s face it: Bible teachers and preachers are easy to find. Just do a google search to see how easy it is to compile a list of dozens of names of those who profess to be Bible teachers. How do you know if they are teaching sound doctrine? How do you know if they are striving to correctly expound the Biblical text, or if they are giving erroneous teaching based on faulty interpretation of Scripture? We cannot be too careful in selecting Bible teachers and preachers to listen to for instruction and inspiration.

So, how are we to know which ones to follow and which ones that will lead us into that spiritual ditch? Allow me to share a few suggestions that you might try in order to be as careful as possible.

First of all, as simple as it may sound, make sure that the things they are teaching are in alignment with the teachings of Scripture. Read carefully the following passage from the book of Acts:

These [the Bereans] were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.

Acts 17:11, NKJV

They received the word with readiness. They were eager listeners, hungry for the teachings of God’s Word. They gave themselves to the instruction being offered through Bible teachers and preachers. They listened with the intent of following the teachings being offered. But please note: they did not indiscriminately accept everything that was being taught. They searched the Scriptures for themselves to make sure those teaching were not contradicting the clear teachings of Scripture.

I cannot overemphasize the importance of this concept. We need to listen carefully, searching the Scriptures ourselves, not to find fault, but to validate. We need to be like the Bereans. If what they were being taught was in alignment with what the Bible says, then they were to accept it and assimilate its truth. But if what they were teaching did not align with the Bible, then they were to reject it.

This is crucial for us in this present day. The Bible’s teachings are being contradicted, re-explained, re-invented. We are being told that some of those beliefs and practices that are taught clearly in Scripture are out-dated, antiquated, and should be discarded, or, at least, reinterpreted. They would have us believe that the Bible should be understood culturally, rather than the culture being subjected to the teachings of the Bible.

Second, we should not give ourselves over solely to the teachings of others, but we should study the Bible for ourselves. It is not nearly enough to listen to a sermon a week and think we are getting all the spiritual nourishment we need. We need to be searching the Scriptures daily, seeking guidance from God as He speaks to us through His word. The Bible is a living word, breathing the life of God into us as we study and pray over that Word.

Third, I suggest that we actively seek God as we study His Word. Pray as you read His Word, sincerely seeking His insight and instruction. He speaks with that still, small voice as we take time to listen. We should discipline ourselves to not be in a hurry when we are spending time with God. Allow Him time to speak with us from His Word, and then converse with Him through the vehicle of prayer. Our devotional time should be a dialogue, not a monologue. Ask His Spirit to lead us into all truth, as He promised He would.

Three simple suggestions that I feel would radically transform our study of His Word. Listen to those who are teaching the sincere truth of the Bible. Search the Scriptures to validate their teachings. Don’t depend solely on others, but spend time with God personally, devotionally, with the intent of learning and applying truth. And pray over the Word we have read, responding to God out of the overflow of what we have heard Him say.

Don’t allow yourself to fall into a ditch because you are following a false teacher. I heard someone say years ago: “The Bible says it, I believe it, and that settles it.” But I’ve come to see the fallacy in that statement. I feel it would be better stated: “The Bible says it, that settles it, whether I believe it or not.” God’s word does not change. What He said through the pen of Moses thousands of years ago is still the same word.

Don’t fall into the ditch of false teachers who are spewing their false teachings! Be a modern day Berean.

Until next time:

Blessings!

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made!

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I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.

Psalm 139:14, NKJV

Personal check-up: When you look in the mirror, are you pleased with the reflection looking back at you, or are you disappointed and dissatisfied with the reflection? How do you like your looks? How do you like your talents? How do you like your abilities? Would you like to look different? Would you like to be able to do some of the things that you see others doing? Are you pleased with the skills you have, and the things you can do? Just how well do you like yourself?

The verse quoted above asserts that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. At the moment of conception, the DNA map of my life was instantly set. My map determined my color of eyes, my color of hair, my body build, my sex, my likes and dislikes, my talents and skills, my gifts, my personality, and on and on. In essence, my entire being was mapped out at that precise moment.

And the psalmist states that it was a result of being fearfully and wonderfully made by the Maker of all – God. And God does not make mistakes, nor does He make junk. He created you to be you – a unique human being made in His image.

But if you’re like most humans, there are probably some things about yourself that you would change if you had the ability to do so. Now, granted, some things are changeable. Hair color can be changed. Eye color, with the help of colored contacts, can be changed. Appearance can be changed in other ways by gaining or losing weight, shaving your head, growing a beard, etc. There are things we can do to change our appearance.

And then, there are things we can do to learn new skills. Some skills and abilities seem to come naturally and tend to bring a great sense of satisfaction in life because we are doing the things that we were designed to do. But, we can learn skills that enable us to do things that we were not necessarily designed to do – they were not part of our original map. We can do those things, again, because we are fearfully and wonderfully made with the ability to learn and grow and develop.

So, what’s the point? If we can change some things about ourselves, and if we can change our appearance, and if we can learn new skills, then why is it significant that we understand and grasp the concept of being fearfully and wonderfully made? Simple: to grasp this important fact enables us to look in that mirror and appreciate what we see. It helps us to be more appreciative for who we are and what we can do, realizing that this is a direct result of our DNA map that was given to us at the very moment we were conceived in our mother’s womb. Fearfully and wonderfully made!

Let me close with a personal reflection. I have always battled insecurity and a lack of confidence. I have also always disliked my appearance and some features of my physical anatomy. I have often stood looking in the mirror, wishing that I could change some of those things that I dislike about myself. This has been a lifelong struggle for me. But when I take time to stop and remind myself that I am who I am, and I can do the things I do, because of the handiwork of God Himself, it heightens my appreciation for the fact that I am, truly, fearfully and wonderfully made. This should cause me to rejoice in the person I am. My life is a gift from God. Now, what I do with it is my gift to Him.

Let’s be quick to thank Him for this unbelievable gift, and show our appreciation by giving our life back to Him.

Until next time:

Blessings!

Are You Successful?

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This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Joshua 1:8, NKJV

Success: When you take a glance back over your life, would you describe it at this point in time as successful? If so, what are the criteria you are using to make that assessment? What, exactly, is success, and what, exactly, are the determining factors which define clearly the distinction between success and failure?

Some might suggest that success is determined by how much money you have stored away. Others might say that success is determined by the house you live in, or the community in which you live, or the car you drive, or the clothes you wear, or any of a multitude of other outward factors that would cause you, or others, to view yourself as being a success.

Still others might think of success in terms of the job you have, or the status you have attained on the job. Then there are those who might think of success as being determined by the number of diplomas/degrees you have displayed prominently on the walls of your office.

The list of definitive factors one might use in determining personal success is veritably endless. What are the factors you use to determine your own level of success? Do any of the ones I have mentioned resonate with you, or would you add others to your list? How do you go about determining your own level of success or failure?

The Bible offers only one definitive, determining factor. Read again the verse quoted at the beginning of this post. For a believer in Jesus Christ who is striving to live his/her life for the Lord, the foundational principle upon which we should determine success or failure is how we live. Our lives should be lived by meditating on the Word of God day and night, and by living true to the principles, precepts, statutes, and directives we find in that Word.

All of those outward factors mentioned earlier in this post are simply man-made factors which have nothing to do with true, Biblical success. So I will pose my original question again: Do you view yourself as being successful at this point in your life? Are you meditating on the Word of God daily? Are you striving to live by the teachings of that Word? When you look at yourself in the mirror of God’s Word do you see the reflection of someone who is striving to be a true disciple of Jesus Christ? Do you apply the teachings of His Word to your daily life? Do others see the reality of a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ in your demeanor, your actions, your attitude, or do they see one who professes to be a follower of Jesus Christ, but whose life bears no testimony to that profession?

True success is based on that one factor, and that alone. We should weigh our personal level of success on the scales of commitment to the Bible’s assessment, and not any man-made factors which can change with the shifting of the winds of life. A steady diet of God’s Word, and the commitment to never deviate from the teachings of that Word, will give the only sure assessment of our success.

Our world today desperately needs to see that kind of commitment. Will you commit yourself to being a success in God’s eyes, or will you live your life seeking success as determined by others?

Until next time:

Blessings

Family – God’s Design

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Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her.

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

Ephesians 5:22, 25; 6:1

These verses describe in beautiful detail God’s intent for the family (take time to read the entire passage, Ephesians 5:22-6:4, to see how majestic His design for the family truly is.) In our present day these verses have been maligned and abused, misinterpreted and viciously attacked by those who misunderstand God’s original intent for the family structure.

The family is God’s very first institution among the human family. As a matter of fact, all other human institutions are built on the foundation of the family structure as designed by God. When the family is strong, as designed by God, all other institutions will be strong. However, when the family structure begins to erode and crumble, all other institutions follow along.

In the verses quoted above, the apostle Paul speaks about the different members of the family: wife, husband, and children. The proper understanding and implementation of the guidelines given in this passage are imperative for the family to operate successfully. And, in the opinion of this writer, if they are understood and obeyed, the family will be strong and successful.

Let’s briefly visit each of the three family members mentioned in this passage. Paul first addresses the wife by saying that she should be submissive to her husband. He then gives an explanatory word by stating that “the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church.” The wife is called upon to submit to her husband’s authority because this is God’s design. This design was thwarted somewhat in the Garden of Eden when Eve was deceived by the serpent, which ultimately led to her setting her sights on being head of Adam. The perfect design of God was damaged by the sinful disobedience, first of Eve, and followed by Adam.

Paul is thus calling us back to God’s original design: husband is head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church. Therefore, wives are called upon to submit to the headship of their husbands. However, there is a precursor to this command to the wife. Let’s look back at the verses leading up to this command:

Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God.

Ephesians 5:17-21, NKJV (emphasis added)

Before Paul admonishes the wife to be submissive to her husband, he instructs us to be submitted to one another. It should be a spirit of mutual submissiveness. Then, in that state of mutual respect Paul instructs the wife to submit to the headship of the husband because this is God’s design.

But wait! Before we allow ourselves to get bent out of shape because of this heavy burden placed upon the wife, let’s look at the command given to the husband: “Love your wife as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her.” I have said this in every marriage retreat Teresa and I have led through the past quarter of a century: husbands, if you love your wife like that you will never have a disrespectful wife. Wives relish that kind of love and will respond to it with willing submission.

The husband/wife relationship should be one with mutual respect for one another in the love of Christ. The only way that is possible is for both to be in a state of submission to the Lord over them as individuals as well as a couple.

Finally, Paul instructs the children to obey their parents. The fall in the garden affected all of humanity. In my opinion this is seen graphically in the modern state of the family. Children are disrespectful to parents, which leads them to be disrespectful to everyone else. They don’t respect teachers, or law enforcement, or employers, or, well, anyone. This is mainly because they are not taught to be respectful in the home, by their parents. Rather, in many cases, they are taught just the opposite.

But Paul says that it is right for children to obey their parents. This is God’s design. And parents should go to extreme measures to teach their children the importance of being respectful of others.

Sadly, in our modern world, we are seeing the majesty of God’s design for the family turned on its head. Often, we see marriages in which there is no mutual submission, there is no making melody in our hearts, because their is no song in the relationship. Husbands and wives go their own ways, moving further and further apart because of the demands of life. Children are oftentimes left to fend for themselves because the parents are too busy to invest time and energy in them. The family structure is deteriorating due to the lack of respect for God’s design and instruction.

And now, to show how the attacks of Satan are still aimed largely at the family structure, he has called into question everything the Bible teaches about God’s design for the family. Men and women living together outside of marriage; premarital sex; men living with men; women living with women. God’s intent and purpose for the family is being eroded more and more by the moment. Why? Because as a society we have given ourselves over to the desires of the flesh rather than to the teachings of Scripture.

For those of us who are striving to live by the teachings of God’s word, let’s be quick to share His amazing love, grace and forgiveness to those who are living outside the parameters of His instruction. Let’s remember where God has brought us from, so that we might be able to be God’s vehicle of grace to others. As we have received, let us be quick to give.

Until next time:

Blessings!

Guest Blogger – Luke Stewart

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Luke Stewart, Mesquite, TX

The following was written by my grandson, Luke Stewart. God has truly gifted him with the ability to put his thoughts into words. He is an exceptionally committed young Christian whose writings convey a deep understanding of some of the complexities of his Christian faith. I asked his permission to print this post on my blog page so that others could be blessed and encouraged by his words of wisdom. I trust that you will enjoy reading his words as much as I do.

One evening, as I was praying, I asked God if He would heal someone that I knew of a condition that they have had for some years now. This was nothing that I had never prayed about before. But, as I was praying, my prayer started to change. I prayed that God’s will be done. God’s will—God’s plan—is better than our plan.

A woman once told me that, when she is praying for someone who is sick or injured, she doesn’t simply pray that they be healed, but she prays that God’s will be done because it is better to be sick under God’s will than to be healthy outside of His will. Man, that is so good. It reminds me of one of my favorite verses in the entire Bible:

For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 1 Peter 3:17

God’s plan is the ultimate authority that we should be submitting to. And we have seen in God’s Word that, sometimes, poor health conditions are under the will of the Father.

Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.” John 9:1-3

Amen. The disciples are assuming that, in one way or another, the man’s blindness is a result of sin (whether the blind man’s or his parents), and sin is, obviously, something that goes against God—something that is outside His plan. But, Jesus told them that this was not the case. In fact, the man’s blindness was a part of God’s plan, “that the works of God should be revealed in him.” God did not create sickness, weakness, or blindness, but He can still use those things for His good—for the ultimate good. If you are familiar with the passage, you know that the man was healed of his blindness by the Lord Jesus Christ, so you might accidentally come to the conclusion that we only have sicknesses and infirmities for the purpose of being healed by God. But that is not what Jesus said. Look back at exactly what Jesus said was the purpose of the man’s blindness:

“. . . that the works of God should be revealed in him.”

No where in that verse does Jesus mention healing! Of course, the man being healed of his blindness was a huge revelation of God’s work, but let us not diminish God’s power to say that the only way He may be glorified in our trials and tribulations is by taking those things away from us. God can be glorified in anything. God is capable of anything.

And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Amen. I hope you realize how powerful this passage is. It is not always in God’s will for us to be relieved of those things that burden us in this world. It is in His will that we would put our faith in Him, trusting that, one day, all of those things will forever perish and we will live a new, burden-free, everlasting life with our Father. That is a promise, and that promise will be fulfilled in due time. But this life that we are in right now isn’t about that. It’s not about receiving that. It’s about acknowledging it and proclaiming it and worshipping the God who gave it to us. It’s about glorifying God. And sometimes God will be glorified in healing us and removing our infirmities. Sometimes, He has other plans. But we must remember that those plans are always good. Those plans are always better than our plans. In Jesus’ name.

Luke Stewart, December 2023

Thank you, Luke, for allowing me to share your words. And thanks to all my readers who will read and be encouraged through this message. Please take this message to heart, store it in the recesses of your mind so that the truths of Luke’s message will continue to bring encouragement in the future.

Until next time:

Blessings!

Passing a New Way

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There shall be a space between you and it [the Ark of the Covenant], about two thousand cubits by measure. Do not come near it, that you may know the way by which you must go, for you have not passed this way before.

Joshua 3:4, NKJV, emphasis added

This passage of Scripture amazes me every time I read it. The scene is the banks of the Jordan river. The characters of the story are Joshua and the masses of Israel. They have just spent 40 years wandering in the wilderness of Sinai. Moses, their leader for all those 40 years, is now dead. Joshua has been commissioned to be Moses’ successor, and his first major assignment is to lead the masses across the Jordan, which, by the way, is at flood stage.

So what does Joshua instruct the people to do? Stay back! Keep the Ark in clear sight, and don’t do anything until you see what the priests carrying the Ark do. In essence, wait for God’s guidance. Wait for God to show the way. Wait for clear direction from God. Don’t act presumptuously.

Earlier in the book of Joshua, God had given Joshua the following instructions:

This book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Joshua 1:8, NKJV

Joshua was instructed to stay in the Word of God – to meditate in it day and night. It would result in Joshua and the people experiencing prosperity and success. Their source of instruction, which would lead to their experiencing God’s best, would be found in God’s Word.

As we move into a new year, we are passing a way that we have never been before. We are like the Israelites preparing to go across the Jordan into the promised land, having no idea what awaited them there. They would soon discover that in passing this new way they would encounter blessing and prosperity, but they would also encounter hardship and adversity. Enemies were on the other side of the river. Obstacles of varying degrees of difficulty would be their lot. They were facing uncertainty on every hand.

So how were they to know what to do? They were to keep their eyes on the Ark, which represented the very presence of God. As we pass from 2023 into 2024, in this present cultural climate of discarding the teachings of Scripture and embracing the shifting sands of cultural relativism, we need to constantly remind ourselves that we need, we MUST, keep our eyes on the Word of God. It is only then that we will have the necessary instructions in how to face the uncertainties that lie ahead, and to maneuver through the morass of the current liberal fight against the truths of Scripture.

Joshua and the Israelites were about to enter a land where the people worshiped other gods. They were not to embrace the teachings of those religious systems, nor were they to try to synchronize the worship of God with the worship of those false gods. So how are they to know the difference? They were to keep their eyes on the teachings of God. They were to meditate in His Word day and night. Then they would experience the manifold blessings of God.

And, one final word, we must remember that success and prosperity from the Biblical standpoint is not about good health and financial prosperity. It is about submitting ourselves to the will of the Father, and accepting whatever comes our way as His plan for us. He will lead us, just as He did the Israelites as they crossed the Jordan into the promised land. It would be a land flowing with milk and honey, but it would also be a land filled with obstacles that stood in the way of attaining those blessings. All of it was part of God’s plan.

As we prepare to enter 2024, as we prepare to pass a way we have never been before, let’s keep God’s word, and a desire for God’s will, ever before us. And let us embrace every eventuality in the coming year as opportunities to bear witness to His glory. Let’s let our light shine before others so that God might receive the glory. And let us seek His will above and beyond all else. It is then that we will prosper and have good success. I pray that each of us will experience His grace, His goodness, and His endurance for the adventures and the challenges that lie ahead in this new year.

Until next time:

Blessings!

The Invitation to Pray

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But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

Matthew 6:6, NKJV

Prayer. Have you taken time lately to consider the majesty of prayer? As I was having my quiet time this morning, I opened my prayer list and paused for a moment to think about what I was doing: entering into the very presence of the living God – the creator of all things; the sustainer of all things; the sovereign ruler over all things. I was about to engage in personal conversation with God. Read that last sentence again, and this time take time to think about it – to really think about it. Prayer is engaging in a time of personal, one-on-one, conversation with God.

As of November, 2022, the population of earth reached the 8,000,000,000 mark. Eight billion! My mind can’t quite grasp that number. Eight billion individual persons living on this planet right now. That is mind-boggling to be sure.

And the invitation offered to us by Jesus is to enter into our private place of prayer, close the door, and begin a conversation with God, who sees and hears in secret. Now please don’t rush past this. Take some time and give serious consideration to this important matter. When you go into your prayer room – wherever that prayer room is – the distractions of the world do not hinder God from hearing you pray. You have His undivided attention! He sees, and hears, you as you converse with Him.

This is truly amazing, is it not? When I think about my own ability to focus on something, it doesn’t take much to distract me. I am so easily distracted by the least little thing. When I begin to pray, my mind is all of a sudden filled with so many thoughts – of things I need to do, of people I need to see, of places I need to go – and I am, all of a sudden, pulled in a hundred different directions.

But God, who sees and hears us from our secret place, is never distracted. The Bible invites us to come into the presence of God, to spend time conversing with Him, believing that He is there with us, listening to our every word.

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

1 Peter 5:7, NKJV

Take your time reading this verse from the J.B. Phillips translation of the New Testament:

So, humble yourselves under God’s strong hand, and in his own good time he will lift you up. You can throw the whole weight of your anxieties upon Him, for you are His personal concern. 

1 Peter 5:7, JB Phillips translation

Don’t miss those last words: You are His personal concern. He cares for you, personally. He is there with you, in that private place, all distractions aside, listening intently to your prayer. With everything else going on in the world, with the needs of 7,999,999,999 others demanding His attention, He invites you to meet with Him in private. His ear is bent toward you when you enter into that room.

Please don’t rush past this. Please take a few minutes to think about this matter of conversing with God. Take time to thank Him for this amazing privilege. Give serious consideration to the majesty and magnitude of what you are doing every time you engage in conversation with God. You are His personal concern!

Until next time:

Blessings!

Who is that Stranger? – Part Two

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Imagine, if you will, the stranger I introduced in my previous post arrives on the scene today – November 21, 2023. He comes into the midst of moral relativism, cultural confusion, societal perplexity, religious plurality, and political dissension and division. He comes into the arena of human activity and behavior that is, in essence, as it was in the days of the judges: every man did what was right in his own eyes. He comes into a world steeped with the idea that there is no absolute truth, except for the truth that there is no absolute truth. (That, however, is a contradictory statement: if there is a truth that there is no absolute truth, then that truth would be absolute. The argument caves in upon itself!)

His heart is broken as he sees life – innocent, unborn life – destroyed, aborted, murdered. He witnesses the lack of moral consciousness as people go out of their way to protect the life of animals while at the same time wantonly taking the life of humans, who bear the image of the living God.

He is further saddened by the reckless disregard for the authority of Scripture by those who embrace lifestyles and behaviors that are clearly denounced in the Bible. Of course, when they believe that there is no source of absolute truth, then they feel comfortable in believing what they wish and acting in ways that are to their own liking and preference. He stands firmly on the Biblical principle of marriage being between man and woman.

As he continues to observe the actions and activities of the human family, he is deeply troubled by the way so many show a total disdain for the Bible’s teaching about human sexuality. Scripture teaches that God created male and female, period. Yet, as he looks intently on the affairs of man, he sees men identifying as women, and women identifying as men. He witnesses the concerted efforts of those who would destroy the family structure as described in the Bible. His heart is torn by those living in relationships that are forbidden in Scripture.

As his eyes continue to take in the sordid affairs of mankind, he sees hatred and animosity in every direction. Blacks hate whites; whites hate blacks; Arabs hate Jews; Jews hate Arabs. Hatred runs deep and seems to be growing unabated.

He has now come into this world which has for the most part rejected the teachings of Scripture. And sadly, so many who proclaim to still believe in the Bible constantly reject the teachings found there by their acceptance of so many practices and behaviors that are clearly denounced by the Bible’s teachings.

Now, for just a moment, think about this stranger coming to your house. He is there, standing at the door, gently knocking, hoping to be given entrance. Would you feel comfortable letting him in? Would you feel at ease in his presence? Would he feel the warmth of your welcome, or would he experience the coldness of heart? Would he find you living according to the teachings of the Bible, or would he find you embracing beliefs and behaviors which are contrary to Scripture? Would he sense a spirit of love toward your fellow man, or would he witness a spirit of hatred toward someone of a different ethnicity? Just how would you feel if this stranger came for a visit?

Well, in all honesty, he does. He is always standing at the door, always knocking, always seeking entrance. But he is not going to force his way in. Have you left him standing at the door? Oh, you hear the gentle knocking. You know he is there. And yet, there are things inside that you really don’t want him to see. So, he’s left outside. Waiting, waiting, waiting.

The Lord Jesus Christ is always looking, always knocking, always seeking someone to open the door and invite him in. Where is he today in your life? Are you inviting him in by looking to his word for guidance and direction, or are you leaning on your own understanding? Are you standing with him, or do you bar that door to keep him outside, at a safe distance?

Today, he stands at the door and knocks. He will come in to those who open the door. Why not do that today?

Until next time:

Blessings!