Monthly Archives: May 2023

Almost

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Paul had just made his defense and stood before King Agrippa. “Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian” (Acts 26:28). Agrippa indicated he was on the edge of making the most important decision one can make, salvation through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone. Sadly, Scripture gives us no indication that he was ever saved, and he is likely in hell – so, so close.

“Almost” is similar to Christians who say “I was gonna” or “I plan to.” Just like “almost” they don’t involve action. Brothers, good intentions and warm thoughts, aren’t enough.

We will grow in Christ when we are making and acting on a host of right decisions. We do this, not to look good, “earn points” or make ourselves feel better. These decisions followed by actions are indicative of walking a path of obedience as we seek to please Him – not “I was gonna,” but “Yes, Lord.”

Some examples of these might be: assembling together (Heb 10:25), weekly giving (1 Cor 16:2), daily personal time in the Word (1 Peter 2:2), in prayer (Rom 12:12), leading your family in daily family Bible time (Deut 6), sharing Christ with the lost (Matt 28:19-20), holiness (2 Pet 3:11).

No Desire

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When I am “engaging” someone and if they indicate they are a Christian, I will usually ask if they read the Bible. This week one answered, “not as much as I should.” This is a very common answer, just below “no.” Their answer to that question reveals something about where they are spiritually and how they might be encouraged.

Jesus told Nicodemus (John 3:7) that he must be born again. That means there must be a spiritual birth for a person to come into a relationship with Christ. Then after the birth, there must be growth, and that comes by feeding on the Word. The “milk of the Word” is essential. It is amazing, boundless, and to be craved.

“Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious” (1 Peter 2:1-3). If a baby doesn’t desire milk, that is not good. Also, we should be concerned for anyone’s spiritual life if they don’t desire the Word.

May we all love and consume God’s Word everyday. It is amazing beyond measure.

Mistaken Identity

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Most have greeted someone they know with the wrong name. However, it is even more embarrassing to warmly greet someone by name and discover they are a different person entirely, and you have never known them. Hey, we are human and can easily make those sorts of mistakes. Right?

However, the worst of the worst is to not “recognize/know” God for Who He really is as revealed in Scripture. Many have shared their understanding (picture) of God, and sadly, that isn’t the God of the Bible. Their God is all loving, merciful, and forgiving Who excuses, understands, and winks at their sin. That is a god of their own creation, only partially correct. The God of Scripture is also just, holy, and righteous. As such, God hates and must punish sin. 

“These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes” (Psalms 50:21).

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21).

The Worst Words

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Imagine the end-times judgement of those who were not followers of Jesus Christ. We aren’t given many specifics, but what if the redeemed are able to observe the judgement of those who never came to Christ? If so, can you imagine with me one of your neighbors is summoned and stands before the Lord. The Lord, the Judge of all the earth is told that your neighbor’s name is not in the Book of Life. Your neighbor then hears those terrible words, “… I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:23a). Your neighbor is horrified and realizes his fate is eternal hell. If only he had been told earlier. 

Then he turns toward you and points a shaking finger and SCREAMS, “YOU HYPOCRITE! YOU KNEW I WASN’T A FOLLOWER OF JESUS, AND YOU DIDN’T DO EVERYTHING YOU POSSIBLY COULD TO HELP ME COME TO HIM?” 

“And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:15).

Brothers, how serious are you in sharing Christ with those you know, neighbors, and extended family? Might the worst hypocrite be the one who is saved and does not love his “neighbor” by telling him about salvation by the blood of Jesus?

The God-Directed Summer (No Regrets)

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Summer is soon to arrive, and that often means a change of pace for us, especially homeschool moms. This is the time to begin preparing for those summer months if you want to utilize them productively. Homeschool moms often look forward to summer and all they can accomplish that isn’t possible during the school year. However, it is common for them to come to school startup disappointed that their hopes were not fulfilled over the summer. Be purposeful now so that you have the summer you want to have.

Seek the Lord

“A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps” (Proverbs 16:9). How beautiful it is to have thoughts about what you want to do over the summer, submitting them to the Lord for His direction. Perhaps that is well done in the morning hours before the children are up, with a cup of coffee or tea right after your Bible time. No matter when you do it, being quiet before the Lord and asking Him to direct your steps and your children’s for the summer is critical. 

This verse could be key as you begin: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33). Where does the Lord come into your summer plans. How will you and your children seek Him and His righteousness in a planned way? Maybe you will personally take more time for your Bible reading. You could set your preschoolers up for audio Bible time or work with a teen in how to have a meaningful time in the Word. What about a theme verse for the summer to memorize as a family and bring into as many aspects of daily life as possible?

List It

As you prayerfully consider the summer, write things down. Perhaps you are going to do some school. Maybe you want to do organizing and decluttering. Are there cleaning projects to be tackled? What about learning a skill with your children or teaching them one yourself? Summer is a great time to revise chore assignments and teach new ones. What about serving opportunities with your children – making freezer meals to share when they are needed, babysitting for a young mommy, or visiting elderly friends?

Discuss your thoughts and lists with your husband. He might have his own ideas to add, and he could encourage you away from something that you have on your list. Then keep your list before the Lord in prayer.

Plan It

Next what is on your list can be organized and separated into groups leaving spaces between to write or congregating the ones that are related. Pray and ask God to help you with specifics for implementation. What will it take for this particular thing to happen? That’s why I like working on the computer. All the listing, moving ideas around, and adding details to them is easily achieved there. 

Finally, you work on a schedule to give time for what you are going to do. Again, move forward with prayer. You want the power of your God working with you in the achievements of the summer. Without getting what you want to do on the daily schedule, it probably won’t happen or at least not very often. Some things only happen once, like a zoo day. They won’t be on the schedule as such. Those are the days, you actually drop the schedule. 

But most of your days can have a rhythm the schedule directs that is Christ-led because you sought Him for what goes on it and when it should happen.

The Joy

I think as you seek the Lord and His righteousness for your summer, you will have joy in the planning and preparation, joy through your summer days, and joy at the end when you consider the summer behind you. That comes from your being purposeful about your summer. This is the time to do that!

Teri

Flooded

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The babysitter’s house flooded due to the heavy rain overnight so the sitter couldn’t watch the mom’s six-month-old while she went to work. So the mom asked the owner of the small business where she worked if she could bring the child to work with her. When Teri and I came to the store, we noticed the adorable little guy lying on a blanket on the floor in her office. In front of the child, a phone was propped up so the child could see lively cartoon characters with the goal of keeping him happy and quiet. My heart was heavy thinking of the lifelong dependency on entertaining media likely ahead for him.   

I have mentioned previously that I meet many young men who are addicted to video games. Let’s assume that the games they are playing are not sinful. The popular attitude these days is that if a game isn’t sinful, then it’s okay. The truth is these individuals are addicted to their video games and live for them. “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any” (1 Corinthians 6:12).

These same young men would not spend their hard-earned money to buy a car that simply sat in their driveway and was not driven. Cars are purchased to be driven. Brother, Jesus Christ purchased us with His precious blood (1 Peter 1:19) so that we could be used by Him to proclaim the good news of the Gospel and serve Him with our lives. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).

Please understand, I know media is an easy way to keep children happy. We were TV free until the children caught chicken pox in the late 1980’s. We got one then to keep them happily occupied. What a mistake. It took several years to get the beast out again. I believe iPads, video games, movies and cartoons are far worse today and addicting. “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).