Life Is Like A Vapor

 “Show me, Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is. You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure. “Surely everyone goes around like a mere phantom; in vain they rush about, heaping up wealth without knowing whose it will finally be. “But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you." - Psalm 39:4-7

The photo on the left is a group of Army helicopter pilots that I served with in the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment in the mid 1980's. That is me in the center. The picture on the right was taken in 2023. That is me on the left. Wayne and Mike in that picture are the guys circled with me in the picture on the left. We had not seen each other since 1986. We all three have changed a little bit. So why show you those pictures? 

I can't speak for them, but I am pretty certain that they would agree that the guys on the left never imagined they would look like the guys on the right. I listened to a pastor preach this Sunday who turned 90 years old - this Sunday. He is continuing to press on with his calling to mankind until God calls him home to heaven.

I tell people that I would rather burn out than rest out. My idea of the "good life" is not sitting on my porch watching the cars go by or getting on a bus and going to Branson Missouri. No, my definition of the good life is fulfilling God's purpose in my generation. 

I want to be like King David and Pastor Kendall - 

"David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers" - Acts 13:36

This is the blessing that the pastor, Dr. R.T.Kendall, prayed over the congregation.

Heavenly Father, I pray that from this moment

That You will bestow an anointing of the Holy Spirit

In ever increasing measure

Where that [each] person with a certain gifting 

Will have power to exceed with ease without

Having to work it up or rush but to wait on You.

Where the person of Jesus will become more clear than ever before [to them].

[Father] Supply their every need.

Guide them by Your Holy Spirit.

I pray in Jesus name – Amen.

I have prayed that same prayer for everyone who might read this post. 

Every child of God - born again by faith in Jesus has a purpose and a place to serve in their generation. My hope is that you will have a hunger to discover what your God-given purpose and place are and then to walk in them. 

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Choosing Not To Be Angry - You Will Need Spiritual Perspective

"Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.  Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth." - Colossians 3:2-8

Anger – you know the feeling don’t you? That feeling in rises up inside of you? Like a jug quickly filling up with water until it overflows. You face is flushed.  Your heart is racing. But is it anger or frustration or disappointment? Often times they are indistinguishable and their expression through you is likewise indistinguishable.  Someone once said that anger is a secondary emotion - there is something else that has triggered the anger response. Many people try to explain how they respond or excuse how they respond to life, people and problems by pointing to their ancestors and their family’s dominant country of origin.  

Some time back we ran into a plumbing snag at the house we are working on that had been damaged from a storm.  It was fixable, but the repair would cost one or two thousand dollars.  The plumber was talking to me on the phone about it, almost apologetically, because he knew we are a ministry and the home owner had no money to pay for something like this. I could sense that he was expecting me to be unhappy and perhaps even angry.  I told him – “Man, I have been in two wars.  If someone is not dying – I don’t get upset about anything” I went on to say I know two things – “God is good” and “Jesus Saves”.  That brought perspective into the issue.  I told him that I was happy that I was dealing with this and not the home owner.  

 “Bear one another’s burdens and thus fulfill the law of Christ.”  - Galatians 6:2

If you can’t quell your anger – not let your emotions rule – that is a pretty good indication that you are not fully submitted to the Spirit of God.  That is not a judgment, just an observation from my own life.  People often point to Jesus being angry in the temple as an excuse for their own anger.  I would say that the next time you go to church if the money changers and vendors are set up in the foyer – go ahead and drive them out with a righteous anger. But don’t use Jesus as justification to excuse for your flesh and sin.  Others looking for an excuse for themselves may buy it, but God doesn’t. 

“But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” -  Matthew 5:44

Hmmm.  How are you going to squeeze anger into that verse? Here is another to put some icing on that anger cake. 

 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” - James 1:2-3

Letting the emotion of anger have its way is a temptation -  a fierce temptation – that will spring on you without notice – like an ambush.  The only way you will “survive” when you are in the "kill zone" of an ambush is if you fight your way through it.  To do that you must have prepared yourself for such an occasion beforehand.  How you prepare I will defer for another devotion.  

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

I was Once Blinded By The Darkness As Were You

"But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them." - 2 Corinthians 4:3-4

I am certain that you have been in a dark room and then someone flips the light switch on and you are temporarily blinded by the light. Actually there is a medical explanation for it. You see your eyes have what are called rods and cones. The rods have something called "visual purple" which allows you to see in the dark. But you can't see colors. That is why you might put on 2 different colors of socks if you get dressed in the dark, like I typically do. (So I have learned to get me socks out the night before.) Then there are the cones. They become active with ambient light and they make it possible for you to see colors. (Hope you are still awake - almost done!) Well, when it is dark and the rods are at work and suddenly there is light - the visual purple gets "washed out" by the light and momentarily you are blinded. So - there you have it. Now you can impress your friends at the next cook-out!

The god of this age, Satan, has blinded the lost and so they have no "color vision" if you will.

"But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." - 1 Corinthians 2:14

"For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." - Romans 8:5-6

What that means in a practical sense is that the lost cannot understand the spiritual truth found in the Word of God. They will reject it as foolishness - contrary to their understanding - their minds are set on the things of the flesh. It does not mean that we should not share the Gospel and the word with the lost. But understand that you are casting seed.

"Some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth.  Some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. But [some] fell on good ground and yielded a crop" - Matthew 13:4-8

There are 4 circumstances where the seed fell but only one that yielded an eternal crop. In an over simplification, that is 25% of the time. You and I are in that 25%. Take a moment to thank the Lord for the one who was faithful to cast the seed that took root in our lives! The gate is wide that leads to destruction - 75%. This is a picture of a gate on a trail to a remote village in Haiti. Behind that gate was a smaller, less travelled path. Unlike the well traveled path that we were using. As I walked past it, I was reminded of the narrow Gate that Jesus talked about so I took a picture of it.

"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." - Matthew 7:13-14

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Your Brother's Keeper - Building On The Rock

"Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” -  Genesis 4:9

I have been watching the developments in central Texas after the flash flooding. As of this morning July 8 there have been at least 100 deaths. Many were young girls at a Christian Camp on the river. There has been a huge outcry all across the nation. And a great outpouring of financial, material, and volunteer help. Having been involved in disaster relief since 2005 I understand the challenges that the survivors, families and the responders face. I also understand that losses like this have stirred up wounds of the heart for others who have lost loved ones at other times. I, in no way intend to minimize the emotional pain associated with this time. But it has raised the greater issue of being our Brother's keeper for me.

I have been "ruminating" on this post for several days. Then this morning the Lord brought to my mind the confrontation between the Prophet Nathan and King David, where Nathan said to King David after, he - King David, became angry with what a man in a story Nathan told had done. Nathan said "King, you are that man" The one that David was angry with. David was guilty.

There is human tragedy happening all over the world. Did you know in Gaza at least 57,130 civilians have been confirmed killed, including 17,400 children. I have read news articles every day about the tragedy that those civilians are facing. But then I just move on to the next headline. And then the question stirred in me, "Do those lives matter as much as those in Central Texas or do they not matter because they are not in my country or of my faith? Do I feel as compassionate about the loss of those innocents? (Now I do understand that not all of the adults were innocent). But I don't think that God will give me or you a "pass" on our apathy because the people happen to be Ismael's descendants. That thought reminded me of the parable of the Good Samaritan? 

"[Jesus asked] So which of these three [the three who had opportunity to give aid] do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?  And he [ the man Jesus was talking to] said, he who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise." - Luke 10:36-37

The Lord has been essentially asking me, "What side of the road was I walking on?" Am I too busy to be concerned? Every time I write one of these devotions, my own heart is convicted. 

Certainly we are not walking on the other side of the road for the people in Central Texas. But can you put that parable into the context of the people in Gaza - Palestinian people? Like me, I am fairly certain that you will not identify with the priest or the Levite, [religious professionals - schooled in God's law] but with the Samaritan? Or at least, like me, you will want to. Do you remember the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25.

"Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." - Matthew 25:41-46

Those are hard words coming from the Lord? This is what Jesus said about it!

“But why do you call Me [Jesus] ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?  Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great." - Luke 6:46-49

Let's use this time to consider the plight of literally thousands of innocents around the world - not just Gaza. (Might I mention the unborn who are aborted every year -  in 2024 there were 1,038,100 clinician-provided abortions in the US, alone, in those states without total abortion bans, an increase of less than 1% from 2023.) There is so much more that could be said about abortions - but I will refrain ....but before I do, one thing that comes to mind - people want to justify abortion - why it is really OK - by defining when a human being is a human being. Perhaps this verse will give you some context in that regard. (read my post from July 8, 2025 for more context). God - the Father said - 

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you.” - Jeremiah 1:5

That means that God recognized me even before I was conceived - He didn't wait until after the first trimester to acknowledge my existence.

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

A Rock of Offense

“Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.” Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,” and “A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed." -  1 Peter 2:6-8

Who are you most concerned about offending? Your neighbor or the One who created you and your neighbor? Just as a reminder, the first greatest commandment is to love God. the second is to love others. Now let's put that in context. God has declared what is sin and what is not. What is holy and what is not. Man has also declared what is sin and what is not. 

So, stay with me on this ---- if we love God first and our love for others is birthed from that love then we are obliged to give God primary allegiance when there is a conflict between God and man's declaration of right and wrong. Where we get into trouble is when we choose man's definition of what is "right" over God's. 

"God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers,  backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them." - Romans 1:24-32

Today, in man's way of thinking - in his world view if you will - it is in man's domain to decide what is moral and what is not. If any decision is contrary to what God has ordained, then God is wrong and man is right. If you should choose God's definition over man's then you are declared a hater or bigot or both. The only way that the lost will ever change their thinking is by faith in Jesus. That same cornerstone who they have rejected.

"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. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God." - 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

Listen to me on this – it is God’s desire that no one should perish. Just like you and me – those people need to see Jesus. But, at the same time.

There is no room for compromise. Although sometimes we would like there to be. It would take the social pressure off of us if somehow both God and man could be right. If you are a Jesus follower then you have been called by God to live by and proclaim His Truth. Your God-given purpose is to be salt and light in a dark and sinful world - 

".... you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy." - 1 Peter 2:9-10

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Stacking Sin On Top Of Sin

"But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." - 1 Samuel 16:7

My goal in writing devotions and now making podcasts from them is to encourage Christians to be God-aware, to think about things differently - spiritual things that affect how you and I live our natural and supernatural lives. My goal is not to make you feel guilty, although at times you might be convicted by truth – that is not a bad thing by the way -  but hopefully I may shed light on a spiritual truth you may not have considered before or maybe had forgotten.

There is a truth that we would not like to be true. When we sin we very often ignore the fact that our sin is first against God and then toward other people. We try to hide our sin from men, but cannot hide our sin from God. He looks at the heart. Men see our behavior and are easily deceived by our lies. Very often we lie about our sin to others because we don't want to suffer the consequences of their finding out the truth.

I was reading in 1 Chronicles 11 about King David's mighty men - those who would lead his army after he was anointed king over Israel and Judah. While reading the list I saw the name "Uriah the Hittite". Does that name sound familiar? It should. That was Bathsheba's first husband. To refresh your memory.

"It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king’s house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold. So David sent and inquired about the woman. And someone said, “Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” Then David sent messengers, and took her; and she came to him, and he lay with her, for she was cleansed from her impurity; and she returned to her house. And the woman conceived; so she sent and told David, and said, “I am with child." - 2 Samuel 11:1-5

So Bathsheba was the wife of one of David's mighty men who had gone off to war. Instead of going with the Army - which was the custom - David had stayed back. You have heard the saying "the heart wants what the heart wants". The urge to sin can be debilitating to all reason. In the face of temptation, we ignore the consequences and are drawn to the sinful acts.

"But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed." - James 1:14

The devil didn't make you do it - your sinful nature yielding to the temptation is what set you feet on that path. David was in a place where he should not have been and let the "bird of temptation" make a nest in his hair. (Recall Pastor Greg Laurie's quote). "You can't keep a bird from flying over your head (speaking of temptation) but you can keep it from making a nest in your hair!)

"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever." - 1 John 2:15-17

So what did David do? He tried to cover the sin up. When that didn't work - he had Uriah put in the most dangerous place on the battle field where he was killed. Then David was free to marry Bathsheba as if that made his first sin OK. Sin upon Sin. That is the nature of sin - we justify more sin to avoid sin's consequences. As you know, eventually David was confronted by the prophet Nathan and David repented. That repentance was recorded in Psalm 51.

Why share this with you? Because we are no different than David. We face temptations - we yield to the temptation - we forget that we have sinned against God and others - focus on how to hide our sin from others - often because we don't want to disappoint people we care about. And so we stack one sin upon another thinking that we are actually doing a good thing. Protecting others. The truth is - our actions are not for them but for us - for our reputations and relationships. Those consequences that we ignored or minimized when we said yes to the temptation have been waiting at the door. But so have God's grace, mercy and forgiveness.

"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us." - 1 John 1:8-10

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

God Expects You To Do The Impossible? But Not On Your Own

“Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” - Luke 18:26-27

Our life of faith is all about the impossible. Jesus had just spoken to a wealthy young man who thought that doing the right things was what was necessary to be right before God.  As human beings whose roots are firmly planted in the Garden and the sin of Adam, there is nothing we can do apart from Jesus to be right with God.

Once we are born again, God will ask us to do the impossible for His glory.  Oh, that strikes fear in the hearts of most Christians.  For the rest, it at least gives them opportunity to doubt.  Like when Peter walked on the water but then began to sink. 

“Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” - Matthew 14:29-31

By the way, notice that Jesus and Peter walked back tot he boat - on the water! Human ability is not in question.  You can’t do what God asks without faith and His mighty power.  That is why Proverbs 3 says trust God and not yourself. That takes faith.  Do you remember when Jesus told the disciples to feed the people?

“Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.” His disciples answered, “Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?” - Matthew 15:32-33

Jesus was asking the disciples to do what was humanly impossible.  Imagine putting one chicken leg on the table with your family gathered around to eat.  Impossible, for men.  In the same way, every day we are faced with doing the impossible.  Going beyond ourselves to do what only God can do through us by faith.  And as soon as we take our eyes off of Jesus and depend upon our own puny abilities, we begin to sink. We wonder, “How can I possibly do this? There are so many obstacles in the way.”  The Bible is replete with stories of the impossible, but I suspect that most if not all of us think that those stories were for another time and place. They certainly don’t apply to our lives.  The thing is – it’s the same God – the same world – just different people. 

So, what has He asked you to do that you have rejected as being impossible.  Perhaps you need to re-think that decision, or more correctly re-faith it.  Trust God. Walk by faith and not by sight.  Nothing is impossible with God.  Never has been and never will be. 

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” - Joshua 1:9

To do what I am suggesting you need to be strong in your faith.  Courage is action in spite of your understanding what the natural consequences could be. So what are you waiting for?   

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory. 

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone 

When Hearing Is Not Enough

"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. If anyone among you thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world." - James 1:22-27

Have you ever known about someone who lived like the law did not apply to them? Maybe because of position, fame, social standing or wealth. Or maybe all of those things. Our Declaration of Independence says that "all men (inclusive of women of course) are created equal meaning no one is above the law. Have you ever wondered how someone can go to church, say "yes and amen" when the preacher speaks and then lives like a lost person when they exit the doors of the church?

Like the man who looks in the mirror - he is faithful to go to church - and when he turns away - it is like he forgets what he saw, heard and shouted Amen to. For some it is because they have abandoned their faith to satisfy the lusts of their flesh. For others, they have never had a saving faith, but were merely following family tradition or being religious. 

"as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ" - 1 Peter 1:14-19

My goal is not to send you on a guilt trip but, rather, to remind you of the dangers that we all face. There is a song - if you have read any of my posts you know there is nearly always a song! - Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing written by Robert Robinson in 1758. I try to imagine what the authors of those hymns were going through or might have been thinking about when they penned the words of those great hymns. 

"O to grace how great a debtor daily I’m constrained to be! Let that grace now, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to thee. Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love; here’s my heart; O take and seal it; seal it for thy courts above."

Do you ever feel that way? I do every time I sin. Uh Oh -  was I supposed to admit that I sin? Uh - yes! We should not be content with our sin and neither should we deny that we do sin. 

"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us." - 1 John 1:8-10

One day we will all be glorified - but that won't happen until we see Jesus. Until then - we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus - our hearts devoted to God - our conscience clear of unconfessed sin - and our hands to the plow. Thankful that we are saved by God's grace through faith and not our own effort. I have nothing to offer God but a broken and contrite heart. Just like King David. Do you remember when David was confronted by the prophet Nathan over David's sin with Bathsheba and Uriah the Hittite? It is in 2 Samuel chapter 12. Psalm 51 is David's prayer of repentance. Remember God told Samuel that David was a man after God's heart. David hearing Nathan was not enough.

"Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight— That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me. Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice. Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You. Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, The God of my salvation, And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, And my mouth shall show forth Your praise. For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise." - Psalm 51:1-17

Might not be a bad prayer for each of us.  

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory. 

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone 

Who Do You Look Like?

"Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.  “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.” Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father." - John 14:6-9

In John 17 Jesus said that He and the Father were one and prayed that just as they are one that we too would be one. In other words indistinguishable. When people see you - who do they see? Not what you look like physically -  all of us are unique in that regard. But who do they see in the way you live and love?  

Later some ethnically gentile proselytes (converts to Judaism) approached Philip asking to see Jesus.

"Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast. Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” - John 21:20-21

If someone asked you that question could you answer like Jesus answered Philip? "If you have seen me, you have seen Jesus. Jesus and I are one." Two examples in my life. One good and one not so good. I think I was a teenager when I did something that my mom didn't like. She had divorced my dad when I was 2 years old. She said "Don't do that you remind me of your father". Obviously there she still harbored emotional pain from the divorce. I loved my dad and my mom so that put me in a difficult place. Her pain was an inescapable scar from a broken marriage. To this day I don't know what "that" was but I tried not to do it again anyway. 

The second - as a teenager I worked in my step-dad family's store. They made mattresses and sold furniture. I would wait on customers when I wasn't building box springs or making deliveries. On some occasions the people would ask, "Are you one of the brothers? You act just like them."  I would just smile - to avoid a complicated answer. But the fact was - I did act just like them. I was a Pierson proselyte if you will. 

As I get older I wonder about my life today - am I still a witness? Do people still see Jesus in me? I met with a friend who is also a director of a non-profit ministry just this week. Among other things we talked about what a great privilege we had been given to live the life we have and are living. Both of us are, like Paul, living with physical thorns in our sides. Reminding us that we must continue to look to God as our sustainer.  I told him I planned to burn out - not rust out. Along those lines, as you get "long in the tooth" don't let people put you in a pigeon hole and declare you of no earthly or spiritual value. I was reading in Psalms this morning.

"The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those who are planted in the house of the Lord Shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; They shall be fresh and flourishing, To declare that the Lord is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him." - Psalm 92:12-15

So if someone watched you live your life who would they say you look like? I hope it's Jesus!

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory. 

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone 

I Am Weak But He Is Strong

"And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." -  2 Corinthians 12:9

When you are going to attack an enemy, you don't attack their strength - at least not initially. First you search out their vulnerabilities - weaknesses in their defenses and attack them there.  It is the same in spiritual warfare. When the Bible says "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." - 1 Peter 5:8 remember that lions look for the weak in the herd. 

We are all weak - there are areas in our lives that are vulnerable to temptation. Those are the places where we will be attacked. Where Satan will send his "fiery darts" (Ephesians 6:16). Where we commonly fail is thinking that that our "won't power" will be sufficient to fend off the attack. Remember what Paul wrote in Romans 7?

"For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!" - Romans 7:19-25

We forget that this new life we live is 100 percent dependent upon the Spirit and Jesus. 

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." - Galatians 2:20

Ephesians 6 says we should stand - but only when we have prepared ourselves by God's provision. 

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory. 

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone 

How God Defines Blessed

"Do not be afraid when one becomes rich, When the glory of his house is increased; For when he dies he shall carry nothing away; His glory shall not descend after him. Though while he lives he blesses himself (For men will praise you when you do well for yourself), He shall go to the generation of his fathers; They shall never see light. A man who is in honor, yet does not understand, Is like the beasts that perish." - Psalm 49:17-20

I was reading in the Psalms this morning. When I read Psalm 49 it caused me to think about this country and the idea that you are a success (aka blessed) if you are financially secure. That reminded me of a joke I heard about a very rich man. On his death bed he gave instructions to convert all of his assets to gold bars and bury them with him. So he died, his assets were converted and he, with his gold, was buried. When he approached the gates of heaven he was dragging his coffin, filled with gold bars, behind him. He met Saint Peter. 

Let's press the "pause button" on this story for a moment. The belief that Saint Peter is at the gates of heaven is rooted in the biblical verse Matthew 16:18-19, where Jesus tells Peter, "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven." This verse is often interpreted as a reference to Peter as the gatekeeper of heaven, allowing entry to those who are faithful and righteous. Which, by the way, is not my interpretation!

Back to the story. So St. Peter asks the man, "What's in the coffin?". The man responded, "All the earthly treasure I accumulated over my life on earth." St Peter raised the lid, looked at the man and said, "Pavement?"

You get the point. What the natural man sees as confirmation and affirmation of success and being right in this life is not how God sees it. A couple verses for context.

"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." - 1 Timothy 6:10

“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." - Matthew 6:24

Mammon is money, material wealth, or any entity that promises wealth, and is associated with the greedy pursuit of gain. 

It is not wrong to have money or be wealthy - the problem is when money or wealth become small "g" gods in our loves. Our hearts become devoted to something other than Jehovah God.

"And He [Jesus] said to them [the crowd of people], “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” ’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’  [Jesus then said] “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." - Luke 12:15-21

I want to encourage you to view God's blessings in your life through the lens of the Word of God and not the world's.

"Blessed is the man whose strength is in You For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God Than dwell in the tents of wickedness..... For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; O Lord of hosts, Blessed is the man who trusts in You!" - Psalm 84:5, 10-12

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory. 

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone 

Identifying Counterfeit Faith

"The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good." - Psalm 14:1

In the history of Israel in the Old Testament there was a generational pattern. A generation that knew God, a generation that knew about God and a generation that did not know God. Psalm 14 speaks to that generation. Today - those generations co-exist among the people of the world. There are those know God by faith in Jesus. Those who know about God and are attracted to some aspects of the Christian faith or practice some other faith and are merely religious. And then those who deny that there is a sovereign God. The United States is known to the world as a "Christian" nation, but that is not true. It was founded on Christian principles but is secular in practice. 

The group that does not know God is easy to identify. But there are those who say there is a God - maybe even that they are born again when they are not. They wear a faith label like a moniker. They may even consider themselves to be "non-practicing". They say it to win you over. To trust them. To embrace them. Just because a person says they know God does not mean that they do. Their life and speech life may be a testimony or reputation among men but their hearts will give testimony to God.

"But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." - 1 Samuel 16:7

The prophet Samuel was sent to anoint the new king after God rejected King Saul. God told him that God did not choose a man because of his appearance to men but because of the devotion of  the man's heart to God. 

People can talk about God and say the right things all the while, their hearts can be far from God. 

"For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works." - 2 Corinthians 11:13-15

As a Christian, to know the difference requires spiritual discernment. I have learned that if you listen to people talk long enough eventually they will reveal their hearts. When speaking to the Pharisees, Jesus said ..... 

"Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things." - Matthew 12:34-35

People, in an attempt to win others over may speak about spiritual things without having been born again. There may be people like that sitting next to you in church even. Our challenge is to discern the difference. Do not be deceived. We must be able to know the true Believers from the "false prophets, as it were. People who work in banks learn to identify money that is counterfeit by studying the real thing.  And so should we.

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." - 1 Peter 5:8

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory. 

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone