Category Archives: Seriously

Beyond Blessed

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When someone asks me how I am, I will almost always reply “Blessed.” (BTW I found that to be a great conversation starter with the lost). In this country most of us are so crazy blessed. Even considering day-to-day problems and illnesses, we are blessed beyond imagination (to include those who don’t know the Lord). Grocery stores are lined with food, gasoline at the pumps, cars to transport us, water from faucets and indoor toilets. Since creation, people spent great amounts of time just to manage the necessities of life. Are you grateful? 

Consider all the time that has been saved each year in fast transportation, not having to grow your own food, manage water and hygiene. How is it being redeemed? “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16). The fool squanders but the wise sees the great value of his (the Lord’s) time and will exchange it for something more valuable.

As the world’s population doubled and tripled, the conveniences give us more time to be about the Lord’s business. We will all stand before the Lord to give account of how we used our time. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that everyone may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10).

When asked by the Lord to justify how we spent His time (He owns all of us), it won’t go well to say, “I had so much fun. Lord, as You know, I was careful not to use my time sinfully.” 

Are we: 

  • In the Word?
  • Discipling your children? 
  • Investing in your wife?
  • Ministering to the saints?
  • Reaching the lost? 

Brothers. May those be the things that thrill our hearts.

On Guard 

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Our family used to go to Colorado for hiking. We loved the altitude, beauty of God’s creation, and rigorous hikes. With the mountains comes tight curves, guardrails, and steep drop-offs next to the road. It wasn’t uncommon to see a damaged (and repaired) guardrail where someone left the road and was hopefully stopped before plunging down the mountainside. No doubt the guard rails were not 100% effective and some would have come to a sudden stop at the bottom after a thrilling decent. 

What sort of dad would you consider me to be if I loved driving as fast as I could on those roads for the sake of my pleasure while ignoring the risk to my family? Yet, isn’t it common for professing dads to flirt with grave moral danger by their viewing pleasures which excite lustful passions? From sensuous movies (considered not sinful of course) to football games with beautiful, seductive cheerleaders, many are choosing to view these things.  

Oh my brothers, could it be that the greatest danger to our walk with God is not what is evil but what is justified as neutral or harmless? “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41).

I plead with you to purpose that you will only give your attention to what is edifying. 

“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).

“Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another” (Romans 14:19).

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Favorite

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What is your favorite topic to talk about? What lights you up and grabs your interest most? When around others, what are your go-to topics? Is it politics, work, cars, hobbies (hunting, fishing), or sports? “They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them” (1 John 4:5).

A person’s speech reveals the treasure of his heart. “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh” (Luke 6:45).

The point here is not to be condemning but to stimulate improvement. Examine your heart. Is the Lord and His work in lives (including our own) what most thrills you? If not, something isn’t quite right. Maybe your soul isn’t feeding on the Word daily but on the world’s message. Or might there be hidden sin or unresolved offenses? There should be no more thrilling subject than the Lord Jesus, His Word, and His working in souls. 

May our speech reflect the glory due His Name. May we seek Him, praise Him, and meditate on Him and His goodness. “Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD” (Psalms 105:3).

Looking Back

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Our country just celebrated another year of independence enabling “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” There have been approximately 250 years of independence/liberty for this country. How do you think that has gone? What fruit has there been from it; good or bad? “But wisdom is justified of all her children” (Luke 7:35).

Believers are called to be salt and light. We are blessed to live here. We are free to worship, serve, and tell others about the Lord Jesus Christ. Are we exercising our freedom to be salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16)? 

The lost are going to pursue the lust of the flesh. “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world” (1 John 2:16). For them it is all about pleasure (fun) and power. But we are called to a different life, being owned by the Lord.

“For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:20).

“But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses” (1 Timothy 6:11-12).

Would you consider that the pursuit/passion of your life? “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:20-21).

Behold

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Consider. Out of legions of angels only two were chosen to roll back the stone from the door of the tomb and have the honor of proclaiming, “He is not here, but is risen,” (Luke 24:6). We are not told their names, but what honor God bestowed on them. 

A mother is the only one given the honor to carry and then birth her child into this world. Dad are you zealous for a similar honor? Sure, you can give life to a child, but in comparison to carrying and birthing, that isn’t much. However, you could be the one who introduces your child to the Savior—ushering him into eternal life. God called/commanded fathers to do that. “And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up” (Deuteronomy 6:7). 

Are you faithful to that command of proclaiming the Word of life to your children? Daily Bible time is assumed, but additionally, are you sharing your experience in Christ with them? May the honor be yours. Don’t miss out.

Fishing 

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The only fishing I care to do is for men. “And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). I may not have much skill, but I do apply myself to the task. If you share that interest, I hope to encourage you today. I wonder if one of the best fishing holes is often overlooked. 

Almost every Sunday, we have some visitors at church (no doubt churches vary greatly). Most will be saved, but some might not be. Consider that for most people it takes a bit of courage to walk into a new place where they don’t know others. “What will the service be like?” “What will the people there be like?” “Will I fit it?” Many more… 

Talk about fish jumping into the boat! Here is an opportunity to show believers and unbelievers the love of Christ and make them feel valued and welcome. Our motives are very important. We love them because Jesus loves them, not to fill pews. We want to minister to hearts similar to how Jesus was with the Samaritan woman at the well. Not just, “Welcome, hope you will come back.”

The challenge for most in the church toward visitors might be thoughts like this. “I don’t know them.” “What will I say?” The worst and most likely excuse is, “I’d rather talk to my friends.” Instead, seek them out before and after church and talk to them. Some pastors encourage people to be prepared to invite visitors out to lunch.

The visitors may never darken the door of another church again. May we love them because Christ first loved us. “Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another” (1 John 4:11). 

Side note: a Brother in Christ recently asked me what the best resource was for learning how to share Christ with others. I thought you all would have some good recommendations for me. ???

Considering

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I’m guessing most professing Christians have thought about the downward spiral of the U.S. Ten years ago I would not have imagined the current status. I was saddened then, and deeply grieved now. The natural tendency is to look for who to blame. Only the Lord knows, but there may be some benefit in considering whether we might be culpable in some way. 

First, is there anything that might have the power to change the course of over 300 million people? Oh, my Brothers, yes indeed. “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matthew 28:18-20).

There is power in the blood of the Lamb, and it changed a wretch like me. The saving power of the blood of Jesus is what is needed. Do we have our hand to the plow or the remote control or a movie channel? 

Are you aggressive in meeting people with the goal of sharing Christ with them?

We Live It

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Are our actions consistent with what we believe? Peter said he would die with Jesus. There appeared to be no doubt in his mind that he was committed to following Christ (Matthew 26:33). Yet a brief while later, he denied Christ three times (Matthew 26:70-75). 

You tell your wife you love her, but do you live it (Ephesians 5:25, 28)? That greatly affects whether she believes you or not. 

Do you believe God answers prayer? If so, do you pray? What do you pray for? Your best life now, or God’s will be done? We have the assurance that if we pray consistent with His will, He will answer.  

“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him” (1 John 5:14-15).

Oh my brothers, we must pray, pray, and then pray more. 

The Wicked Friend

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He’s a friend you haven’t seen in years, and you are surprised to encounter him at the gas station. He’s back in town briefly on business. You invite him over for dinner to catch up. 

He arrives, and you are anticipating an enjoyable, relaxing evening. Soon however, he begins sharing about his new passion in life – nature and evolution. He had thought the concept was crazy, but now he is convinced it is true. Your children are with you at the table as he gives lots of interesting information about nature and the world, all from an evolutionary perspective. 

What would you do? Would you allow him to continue filling your children’s minds with the lie of evolution and other facts which he claims support a godless creation? 

What amazes me is how many Christian families do just that. In the name of learning about science and nature, they invite a guest into their home to preach about evolution to their children through TV and documentary nature shows. “He” gains access to the children’s minds in exchange for quietly occupying them. They may learn a few facts about nature, but it is at the high cost of giving “mother nature” the glory that is due to God because of His marvelous creation. 

It could also put the question in a child’s mind: Is evolution true? He realizes that many, maybe even most, believe evolution. Why is it a surprise that young adults are leaving the faith?

“Ye that love the LORD, hate evil” (Psalm 97:10a).

“I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images” (Isaiah 42:8).

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).