Our little boy’s favorite TV program is Emergency. It is a series from the 1970’s that features two emergency rescue workers and their adventures helping others. The other day our 3 year old was laying in the back yard pretending that he was hurt and trapped in a hole. The 5 year old was tying the dog cable around him so that the 4 year old could hoist him out. I had to caution them not to hurt their little brother as they pulled while smiling under my stern admonition.
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Another one of their imaginary adventures involved a “bad guy.” I did not hear all of what was happening in their role play, but I listened long enough to hear our 4 year old say, “We should tell the bad guy about Jesus. He needs to know that Jesus loves him.” Some would have expected to hear, “We need to shoot the bad guy,” but instead my little man realized what the bad guy really needed.
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In a child’s mind, a bad guy is someone who steals, hurts, or kills, but according to the scriptures we are all bad guys. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23). Although the following list is by no means exhaustive, it gives some examples of the sort of things that prove we are all “bad guys” in God’s eyes. “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.” (I Corinthians 6:9-10 NKJV)
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Some may look at that list and say, “Well, I’m not a drunk or a thief, so at least I’m all right.” But notice that even being covetous- wanting what someone else has- makes us unrighteous before God. No wonder Romans 3:10 says, “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:” As I look at my own life, I realize that I truly have sinned and come short of the glory of God. I also realize that the wages of sin is death. I realize that because of my unrighteousness, I do not deserve to be allowed into the kingdom of God. I realize that because of my sin, I am a bad guy.
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But I also realize the truth that my 4 year old shared. I understand that Jesus loves me. I understand that God loves me even though I am a sinner. “For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:7-8 NKJV)
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The consequences for my sin are serious, but because of my trust in Jesus Christ, I do not have to face those consequences. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) God’s gift is eternal life through believing on Jesus Christ. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
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Remember that list of sins from I Corinthians 6? The Corinthians that the Apostle Paul was writing to in that letter were bad guys, but they had trusted Christ, therefore he is able to say in the very next verse: “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” (I Corinthians 6:11) If you have not yet trusted Christ, you can trust Him now and be washed as well.
For further questions or comments, please contact southtownbc@yahoo.com
Friday, October 18, 2013
Friday, October 4, 2013
Our Creator and Savior
Our boys have a new fort. Their uncle came to visit and he gathered up 3 old pallets for walls and then covered them with leaves and branches that he cut off of our willow tree. It looks like a cross between an obstacle course and a duck blind, but our boys love it. I have to admit that it is a cool fort for 4 little boys.
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The fort sits right between the house and the garage- two structures that took much more planning than the fort did. Though the house took much more planning than the garage, I must admit that it is a fairly simple structure compared to the Corn Palace. The Corn Palace might seem impressive until you see Mt. Rushmore. Still, the work Borglum did on Rushmore is nothing compared to the creation of the whole world.
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We do not expect that Mt. Rushmore came about by chance. I do not even look into my backyard and imagine that the wind blew the willow branches and pallets together to make a fort. So how did the world get here?
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One of the most ancient history books states in it’s opening statement, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1) Then we read later in Isaiah 44:24, “Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself.”
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There are many other verses in the Bible that refer to God as creator. One of the passages that I love the most concerning creation is the passage that shows that Jesus is creator, thus showing that He is God. Colossians 1:16-17 states, “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”
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The study about what the Bible’s teaches concerning creation shows us many vital truths. Just in this short article we have already seen that God is the creator and that Jesus Christ is God. But why should we listen to what the Bible says over other history books? The Bible claims to be much more than just a history book. 2 Peter 1:21 tells us, “for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” (NKJV)
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The Bible is not just some history book. It is not just some myth made up by some clever author. The Bible is God’s word given to us through the Holy Spirit. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16 NKJV)
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Look again at Isaiah 44:24, “Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself.” Notice that not only is the LORD our creator, He is also our redeemer. Jesus not only made us, but He redeemed us. That means He paid the price for us as He paid the price for our sins on the cross. That means He saves us from the penalty for our sins if we believe in Him- not just as our creator, but also as our savior.
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As we understand that Jesus is our creator and savior, not only should we believe on Him, we should also worship Him as God. "You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created." (Revelation 4:11 NKJV).
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The fort sits right between the house and the garage- two structures that took much more planning than the fort did. Though the house took much more planning than the garage, I must admit that it is a fairly simple structure compared to the Corn Palace. The Corn Palace might seem impressive until you see Mt. Rushmore. Still, the work Borglum did on Rushmore is nothing compared to the creation of the whole world.
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We do not expect that Mt. Rushmore came about by chance. I do not even look into my backyard and imagine that the wind blew the willow branches and pallets together to make a fort. So how did the world get here?
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One of the most ancient history books states in it’s opening statement, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1) Then we read later in Isaiah 44:24, “Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself.”
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There are many other verses in the Bible that refer to God as creator. One of the passages that I love the most concerning creation is the passage that shows that Jesus is creator, thus showing that He is God. Colossians 1:16-17 states, “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”
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The study about what the Bible’s teaches concerning creation shows us many vital truths. Just in this short article we have already seen that God is the creator and that Jesus Christ is God. But why should we listen to what the Bible says over other history books? The Bible claims to be much more than just a history book. 2 Peter 1:21 tells us, “for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” (NKJV)
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The Bible is not just some history book. It is not just some myth made up by some clever author. The Bible is God’s word given to us through the Holy Spirit. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16 NKJV)
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Look again at Isaiah 44:24, “Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself.” Notice that not only is the LORD our creator, He is also our redeemer. Jesus not only made us, but He redeemed us. That means He paid the price for us as He paid the price for our sins on the cross. That means He saves us from the penalty for our sins if we believe in Him- not just as our creator, but also as our savior.
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As we understand that Jesus is our creator and savior, not only should we believe on Him, we should also worship Him as God. "You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created." (Revelation 4:11 NKJV).
Friday, September 20, 2013
Whoever Believes, Will Live
As we enjoy the wonderful fall weather, it is a great time for a picnic. As my wife was preparing for our outing, she mentioned that the cooler was down in the basement. Deciding to be helpful, I went down to get it. The boys were already in bed. It was dark outside, and the house was quiet. She did not realize I had gone down to the basement and as she began to descend the steps, I came around the corner carrying the cooler. Of course, my unexpected presence startled her.
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Many are also startled by the uncertainty of eternity. A prominent religious leader was recently asked if someone who does not believe in God could go to heaven.
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As I heard the question, my thoughts went, not to what certain clergy believe, but to what does the Bible say. In other words, if I had to answer that question, would I be able to give scripture to support an answer?
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One of the first passages that comes to mind is John 3:16. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” This passage obviously relates eternal life with belief, but does it exclude unbelievers? In order to answer that question, we must look not just at one isolated verse, but also at the verses around it. 20 verses later, we read, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”
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As we look to these scriptures we find that the Bible teaches that we must believe in more than just some generic creator God, but that we must believe in Jesus Christ. Consider as well, John 14:6 NKJV, “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” Acts 4:12 NKJV states, "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
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Still the question might be asked, “Why would God hold someone accountable to Him when they don’t even believe in Him?” The book of Romans in the Bible helps to answer that question. In chapter 1 vs. 20 we are told that creation is a testimony to God’s existence so that the unbelievers are without excuse. Then in Romans chapter 2, verses 14-15, we see that even those who do not have the word of God, still have a conscience to convict them of their wrongdoing. This leads us to chapter 3, where we are told in vs. 10 that there is none righteous, no not one and vs. 23 were it says that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
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So creation shows us that there is a creator God. Our conscience shows us we are sinners. If that were all the farther we went in our discussion, the Bible would be far more frightening than even an intruder in the basement, but look at what it says toward the end of Romans 3, “being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” (Romans 3:24-26 NKJV).
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Even though the consequences of sin and unbelief are serious and scary, God loves us so much that He sent His son to provide forgiveness to those who believe. Take comfort in the words of John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
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Many are also startled by the uncertainty of eternity. A prominent religious leader was recently asked if someone who does not believe in God could go to heaven.
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As I heard the question, my thoughts went, not to what certain clergy believe, but to what does the Bible say. In other words, if I had to answer that question, would I be able to give scripture to support an answer?
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One of the first passages that comes to mind is John 3:16. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” This passage obviously relates eternal life with belief, but does it exclude unbelievers? In order to answer that question, we must look not just at one isolated verse, but also at the verses around it. 20 verses later, we read, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”
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As we look to these scriptures we find that the Bible teaches that we must believe in more than just some generic creator God, but that we must believe in Jesus Christ. Consider as well, John 14:6 NKJV, “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” Acts 4:12 NKJV states, "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
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Still the question might be asked, “Why would God hold someone accountable to Him when they don’t even believe in Him?” The book of Romans in the Bible helps to answer that question. In chapter 1 vs. 20 we are told that creation is a testimony to God’s existence so that the unbelievers are without excuse. Then in Romans chapter 2, verses 14-15, we see that even those who do not have the word of God, still have a conscience to convict them of their wrongdoing. This leads us to chapter 3, where we are told in vs. 10 that there is none righteous, no not one and vs. 23 were it says that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
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So creation shows us that there is a creator God. Our conscience shows us we are sinners. If that were all the farther we went in our discussion, the Bible would be far more frightening than even an intruder in the basement, but look at what it says toward the end of Romans 3, “being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” (Romans 3:24-26 NKJV).
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Even though the consequences of sin and unbelief are serious and scary, God loves us so much that He sent His son to provide forgiveness to those who believe. Take comfort in the words of John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Be Humble Enough to Laugh
My wife and I had an argument in the middle of the night. We were both dreaming and then we both started to talk in our sleep- actually more like half asleep. She was dreaming about braiding a strap for one of her projects and I was dreaming about laying cement block. Suddenly she said out loud to use the strap. Since I did not think that a strap should be used on the block, I told her so. I then woke up enough to realize she had been talking in her sleep while still not understanding that I had been doing the same myself.
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We both began to drift back to sleep, but then I decided to roll from my back onto my side. Suddenly she warned, “be careful!”. Thinking I may have accidentally pulled her hair I asked what was wrong. The response, “You are going to knock them over.” Realizing she was talking in her sleep again, I chuckled and said that at least they would fall on the bed. She then told me not to be so sarcastic.
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The scripture says in Ephesians 4:26 not to let the sun go down upon your wrath. Well the sun had not even come up yet, so I figure it was okay that I just let her fall back to sleep even though she seemed to be upset with me.
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The next day I asked her if she remembered our conversation from the middle of the night. She did and she also began to laugh. I knew then that there was no worry about her going to bed angry.
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As funny as all this sounds, the tension between Crystal and I was very real during our argument even though we were not fully awake. Other times it has been just as real when we have been awake. Any time two people spend a lot of time together it should not surprise us that disagreements and even anger will result. Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
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Sometimes I am the one who sins and causes the tension. Sometimes it is Crystal. Often it is both of us. Sometimes we just misunderstand each other.
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So how do we go to bed at night without being mad after something has caused tension between us? The answer is to set aside pride. If I am the one who sinned, I have to swallow my pride and admit it. If she is the one who sinned, I have to set aside my pride and forgive her. If it was a misunderstanding, then each of us has to be humble enough to admit that we did not grasp what was going on. Proverbs 13:10 affirms, “Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.”
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James 4:1 states, “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?” (NKJV) Why do we fight to get our pleasures? Because we are so proud that we think that what we want is the most important thing. In order to get along with each other, we need to humble ourselves.
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After our middle of the night fight, Crystal and I were both able to look at ourselves and laugh. Essentially we were humble enough to see the humor instead of so arrogant that we were upset with each other. May we all set aside our pride so that we get along with each other.
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We both began to drift back to sleep, but then I decided to roll from my back onto my side. Suddenly she warned, “be careful!”. Thinking I may have accidentally pulled her hair I asked what was wrong. The response, “You are going to knock them over.” Realizing she was talking in her sleep again, I chuckled and said that at least they would fall on the bed. She then told me not to be so sarcastic.
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The scripture says in Ephesians 4:26 not to let the sun go down upon your wrath. Well the sun had not even come up yet, so I figure it was okay that I just let her fall back to sleep even though she seemed to be upset with me.
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The next day I asked her if she remembered our conversation from the middle of the night. She did and she also began to laugh. I knew then that there was no worry about her going to bed angry.
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As funny as all this sounds, the tension between Crystal and I was very real during our argument even though we were not fully awake. Other times it has been just as real when we have been awake. Any time two people spend a lot of time together it should not surprise us that disagreements and even anger will result. Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
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Sometimes I am the one who sins and causes the tension. Sometimes it is Crystal. Often it is both of us. Sometimes we just misunderstand each other.
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So how do we go to bed at night without being mad after something has caused tension between us? The answer is to set aside pride. If I am the one who sinned, I have to swallow my pride and admit it. If she is the one who sinned, I have to set aside my pride and forgive her. If it was a misunderstanding, then each of us has to be humble enough to admit that we did not grasp what was going on. Proverbs 13:10 affirms, “Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.”
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James 4:1 states, “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?” (NKJV) Why do we fight to get our pleasures? Because we are so proud that we think that what we want is the most important thing. In order to get along with each other, we need to humble ourselves.
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After our middle of the night fight, Crystal and I were both able to look at ourselves and laugh. Essentially we were humble enough to see the humor instead of so arrogant that we were upset with each other. May we all set aside our pride so that we get along with each other.
Friday, August 23, 2013
Will God Tickle Your Feet?
As I stood in my bedroom getting dressed, I could hear our little boys playing outside of the door. They knew I was there as well and soon one of them poked his foot under the door and said, “Daddy, tickle my feet.” I did not go over right away so he repeated his request. After he had asked about three times, I finally went over and tickled his feet. Soon two of his brothers also had the tips of their feet under the door. As I tickled their feet, they squealed with delight.
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In their position on the other side of the door, they could not see Daddy, but they knew I was there. They could hear me in our room, and then they could feel my presence as I touched their feet.
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As I enjoyed that special time with my sons, I also thought about my time with God. Though I can not see Him with my eyes, I know He is there. No, God does not tickle my feet as I pray to Him, but He is concerned about my feet. Notice what Jesus did when He was here on earth. “After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.” (John 13:5 NKJV)
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Though God is no longer here on earth in human form so that we can see Him and have Him wash our feet, He has not forgotten about us. He still cares about us and He is still showing us His very real presence.
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One of the most obvious ways that God reveals Himself is through His creation. “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse” (Romans 1:20 NKJV) The very presence of the world and the things around us are a testimony to the reality of God. Even though we cannot see Him, we can see what He has done and is doing. Psalm 19:1 has a similar message, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.”
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It is one thing for God to reveal His existence, it is another thing for Him to actually show that He cares about us and wants to interact with us. For example, my boys knew I was in the room, but I could have just ignored them when they stuck their toes under the door. Our God does not ignore us. Not only has He given us the Bible to tell us about Himself, He also sent His only begotten son into the world to die for our sins so that whoever believes in Him might have eternal life. Let us not forget that even before He went to the cross He showed His love by washing feet. We really do have a wonderful God who really does care for us.
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My boys called out to me to ask me to tickle their toes. God wants us to call out to Him. We are told to pray without ceasing. In other words, we should be talking to God all the time. Though we cannot see Him, He is there and He wants to interact with us.
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In their position on the other side of the door, they could not see Daddy, but they knew I was there. They could hear me in our room, and then they could feel my presence as I touched their feet.
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As I enjoyed that special time with my sons, I also thought about my time with God. Though I can not see Him with my eyes, I know He is there. No, God does not tickle my feet as I pray to Him, but He is concerned about my feet. Notice what Jesus did when He was here on earth. “After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.” (John 13:5 NKJV)
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Though God is no longer here on earth in human form so that we can see Him and have Him wash our feet, He has not forgotten about us. He still cares about us and He is still showing us His very real presence.
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One of the most obvious ways that God reveals Himself is through His creation. “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse” (Romans 1:20 NKJV) The very presence of the world and the things around us are a testimony to the reality of God. Even though we cannot see Him, we can see what He has done and is doing. Psalm 19:1 has a similar message, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.”
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It is one thing for God to reveal His existence, it is another thing for Him to actually show that He cares about us and wants to interact with us. For example, my boys knew I was in the room, but I could have just ignored them when they stuck their toes under the door. Our God does not ignore us. Not only has He given us the Bible to tell us about Himself, He also sent His only begotten son into the world to die for our sins so that whoever believes in Him might have eternal life. Let us not forget that even before He went to the cross He showed His love by washing feet. We really do have a wonderful God who really does care for us.
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My boys called out to me to ask me to tickle their toes. God wants us to call out to Him. We are told to pray without ceasing. In other words, we should be talking to God all the time. Though we cannot see Him, He is there and He wants to interact with us.
Monday, July 29, 2013
God, The Perfect Father
I used to hate getting a Charlie horse in my leg. I did not realize that there was anything I could do about it until a friend told me to grab the end of my toes and stretch the muscle in order to bring relief. I was amazed at how quickly it worked.
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Our little boys sometimes get Charlie horses in their legs as well. I realized this when our first child woke up during the night crying. We tried feeding him and changing his diaper but nothing seemed to help. He had no fever or symptoms of teething, so we figured he was just being fussy for no good reason. I must admit that I was running out of sympathy for the little guy because I wanted to go back to bed. Then I saw him pointing at his foot. Suddenly I had an idea- maybe he has a Charlie horse. I carefully pushed on the end of his foot and he pushed back with his little leg and then instantly calmed down.
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We were recently driving home late in the evening. The boys had been playing hard all day and quickly fell asleep. Suddenly our 3 year old woke up crying. We asked him what was wrong and in his sleepy voice he said that he wanted to play. Usually he sits in his car seat without complaint so we thought this was strange- especially considering how tired he was. Crystal tried calming him down, but he continued to fuss. It was almost one of those “Daddy is going to pull the car over” moments, when we figured out that he had a Charlie horse. As soon as she pushed on his foot he settled down and went back to sleep. I figure that he wanted to get out and play so that he could stretch is leg.
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Children should be expected to behave. In fact, Ephesians 6:1 says, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.” At the same time parents also have a responsibility toward their children. Just a few verses later we read, “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4 NKJV)
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If I had pulled over and disciplined my 3 year old for fussing over a Charlie horse, I would have been provoking him to wrath instead of helping him.
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Imagine if my treatment of my son had ended up shaping his view of God. Imagine if I had disciplined him when he actually needed my help. He might end up thinking that God was like that and that He only wanted to hurt him when he was in trouble instead of helping him.
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I, as a father, do not always know or understand my children’s needs. Before they are able to talk, I do not always know where they hurt or why, but our God knows everything. He, like a good father, disciplines us and holds us accountable for our actions, but He also understands our true needs and loves us so much that He sent His only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16).
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God is not like the dad who just lets his kids get by with anything, but He is not the cruel father who beats his kids or yells at them for every little thing either. He is a God who lovingly holds us accountable and also lovingly cares for us. Further He is a God who forgives us even when we do wrong, mercifully allowing us back into fellowship with Him as we trust Christ’s payment for our sins.
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I realize that I will never be the perfect father, but God is.
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Our little boys sometimes get Charlie horses in their legs as well. I realized this when our first child woke up during the night crying. We tried feeding him and changing his diaper but nothing seemed to help. He had no fever or symptoms of teething, so we figured he was just being fussy for no good reason. I must admit that I was running out of sympathy for the little guy because I wanted to go back to bed. Then I saw him pointing at his foot. Suddenly I had an idea- maybe he has a Charlie horse. I carefully pushed on the end of his foot and he pushed back with his little leg and then instantly calmed down.
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We were recently driving home late in the evening. The boys had been playing hard all day and quickly fell asleep. Suddenly our 3 year old woke up crying. We asked him what was wrong and in his sleepy voice he said that he wanted to play. Usually he sits in his car seat without complaint so we thought this was strange- especially considering how tired he was. Crystal tried calming him down, but he continued to fuss. It was almost one of those “Daddy is going to pull the car over” moments, when we figured out that he had a Charlie horse. As soon as she pushed on his foot he settled down and went back to sleep. I figure that he wanted to get out and play so that he could stretch is leg.
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Children should be expected to behave. In fact, Ephesians 6:1 says, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.” At the same time parents also have a responsibility toward their children. Just a few verses later we read, “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4 NKJV)
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If I had pulled over and disciplined my 3 year old for fussing over a Charlie horse, I would have been provoking him to wrath instead of helping him.
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Imagine if my treatment of my son had ended up shaping his view of God. Imagine if I had disciplined him when he actually needed my help. He might end up thinking that God was like that and that He only wanted to hurt him when he was in trouble instead of helping him.
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I, as a father, do not always know or understand my children’s needs. Before they are able to talk, I do not always know where they hurt or why, but our God knows everything. He, like a good father, disciplines us and holds us accountable for our actions, but He also understands our true needs and loves us so much that He sent His only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16).
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God is not like the dad who just lets his kids get by with anything, but He is not the cruel father who beats his kids or yells at them for every little thing either. He is a God who lovingly holds us accountable and also lovingly cares for us. Further He is a God who forgives us even when we do wrong, mercifully allowing us back into fellowship with Him as we trust Christ’s payment for our sins.
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I realize that I will never be the perfect father, but God is.
Sunday, July 14, 2013
John Deere & Jesus Christ
My lawnmower quit working. It was not a total surprise, since it was about 35 years old and I knew the engine was getting weak. The fact that it lasted that long is a testimony that John Deere has made some decent mowers through the years. Still, I was discouraged that my day was messed up and the grass was getting longer.
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It is not unusual for us to face such challenges in life. Maybe the car won’t start or you have a flat tire. Perhaps the problem is more serious, such as a job loss or an illness. Learning to trust God with the little things like a broken lawn mower can help us to face the bigger challenges in life.
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Romans 5:1-4 says, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope“ (NKJV).
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If my trust were in John Deere rather than Jesus Christ, my whole world would have fallen apart when the lawn mower would not run. Because I have peace with God through Jesus Christ, I realize that His grace is sufficient for the trials of life.
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In fact, as Romans 5:3 says, I can actually glory in tribulations. In other words I can boast as I rejoice about the problems I face. I am not talking about being a masochist. I do not look forward to problems- instead I realize that when they do come, I can trust God and even allow Him to use them in my life.
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As I look at Romans 5:3-4, I understand that God used these trials to help me persevere so that I have the sort of enduring patience that will allow me to better face the larger challenges in life. “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope“ (Romans 5:3-4 NKJV).
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Not only are patience and character built up through the trials in life, but as we come through them, we realize that there is hope. When I could not get the lawn mower running, I decided to go to Craigslist and find one that would get me by until I could get the other one fixed. I thought I had found one, but that led to another trial because when we showed up to look at it, it would not start. Suddenly, the seller was facing an even greater trial than I was as he shared his embarrassment.
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I did not buy that lawnmower from him, but I found something even better- the stranger trying to sell his lawn mower became my friend. Friends are far better than lawnmowers. This is a great reminder that even in trials there is hope.
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The story gets even better. When I called my brother and told him of my problems, he told me that he had an extra mower that wasn’t in the best of shape but it would probably work for a while. I went to pick it up, but stopped at a Snapper dealer on the way and found a really nice used mower at an excellent price- such a good price that it was not worth fixing up my old mower. Not all our trials work out as good as this one did, but it is a reminder that we can trust God and have hope even when things are not going so well.
-
It is not unusual for us to face such challenges in life. Maybe the car won’t start or you have a flat tire. Perhaps the problem is more serious, such as a job loss or an illness. Learning to trust God with the little things like a broken lawn mower can help us to face the bigger challenges in life.
-
Romans 5:1-4 says, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope“ (NKJV).
-
If my trust were in John Deere rather than Jesus Christ, my whole world would have fallen apart when the lawn mower would not run. Because I have peace with God through Jesus Christ, I realize that His grace is sufficient for the trials of life.
-
In fact, as Romans 5:3 says, I can actually glory in tribulations. In other words I can boast as I rejoice about the problems I face. I am not talking about being a masochist. I do not look forward to problems- instead I realize that when they do come, I can trust God and even allow Him to use them in my life.
-
As I look at Romans 5:3-4, I understand that God used these trials to help me persevere so that I have the sort of enduring patience that will allow me to better face the larger challenges in life. “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope“ (Romans 5:3-4 NKJV).
-
Not only are patience and character built up through the trials in life, but as we come through them, we realize that there is hope. When I could not get the lawn mower running, I decided to go to Craigslist and find one that would get me by until I could get the other one fixed. I thought I had found one, but that led to another trial because when we showed up to look at it, it would not start. Suddenly, the seller was facing an even greater trial than I was as he shared his embarrassment.
-
I did not buy that lawnmower from him, but I found something even better- the stranger trying to sell his lawn mower became my friend. Friends are far better than lawnmowers. This is a great reminder that even in trials there is hope.
-
The story gets even better. When I called my brother and told him of my problems, he told me that he had an extra mower that wasn’t in the best of shape but it would probably work for a while. I went to pick it up, but stopped at a Snapper dealer on the way and found a really nice used mower at an excellent price- such a good price that it was not worth fixing up my old mower. Not all our trials work out as good as this one did, but it is a reminder that we can trust God and have hope even when things are not going so well.
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