We once had a cat named “Zulu”, a wonderful, loving feline who lived to be 16 years old.   When we called her for a meal, the whole house would echo:  “Zulu LULULULULULU!”.  Back in the 1980’s when we got her from the local SPCA, she was declawed (a practice now outlawed in our state).  Because of that, we were very aggressive to keep her in the house where she would have protection against all the outdoor enemies against which she would have been defenseless.  
     Well, one evening she got out.  I don’t remember  HOW she got out.  But I do remember WHAT we did next!  We called for her all evening long before we reluctantly went to bed.  When I got up early the next morning, I started calling for her:  “Zulu LULULULULULU!”.   The whole neighborhood echoed.  Soon, Zulu appeared…and would NOT come in!  I told her that her dog friends were inside!  I told her that Tonya our daughter who loved Zulu was inside waiting for her.  But you know what convinced this stubborn cat to come in?  “How about some chow?”.  In she came!  She was hungry for the good stuff!  (Well, good for HER!  I don’t think I would like her food!).
   Wasn’t that a nice story?  And so is this section of Ephesians, which reminds us that the Father is lovingly calling us every morning to come have “chow” with Him!  HE hungers for our fellowship!  HE hungers for those quiet moments with Him when He can instruct us in His Word.  And HE hungers for those times when we can share with Him our heart’s burdens in prayer.  THAT’S what this section of Ephesians is all about!
     COME IN FOR THE FATHER’S “CHOW”!
Perhaps there are some questions each of us can ask ourselves to evaluate our personal progress as a child of God.  Let’s use our text as a guide!
    First, we should ask, “HOW IS MY PRAYER LIFE?”  (See verses 15-16)
     The Pastor was walking downtown when up ahead he saw Bob coming toward him.  “Oh no!”, he thought.  “I promised Bob I would be praying for him, and I haven’t been.  Oh no!  What am I going to do?”  “Oh Lord, bless Bob.  I pray for him!”.
     “Hey Bob!  Good to see you!  I’ve been praying for you!”
     That’s NOT what verse 16 is all about!  Here Paul says of the Ephesian fellowship, “[I] do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers…”. How important is prayer in the Bible?  There are 348 Old Testament verses and 165 New Testament verses that specifically deal with prayer.  How important was prayer to the Apostle Paul?  Here’s just a sampling:
He begins his letter to the Romans, “that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers…” (Rom. 1:9)
And to the Philippians:  “always in every prayer of mine making request for you  all with joy…” (Phil. 1:4)
And to the Colossians:  “We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord  Jesus Christ, praying always for you…”. (Colossians 1:3)
     How about the Lord?  How important is prayer to HIM?  We’re familiar with the Lord’s prayer.  Let’s add to that 1 Peter 3:12a: “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their  prayers…”
      It is God’s people who rock the world by prayer!  So how is YOUR prayer life?  What priority of your time, your day, is devoted to prayer?  AND are you praying in general terms (“Lord bless Charlie”) or in specific terms?  AND do you pray anytime when the Spirit moves?
     The Sunday school teacher asked, “What is prayer?”.  The second grader wisely answered, “It is a message sent to God at night and on Sundays when the rates are cheaper.”
So how is YOUR prayer life?
Second, we should ask, HOW WELL DO I KNOW GOD?  (See verse 17)
     Paul prayed for the Ephesian BELIEVERS that they might KNOW God.  But didn’t they already know God?  Weren’t they already believers?
   Let me illustrate.  A young man FALLS IN LOVE with what would be his very first girlfriend.  He tells his parents, “I’m in love!  We’re going to get married!”.  The wise parents said, “That’s pretty sudden!  Don’t you think you should get to know her better?”  Their son protested, “I DO know her!  And I LOVE her.  We’re going to get MARRIED!”  
     Well, I DO know 2 couples for whom that worked!  My wife’s parents were married over 67 years when her mother went Home to be with Jesus.  Their courtship lasted from October-January before they were married on January 29 (back in 1949!).  And my wife and I courted from October-July before marrying just after the 4th of July – and that was almost 49 years ago.  How would you counsel couples like us? 
      But in those 49 years, we’ve made some special observations!  We’ll be walking along when I’ll bring up a subject.  Immediately she’ll ask, “how did you know that that is what I was thinking about?”  Or she would ask a question, and I’ll answer it BEFORE she even finishes the question.  And she asks, “Isn’t that frightening how well we KNOW each other?”.
     “Knowledge” means “a deep and intimate, full knowledge [of God]”.  And note that that comes “through wisdom and revelation”, not something new but rather what has already been stated.  Do you remember Romans 10:17: “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.”
     Is your priority someone’s books ABOUT the Bible, or is it the Bible itself?  What is your priority in daily Bible reading, that you may have an intimate, deep, full knowledge of God?
     The last question we need to ask ourselves is, AM I GROWING IN THE LORD?  (See verses 18-20).
      Whoa be it for me to give some advice on growth!  I’m 5’2” tall, mom was 4’ 10” tall.  (My dad was 6’ 1” tall – go figure!).  
     But note the verse:  “eyes of your understanding being enlightened”.  That means “your heart FLOODED WITH LIGHT” that you may know how you should live and how to respond to the cares of everyday life.
     Paul told the Hebrew believers, “let us go on to maturity” (Hebrews 6:1).
     Paul prayed for the Ephesians, that they would be flooded, overwhelmed with the DAILY hand of God.  By this they could test whether or not they were maturing in the Lord.
     Paul then gives 3 quick guides in his prayer life for the maturity of the Ephesian believers:
(1). The hope of their calling (see Romans 8:28-29).  God’s investment of His time and Son should promote holiness, conformity to His Son. (2).  The riches of His inheritance (see Psalm 8:1-4).  Contrast the beauty of God’s creation with God’s eternal attention upon His children!
(3).  The greatness of His power.  “Power” is the Greek word “dynamos” from which we get the word “dynamite”.  It is the same perspective as the power of Niagara Falls from which power we can generate electricity.  As great as THAT is, how much greater is the power that raised Christ from the dead?  That power is working in us and available to us, so that we can live for Him!
     Are you growing in the Lord, conscious of His investment, His attention, His equipping for all our lives?
     I once officiated a wedding which, amazingly, included the following incident.  I asked the bride, “Debbie, are you willing to take Charlie as your wedded husband…?”.  She looked at me, she looked at Charlie, and then she looked at the crowd, and gave the most dramatic pause I’ve ever experienced at a wedding.  She ultimately DID say “YES!”.  But for years to come I kept a close eye on Debbie and Charlie.  They did ok!
     The being “flooded with the light” of God, as Paul shared with the Ephesian church depends upon the answer to 2 vital questions:
Are you willing to grow?
Are you willing to pray?
     What are your answers before our loving Heavenly Father?

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life. Revelation 22:17

On a recent sojourn to Egypt, early one morning we were awakened at four in the morning and drove south from Aswan over the Sahara Desert to watch the sun ride over the desert and then further south towards the border of Sudan.

The Sahara Desert is the world’s largest hot desert in the world and covers much of North Africa covering 9,200,000 square kilometers which is comparable to the area of China or the US. It gets as hot as 130 degrees in the daytime and temperatures drop dramatically at night, due to the lack of humidity, and can reach lows of 20 degrees. It gets less than one inch or rain each year. It is 8% of the earth’s land area. It is truly a barren area.

As we drove further south, suddenly I saw a canal and thousands of acres of bright green wheat growing.

The Egyptians have built canals to bring fresh water into the desert and the result is amazing as the barren desert blooms with agriculture. As I gazed out the window, I thought of Isaiah 41:18 “I will open rivers on the barren heights, and fountains in the middle of the valleys. I will turn the desert into a pool of water, and the dry land into flowing springs.” Isaiah 41:18

Water is mentioned a total of 722 times in the Bible, more often than faith, hope, prayer, and worship. Isaiah 43:19 mentions “streams in the desert” as part of a promise to God’s people: “Behold, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness and streams in the desert” (BSB). The imagery is also rendered “rivers in the dry wasteland” (NLT) and “rivers in the desert.”

The water of life for the desert is from the canal. The water of our life is Jesus. But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life. John 4:14.

Have you received the water of life?

***

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

Often times, I have the opportunity to share about the need for and the importance of us “getting off the bench and doing something – getting out of the pew and putting our faith to work.”

And often, the question will come: “How do we put our faith to work?”

In response, these 5 things came to mind:

1) By living what we say we believe. That is by glorifying God through our day-to-day living… through our work… through our fun… even in the mundane.

2) By doing what Jesus did – loving others, helping others, sharing life with others. Not because we have to but, because He first did for us.

3) By going therefore – That is, by going to make disciples. Whether next door, down the hall, across the country or around the world. Put your faith into action.

4) By loving your neighbor as your self (goes back to number 2). And who is your neighbor? Everyone – even if they don’t look like you. Overcome hate and disdain with love. Shine where you are.

5) By taking up our cross daily and following Him… loving Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength – loving him with all that we are. Love like Jesus. See as He sees. Respond like would respond. Allow His heart to become our heart.

Let’s be clear – Faith and faith alone in Jesus Christ, the Son of God is what saves us. But as we live and grow in our faith in Him, we are called then to put our faith to work. So others can see Him in us… so others might know of His great love, grace and mercy.

Now is the time for us to shine, to be a light in a dark world… or at least our little part of it. Go now… “Get off the bench and do something… get out of the pew and put your faith to work.” Marty Stubblefield

— o —

To be born in America was an accident

To live in America is a privilege

To fight for America is a responsibility

***

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

Life has many twists and turns and sometimes what looks like a very bad day can be just clearing the way for good things to come. J. Kim Wright.

God Leads and Provides for His People. John Gibson

The harder the conflict, the greater the triumph. George Washington

God’s plan for your situation may seem peculiar. And you may even be reluctant to try it. Obey the impressions of God upon your heart. Florida Marketplace Ministry

Grief is the price we pay for love. Queen Elizabeth II

The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today.” H. JACKSON BROWN, JR.

Today—with the tomb empty—marking the fulfillment of God’s plan, we are assured the promise of a path to eternal life, available for you and for me. The question for us for today, and every day, is this—have we embraced and claimed, or will we embrace and claim, the promise of eternal life with the One who loves us? There is no question or decision more important in your life and mine, right now, than making sure of our place with Him in eternity. A thought to ponder—but not for too long. Scott Whitaker

Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink. Genesis 21:19

Football is a team sport, but some positions get more hurrah than others. Often it is the quarterback. He is the one who usually throws the ball that others use to make the score. Sometimes, it is the kicker who kicks the 45-yard field goal to win the game in the fourth quarter, as the clock winds down. Sometimes it is the tight end, who gets a pitch from the quarterback and runs for a 50-yard touchdown, but couldn’t do it without the lineman blocks that opened a corridor to run through. It is a team sport.

A number of years ago when the Superbowl was coming to Tampa, I was on the committee to plan and host the annual prayer breakfast. Our preparation began when we flew over to New Orleans to attend and see firsthand the prayer breakfast the year before. On the committee and who made the trip with me was Boyd Dowler, a name that probably means nothing to many reading this post.

The breakfast honored Green Bay Packers star quarterback, Bart Starr, who led the Packers for fifteen years and won the first two NFL championships. As a part of the program, they showed film clips from some of Starr’s greatest plays. Three of the five showed touchdown receptions in the end zone by Boyd Dowler. He started on all five of Vince Lombardi’s NFL championship teams and played as a Packer for eleven years with 474 receptions and 40 touchdowns, many of them succinctly described by Lombardi-era broadcaster Ray Scott’s signature call, “Starr. Dowler. Touchdown!”

I turned to Boyd, who was sitting next to me and said, “Boyd, it seems to me like you should be getting some of the credit at this breakfast.” He responded saying that while he caught the ball for the score, it was a team effort, right down to the water boy.

The water boy? Yes, the water boy, who is ever ready to spring from the sidelines when an exhausted team needs some rest and a quick drink in order to continue. He is always prepared for action and ready to respond. Water boys form an essential part of the team. Their main duty is pouring water into the mouths of players and providing players with fresh towels.

There are water boys in the Bible, many of them. They play great roles to great people and make great things happen, but go unnoticed. So too there are water boys, men and women in the Christian faith. Pastors preach great sermons, but someone has to make sure the lights are on.

God calls each of us to be water boys doing what needs to be done, often with no notice or acclimation. Like football, the Christian life is a team sport. All contribute, though not all are noticed.

Are you willing to be a Christian water boy?

***

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

The Scottish minister, David Livingstone was one of the most popular national heroes of 19th century Britain. He was known as an explorer. Scientific investigator. Anti-slavery crusader. And Protestant missionary martyr.

The story is told that Livingstone once received a letter from the London Missionary Society inquiring about his work in Africa. They asked the explorer, “Have you found a good road to where you are? If so, we want to know how to send other men to join you?”

Livingstone wrote back, “If you have men who will come only if they know there is a good road, I don’t want them. I want men who will come if there is no road at all.”

Livingstone was looking for others who were committed to his cause, not their personal convenience. He wanted men willing to suffer hardship, not those seeking a life of ease. He desired co-workers who were dedicated, disciplined, and duty-bound. Not folks who simply wanted to make a mission trip without any trouble, trial, or inconveniences.

Are you willing to participate in a mission like that?

— o —

I am thankful for social media. Because it exists, I am allowed to do the work I do. And I hope that I have been able to make a positive difference in your life through it. But I think we all need to be reminded from time to time (myself included) that we’re not going to find our greatest mentors on social media. In fact, when I look back on the people in my life who have made the biggest difference in my growth and development, social media influencers are nowhere near the top.

The men and women who have shaped me the most are the men and women I have chosen to spend time with in-real-life. My parents, my grandparents, the family who took me into their home during college, my first boss, my second boss, my friends… these are the people who have shaped me the most.

They knew me best… and I knew them best. And the relationships changed me. We are interpersonal creatures and positive social relationships affect our physical, mental, and emotional health.

This is why personal relationships are so important. And why we are wise to invest time and energy in cultivating healthy ones. The Minimalist

***

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

Just as there is no human cure for leprosy, there is no cure for human sin. Dan Shock

If all Christians were more like Christ, could our post-Christian and even anti-Christian culture remain the same? Jim Denison

When you make yourself a vessel, God flows through you. Jomo Cousins

In running from God, we run to the things we ought to be afraid of and we run away from the One we have no reason to be afraid of. Ken Whitten

For every minute you remain angry, you give up sixty seconds of peace of mind. Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Being a Christian is like swimming upstream in a downstream world. Daniel Henderson

By Semi-Retired Pastor Jeremy Stopford

“having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.” [1:3-14).

Greetings from sunny central New York. Today I took a picture of daffodils trying to peek up through the soil! Of course, what made the picture most unusual is that surrounding the daffodils is about 3 inches of…SNOW. I wonder if they are confused.

But the Apostle Paul was not confused when he wrote the book of Ephesians. This book reminds us of what God has done to bring us to where we are today. AND it is a great assurance that the church is still His work today.

One of my favorite books is “The Prince and the Pauper”. You remember the story – the Prince discovers a young lad who is his identical twin, and they decide to exchange places. The Pauper enjoys the pleasures of being a Prince. And the Prince suffers the hardships of being a Pauper. And in the end, they need each other for the nation to survive. Wonderful story!

What would you say if I were to tell you that such an exchange has already been made for you and me?

2 Corinthians 8:9 says, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.

Ephesians 1:3-14 is a very descriptive narrative which outlines that exchange for us.

Before we begin, there are 4 observations:

#1: The works described are “in the past”

#2: The works described are benefits of our being “in Christ”, an expression found 10 times in this book!

#3: The works described are done “according to His good pleasure (vs. 5,9)

#4: IT IS POSSIBLE, though, that while we should be living as princes for Christ, we have chosen to be paupers, ignorant of all that He has for us.

First note that THE FATHER SIGNS (vs. 3-6). The Father’s work is like a lawyer who does legal duty for you, and his signature makes the transaction good. Did you note the location of the Father’s signature? Vs. 3 says “in the heavenlies”! Some Christians are “so heavenly minded they’re no earthly good.” I encourage you to re-read Col. 3:1-3. We have heavenly treasure available to us NOW!

I like the Father’s view of time. What is YOUR view? How often do you look at your watch – or, it’s 2022, at your phone – to check what time it is? Since I gave up using a watch, I rarely am conscious of what time it is. Really! What about our Father? His view of time is…NOW (v. 3)…BEFORE (eternity past) (v, 4)…IN THE ETERNITY FUTURE (v. 10). While we are creatures of time, we must be creatures of eternity. God is – and so is all mankind.

Here is a quick approach to a tough subject. The believer “in Him”, that is, in Christ, is labelled by God as “chosen in Him” (v. 4) and “predestinated” (v. 5). The word “chosen” here means “to pick out for Himself as His own”. The word “predestinated” means “before; to mark off by boundaries.” In practice, it means…one’s destiny is determined beforehand. Whoa! That’s one tough subject. It should cause us to worship. It should cause us to trust God to be God!

Allow me to list a number of verses without giving any explanation:

Gen. 1:1: “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth”

John 1:1: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

John 17:24: “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.”

Hebrews 4:3: “For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said:

“So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest,’”[quoting Ps. 95:11]although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.”

Rev. 13:8: “All who dwell on the earth will worship him [the Beast – Satan’s earthly representative in the Great Tribulation period] whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”

The point is that the Father specializes in eternity and in eternal matters. But let us not lose heart. 2 Peter 3:9 is still in The Book:

“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”

God has a right to be God! The Father has a right to see things through the eyes of eternity! Yet He is loving enough that He encourages us to see things through the eyes of today: people need the Lord!

Did you notice in v. 3 that the Father adopted us as His children? Years ago, we adopted our daughter. When the judge signed the adoption paperwork, a TON of things happened in an instant! Tonya was given our last name! She now lived in our home – in HER OWN room! She had access to my riches, my inheritance, my love. In an instant she had all the benefits of being a Stopford! Wow! Just like that!

So what’s the point? Simple, yet wonderful! At the point, the very moment, the very split second, that we trusted Jesus as our Savior, we became heirs of the Father! (Check out Romans 8:15-17!). We were instantly “in the Beloved”, the source of our salvation.

As the Father is the One Who signs the paperwork (as it were), the Son is the One Who delivers! Check out verses 7-12. Simply put, Paul lists 3 amazing terms of deliverance:

#1. Redemption (v. 7): “to be pulled out of the slave marketplace” and given a new ownership. For the human, our “slave marketplace” was the marketplace of sin (see 1 Cor. 6:9-11). Do you enjoy the privilege of sonship?

#2. Forgiveness (v. 7): “dismissed; released; forgotten”. Have you read Ps. 103:11-14 lately?

“For as the heavens are high above the earth,
 so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;

As far as the east is from the west,
 so far has He removed our transgressions from us.

As a father pities his children,
 so the Lord pities those who fear Him.

For He knows our frame;
 He remembers that we are dust.”

Just as east and west never meet, so the Father’s forgiveness is limitless! Wow!

#3. Inheritance (v. 11): My inheritance which my Dad gave me at his death in 1995 may be almost gone, but my Heavenly Father’s inheritance lasts forever! And yet we need to have an honest awareness of our inheritance, as found in Romans 8:17:

“and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”

The Father signs the paperwork. The Son delivers. And the Holy Spirit? He SEALS THE DEAL! Check out verses 13-14.

The “seal” of the Holy Spirit shows

#1: A finished transaction – a genuine work by the Spirit which is completed now and will be full enjoyed in the future.

#2: Ownership – we BELONG to Christ!

#3: Security – He is our “earnest” – the down payment of a future completed possession!

So as we wrap this up, let’s review! The Father has loved us with an everlasting love! He has signed the paperwork preparing for the provisions of our salvation. The Son delivers – He gave Himself at Calvary for our sins! And the Holy Spirit? He “seals the deal”, guaranteeing that what has been prepared will be completed!

So today ask yourself an HUGE question?

Are you living as a PAUPER who doesn’t know his true identity?

OR are you living as a PRINCE of the King of kings?

Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? Psalm 85:6

We recently had a revival at our church…. a revival! ….. ten services over five days and does our land need revival in the worst way.

The latest NBC News poll finds that 71% of Americans believe the country is headed in the wrong direction. Just 22% say we’re on the right track. Those are deeply concerning figures. Every year our country is becoming less religious, more specifically less Christian. Every year, not coincidentally, we lose more freedom. Our founding fathers predicted this. They said only a moral and virtuous people could remain free.

A related trend is that fewer Americans are biblically literate. At America’s founding, we were probably the most biblically literate society in the history of the world. But now, if the Bible is mentioned at all in our culture, it’s usually to condemn or mock it.

Every year, we become more diverse, and we become more divided. Diversity can be good, if everyone agrees on the same set of fundamental values. But when diversity extends even to differences on fundamental beliefs on life and death, liberty and values, tribalism grows as there are fewer basic issues to unite us and Americans grow further apart.

There’s more, of course – the breakdown of the family, the coarsening of our culture, the decline of respect for law enforcement. But without the revival of faith, the renewal of Judeo-Christian values and a recommitment to basic morality, we will continue in the wrong direction.

The answer to America’s problems is a spiritual one. We need to pray for our country like never before. And we need to reach out to a lost world with the gospel like never before. We need more people hearing about who Jesus is and what He promises. We need to get back to the true God of the Bible, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God who sent His Son Jesus Christ to be born in the manger, to die on the cross, and to rise from the dead three days later. We need a spiritual awakening.

Charles Finney, who was part of one of America’s great revivals, said, “Revival is nothing more or less than a new beginning of obedience to God.” A.W. Tozer defined revival as, “That which changes the moral climate of a community.”

That is the kind of revival we need. Not just an emotional experience and not just a tingle down the backbone. We need to see God work, because our nation needs it like never before.

So let’s pray for God to do a great work of revival in our country, but let’s do our part. The root of the problem is that people are separated from God. And the way to change a culture is to invade it. It is to go out where people don’t typically hear the gospel, enter their world, and tell them about Jesus Christ.

Will you help lead a revival in our land?

***

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

There are any number of compliments I would like said at my funeral, “He was faithful, humble, godly, kind, thoughtful, compassionate, generous… and the list could easily continue.” But there is one compliment, maybe more than any of the others, I hope will be said of me: He was the same person at home as he was in public. In some regards, I can think of no higher praise to offer a person. Be the same in public when people were watching, and at home when no one was watching. The Minimalist

— o —

Have you noticed in the past 12-18 months the number of reports dealing with mental health problems people are facing? The virus has not only taken a toll on us physically and affected our economy and politics, but also impacted us emotionally and psychologically.

One survey showed that 51% of young adults say they feel down, depressed, or hopeless. Another survey found that 40% of all Americans have reported some mental health issues related to the pandemic. And 11% had considered suicide.

If you simply google “hopelessness” you will find an incredible amount of material relating to discouragement, depression, and despondency. Furthermore, pastors, preachers, and church leaders relate how the pandemic has not only affected church attendance, but the overall ministry of the church. The Preacher’s Word

— o —

We can avoid tragic mistakes by:

1. Always allowing God’s Word to guide our decisions.

2. Never make a decision until you have first sought God’s guidance through prayer. Dan Shock

***

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

If you want to influence someone for Christ, show them God’s Love before you show them the Ten Commandments. Dwight Short

Each life is made up of mistakes and learning, waiting and growing, practicing patience and being persistent. Billy Graham

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart.

Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.” THOMAS A. EDISON

We can try to be the change we wish to see, or we can ask Jesus to change us into changed people he uses to change the world. Jim Denison

Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy. Anne Frank

It is one of the severest tests of friendship to tell your friend his faults. So to love a man that you cannot bear to see a stain upon him, and to speak painful truth through loving words, that is friendship.” HENRY WARD BEECHER

The secret of your strength lies in your commitment to Jesus Christ. Florida Marketplace Ministry

Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile. Albert Einstein

Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can. Arthur Ashe

A little humour for this second week of March, entitled “5 Things to do during a boring sermon” (and no, I didn’t take notes about my congregations while preaching!):

~ Pass a note to the organist asking whether he/she plays requests.

~ See if a yawn really is contagious.

~ Devise ways of climbing into the balcony without using the stairs.

~ Listen for your preacher to use a word beginning with ‘A’ then ‘B and so on through the alphabet.

~ Sit in the back row and roll a handful of marbles under the pews ahead of you.

After the service, credit yourself with 10 points for every marble that made it to the front.

Now, on a more serious note….consider Ephesians chapter 1, verses one and two:

“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Back in 1996, I officiated a wedding for a good friend of mine, I’ll call him Joe. I love weddings! And I always carry an extra (clean, of course) hanky in case someone cries. Up to this wedding, I had used it only once. Until…”Will you love, honor, and cherish ’til death do you part?” The tears, starting as a whimper, suddenly flowed. The wedding stopped. The hanky came out. Joe was completely helpless. As was the bride! She joined all of us to wait until Joe got control of himself!

The book of Ephesians is the account of the object of the Groom’s affection! The Groom, of course, is the Lord Jesus, and the bride is the Universal Church.

We will grow in our study in this book.

We will grow in our knowledge of who we are.

We should then grow in our love for the Lord and Who He is!

What’s in a name? A name is VERY important! Years ago I visited my Uncle Jerry, my mother’s brother. He and I were named after the same man, our great grandfather “Jeremiah Philip Barnes”. Jeremiah was a farmer who back in the 1800’s owned a 500 acre farm in Cooperstown Junction, just outside of Oneonta, New York.

Uncle Jerry and I were pretty proud of our heritage. As were the Jews of Paul’s day! As you know, Paul was born as “Saul”, which name means “asked”. The name implies greatness, and was given to one who was expected to have counsel sought after, or asked, by many. As Saul, he was known for persecuting the Christian church. As Saul, his name would always remind him of a changed life. Who did the changing? The Lord Jesus in the most familiar story of “Saul” on the road to Damascus to round up some more “Christians” to be persecuted. And Jesus would tell him, “Why do you persecute ME?”

“Saul”, whose counsel was sought after, would become “Paul” which means…”little”! I would encourage you to read Philippians 3:4-7. Paul had a changed life! He thought LITTLE of himself and MUCH of Jesus! Do you and I?

“Paul an APOSTLE”. An “apostle” is “one sent on a mission”. In Galatians 1:1, 11-15 we learn of the change in Paul’s mission. Before he sought after Christians to bring them back to Jerusalem for imprisonment or even death. Galatians tells the change in him when Jesus became his Savior:

“it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles…”. Galatians 1:15-16a. This was now his life work, because God did the work, the change, in Paul’s mission! Have you had this change of direction in mission?

“By the will of God”. I once knew a missionary who I looked up to. Well, for those of you who might have known Lall Din, EVERYONE looked up to the former Army officer from the country of India. Lall was close to 6 feet 6 inches, weighing about 250 pounds, and had a most commanding presence. But when he trusted Jesus as Savior, all changed! He entitled his autobiography, “What God Can Do”.

God made a change in Paul’s life, NOT just for change sake. God changed Paul for a purpose, for a reason. Listen to the insight in these 2 verses:

“For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles—“ (Gal. 3:1)

“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech youto walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,” (Gal. 4:1)

Paul’s mission changed from caring what Saul wanted to caring what the will of God was for his day, his life. How about you and me?

LET’S LOOK A LITTLE FURTHER! What are those who are the objects of the Groom’s affection called in this passage? Did you catch it? Paul addresses the letter to the Ephesians in a most unique way: “to the saints”!!!

I once officiated a funeral for a Christian brother who had gone Home to be with the Lord Jesus at a young age. While the family and I were leaving the funeral home to go to the cemetery, one of the family members asked me, “Charlie was an amazing man. If anyone deserves to be in heaven, Charlie does. How long before he becomes a saint? 200 years?”. Now mind you, this IS a most interesting question that I don’t get asked too often. So I surprised the questioner: “According to the authority of the Word of God, because of his faith in Jesus, Charlie already is a saint NOW! He is with Jesus NOW! Not because of anything he is or did, but because Jesus died for Charlie’s sins. Jesus’ death on the cross was Charlie’s hope. And God’s word says Charlie is a saint NOW! AND God’s Word says you too can be a saint if you trust Jesus as your Savior today!”. Charlie’s loved one shook his head!

“In Ephesus” means that this was a circular letter which was sent to all the churches in the area in which was Ephesus. The church at Ephesus was perhaps the last church to receive this letter. The fact that there were saints in Ephesus was astounding! Look back at Acts 19. “Diana” (or “Artemis”) was the false goddess of the people of the town. The temple to her located in Ephesus was world known! And worship of her brought with it all sorts of debauchery. Did you notice the chant of the people, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!”. Rev. 2:1-4 tells us that at one time the Savior would accuse the church of “leaving your first love”. Yet Acts 20:17-20, 27-31, 35-38 tell us that the elders of Ephesus had a special affection for Paul. What God has done!

Did you notice “faithful in Christ Jesus”? This is an HUGE compliment! Paul was sharing with the people that their diligence in the work in Christ’s strength was noticed worldwide!

And how did they do that? Why, in the grace and peace which God provided! Grace is the characteristic of this whole book for our daily living. And peace – the peace of God and the peace with God are the characteristics of the Christian who knows to live in the presence of the Lord Jesus every day!

Don’t you just LOVE weddings? Isn’t it exciting that God has written a book to challenge and encourage HIS Bride? Aren’t you glad that because of Christ there can be a CHANGED life, and a CHARGED life, strengthened by the CHASTE Lord and Savior?

Have you fully tasted all that God has given you?

Then the Book of Ephesians is just for you!

If my people who are called by my name humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

– 2 Chronicles 7:12a-14

You know what? I think God said it just right in those passages of scripture above. But just so He remembers where I stand with Him, and so you know I didn’t mean that in jest—God always says it right.

He always sets the right path out before us. And always corrects and convicts us, with His objective always being to direct us in the way we should go, in our best interest.

In 1670, Blaise Pascal gave a defense of the Christian religion in a book he wrote. In that book he talked about an emptiness, a craving within man seeking true happiness. And that we try to fill this emptiness, void or hole, with everything around us.

But he goes on to say, that it can only be filled by God Himself. This emptiness, hole or void which Pascal wrote about has since been referred to as a “God-shaped-hole” within each of us.

A hole which we all try to fill, seeking satisfaction and fulfillment, with things like accomplishments and achievements, climbing one career ladder after another, acquiring money and stuff, seeking championships and trophies, or hoping for the approval of others while trying to meet never-ending expectations.

We discover that all of those would-be “fillers,” even if reached, do not satisfy our longing for a sense of worth, fulfillment and accomplishment. And none will provide us with the lasting peace, satisfaction or fulfillment we seek, or fill that hole within us.

Only one thing can forever and completely fill that “God-shaped-hole” within us. Very simply—a relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ. God said it right.

So what is filling the “God-shaped-hole” within you? Something temporary, worldly and fleeting? Or is that “God-shaped-hole” being filled with a relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ? If it is, guard it, keep it. Nurture it by spending time with Him.

It is the only relationship that will be satisfying, fulfilling, lasting and eternal. God said it right. Again. Always. Scott Whitaker

***

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

On average, 7,708 Americans die each day.

As the news constantly reminds us, any of us could die at any time. And yet, if you ask Americans to name their top fears, their personal death ranks surprisingly low. More than half of us either are “not very afraid” (27 percent) or “not at all afraid” (25 percent) of death. Only 11 percent of us are “very afraid” of death, while 31 percent are “somewhat afraid” to die and 7 percent “don’t know.”

We are more afraid of the way we might die than the fact of our death. In a list of our “top ten fears,” “mass shootings” comes in at #3, followed by “terrorism” at #5 and “becoming terminally ill” at #7. Each points to how we might die rather than the fact of death itself.

Why are we mortals not more afraid of our mortality?

The answer is tragically not that we are prepared to meet God. Only 35 percent of American adults believe salvation comes through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. And yet, 54 percent believe they will go to heaven, many of them because they think they have earned their place in paradise through their good works.

What of the rest?

▪ 15 percent say they don’t know what will happen after they die.

▪ 13 percent say there is no life after death.

▪ 8 percent expect to be reincarnated.

▪ 8 percent believe they will go to a place of purification prior to entering heaven.

▪ Just 2 percent believe they will go to hell.

— o —

German pastor Martin Niemöller said of the Nazis, “First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.”

— o —

Thousands of pastors in Canada devoted their sermons recently to affirming biblical sexual morality in response to a new law in their country some warn could criminalize such teachings. Bill C-4, which went into effect January 8, describes as a “myth” the belief that heterosexuality and cisgender identity are preferable. According to Fox News, “Counseling that does not align with such a worldview now carries a potential five-year jail sentence. Prosecuting Canadian Christians for believing biblical morality is likely a sign of things to come in the USA.”

***

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

The casino sign at the entrance read “We Need Winners”! Truth is they need 35 losers for every winner so what do you think they really need? Dwight Short

The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one. ELBERT HUBBARD

Satan appeals to our flesh in order to destroy us. Dan Shock

No Christian can do everything, but every Christian can do something. Jim Denison

Don’t bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself. William Faulkner

Our hope is in heaven, not in the government. Ken Whitten

The Holy Spirit is your GPS ….. God’s Position Source. Jomo Cousins

Live your convictions regardless of the consequences. Ken Whitten

Being a Christian is like swimming upstream in a downstream world. Daniel Henderson

From the series, “Restoring the Joy”

“Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.”

—Psalm 37:7

A little humour for this first week of March, entitled “A Vacation Funny”:

Two friends are talking over lunch in an outdoor patio.

”So what are you doing for summer vacation?” one asks.

The other one replies, “I want to go to Italy again, like last year.”

The first asks, “Wow! You went to Italy last year?”

The other answers, “No, but I wanted to.”

A number of years ago my wife and I went to the Carrier Dome (for you out of towners, that is the dome stadium which is the home of the Syracuse (NY) University sports teams). We were going to take in the Syracuse-West Virginia football game. It was promising to be a GREAT game! By the fourth quarter something was VERY obvious: Syracuse’s defense needed a REST! It got to the point that players were laying on the field and refusing to get up. And the final score showed it: West Virginia 43 Syracuse 0.

Maybe YOUR life is like that! You say, “Pastor, I’m trying to ‘Restore the Joy’.

* I’m not as heated as I used to be over people and things that go wrong.

* I am increasing my trust – my confidence – in the Lord. But more circumstances arise which erode my trust.

* I am learning to desire what God desires, but there are so many things I need NOW.

* AND I am rolling my way – my world – out before the Lord.

But Pastor, that roll seems to be getting longer, not shorter.

WHEN WILL IT ALL END?

Dennis Weaver, the brilliant character actor, starred in the original Twilight Zone’s drama entitled “Shadow Play”. It was about a man sentenced to death, yet instead lived a dream that never ended, only repeating itself over and over. These was the narrator’s (Rod Serling, the producer) closing narration:

“We know that a dream can be real, but who ever thought that reality could be a dream? We exist, of course, but how, in what way? As we believe, as flesh-and-blood human beings, or are we simply parts of someone’s feverish, complicated nightmare? Think about it, and then ask yourself, do you live here, in this country, in this world, or do you live, instead, – in The Twilight Zone?”

You think, “I need to REST!” And that is just what the Lord has for you today: REST!

But not like you expected! Not a 70 year nap and then away in glory. For God’s “rest” is unique. The word “rest” means:

To be silent

To be still

To stand still

To wait with silent patience and…submission!

As safely in the hands of One Who is wiser than us!

So what is “The Rest of the Lord” like? It consists of the “Believer’s Rest”. Alluding to Numbers 14:30, the writer of Hebrews 3:18 records, “And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey?” The “Rest of the Lord” is NOT for the unbeliever!

God does not take this lightly. It is not understood by the lost. It is often taken for granted by the Christian! When you came to faith in Christ as your Savior, you were “Placed under a Rest” that changed you from darkness to light! It is both a PRESENT REST and a FUTURE REST! It is a present rest, begun by faith. And it is the rest of God from the penalty of sin. Listen again to the author of Hebrews:

“For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word

which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who

heard it.  For we who have believed do enter that rest…”. Hebrews 4:2-3a

“Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the

same example of disobedience. Hebrews 4:11.

And don’t forget that the rest which began by faith at the cross will continue for all eternity. Oh listen to John in Revelation 14:13:

“Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead

who die in the Lord from now on.’ ”

“Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works

follow them.”

Only faith in Christ will give us eternal rest! But the things we do FOR Him on earth will reverberate throughout eternity!

Part of that PRESENT REST is the privilege and joy of the worship of our Savior! Again, John records in Revelation 4:8:

“The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and

within. And they do not rest day or night, saying:

“Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”

Another part of that PRESENT REST is the REST OF POWER! The Apostle Paul explains it well in 2 Corinthians 12:9:

“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.

Sounding very much like the author of Psalm 37, the Apostle Paul reminds us of a very vital truth: the trials don’t go away, and neither does the REST OF THE POWER OF THE LORD! In the midst of trial, God’s power is with us!

This is the last lesson in the series, “Restore the Joy”. But it is NOT the end of the lesson! How many of you are familiar with baseball lingo. How about “hitting for the cycle”? For a batter to accomplish the rare feat of hitting for the cycle, in one game he must hit: a single, a double, a triple, and a home run.

To “RESTORE THE JOY”, the believer must get in the cycle of faith that the psalmist has so wisely presented to us!

Read through again the first seven verses of Psalm 37, and note the cycle:

FRET NOT > TRUST > DELIGHT > COMMIT > REST > FRET NOT >…

May this cycle become a part of your system, an unconscious automatic process.

Our theme verse:

“RESTORE UNTO ME THE JOY OF THY SALVATION

AND UPHOLD ME WITH THY FREE SPIRIT”

Psalm 51:12

He said to them, go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Mark 16:15

There was a time when I thought of a missionary as someone in some far part of the world, sitting under a palm tree on some remote island in the middle of nowhere. Then I learned what being a missionary was, both at home and anywhere in the world.

It means going anywhere at any time to help people with their needs and to share the Gospel with them. Often you have to help hungry people with food for the stomach before they are open to hearing about food for the soul. You can go in person or you can send funds. Either way you can be a missionary.

I think about our friends Rick and Beth Hicks. Beth made her first-time missionary trip to to the Philippines in 1985 and it changed her life forever, as she stayed in an orphanage and was touched by the way they depended on God for everything. She continued her annual visits until 2012. She returned to the orphanage each year and watched the children grow, helped build huts for the poorest of the poor and fed hungry children.

The Lord touched Rick and Beth and told them that there was their full-time ministry, so they sold their “dream home” and moved to the orphanage permanently and have been there ever since. They have seen fifty children graduate from college, build a children’s school and support a feeding program that feeds 175 hungry children and supplies milk for the malnourished. It wouldn’t be possible without financial support from those back home.

They teach the Gospel to the children they house, teach and feed, letting them know that God is the Father to the fatherless. They are dedicated to bringing the love of Christ to those in the community, as they change that small area in meaningful and lasting ways. Through addressing the immediate physical needs of individuals, both young and old, they can then focus on their spiritual needs-sharing the Gospel and transforming their life and their community with the Good News.

That’s what being a true missionary is all about. Rick and Beth are doing it and so can you, either by going or sending financial support ahead.

And … oh by the way… If you can’t go to that part of the world, you can help Rick and Beth by sending them a word of encouragement at [email protected] or better yet, send them some money to feed hungry children at The Yielded Evangelical Servants Inc., P.O. Box 700697, St. Cloud, FL and mark it for support to Rick and Beth Hicks in the Philippines.

Enjoy the joy of missional generosity. You will be blessed and glad you did.

***

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

My mind is like my Internet browser: 19 tabs are open and three of them are frozen and I have no idea where the music is coming from.

— o —

By definition, a paradox is “a statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality, expresses a possible truth.” Jesus often spoke truths that contained a paradox. Here are three examples.

▪ “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Matt 10:38).

▪ “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 18:14).

▪ “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant” (Matt 20:26)

— o —

Three empowering daily steps:

In an 1816 letter to Thomas Jefferson, John Adams wrote: “Power always thinks it has a great soul, and vast views, beyond the comprehension of the weak; and that it is doing God service, when it is violating all his laws.”

The solution to our mortal frailty and to our political animosity is the same: admitting to God that we “hath none help nor hope but Thee alone.” I encourage you to join me in these practical and empowering steps each day across the year:

One: Invite the Holy Spirit to empower and control your life.

Ephesians 5:18 commands us to “be filled with the Spirit.” This is a daily act of confession and surrender that positions us to experience God’s best.

Two: Walk in the power and peace of the Spirit.

Max Lucado was right: “The Holy Spirit is central to the life of the Christian. Everything from Acts to Revelation is a result of the work of the Holy Spirit.

Three: Pray for courage and then serve with courage.

When facing growing animosity, the early Christians ask God to “grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness” (Acts 4:29). As a result, “When they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness” (v. 31).

How much “boundless confidence” do you have in God today? Jim Denison

Success is nothing more than a few simple disciplines, practiced every day,” opined speaker and author Jim Rohn. The same is true for spiritual renewal.

***

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

Generosity is giving something you cherish to something you cherish more. Pastor Ken Smith

It is my passion in life to help people own less stuff and live more life. When we have excess possessions in our homes and lives, they always rob us of money, time, and energy. When we own fewer possessions, we can focus ourselves on the things that matter most. My heart is to inspire people to realize that truth and help them accomplish it in their lives. Joshua Becker

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. ELEANOR ROOSEVELT

I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions. —Stephen Covey

We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations. CHARLES SWINDOLL

Fear comes from sin. Jomo Cousins

W. Tozer wrote: “Because God has been reduced in the minds of people, they do not have that boundless confidence in his character that used to be prominent among Christians.

It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see. HENRY DAVID THOREAU

Success seems to be connected with action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don’t quit. Conrad Hilton

###

A little levity leftover from Valentine’s Day…

A friend of mine asked me if I bought something for my wife for Valentine’s Day.

“Yes, I bought her a belt and a bag,” I replied.

“That was very kind of you,” Johnny added, “I hope she appreciated the thought.”

I smiled and replied, “So do I, and hopefully the vacuum cleaner will work better now.”

“YOU SHOULD BE COMMITTED!”

From the series, “Restoring the Joy”

“Commit your way to the Lord,trust also in Him,and He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.”

-Psalm 37:5-6

The name “Joe Carter” may not be familiar to most of you, but it may be familiar to some – especially if you LOVE baseball trivia. Here’s your question: in the HISTORY of World Series play, how many World Series have ended a World Series with a walk-off home run? Well, most of you might remember Bill Mazeroski’s HR off the Yankees to win the 1960 World Series. And the second? Thirty three years later, 1993, Game 6, at home in Toronto vs. the Philadelphia Phillies. But what Joe Carter may not be remembered for is a classic line attributed to him. When asked what was his motivation for playing baseball, Mr. Carter quickly replied, “I am committedto excellence.”

“COMMIT”. The word is used mainly in the form of “commit” or “committed” 193 TIMES in the Bible! Most of those times it is used with the intention of being “committed to SIN”!

The definition is a simple one. “COMMIT” means “to roll one’s way upon God.”

We want to look at this word from two different angles. Then we want to look at two examples. Finally we will conclude with some challenging introspective questions. Ready?

FIRST: GOD IS COMMITTED TO ME! (Really? I didn’t know that!)

Listen to Romans 3:1-2:

“What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision?  Much

in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God.”

God has committed to me the Word of God! Have you read Genesis lately? Ok, ok, that wasn’t too bad. How about Exodus? Ok, ok, that was fast paced. Ok, a few more: Leviticus? Numbers? Ecclesiastes? For many, those books wear one down! Yet God tells us that through the Jew came the Word of God! And we who are “modern day saints/lovers of Jesus” are the beneficiaries of that gift! So as you are struggling through one of those Old Testament classics, think “WOW! This is a gift to me!”

How about 2 Corinthians 5:19:

“…God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their

trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation…”

Am I reading this correctly? Let’s pretend that late last night I asked Jesus as my Savior. Does that mean that from now on God expects ME to be an instrument to others for them to hear and see the love of Christ through me?

Yep!

He didn’t chose angels! In fact, in 1 Peter 1:12 Peter says that the angels want to look into the fact that created beings like us can even be redeemed!

No, he chose me! He committed to you and me the gift of sharing with others – both through our words and our lives – the transforming power of the gospel of Jesus!

How about Luke 16:11:

“Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?”

God is wise. Period. The passage of Luke 16 is talking about the wonderful subject of “stewardship” – the wise care of those things which God has placed under our oversight. Are you a good steward? Are you conscious EVERY DAY of being a wise overseer of all that the Good Lord has put under your care…all that He has committed to you?

But that’s not all! SECOND, BECAUSE GOD IS COMMITTED TO ME…

I CAN COMMIT TO GOD!

Permit me a personal illustration. I had just graduated from 6th grade. I was soon heading off to summer camp in New Hampshire, for what would be my last summer as a camper. All was pretty exciting – why, even my older brother was to be my counselor! I had a wonderful summer – one of the best! It was when I returned home in August that I learned the rest of the story. During my camp physical in June, doctors discovered a persistent “hole in my heart” that they felt needed to be operated on. My parents were committed to my enjoying this summer before the surgery. AND they were committed throughout the summer to find 20 blood donors needed for my surgery. My older brother, knowing about the surgery – but without telling me – was committed to being sure I have a great summer! So on all hikes he put me at the head of the line, so that my pace – sometimes slow – would be the pace of all. And yes, I survived the surgery – that was…57 years ago!

The point is this: life teaches us a dedication that is necessary on a daily level in order to survive. How much more should we be glorifying God by our daily committing our way before Him?

The text from Psalm 37 indicates a test to show what stuff we are made of! With a trust and confidence, God will prosper our way with His presence.

Allow me to give you just a taste of the verses which talk about how I can be committed to God:

Job 5:8: “But as for me, I would seek God, and to God I would commit my

cause…”

Proverbs 16:3: “Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be

established.”

2 Timothy 1:12: “ For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.”

1 Peter 4:19: “Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit

their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.”

When you think of it, God gives us HIS example of what He is eternally committedto:

Psalm 31:5: “Into Your hand I commit my spirit;


You have redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.”

The Lord Jesus uttered these words at the cross. No one took His life. He gave His life for sinners like you and me!

1 Peter 2:23: “who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did

not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;”

The Lord Jesus showed us how He was committed in death.

The Lord Jesus showed us how He was committed in life!

HOW ABOUT US?

What are you committed to? Simply surviving each day?

Have you remembered the trust that Jesus taught us when we first came to Him?

Do you remember His example at the cross?

COMMIT YOUR WAY TO THE LORD!!!