Another lesson from my dog: The call of the Father

 John 6:44

King James Version

44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

This is Angel. Her nickname from me is Angel Cakes. She's a sweet little girl who's currently 5 years old. About 4 years and 8 months ago, Angel and her brother (Teddy Bear) both came down with the deadly dog disease, Parvo. We knew they weren't feeling well but we weren't quite sure what the problem was. 

One stormy night, Angel didn't come in with the rest of the pups. She stayed out in the back of our backyard, in the rain, just lying in the grass. Others in the family called and called her but got no response. Finally, my wife came to me with desperation in her voice saying, "Honey. Something's wrong with Angel. She's out in the rain and won't come when we call."

I was alarmed and went and opened the back door. I stepped out onto the back deck and called out into the storm, "Angel Cakes!" 

No response. 

Again, "Angel Cakes, come here girl." 

No response.

Knowing that when dogs feel they are about to die, they will (many times) seek a dark place apart from others, I went and got the huge flashlight we had and shined it out into the storm. When I located her with the light I again shouted, "Angel Cakes. Come here, girl!"

She looked toward me, slowly stood up, and began to make her way to us as fast as she was able (which wasn't very fast since she was not feeling well at all). 

The next morning, we took Angel and Teddy Bear to the vet and they were diagnosed with Parvo. They were given IVs and shots and were sent home with us. 

They both survived, thank God. 

But, what if Angel hadn't heeded the call and stayed out in the storm in her sickness?

She probably would've died that night- alone in her storm. 

But, she did respond. And she received the love and treatment she needed to bring her through her sickness, enabling her survival. 

John 12:32

And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

Jesus said that his purpose in coming to this earth and being lifted up on the cross was to draw all men unto (him). He further stated that he came to "seek and to save that which was lost." (Luke 19:10)

Many of us like to say that we "found God," like he's lost somewhere and we had to look really hard to find him. And to us, it may have seemed that way. We were lost in our sickness (sin). We were at the end of our ropes. We thought it was too late for us. When suddenly, a light shown around us and we were able to see the way home out of our storm. And we thought, "this is what I've searched for all of my life."

But, the truth is, Jesus was calling to us. In the middle of our sins. In the middle of our storms. Jesus saw our predicament and was calling to us- drawing us. He shined his holy light of love around us and illuminated our path home. 

We thought we were looking for him, but he was looking for us. 

We thought it was all over, but he showed up and brought us out. 

When we, like Angel, got up out of our sickness and storm and made our way to him following the path he showed us (repentance), we began a relationship with him that is unlike anything in this world. 

Sometimes, when I'm letting the dogs inside, Angel will deliberately hang back. She waits for me to open the door and call her name. Then she excitedly comes in all smiles (yes dogs can smile) and wagging nearly her whole body because I once again proved to her that I'd come calling her. Then she knows she is still loved and important to me. 

Just as, when I get a little bit lost in this big old world, my savior calls me back to him. And he proves one more time that he loves me and he'll still leave the 99 behind to come looking for the one who's gotten a little lost (me). 

So, I love you, Angel Cakes. 

And I love you, Jesus for continuing to prove how much you love me. 

I stand at the door and knock: But on who's door? The lesson of Laodicea.

Revelation 3:20

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him and will sup with him, and he with me.

The music is playing. People's heads are bowed and eyes closed. Many are already praying for themselves and for others. The preacher says:

"These altars are open." He pauses, then continues, "Jesus said, I stand at the door and knock. If any man will open the door, I will come into him." Another pause. "Don't you want to dine with Jesus? Don't you want him to come in?" 

All the while the singers softly sing," Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling. Calling Oh Sinner, come home." 

The implication is clear to everyone listening. Jesus would only be knocking on the door of a sinners heart. Real Christians don't have to worry about it cause he's already there.

I'm all for using scripture to try and convince people to come to Jesus. But, the scriptures MUST be used in the context in which they were written. 

Let's look at that section of scripture in its totality.

Revelation 3:14-21King James Version (KJV)

14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

Was this section written to people who have never known God? NO!!!

This section was written to THE CHURCH!!!

Read it. If ever a section of scripture applied to the modern church this is it. 

Church used to be all about Jesus. It was all about accomplishing his great commission. It was all about showing kindness and love to others. It was all about giving to others and helping others. 

In times past, people in need could go to a church and the ministry there (both the leaders and the members) would reach out with the love of God and lend a helping hand. This show of love would draw the person (or persons) to come and "give the church a try." 

Once there, they would visibly see and hear the love of God in action towards each other in the church. The love was genuine. It wasn't an act. They saw the hands of Jesus vividly on display before their very eyes. 

This would solidify in their minds that they wanted to be like that. In trying to find out how to be like that, they were open to Compassionate Bible studies that lovingly showed them the truth. The truth that all were born in sin and shapen in iniquity. The truth that "without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins." The truth that God himself became a man and shed his own blood to redeem a lost and dying world. The truth that we all need to be born again for 2 reasons: 1) to wash our sins away. 2) to begin the journey to become like Jesus by letting Jesus live through us. The truth that once you're born again (Acts 2:38), you are a child of God and enabled to show his love and be his hands and feet to others. And you wanted to because you wanted to be the helper for others that your fellow church folk were to you. They showed you Jesus in real and palpable ways. Now, you wanted to do the same. 

That's how it used to be. 

But, Jesus told the Apostles that in the end times "the love of many shall wax cold." (Matthew 24) 

As a newborn child of God, I (and the church in general) used this scripture to talk about the state of "the world." The great unwashed and unregenerate mass of people out there that were in dire need of saving. 

Little did we know that Jesus was also (and primarily?) referring to the church. 

The church now tends to look down its noses at the unwashed masses. If someone comes to the church that's in need, they are looked upon with skepticism, and sometimes even open hostility. If they happen to receive help and then return to the church thinking that they may actually have found a group of caring people to possibly belong to, they are told in no uncertain terms (and sometimes from the pulpit), that if they came back because they received help from the church, they should not look for more in the future.

 The message they receive quickly becomes that the church only wants people who can help the church do what it wants. The church is not interested in those who will be "a burden" on the church. 

All the while, Jesus is crying. He came to the church's door and knocked. And the church is leaving him outside the very same doors. 

The church has grown lukewarm. It revels in its riches and finery (calling gain-unbiblically- godliness). It builds ever bigger and more immaculate sanctuaries. It becomes state of the art with all the latest tech gizmos and gadgets. The leadership is all dressed in fine clothing, drive nice vehicles, and live in fine houses. 

But, the people they are called to serve and be the hand of Jesus to are left unserved and unwashed in his blood. 

The modern church, for all its fancy finery, is a shell of what the Bible teaches. 

A real relationship is replaced by religious activity. 

Real help is replaced by pious prayers and government programs. 

Real brotherhood is replaced by "fellowship breakfasts" and fishing trips. 

No one aches for the lost. No one agonizes over the hurting brethren. In fact, testimonies of God's goodness are limited to comfortable subjects. Former drug addicts aren't allowed to tell where God brought them from. The testimony could get too messy and long.

Services are limited to a certain time period because we all have to get to the buffet before the church down the road does. 

Almost nobody has dinner on the grounds anymore, and if they do, they charge people a fee to partake of the very food the people brought. Why? To help with "the building fund."

People are asked to give sacrificially to help fix the bathroom (even though there's nothing wrong with the bathroom) up to be as nice as the bishop's bathroom in his church. Give to build a game room for the youth. But, no one is asked to give to help a needy family in the area- or even in the church. 

The church truly has become, as predicted in Revelations 3, wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. 

 JESUS is calling on the modern church to REPENT!!!!!

Become zealous for the love of God again. Become zealous to see a lost and dying world saved again. Let Jesus work through you again, before it's too late!!!!

Church, the door Jesus is knocking on is yours. Will you open it again? Will you allow him to cleanse and change you into what he has called you to be? 

Or will you hold on to your pride and position, your fine things, and your religion? And will you follow these attitudes to a fiery lake- just like the other Pharisees before you? 

Repent church! Before it's too late. 

Doctrine is important. Holiness is necessary. But, Jesus didn't say that the world would know us by our doctrines or by what we call holiness. 

Jesus said they would know us by our agape': our unconditional love for each other and for them. 

Let's get back to that! 

For too long we have believed that the way to catch the fish we are supposed to be fishing for is through the hook of doctrine. Either that or by our separate ways of dress, etc. 

But, those things are not the hook he gave us to fish with. The hook he's given us to fish with is love. And when they feel the love of God coming through us in our words and deeds, then they will ask questions and can be shown doctrine. Because only then will they want what we have. 

I'm giving up sports, and some other things...

Hebrews 12:1

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

1 Corinthians 6:12

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 10:23

All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.

I grew up a sports fan. I grew up loving sports. I have been a huge fan of the Georgia Bulldogs, Atlanta Falcons, and the Atlanta Braves. I have also had a "following interest" in the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. 

I even used to tell people that it was "Biblical" to be a Braves fan. After all, God said to Joshua, "be strong and courageous." Another word for courageous is BRAVE. In other words, "be a Brave." And for the Pharisees who happen upon this blog: I said that as a joke, not as a true Biblical command. However, it did sum up a lot of my feelings about "my team."

I've long since stopped watching sports. Giving up TV will do that. However, I have kept up through sports talk radio. I drive a truck for a living. Drive time needs to be filled right? 

However, I came to a decision not long ago. I've stopped listening to sports radio, talk radio, and any secular entertainment, at all (of any kind). Basically, if something isn't Christian oriented, I'm not listening, watching, or reading it. 

But, what's the harm? It's just a sports team. Are you saying sports are sinful? 

In and of themselves? No. There's nothing wrong with the games themselves. 

However, sports are permeated with much evil: gambling, ungodly ads, ungodly ideas being spouted by the talking heads, scantily clad "cheerleaders" (I realize you can't see them if you don't watch it, but I'm supporting it by listening). 

But, this is not the main reason I'm quitting. The real reason is about my life. 

I'm not getting any younger. I'm 48 years old. I had a heart attack last year. I have Arthritis in my back, Diabetes, and high blood pressure. I also have a blood condition that causes my blood to clot too much. I take 6 pills a day just to stay alive.

My mom died in 1999 at the age of 55. Others in my family tree have died between 50 and 55. Though I may live another 20 or 30 years (the Lord willing), it's not even a given that I will live out this day I'm in, much less live to be over 90 like my grandma. 

As such, I'm taking personal inventory of my life. I need to spend more time with my God and family. Sports and other distractions may not be sinful, but they are time thieves. And once that time is gone, I can never get it back. 

I have also noticed that, since I've stopped these activities and have begun to surround myself with godly and edifying things, my attitude has begun to change. I don't get angry as quickly. Some of the things that used to really get under my skin, don't bother me like they did. I'm becoming less harsh and more caring. 

I've also begun to feel a drawing to a deeper place in God. A closer walk with him. I feel like I'm peering through a window into God's house. I'm able to catch a glimpse of what he's drawing me to, but I can't experience it or get a clear view of it. I want to go inside and see what's for dinner!

Am I perfect? No. But, I'll never even get close unless I try. Grace is a partnership, not a free pass. I've got to try.

I want more of Jesus. I must increase and he must decrease. I want to become saturated in him. I want to be used of him in ways I never imagined, so I'm clearing away the clutter. 

There's no sports team in existence that can offer me the joy of one minute with Jesus. There's no TV show, movie, book, computer game, website, etc, than can fulfill me like Jesus can. In fact, the "satisfaction" that we feel with these distractions doesn't last and leaves us empty.

Yet, time spent with family, friends, and especially Jesus gives satisfaction that can never be lost. 

So, I'm clearing away the clutter. I'm not gonna spend near as much time online as I have before. 

I can live without football. I cannot live without Jesus. I can live with less Facebook. I crave more time with Jesus and my family.

I have a job to do that has nothing to do with delivering Ice Cream to stores. I am called to love Jesus. I am called to love and lead my family. I am called to love people and help them along their journey to and with Jesus. 

I have books to finish and proofread. I have songs to sing, lessons to teach, sermons to preach, and prayers to lift up to the throne. I have hugs to give, and quality time to spend with my family and friends.

My priorities need to be Jesus, my wife (Della Mae), my children, my grandchildren, others, my job, and then myself. Giving in to lot's of entertainment places ME above all else. Some entertainment (as long as it's godly) is OK. Lot's of entertainment weighs us down and hinders our walk with God and our relationships with our loved ones. 

Pray for me as I keep myself in check and strive for a closer walk with Jesus and my family. I will do the same for you.      

A true memorial

Philippians 3

King James Version (KJV)

3 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.

2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.
3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:
5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.
17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

I realize that this is a strange scripture to use for a memorial day post, but there's a reason for that. 

I see many posts on Facebook that say, "if you enjoy your freedom, thank a veteran." In principle, I find myself somewhat in agreement with these postings. It is true that we enjoy our freedoms in this country due to the sacrifices of those who were willing to fight and die to gain and keep our God-given rights.

However, freedom won does not equate to freedom lived well. Do we use our freedoms wisely? Do we make godly choices that glorify God, aid our families, and help our fellow man? Or, do we use our freedoms to sew to the flesh and it's every ungodly desire?

Has our national freedom been used to make us better? or worse?

Many veterans shake their heads when they see the way our freedoms have been abused and misused to make society worse, not better. Many will tell you that what our nation has become is NOT what they fought to preserve, but rather it has become something they no longer recognize. Something far less than our founding fathers aspired to.

The best way to honor our veterans (living and dead) is to return to and lift up the ideals of our founders. We should stand firmly on the Constitution and stand against those that would destroy and change it.

Some 2000 years ago, Paul reminds us in the above passage that- due to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ- we have a high calling to attain to. We are not to allow God's grace to become a do as you want, it's covered thing. We are, in light of the battle fought and won on Calvary, to live our lives in such a way as to glorify and honor the one who died to give us the chance for salvation.

Pithy, religious sounding slogans, don't cut it. Going through the motions of religion doesn't cut it. We are to live our lives in the light of the one who called us into his marvelous light. We should honor him daily in everything we do and say. We should strive to let him live through us to touch a lost and dying world- who have no hope except through him.

He didn't call us to build grand cathedrals. He called us to be his hands and feet. He called us to build into the lives of the hurting, the broken, the poor, the widow, the orphan, the unwanted of society. He called us to shine his light of truth into the dark places of humanity- even when those places are occupied by the rich and powerful- in order that they might see themselves as HE sees them and repent before it is too late.

Yes, we must be biblically born again (Acts 2:38), but real Christianity is so much more than that. Paul said that in spite of his well educated and high standing social status of his past, he counted it all as DUNG that he might attain Christ!

We need to stop holding onto yesterdays anointing, yesterdays blessings, and yesterdays revivals. God has promised us revival in these last days, but we won't be a part of it unless we live our lives immersed in him. We must immerse ourselves in his word and spirit and allow him to change us. We must let his holy fire burn away the chaff that we've allowed into our souls so that the world can see him in all we do.

So, on this memorial day, lets rededicate our lives to the cause of the one who truly should be lifted up- Jesus Christ. Let us seek first his righteousness and watch him work. He's not interested in our abilities and education. He's interested in our availability and submission to him as Lord (supreme controller). This truly is the best memorial we can give him.

In closing, let's pray:

Lord Jesus, we repent of our shortsightedness. We repent of being caught up in the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. We repent of getting caught up in the "me generation." We ask that you move deep inside us and cleanse us of all unrighteousness. We ask that you strengthen us to walk in your word and ways- whatever the cost. We ask that you help us to be your hands, feet, heart, and mouths in this backward and broken generation. Lead us to such as would be saved, and save them. Let us look past the pride and see the pain. Give us the wisdom to know when to speak and what to do. Use us to spread you word and your love to this lost and dying world. In Jesus name! 

Fruits of the spirit 4: A little honest love.

1 John 4:8
He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 

Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 

John 17:17

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

John 14:6

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Today we hear a whole lot about "haters." Usually it comes out something like this. A person disagrees with something someone says, or how someone dresses, or how they live. The other person then responds with: "Don't be a hater." 

Simply put, in today's society, any type of correction towards righteousness is considered hate speech. 

Preachers, teachers, writers, etc have been fined (and, in some cases- imprisoned) for hate crimes due to what the world says is hate speech. As a result, many people live their lives in fear of being called "a hater." It's grown so out of control that men are being fired from companies because they gave money to support traditional righteousness. One preacher was put in jail for holding Bible studies in his own home.

Let's face it. We live in a world that is doing it's level best to stamp out truth. Their version of love is to be patted on the back and told it's ok, regardless of how perverted their lifestyle is. 

Truth has become relative to the hearers viewpoint. Our world asks, as Pilate did years ago, "What is truth?" But rather than that being an honest quest for knowledge, it has become a sarcastic remark intended to say, "That's true for you, but not for me. Leave me alone."

Yet, if we are to truly be Christian, then we are to be like Jesus. In so doing, we need to take a hard look at how he taught. Was Jesus concerned with political correctness? Was he concerned with gathering as large a following as he could by watering down his message? 

The answer, of course, is no. Jesus was (and is) God in human flesh. His mission was simple. He came "to seek and to save that which was lost." (Luke 19:10) His declarations were clear and concise. He always told the truth- even when the truth wasn't popular.

Jesus called some of the leaders of his day, vipers! Not exactly what folks consider a loving statement.  

His true, but controversial words caused folks to ridicule and revile him, to mock and belittle him, to lie about and (ultimately) to beat and crucify him. 

However, Jesus told us (his followers) that we would be hated, afflicted, and killed for his names sake. (Matthew 24:9) He told us through the Apostles that "all that will live godly in Christ Jesus SHALL suffer persecution." (2 Timothy 3:12) 

Why did Jesus say this? Because the devil knows that the true disciple of Christ may be able to reach the lost- continuing Jesus' mission. After all, Jesus prayed for all those that would believe on him through (the Apostles) word- and by extension- our words. (John 17:17)

The devil is not going to give up his captives easily. He does not do this defensively. Instead, he has gone on the attack. He tries to intimidate believers into silence and (hopefully- for him) into turning away from Jesus. 

He has changed laws and culture to the point where (as one preacher put it) "right is wrong, wrong is right, and whatever's grey, have a happy day!"

Yet, Jesus tells us that if we "endure unto the end (we) shall be saved." So, what's a believer to do? FOLLOW JESUS. Tell the truth.

It's not hate to tell the truth. In fact, it's true love to tell the truth. Jesus is God. God is love. Jesus is truth. God is truth. TRUE love always tells the truth. It doesn't matter how much the world rails against us. God's word does not change. 

Society may say it's right. But, if God says it's wrong, then it's still (and always shall be) wrong. If society says it's wrong, but God says it's right, then it's still (and always shall be) right. Let God be true, and every man be a liar. 

This will not make us popular. This will not make us rich. This will make us targets for the worlds thought police. They will call us haters. They will drag us before judges and cast us into prison. But, it's all for HIS name's sake! And it's all to try and save a lost soul. 

Jesus told us to seek first the kingdom of God and HIS righteousness. Not, the worlds righteousness. So, we are to tell the truth without fear or favor. 

Proverbs 23:23 tells us to "buy the truth and sell it not..."

Ephesians 4:15 tells us to "(speak) the truth in love..."

It doesn't matter what the world may say. We are to speak the truth. Because if we truly have the fruit of God's love in us, we will speak the truth. God's Love ALWAYS speaks the truth.

Fruits of the spirit, part 2: Are we experiencing and sharing the love of God?

Galatians 5:22-25

King James Version (KJV)

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

John 13:35

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Mark 12:29-31

King James Version (KJV)

29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

The Greek word for love in all of these verses is the word "Agape." It means, "affection, good will, love, benevolence." 

So, one of the fruits of the spirit is for us to experience and show affection towards others. That means we genuinely care about others. When we see that they are struggling, we should be moved to prayer for them. And more than that, we should be moved to act. 

James 2:15-17

King James Version (KJV)

15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

In this fast paced world, we spend most of our waking hours trying to "make a living." For many people, going to church has become a formality. It's another checked block on our list of things we have to get done. 

Yet, Jesus doesn't call us to GO to church. He calls us to BE the church. That means he requires us to DO what he would do. It is very instructive to us that the first squabble in the church was not over doctrine (Acts 6). It was over the distribution of resources in caring for the widows and orphans. 

Nowadays, the first thing we (the church) tend to do whenever someone comes to us in need, is to tell them "we will pray for you. Have you applied for Government help?" Here's a hint, church: It's NOT the Government's job to help the needy. According to God's word, it's OUR (the churches) job.

Part of the meaning of Agape is BENEVOLENCE. It means, "a disposition to DO good, an ACT of kindness, a generous GIFT." There's nothing in that definition about good intentions or warm thoughts. We are to ACT on and DO what needs to be done for the good of the needy and the glory of Jesus. 

How many times did Jesus either start or end a teaching by meeting the needs of his hearers? If we are his body, shouldn't we be about his business? Which is the more biblical act for us to perform: helping those in need (whether born again or not, and regardless of how they got into the situation in the first place), or building bigger and grander church buildings? Did Jesus die to build the church? Or the church building? 

It has become a source of pride for "God's people" to brag about going to the nicest church building, or the church with the biggest name pastor, or the largest congregation. What get's lost in the shuffle is how many people in need are turned away by that "church" because they choose to spend their money on the building, or the pastor's exorbitant salary, rather than on PEOPLE. 

If we are his body, it's high time we start acting like it. We should care for both where their souls are heading (heaven or hell) AND their physical and emotional needs. It's time we stop patting ourselves on the back for our own perceived righteousness and start BEING righteous by showing the love of God to each other and to the lost. Real Christianity is about relationships- both with God and with others. 

That requires more than a prayer. It requires more than giving a Bible study. It requires getting involved in their lives and helping them in their needs. It means we have to do more than say we are his church. We must BE his church. And men, it requires us to love our wives and families as Jesus loved us- and he DIED for us that we might be saved. (See my earlier post http://theauthorspage.blogspot.com/2014/03/love-is-action-word.html) 

If we truly love God, then we will love others as he does. He saw our need and acted. The love that we felt when we were born again should transform us. We should become LESS self centered and more God and others centered. Miracles happen when we take the love of God outside the church walls and into a needy world. 

Lord, give us your mind and eyes. Help us to BE your church by helping others. We repent for our selfishness and false prosperity doctrines. We ask you to open up our bowels of compassion and help us to love others as you do- in helping them in their needs. In Jesus name! 

Are we vexed or stirred?

2 Peter 2:6-9

King James Version (KJV)

6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;
7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:
8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)
9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

Acts 17:16-17

King James Version (KJV)

16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.
17 Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.

Acts 17:22-31

King James Version (KJV)

22 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.
23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, To The Unknown God. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.
24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
25 Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.
30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

Sometimes, some of the greatest lessons we can learn through studying the Bible comes from comparing Bible characters. Today, we are going to compare two men who lived in evil cultures. Two men who God calls righteous. Two men who, though they had  calling on their lives, ended with vastly different results. 

The first man we will look at is Lot. Lot left an evil country (Ur of the chaldees) and traveled with his uncle Abram (later called Abraham). He learned a lot from his uncle's walk with God. He watched his uncle grow in faith. He shared in the blessings of his uncle's godly life. He did not stick around to see just how much his uncle's faith would grow.

Instead, being a business man himself, he made choices based not on God, but on increasing his business. He was a shepherd, just like his uncle. His flocks increased and he became rich, just like his uncle. However, when two great businesses try to occupy the same space, something has got to give. 

When Abram gave Lot a choice to solve the conflict with their employees, Lot chose to take what was to him the "best location." Rather than staying in the wilderness, he moved his business and pitched his tents "towards Sodom." To his human vision, the land looked to be richer towards Sodom. He would have more buyers for his wool if he moved closer to the population center of Sodom. So, he chose "the better deal."

After he was gone, God again spoke to Abram and told him how much he was going to bless him, promising him more wealth and property than he could ever use. 

The next time we see Lot, he is now living in Sodom. More than that, he now sits at the gate as a leader of the city. A respected and powerful business man, who's opinion is looked to on matters small and great. Yet, 2 Peter says that Lot's spirit was VEXED. 

The word vexed in the Greek here means: "(to be vexed with something irksome); to feel indignant at:--be grieved at. "

In other words, Lot lived in that evil city, giving people advice, helping them in their businesses, helping them set city policy, but he lived in a state of tolerance. He tolerated their lifestyles. He hated their lifestyles and did not allow their lifestyles in his home, but due to business and political concerns, he did not openly rebuke their sins. It might have cost him his position in the city. It may have cost him customers if he had stood against their sins. So, he silently grieved at the state of his city- doing nothing.

The result was terrible. He lost his position. He lost his business. He lost his wife. He lost his son's in law. He left with his daughters and the clothes on their backs and that was all. The city he had chosen to make his fortune was destroyed. He was still called a righteous man in the new testament, but not much else good is said about him.

In the new testament, we see the Apostle Paul in another ungodly city. He had the same concerns as Lot, for he made his living as a tent-maker and was a leader of men. As such he experienced the same temptation to be tolerant that Lot did, yet, Paul didn't give in. He wasn't vexed by the city. He was stirred.

The Greek for "stirred" here means, "to make sharp, sharpen

1. to stimulate, spur on, urge
2. to irritate, provoke, arouse to anger"

Paul looked around him at the idolatry and evil in the city and didn't give his business or his community standing a single thought. His thoughts were that a) this idolatry and sin was an open affront to the one true God, and b) these people need to know about Jesus and have the opportunity to be saved.

So, he disputed with the religious and a few verses later, disputed with the "great thinkers" of his day. Did he have any converts? A few. But, all were given the chance to know Jesus.

What about us? What do we do?

Do we who know the truths of scripture live with a vexed heart, like Lot? Do we hate what we see around us, but do and say nothing about it because of the perceived ill effects it may have on us and our status and bank accounts?  
Or, do we, like Paul, stand up against the sins of our society and risk it all for love of God and love for their souls?

Paul went on to write 2/3 of the new testament. He was easily the greatest evangelist in church history. Through the process, he was stoned, beaten, imprisoned, ridiculed, scorned, and eventually beheaded. Yet, he could say, "I have fought the good fight. I have won the race. And now there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness..."

Lot fades into obscurity. A beaten and defeated man who lost it all by trying to protect it all.

Which one do you want to be like? Lot or Paul?

I for one am tired. I'm tired of being told not to speak. I'm tired of being pressured into tolerating the evil that is growing more and more prevalent around us. I'm tired of hearing folks cuss, but being told not to mention Jesus. I don't want to be like Lot and lose it all by trying to preserve it all. I want to be like Paul, who risked it all and gained it all.

No more vexation for me. Lord, stir me! Let me see through your eyes and feel with your heart. Let me speak with your mouth and act with your hands. I don't want to be vexed, I want to be stirred!

What will it be for you? Will you be vexed? Or will you be stirred?