Monthly Archives: January 2025

A New Perspective

This was posted on by .

Do you remember the first time you looked at something through a magnifying glass? I don’t remember the specifics, but I do remember being in awe at seeing details that I hadn’t dreamed existed. It brought a whole new understanding and appreciation. The greater the magnification, the more the amazement in what I was looking at. Magnification doesn’t change the object. It just enables us to see details that weren’t obvious under normal viewing. 

“O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together” (Psalms 34:3). We don’t use the word magnify any more in a nonvisual context. Therefore, to encounter it in Psalms 34:3, it is easy to lose some of the impact in this incredible verse. I love David’s invitation for us to magnify and exalt God’s name together. Take that to heart my brothers. 

We are to be the curved glass that brings the details of God into clear view for others. Wherever you are — home, at church or around others — share the Lord’s goodness, mercy, love, grace, patience, holiness, and righteousness. Share the details about our mighty God so that others can come to “see” Who He is more clearly and understand how wonderful our God is. Love Him. Elevate Him. Today when our God is considered by most to be simply (yawn) the “the man upstairs,” they need to hear that He is righteous and holy. He hates sin so much He would sacrifice His own Son as payment for our sin. If that isn’t worthy of magnifying so others can see Him, nothing is.  

In a day when it appears that less and less churches magnify the Lord, your children need a dad who magnifies the God and Creator to them. 

“I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving” (Psalms 69:30).

Right Priorities

This was posted on by .

It’s another new year, brothers. I hope each of you has incorporated a read-through-the-Bible -n-a-year plan. You might use it for family Bible time or your own private reading. It is so beneficial for us to have that cover-to-cover, overall familiarity each year. What a blessing. It is huge for your children to see the Word of God having a priority in your life as you also model it for theirs. We are always teaching them by our choices.

Sadly, I have known many through the years who won’t take time to read the Bible. Amazing how we all find time to do the things that are important to us, and somehow we are too busy for the things that will most benefit our lives. 

When someone has little interest in reading God’s Word that is a huge red flag as to whether they are even saved. We would not expect a lost person to want to read Scripture. Also just like a child who only eats junk food has little to no interest in healthy food. If someone is streaming the world’s entertainment/media into their mind, they will have no interest in what is healthy for their soul. 

Oh my brothers, to the Word! It is the ultimate health food for the soul.

“… Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God:” (Matthew 4:4).

Comments have been disabled for this post.
Posted in: General

What’s the Goal?

This was posted on by .

Marriage—what an amazing gift God gave us. It is complex, yet simple, providing manifold opportunities for grace and growth. It’s funny how every marriage is different, yet similar. Following God’s design, most wedding ceremonies include vows. Often part of the wife’s vow is to follow or obey her husband with wording based on Ephesians 5:22,23.

“Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.” 

Now consider if you had a submissive wife who made her day-to-day decisions in your marriage with the main criteria of not making you angry. When she made a decision, if you were not angry, she was happy that she made a good decision. 

However, what if her desire was simply to please you because of her love for you? Sounds like a wonderful way to live doesn’t it? Now compare that to your life in Christ. Do you make choices so as to avoid sin (making God angry) or that you might please your Savior? I’m saddened that with so many of the believers I know, the appearance is that they make choices simply to avoid sin, not to please Him. May I encourage you that your motive to please Jesus is much better than the motive to avoid causing anger. Oh how sweet the relationship becomes. 

“And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight” (1 John 3:21-22).

Not Known

This was posted on by .

Have you attended a funeral and heard someone share something about the person who passed that was not known? Often it is of unique interest, honoring, or a bit amusing. If you contemplate that happening at your own funeral, you might be tempted to think, “I’ll be gone, and I don’t care what they know about me at that point.” However, there will be a time when we will care what is revealed. 

“But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ” (Romans 14:10).

“And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works” (Revelation 20:11-12).

Even if we are saved by the blood, our actions will be revealed and judged. Nothing will be hidden, no secret sins that are not revealed. Oh my brothers, let us walk to please the One Who purchased us with His blood. 

“Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more” (1 Thessalonians 4:1).

Missed Opportunities

This was posted on by .

It sure disappoints me when I miss an opportunity for something that is important to me. For example, one thing I love to do is give praise to the Lord for the things He does in my life and the world around me. I’m guessing you feel that way too. 

What I’ve done is to consider the things in His Word that give glory to my Father, the magnificent, holy, righteous God of creation Who is on the throne. One example: “I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together” (Psalms 34:1-3). 

I’ve found the easiest way to begin is simply when anyone asks how I’m doing. (Indirectly asking me to glorify my God.) My answer is always “Blessed!” Even with the passing of my beloved mother-in-law, I’m still blessed. She was a special part of our lives for over 34 years, living next door to her. It was a great sadness with her passing, but oh how God blessed. She knew the Lord and served Him greatly. Her passing caused me great introspection on the brevity of life and God’s goodness and mercy every day. How blessed we are to live in this country. We still have the freedom to share Christ openly and worship Him as a group of believers. 

To magnify is to make something big so its features can be easily observed and appreciated. Therefore, we explain how God is good or how we receive His mercy and grace. These will take more thought than simply replying “Blessed.” But as you get in the habit of saying, “Blessed,” and you think more about how God is good to you, it will become easier. Another I use frequently is, “Thankful God is on the throne.” Come up with more and use them. I’d love to hear what you are saying to glorify Him. 

Go for it. Magnify the Lord, my brothers. 

(Note) I was exceedingly encouraged by your responses to my question last week. I know that anything good in Seriously is a result of God’s grace in what to write. Your responses were affirmation that He is in it and blessing you all in your walk with Him.