Have you ever been plagued by the "downs" -- down in the dumps, that is! Or have you ever felt so discouraged (That's just another term for "down") you didn't feel like reading your Bible? Or praying? Or even going to church? Or have you ever felt so "down and out" that life didn't seem worth the living?
If so, you have a case of what I call "Spiritual Downs Syndrome!"
Have you ever asked someone how they were only to have them reply, "Under the circumstances, I'm fine." Or maybe you've been guilty of making that reply to someone who asked how things were going with you.
If so, let me ask you this: What are you doing UNDER the circumstances, anyway? As a Christian you should be on TOP of your circumstances! Doesn't God's Word assure you that you can do all things through Christ Who strengthens you? Of course, you can!
Billy Sunday once said, "You may be down, but you're never out!"
Don't let yourself be engulfed by Spiritual Downs Syndrome!
Preacher's Kid
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Sunday, August 29, 2010
14 FATEFUL STAIR STEPS
I'm "off course" today. I finally started my Memoirs, something I've wanted to do for ages. It's a little longer than my usual blogs, but thought you might get a kick out of the first one! Here it is!
I’ve always had a "thing" for numbers. In the hospital, I’ll count the number of ceiling tiles! Ditto for the dentist’s office. At the chiropractor’s office it’s the number of glass panes in each window. At church, I’ll count the number of rows in the S. S. Room, the number of chairs in each row, the number of people in attendance. You get the picture. And we had 14 stair steps between the first and second floors of my childhood home! I know, because I counted them! The first time I counted those fateful stair steps is my earliest memory!
Due to a bout with polio when I was less than a year old, I didn’t learn to walk until I was almost three years old. Of course I was too young to remember the polio itself. But Mother told me many times how the doctors at first said I’d be a cripple all my life if I even survived. But Mother believed in the power of prayer. As she prayed about the situation, she felt the Lord assuring her that some day I’d take care of her.
Then for three long months, Mother learned how to do all her work with one arm while she carried me continuously in the other arm. If she put me in my crib, I was all right, she said, so long as I lay on my side. But I was not content to stay in that position for long. The trouble began when I would flop over onto my back. My hips and legs, paralyzed at right angles to my torso, would then stick straight up into the air. It must have caused me extreme pain, Mother explained, as I would scream uncontrollably at those times. The Lord intervened, however, and eventually the polio left and I learned to walk at three years of age.
One day my sister, five years my senior, wanted to take me upstairs with her. I have a vague recollection of her conversation with Mother who was reluctant to let me take that many stairs. But Ruth convinced Mother that she would watch me carefully, and nothing would happen. I was delighted with this unexpected freedom to try out my nearly acquired skill of walking and remember of thinking how I would prove to them that I was, indeed, a big girl now, ready to go up and down stairs!
As Ruth looked for something in one of those old-fashioned roll-top desks just inside the upstairs bedroom door, I cautiously slipped to the stair landing just to take a peek down those mystical stairs I had successfully conquered at last. But there was a step down from the room to the landing, and you guessed it – I stumbled! That precipitated a downward spiral from the top to the bottom of that stairway. I hit every single step on the way down.
The fall really didn’t hurt all that much. I can recall, as young as I was, telling myself I wasn’t going to cry. I was afraid that if I made a fuss, I wouldn’t be allowed to go upstairs again. But the tears came, anyway, more from fright than anything else, I think. I heard Mother running and can still see her standing at the bottom of those steps with arms outstretched to catch me!
That’s how I first learned there were 14 steps from one floor to the next! But I survived, none the worse for wear!
Preacher's Kid
I’ve always had a "thing" for numbers. In the hospital, I’ll count the number of ceiling tiles! Ditto for the dentist’s office. At the chiropractor’s office it’s the number of glass panes in each window. At church, I’ll count the number of rows in the S. S. Room, the number of chairs in each row, the number of people in attendance. You get the picture. And we had 14 stair steps between the first and second floors of my childhood home! I know, because I counted them! The first time I counted those fateful stair steps is my earliest memory!
Due to a bout with polio when I was less than a year old, I didn’t learn to walk until I was almost three years old. Of course I was too young to remember the polio itself. But Mother told me many times how the doctors at first said I’d be a cripple all my life if I even survived. But Mother believed in the power of prayer. As she prayed about the situation, she felt the Lord assuring her that some day I’d take care of her.
Then for three long months, Mother learned how to do all her work with one arm while she carried me continuously in the other arm. If she put me in my crib, I was all right, she said, so long as I lay on my side. But I was not content to stay in that position for long. The trouble began when I would flop over onto my back. My hips and legs, paralyzed at right angles to my torso, would then stick straight up into the air. It must have caused me extreme pain, Mother explained, as I would scream uncontrollably at those times. The Lord intervened, however, and eventually the polio left and I learned to walk at three years of age.
One day my sister, five years my senior, wanted to take me upstairs with her. I have a vague recollection of her conversation with Mother who was reluctant to let me take that many stairs. But Ruth convinced Mother that she would watch me carefully, and nothing would happen. I was delighted with this unexpected freedom to try out my nearly acquired skill of walking and remember of thinking how I would prove to them that I was, indeed, a big girl now, ready to go up and down stairs!
As Ruth looked for something in one of those old-fashioned roll-top desks just inside the upstairs bedroom door, I cautiously slipped to the stair landing just to take a peek down those mystical stairs I had successfully conquered at last. But there was a step down from the room to the landing, and you guessed it – I stumbled! That precipitated a downward spiral from the top to the bottom of that stairway. I hit every single step on the way down.
The fall really didn’t hurt all that much. I can recall, as young as I was, telling myself I wasn’t going to cry. I was afraid that if I made a fuss, I wouldn’t be allowed to go upstairs again. But the tears came, anyway, more from fright than anything else, I think. I heard Mother running and can still see her standing at the bottom of those steps with arms outstretched to catch me!
That’s how I first learned there were 14 steps from one floor to the next! But I survived, none the worse for wear!
Preacher's Kid
Saturday, August 28, 2010
SPIRITUAL DOUGHNUTS
Oops! Day before yesterday I blogged about "Spiritual Crabs" for the second time. Seems I have my notes in two different places and repeated myself without realizing it. But then, I bet you didn't catch it, either! So we're even!
How would you describe a doughnut? Somewhere I read that a doughnut is a zero, a nothing, with a rim around the edge! Like a hole with a fence surrounding it. Reminds me of what Paul said in I Cor. 4:4: "I know nothing by myself." Sorta like us, huh?
You know, before we became Christians, we were like that doughnut. We were a "nothing." And even now that we do belong to Christ, Satan likes to make us feel that we are still a "nothing." That's not so. Don't listen to his lies.
In John 15:5 Jesus said, "Without me ye can do nothing." If we're His children, we have His power and His ability. Don't freak out on me because I said we have Christ's ability. After all, that's what power means -- ability! When we gave our hearts and lives to Jesus, He put His loving arms around us and gave us His power. No longer are we a "nothing!"
Now we can say with Paul, "I can do all things through Christ, who strengtheneth me" (Philippians 4:13).
Don't be a spiritual doughnut. Let Christ surround your life today and every day.
Preacher's Kid
P.S. Hey, a Crispy Cream doughnut would taste mighty good about now!!!!
How would you describe a doughnut? Somewhere I read that a doughnut is a zero, a nothing, with a rim around the edge! Like a hole with a fence surrounding it. Reminds me of what Paul said in I Cor. 4:4: "I know nothing by myself." Sorta like us, huh?
You know, before we became Christians, we were like that doughnut. We were a "nothing." And even now that we do belong to Christ, Satan likes to make us feel that we are still a "nothing." That's not so. Don't listen to his lies.
In John 15:5 Jesus said, "Without me ye can do nothing." If we're His children, we have His power and His ability. Don't freak out on me because I said we have Christ's ability. After all, that's what power means -- ability! When we gave our hearts and lives to Jesus, He put His loving arms around us and gave us His power. No longer are we a "nothing!"
Now we can say with Paul, "I can do all things through Christ, who strengtheneth me" (Philippians 4:13).
Don't be a spiritual doughnut. Let Christ surround your life today and every day.
Preacher's Kid
P.S. Hey, a Crispy Cream doughnut would taste mighty good about now!!!!
Friday, August 27, 2010
SPIRITUAL CRIPPLES
A well-known TV evangelist claims that statistics show that only 8% of Christians, according to a survey, know what their place of service is in the church.
"Oh, I'm not called to service in the Lord's house," someone might say. "That's for preachers. I simply attend church when I have nothing else to do."
Now, wait a minute. Where did you get the idea you need a special calling to volunteer in promoting the service of the Lord? Give me the Scripture reference for that, if you please, book, chapter and verse.
What if everyone had the attitude that being a "bench warmer" is all that is necessary? Who would greet people when they enter the church? Who would do the ushering? Who would be teaching classes? Who would lead the singing, play the piano or organ? Who would sing in the choir? Who would look after the needs of the unfortunate and needy? Etc., etc., etc. Some of the mega churches may be able to pay their song leaders, pianists and organists; but the majority of those positions are volunteer.
The church has a crying need for volunteers of all kinds. What is your talent? "I have none," you excuse yourself. OK, although I disagree. Let's phrase that question in a different way. What do you excel in? Can you bake cookies, or a pie? Make a cake or casserole for a potluck. Help clean up after a social gathering? Offer someone a ride who wouldn't otherwise be able to attend church or any of its social functions? Can you make a phone call to an absentee? Send a birthday or get well card to someone in the church family? The list of possibilities is endless.
No wonder the church is filled with spiritual cripples when many people have the attitude of "I'm not qualified to do anything." They're too crippled spiritually and too blind to see the myriad of opportunities available.
I call such people "spiritual cripples." I sure hope you aren't one of them!
Preacher's Kid
"Oh, I'm not called to service in the Lord's house," someone might say. "That's for preachers. I simply attend church when I have nothing else to do."
Now, wait a minute. Where did you get the idea you need a special calling to volunteer in promoting the service of the Lord? Give me the Scripture reference for that, if you please, book, chapter and verse.
What if everyone had the attitude that being a "bench warmer" is all that is necessary? Who would greet people when they enter the church? Who would do the ushering? Who would be teaching classes? Who would lead the singing, play the piano or organ? Who would sing in the choir? Who would look after the needs of the unfortunate and needy? Etc., etc., etc. Some of the mega churches may be able to pay their song leaders, pianists and organists; but the majority of those positions are volunteer.
The church has a crying need for volunteers of all kinds. What is your talent? "I have none," you excuse yourself. OK, although I disagree. Let's phrase that question in a different way. What do you excel in? Can you bake cookies, or a pie? Make a cake or casserole for a potluck. Help clean up after a social gathering? Offer someone a ride who wouldn't otherwise be able to attend church or any of its social functions? Can you make a phone call to an absentee? Send a birthday or get well card to someone in the church family? The list of possibilities is endless.
No wonder the church is filled with spiritual cripples when many people have the attitude of "I'm not qualified to do anything." They're too crippled spiritually and too blind to see the myriad of opportunities available.
I call such people "spiritual cripples." I sure hope you aren't one of them!
Preacher's Kid
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
SPIRITUAL CRABS
Once during my working years, I found a little plastic sign to put on my desk. It read, "Lord, help me not to be so crabby, and help me put up with the crabs around me." I thought the sign was hilarious, especially as I was boss and was asking the Lord to help me not to be crabby! But my co-workers didn't appreciate it one bit! For their sakes, I soon got rid of the offensive sign!
They tell me that if you put a lot of crabs in a bucket, they will not get out. Why? What keeps them from climbing up the side of the bucket and falling out? There's a simple answer. When one crab gets to the top and nearly out of the bucket, another crab reaches up and pulls him back down in his own endeavor to get out!
Perhaps you're wondering what that has to do with spiritual crabs! Many times when we try to draw closer to the Lord, others will try to discourage us in our endeavors. "Don't go overboard," they'll urge. "It's not necessary to spend so much time in prayer," they'll claim. Or "Why spend so much time reading the Bible?" The other "crabs" will come up with all kinds of excuses to drag us back down in our spiritual life. Perhaps we should say they'll try to drag us back down to THEIR spiritual level. Because they don't enjoy spiritual freedom, they don't want us to get ahead of them and make spiritual progress, either
And of course there are those "crabs" who find fault with the preacher, with the services, with their Christian friends and everything else. There are "crabs" of all kinds in every part of the church.
Let's determine we are not going to give in to the pressures and demands of others. Don't let them drag us back into the bucket. Instead, let's climb out of the realm of the "crabs" and into the full sunlight of God's love.
Preacher's Kid
They tell me that if you put a lot of crabs in a bucket, they will not get out. Why? What keeps them from climbing up the side of the bucket and falling out? There's a simple answer. When one crab gets to the top and nearly out of the bucket, another crab reaches up and pulls him back down in his own endeavor to get out!
Perhaps you're wondering what that has to do with spiritual crabs! Many times when we try to draw closer to the Lord, others will try to discourage us in our endeavors. "Don't go overboard," they'll urge. "It's not necessary to spend so much time in prayer," they'll claim. Or "Why spend so much time reading the Bible?" The other "crabs" will come up with all kinds of excuses to drag us back down in our spiritual life. Perhaps we should say they'll try to drag us back down to THEIR spiritual level. Because they don't enjoy spiritual freedom, they don't want us to get ahead of them and make spiritual progress, either
And of course there are those "crabs" who find fault with the preacher, with the services, with their Christian friends and everything else. There are "crabs" of all kinds in every part of the church.
Let's determine we are not going to give in to the pressures and demands of others. Don't let them drag us back into the bucket. Instead, let's climb out of the realm of the "crabs" and into the full sunlight of God's love.
Preacher's Kid
Monday, August 23, 2010
AMEN! SO BE IT!
I'm still meditating on and getting excited about some of the phrases in the Amplified Bible!
You're all familiar with the word "Selah" which appears after many of the Psalms. I always figured "Selah" was saying "Amen! So be it!"
Whenever "Selah" is used in the Amplified, it is followed by clarifying words in brackets [ ] which say, "Pause, and calmly think of that!" And so I ask you to pause and think about that!
In fact I think it would be most appropriate to "pause and think about that" no matter what Scripture we are reading. In other words, MEDITATE on what we've read.
So my challenge to you today is: SELAH! SELAH! SELAH! every time you read God's Word!
Preacher's Kid
You're all familiar with the word "Selah" which appears after many of the Psalms. I always figured "Selah" was saying "Amen! So be it!"
Whenever "Selah" is used in the Amplified, it is followed by clarifying words in brackets [ ] which say, "Pause, and calmly think of that!" And so I ask you to pause and think about that!
In fact I think it would be most appropriate to "pause and think about that" no matter what Scripture we are reading. In other words, MEDITATE on what we've read.
So my challenge to you today is: SELAH! SELAH! SELAH! every time you read God's Word!
Preacher's Kid
Sunday, August 22, 2010
WE'RE BLESSED
How many times we've all said, "I'm so blessed!" And we are -- immeasurably blessed.
Talking about words and what they mean as we did in yesterday's blog, what does it really mean to be blessed?
I notice in the Psalms in the Amplified version, when they use the word "blessed," they define it in parenthesis as "happy, fortunate, to be envied." For example, Psalm 32:1 reads, "Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is he who has forgiveness of his transgression continually exercised upon him, whose sin is covered." Isn't that neat? (I also like that word "continually!")
Out of curiosity, I turned over to the Beatitudes in Matthew, chapter 5. There's a little different emphasis on the word "blessed" there. And it's different -- yet the same -- in each of the "Blesseds." Again they express "blessed" not only as "happy," and "to be envied," but also add such meanings as "spiritually prosperous, blithesome, and joyous." And many of the Beatitudes, after the phrase "spiritually prosperous," add "regardless of their outward condition."
I'm so glad God's blessings aren't contingent upon our outward conditions. No, we're blessed beyond measure regardless of our outward conditions!
Isn't that great?
Preacher's Kid
Talking about words and what they mean as we did in yesterday's blog, what does it really mean to be blessed?
I notice in the Psalms in the Amplified version, when they use the word "blessed," they define it in parenthesis as "happy, fortunate, to be envied." For example, Psalm 32:1 reads, "Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is he who has forgiveness of his transgression continually exercised upon him, whose sin is covered." Isn't that neat? (I also like that word "continually!")
Out of curiosity, I turned over to the Beatitudes in Matthew, chapter 5. There's a little different emphasis on the word "blessed" there. And it's different -- yet the same -- in each of the "Blesseds." Again they express "blessed" not only as "happy," and "to be envied," but also add such meanings as "spiritually prosperous, blithesome, and joyous." And many of the Beatitudes, after the phrase "spiritually prosperous," add "regardless of their outward condition."
I'm so glad God's blessings aren't contingent upon our outward conditions. No, we're blessed beyond measure regardless of our outward conditions!
Isn't that great?
Preacher's Kid
Saturday, August 21, 2010
DEFINE TRUST
I'm getting a lot of new insights from this round of reading my Amplified Bible.
Take the word "trust," for example. Of course, we all know what trust is. But how would you define "trust" to someone who didn't know what it was?
Remember what I mentioned in yesterday's blog? Words in brackets, in the Amplified Bible, contain clarifying words or comments not actually expressed in the original text. Similarly, words in parenthesis ( ) signify additional phrases of meaning that ARE included in the original language.
In reading the Amplified version this time, that word "trust" keeps popping out at me. And every time it is used, it is followed by several expressions included in parenthesis thereby signifying they are part of the original meaning of "trust."
What are those phrases? They're commands in one sense of the word: lean on, rely on, and be confident -- three commands!
So now keep your eyes open for that word "trust" whenever you are reading the Bible. Then reread the passage and substitute "lean on, rely on and be confident" for the word "trust."
For example, take Psalm 37:5. "Commit your way to the Lord [roll and repose each care of your load on Him]: trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) also in Him and He will bring it to pass."
Isn't that neat? Hey, I also like how that verse expounds on what it means to "Commit your way to the Lord!"
I trust -- whoops! I mean I'm "confident" this will make your Bible reading more precious to you!
Preacher's Kid
Take the word "trust," for example. Of course, we all know what trust is. But how would you define "trust" to someone who didn't know what it was?
Remember what I mentioned in yesterday's blog? Words in brackets, in the Amplified Bible, contain clarifying words or comments not actually expressed in the original text. Similarly, words in parenthesis ( ) signify additional phrases of meaning that ARE included in the original language.
In reading the Amplified version this time, that word "trust" keeps popping out at me. And every time it is used, it is followed by several expressions included in parenthesis thereby signifying they are part of the original meaning of "trust."
What are those phrases? They're commands in one sense of the word: lean on, rely on, and be confident -- three commands!
So now keep your eyes open for that word "trust" whenever you are reading the Bible. Then reread the passage and substitute "lean on, rely on and be confident" for the word "trust."
For example, take Psalm 37:5. "Commit your way to the Lord [roll and repose each care of your load on Him]: trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) also in Him and He will bring it to pass."
Isn't that neat? Hey, I also like how that verse expounds on what it means to "Commit your way to the Lord!"
I trust -- whoops! I mean I'm "confident" this will make your Bible reading more precious to you!
Preacher's Kid
Friday, August 20, 2010
CAPITALIZATION
How the rules of grammar change throughout the years!
I was always taught to capitalize any words referring to Deity: He, Him, You, Thou, etc., etc. But many times that doesn't hold true any more.
Take Psalm 37:23, for example. If you're accustomed to the KJV, you know the verse as "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and he delighteth in his way." Maybe I'm a little dense. But I always took that to mean that man delighted in the ways of the Lord. You'll notice in that last phrase, "he delighteth in his way," neither the word "he" nor "his" are capitalized. I checked out several versions, and that seems to be common. So I suppose that's where I got my idea that man delights in God's ways.
It never dawned on me that those two words referred to God delighting in man's way until I read it in the Amplified version this morning. I've read the Amplified version several times, but it never hit me until today. It says, "The steps of a [good] man are directed and established by the Lord when He delights in his way [and He busies Himself with his every step].
Notice the capital letters NOW. They make all the difference in the world. Now the Lord delights in the way of a good man. Not only that, He -- the Lord -- busies Himself with every step that good man takes! Can't get any better than that!
It also helps to remember that brackets [ ] in the Amplified version contain clarifying words and meanings.
I've been somewhat leery about my upcoming visit this afternoon to my MD. This will be the first she has seen me since I was in the hospital last week. Then I read the above verse. So I take it that my visit to her is orchestrated by the Lord; that the Lord is involved with this visit; and that He'll be busy with everything that transpires!
Preacher's Kid
I was always taught to capitalize any words referring to Deity: He, Him, You, Thou, etc., etc. But many times that doesn't hold true any more.
Take Psalm 37:23, for example. If you're accustomed to the KJV, you know the verse as "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and he delighteth in his way." Maybe I'm a little dense. But I always took that to mean that man delighted in the ways of the Lord. You'll notice in that last phrase, "he delighteth in his way," neither the word "he" nor "his" are capitalized. I checked out several versions, and that seems to be common. So I suppose that's where I got my idea that man delights in God's ways.
It never dawned on me that those two words referred to God delighting in man's way until I read it in the Amplified version this morning. I've read the Amplified version several times, but it never hit me until today. It says, "The steps of a [good] man are directed and established by the Lord when He delights in his way [and He busies Himself with his every step].
Notice the capital letters NOW. They make all the difference in the world. Now the Lord delights in the way of a good man. Not only that, He -- the Lord -- busies Himself with every step that good man takes! Can't get any better than that!
It also helps to remember that brackets [ ] in the Amplified version contain clarifying words and meanings.
I've been somewhat leery about my upcoming visit this afternoon to my MD. This will be the first she has seen me since I was in the hospital last week. Then I read the above verse. So I take it that my visit to her is orchestrated by the Lord; that the Lord is involved with this visit; and that He'll be busy with everything that transpires!
Preacher's Kid
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
UPDATE
Yep -- I'm still here!
When one of my blog followers phoned me from the opposite end of the country, I figured I'd better give everyone an update!
While here in the northwestern corner of the U.S. we are not having quite the hot weather the rest of the nation is having, we have had a few days in the 90's, and I just can't take much heat. While I was exhausted from combating the heat, I managed to have a spell where my heart started racing 156 beats per minute and better. Usually I take an extra pill when I get these spells and my heart slows down. However, this time it didn't work, and I ended up first in the emergency room at the hospital and then in the Critical Care Unit. It didn't take them long to get my heart rate back on track, but my blood pressure remained too high. They had me hooked up to all kinds of machines, and to make sure I had not had a heart attack (I hadn't, thank the Lord), they kept me overnight and all the next day.
I'm home, now, and feeling better -- just a little weak. Hope to get back to blogging shortly. Anyway, I did learn that there is a simple bandaid-like surgical procedure that is a life-time remedy for this heart condition which has bugged me for over 25 years, and comes and goes at will. I see my M.D. the last of this week and am sure she'll refer me to the cardiologist who performs this kind of surgery. There is only one cardiologist in this area who does this, and I was fortunate to have his assistant as one of my technicians for the many tests they gave me at the hospital. He was the one who explained it all to me. I feel this was a God-sent providence as this particular technician is only on "loan" to the hospital when they are short handed.
In the meantime, keep me in your prayers.
Thank you!
Preacher's Kid
When one of my blog followers phoned me from the opposite end of the country, I figured I'd better give everyone an update!
While here in the northwestern corner of the U.S. we are not having quite the hot weather the rest of the nation is having, we have had a few days in the 90's, and I just can't take much heat. While I was exhausted from combating the heat, I managed to have a spell where my heart started racing 156 beats per minute and better. Usually I take an extra pill when I get these spells and my heart slows down. However, this time it didn't work, and I ended up first in the emergency room at the hospital and then in the Critical Care Unit. It didn't take them long to get my heart rate back on track, but my blood pressure remained too high. They had me hooked up to all kinds of machines, and to make sure I had not had a heart attack (I hadn't, thank the Lord), they kept me overnight and all the next day.
I'm home, now, and feeling better -- just a little weak. Hope to get back to blogging shortly. Anyway, I did learn that there is a simple bandaid-like surgical procedure that is a life-time remedy for this heart condition which has bugged me for over 25 years, and comes and goes at will. I see my M.D. the last of this week and am sure she'll refer me to the cardiologist who performs this kind of surgery. There is only one cardiologist in this area who does this, and I was fortunate to have his assistant as one of my technicians for the many tests they gave me at the hospital. He was the one who explained it all to me. I feel this was a God-sent providence as this particular technician is only on "loan" to the hospital when they are short handed.
In the meantime, keep me in your prayers.
Thank you!
Preacher's Kid
Friday, August 6, 2010
THAT SIN PROBLEM
Surely we have to do something to be forgiven of our sins. It can't be as simple as giving and taking as we spoke about yesterday. Oh, yes it can! And that's because God dealt with the sin problem and put our sin away by the sacrifice of His Son. We had nothing to do with it whatsoever.
God doesn't ask us to deal with the sin problem. You can't find anywhere in the Bible where He asks us to do one single thing about it. He doesn't even ask us to be sorry that we were sinners. Why? Because we were not to blame for being sinners! Think about that for a while!
Is a person to blame for being born in a certain country? Or for being born into a particular family? Of course not! A person has nothing to do with what country he is born in or what family he is born into. He has NOTHING to do with it.
Similarly, we had nothing to do with our sin condition. We couldn't even help committing the sins we committed. Our sins were an outgrowth of a condition of sin in our nature. And we're not responsible for being born into sin -- we're just responsible for REMAINING in sin!
Remember what John the Baptist said about Christ? "Behold the lamb of God that beareth away the sin of the world!" In other words, Christ put our sins away by the sacrifice of Himself. He remitted all the sins we ever committed. He is not asking us to do anything . . . except receive, or TAKE the free gift of eternal life He offers.
Ephesians 2:8, 9 says, "By grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God, and not of works lest any man should boast." Did you catch that phrase "not of works?" In other words, it's nothing we can DO, except TAKE.
Remember, God does not ask us to do anything but just TAKE the free gift of salvation. Trying to follow manmade laws, or the rules and regulations of this and that church is trying to earn salvation through "works." Salvation, however, is a gift of God, a free gift, I might add.
So just TAKE -- whether it's salvation or another of God's wonderful gifts.
Preacher's Kid
God doesn't ask us to deal with the sin problem. You can't find anywhere in the Bible where He asks us to do one single thing about it. He doesn't even ask us to be sorry that we were sinners. Why? Because we were not to blame for being sinners! Think about that for a while!
Is a person to blame for being born in a certain country? Or for being born into a particular family? Of course not! A person has nothing to do with what country he is born in or what family he is born into. He has NOTHING to do with it.
Similarly, we had nothing to do with our sin condition. We couldn't even help committing the sins we committed. Our sins were an outgrowth of a condition of sin in our nature. And we're not responsible for being born into sin -- we're just responsible for REMAINING in sin!
Remember what John the Baptist said about Christ? "Behold the lamb of God that beareth away the sin of the world!" In other words, Christ put our sins away by the sacrifice of Himself. He remitted all the sins we ever committed. He is not asking us to do anything . . . except receive, or TAKE the free gift of eternal life He offers.
Ephesians 2:8, 9 says, "By grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God, and not of works lest any man should boast." Did you catch that phrase "not of works?" In other words, it's nothing we can DO, except TAKE.
Remember, God does not ask us to do anything but just TAKE the free gift of salvation. Trying to follow manmade laws, or the rules and regulations of this and that church is trying to earn salvation through "works." Salvation, however, is a gift of God, a free gift, I might add.
So just TAKE -- whether it's salvation or another of God's wonderful gifts.
Preacher's Kid
Thursday, August 5, 2010
GIVE AND TAKE
Give and take -- isn't that what life's all about? And isn't that what spiritual things are all about, too? Whoa! I hear someone saying! OK -- guess I'd better explain!
The church has given a wrong message to the world -- a message of "giving up" this, that and the other in order to become a Christian. But can you find any place in the Bible where God asks a person to give up anything, including sins? Or is that a new thought? We don't have to give up our sins, our rebelliousness, our wickedness or anything else! When Christ becomes our Lord and Savior, we find we don't want those things any more. In fact, the only things we have to give up are things that God would have no use for!
The truth of the matter is that God is the Giver. We are the receivers, or the takers. God has given us Redemption from sin with all its consequences.
Remember the story of Ruth and Boaz in the Old Testament? She didn't give up her poverty to become his wife, she received his wealth. She didn't give up her loneliness, but received his fellowship. She didn't give up her weaknesses, anxieties and fears; she received his plenty, his protection, his care.
So it is with us and God. According to Ephesians 1:3, God has "blessed us with all spiritual blessings . . ." All we have to do is receive them, or take them, in other words. God is the Giver; we are the takers! We had nothing to do with the plan of Redemption. Christ did it all!
John 3:16 plainly says that "God so loved the world that He GAVE . . ." All we have to do is RECEIVE, or TAKE. God doesn't ask us to give up anything. He just asks us to take His manifold blessings.
All God's blessings are gifts. When someone gives us a gift, we don't do anything to earn it -- we simply take it.
Salvation is a gift. Eternal Life is a gift. Jesus was a gift. The Holy Spirit is a gift. Etc., etc. We do not pay for a gift. We simply take it!
More on this thought tomorrow.
Preacher's Kid
The church has given a wrong message to the world -- a message of "giving up" this, that and the other in order to become a Christian. But can you find any place in the Bible where God asks a person to give up anything, including sins? Or is that a new thought? We don't have to give up our sins, our rebelliousness, our wickedness or anything else! When Christ becomes our Lord and Savior, we find we don't want those things any more. In fact, the only things we have to give up are things that God would have no use for!
The truth of the matter is that God is the Giver. We are the receivers, or the takers. God has given us Redemption from sin with all its consequences.
Remember the story of Ruth and Boaz in the Old Testament? She didn't give up her poverty to become his wife, she received his wealth. She didn't give up her loneliness, but received his fellowship. She didn't give up her weaknesses, anxieties and fears; she received his plenty, his protection, his care.
So it is with us and God. According to Ephesians 1:3, God has "blessed us with all spiritual blessings . . ." All we have to do is receive them, or take them, in other words. God is the Giver; we are the takers! We had nothing to do with the plan of Redemption. Christ did it all!
John 3:16 plainly says that "God so loved the world that He GAVE . . ." All we have to do is RECEIVE, or TAKE. God doesn't ask us to give up anything. He just asks us to take His manifold blessings.
All God's blessings are gifts. When someone gives us a gift, we don't do anything to earn it -- we simply take it.
Salvation is a gift. Eternal Life is a gift. Jesus was a gift. The Holy Spirit is a gift. Etc., etc. We do not pay for a gift. We simply take it!
More on this thought tomorrow.
Preacher's Kid
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