Reflections in The WORD

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Choose the Right Weigh

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” ~ Psalm 139:23-24

Most of us judge ourselves in our own courts, where we are the judge, the jury, the prosecutor, the defender and the defendant. As our consciences play the role of prosecutor, we mount a sterling defense to each charge that our consciences present.

Typically, we are able to supply ironclad “alibis” and well rationalized “extenuating circumstances” to absolve ourselves in each case. And, when even that fails, as the jury we are greatly sympathetic with the defendant.

Finally, when all is said and done, the judge usually pronounces us, “not too bad” or “pretty good” and certainly better than most people we can think of. Yes, it is true that some of us are much harsher judges of ourselves than that. But the point is that by ourselves, in our own courts, with our own rules, we make the wrong judgments.

Our text, however, reveals a different approach. The Psalmist refuses to have his case tried in his own personal court. He will not seek to render judgment on himself. Rather, he puts himself in God’s court and allows God to be prosecutor, defender, jury and judge.

The Psalmist is unconcerned about how he looks in his own eyes or how he judges himself. The Psalmist realizes that the only one who knows the truth, and will speak the truth, and will judge in truth, is God, and God alone. Indeed, Scripture informs us that:

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” ~ Jeremiah 17:9-10

Who can know his heart? Who can know the truth of him/herself? Who can judge him/herself aright? No one can. Only God can.

In other words, we can only know ourselves through God! We can’t know ourselves through introspection, we can’t know ourselves through meditation. We can’t know ourselves through our friends’ opinions. Only God knows who we really are; only through Him can we get a glimpse into our own personalities.

It is a simple truth that if one’s scale is faulty then all the weights measured with that scale will be wrong. In our own imperfection, we can never see the truth of ourselves (or others!). The only way to get an accurate, true measurement is to ask God to measure us on His perfect scale. And then ask Him to mercifully cut all the chaff, all the dross, all the offal from our personalities.

Let us seek God and trust His judgments and rely on His perspective, so that we can find the truth. Let us get to know our true selves by knowing God, for He alone KNOWS us.

The Comforted shall become Comforters

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“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” ~ 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Comfort is a lovely word, isn’t it? We all love comfort! Most of us probably have a comfy chair we like to sit in, or comfort foods we eat often just because we feel better by doing so. But these “comforts” come to an end, they can be taken away, or only last for a short time.

God, however, is the Source of all true comfort. He gives comfort that is complete and eternal, not temporary and fleeting. He comforts us in all our troubles through His indwelling Holy Spirit that abides in every person who has placed their faith in Jesus Christ His Son for the forgiveness of their sins. He ministers to us through His Word, through prayer, and through other brothers and sisters in Christ who come along side us and give us encouragement.

And what are we to take away from the experience of God’s comfort? Experiencing God’s comfort gives us the ability to pass that comfort on to others who are hurting. We are not comforted by God just to be comfortable, but to be comforters. This is the very practical lesson for us all from these verses! When we are aware of a fellow Christian in trouble or need we should fly to their side and do whatever we can to comfort and encourage them.

Many times the troubles we have been through, and how we persevered through them, can be an encouragement to those going through similar situations. When we share the struggles we have had, it makes others, who are currently going through them, feel as though they are not alone.

I truly believe that this may even be why we go through some trials and tribulations in life, not solely for our own growth but to prepare us to pass encouragement on to others who experience the same troubles. Sharing the love and comfort that God gives with others pleases our heavenly Father greatly and brings honor and glory to Him in the process!

Thank You Father God for all Your compassion and comfort that You have shown to me. I love You so Abba Father, help me to pass Your love on to those You bring into my life, for Your glory, Amen!

~by Mary Heuss Nelson

Our Father’s Perfect Plans

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“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” ~Jeremiah 29:11-13

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” ~ Ephesians 2:10

God is not some ogre looking for ways to be mean to His people, as the world sometimes considers Him. To the contrary He desires no harm to come to us at all, He is our Protector and Defender in life! He has great and wonderful plans for His children, plans for hope and a future that is bright and fulfilling.

Our passage today is from a message to His people who were about to go into exile in Babylon. God is letting them know that He has not forsaken them, but they must be obedient to Him and have faith in Him alone to carry them through.

God will allow us as His children to go through hard times. But those who have accepted Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior have the indwelling Holy Spirit to help us through the trials in life and bring us through the other side with our faith in Him still intact because our eyes are fixed on Christ!

The plans that God has for His people are perfect, even though it may not seem to us that they are.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. ~ Romans 8:28

He cannot ever fail, we on the other hand fail daily! This is crucial to remember when life is not going as we planned. It very well may be that God is rescuing us from our very own flawed plan that would have brought us much heartache!

From the beginning of time God has wanted the heart of mankind. He wants us to call on Him and come to Him in prayer, to seek His will, and trust Him in all things. When we do He is always available to us, longing for all to look to Him and live. His arms are always open to any who will turn to Him. He is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9)!

God wants us to seek Him with all our heart, have you ever wondered why? I believe it is because when we search the Scriptures and come to Him in prayer about our troubles and such, He has our undivided attention. And really, doesn’t He deserve our undivided attention? After all He is the God of the universe, He certainly deserves our focus to be on Him and Him alone at some point each day!

God knows the human heart and how very fickle it can be; we are so easily distracted. So, He gives us reminders in His Word to search for Him with all our heart so that we don’t get to taking Him for granted, but are always mindful of the Holy God that we serve and call Father!

Thank You Father God for loving me, for sending Jesus to be my Redeemer by the shedding of His precious blood for my sin, and for all Your wonderful care and keeping of me. I love You so and give You all praise this day, Amen!

~ by Mary Heuss Nelson

Heart ‘Transplant’

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Give me a pure heart, that I may see Thee,

….a humble heart, that I may hear Thee,

…….a heart of love, that I may serve Thee,

……….a heart of faith, that I may abide in Thee.

………….a heart of courage, that I may follow Thee,

…………….a heart of joy, that I may sing with Thee,

……………….a heart of praise, that I may adore Thee,

………………….a heart of gratitude, that I may thank Thee,

…………………….a heart of kindness, that I may emulate Thee,

……………………….a heart of hospitality, that I may welcome Thee,

………………………….a heart of hope, that I may trust in Thee.

by Robert F. Morneau

A Couple Crucial Characteristics of the Christian Church

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“We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;” ~ 2 Thessalonians 1:3

This verse has some interesting omissions. Paul is compelled to thank God for the the Thessalonians because of their abundant faith and brotherly love. Notice however, that no mention is made of the programs offered by the Thessalonian church, no mention is made of their size, no mention is made of their worship style, no mention is made of the inspiration-ability of the sermons. What inspired Paul was simply their growing faith and abundant love.

To be clear, this doesn’t mean that all the things that Paul did NOT mention are completely irrelevant. Rather, the point is that the hallmarks of a thriving church are its faith and love. Therefore,

Whether a church has lots of great programs or not, it can be a blessing because of its faith and brotherly love.
Whether a church is large or small, it can be a blessing because of its faith and brotherly love.
Whether a church has modern worship or traditional worship, great music or no music, it can be a blessing because of its faith and brotherly love.
Whether a church has lots of great programs or not, it can be a blessing because of its faith and brotherly love.
Whether a church has fire-breathing sermons or scholarly sermons, long sermons or short sermons, it can be a blessing because of its faith and brotherly love.

The core of the church is faith in God (exemplified by works), and brotherly love demonstrated by unity (not uniformity); that is what God is looking for. So let’s not get distracted by things that are of lesser importance.

“A new commandment I give unto you, That yes love one another; as I have loved you, that yes also love one another. By this shall all men know that yes are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” ~ John 13:34-35

“Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.” ~ John 17:20-23, 26

Belief is Only the Beginning

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“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” ~ John 8:31-32

In this verse, notice that Jesus was addressing a group that “believed on Him”. He was not speaking to atheists, agnostics or to the indifferent. He was speaking to a group that believed that He was The Messiah: the Saviour sent from God. Nevertheless, Jesus made it clear that belief alone does not qualify anyone as a disciple. Only those who “continue in my [Jesus’] word” are His disciples.

To “continue” in Jesus’ word means to apply Scripture to our lives. Some had believed on Him and followed Him: Jesus has made an impact on their lives. But that was not enough, if that “belief” in Jesus was real, rather than ephemeral, it must then have a lasting, sustained effect: It must result in the continual daily application His word to a Believer’s life.

To observe the truth of Jesus’ teaching, just look around. There are many who acknowledge that Jesus is the Saviour, who subscribe to all the basic tenets of the Christian faith. However, it stops there and goes no further; it has little discernible impact on their lives.

If all we have is a belief that doesn’t change us, if we fail to continue in Jesus words, then we have nothing. Belief means nothing unless it leads us to transformation. James put it this way:

“What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 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? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone…
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” ~ James 2:14-20

It wasn’t lucifer’s lack of belief that got him thrown out of heaven, it was his unwillingness to conform to the will of God: he wanted to be “free” to go his own way and do his own thing: he wanted to call the shots: lucifer refused to “continue” in God’s Word!

“O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.” ~ Psalm 34:8

Believing in Jesus is notthe hard part, that’s not what stops us from truly coming to God. What prevents us from becoming disciples is our unwillingness to apply God’s Word fully and continually to our every aspect of lives. Many of us believe in Jesus, but we want to continue in our own word, we want to do things the way we like it, we want to be “free”, just like lucifer.

However, Jesus turns our notion of freedom upside down. Because, the fruit of continuing in Jesus’ words is freedom. As we conform/submit our lives to the Word of God, we learn the truth.

We learn that happiness does not come by feeding our bodily appetites… and so we no longer have to serve them. We learn that earthly treasure is worthless in the (present and future) Kingdom of God; we learn that God will supply all our needs… so we are free to pursue Spiritual wealth instead: We don’t have to be slaves to the almighty dollar… And so on.

In other words, instead of restricting us, discipleship frees us. The path to the freedom we seek is through Jesus’ words! As we continue in Jesus’ Word we become disciples and as we become disciples we discover freedom through the truth of Jesus’ Word.

Belief is the beginning, freedom is the end and discipleship (continuing in Jesus’ words) is the vehicle that gets us from start to finish.

The Requirements for Righteousness

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“He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” ~ Micah 6:8

Whenever one might wonder the secret of living righteously–how we should live–this verse gives the answer. It (the last clause of the verse) might be rephrased this way:

DO RIGHT.
Be patient when others fail to DO RIGHT.
Follow the ONLY One who ALWAYS will DO RIGHT.

The verse wisely carries us through a progression that challenges us first to do what is right, to “do justly”. This Scripture outlines for us what God wants us to do, it explains how a righteous man/woman should live.

However, ALL Believers seeking to follow God quickly realize how difficult it is to live in obedience to Him, to His Word. Our inner lusts drive us away from the right course The Holy Spirit shows us in God’s Word. We find life is a constant challenge to subjugate our will to God’s Will. A challenge we often lose. We end up like Paul declaring:

“For I delight in the law of God after 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 shall deliver me from the body of this death?” ~ Romans 7:22-24

Despite sincere (and not-so-sincere) effort we often get it wrong. We know what to do, but somehow we often fail to do it.

The second step of the progression is to recognize that others, our brothers/sisters also go through a similar struggle. Therefore, rather than condemnation, we should readily offer them mercy. Just as we wrestle our own personal set of weaknesses, so do they. If we were to live a day in their shoes would we do any better? Despite our many advantages, we haven’t mastered our own weaknesses and lusts. Why should we expect our brothers/sisters to manage theirs?

Indeed, sometimes our only achievement is to hide our sinful thoughts and deeds better than others do. As Jesus explained,

“Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” ~ Matthew 5:27-29

Consequently, a primary hallmark of life of a believer is mercy. We see in the failings of our brothers/sisters our own struggles with sin and mercy comes flooding out of our bowels because if they are condemned then so are we.

“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering” ~ Colossians 3:12

The third and final step in the progression is to walk with the only One who Always Does Right: God. As we recognize our failings, our abject inability to do justly, we are impelled to draw more closely to The Just One. As we recognize our need, and our brother’s/sister’s need for mercy, we MUST draw closer to the source of mercy.

How can I survive on my own?
I can’t make it all alone.
I have tried to do right, but I fail over and over again.
When will I overcome my weakness? When? When!
I look to my brother, and he is struggling too.
Lord, have mercy on me and my brother we NEED You.

Moreover, as Scripture reminds us:

“For the law made nothing perfect [We can’t Do Right on our own even when we know what to do], but the bringing in of a better hope [Salvation through Jesus Christ] did; by the which we [Me and my brother] draw nigh unto [Walk with] God.” ~ Hebrews 7:19

“Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you…” ~ James 4:8a

We KNOW what God wants from us… By His Grace and Mercy let us (my brother and me) draw ever so near to Him so that we can finally do it!

Reorientation from Remuneration Frustration

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“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” ~ Matthew 6:19-21

When thinking about this passage it is easy to apply it to the “haves”, to those who have earthly treasure. Conversely, if we consider ourselves as members of the “have-nots”, it becomes more difficult. If we are struggling financially, it is easy to dismiss this verse as a principle for others to follow: surely Jesus wasn’t talking about us.

However, Jesus wasn’t just speaking to the wealthy. Most of Jesus’ followers were ordinary folk: peasants who struggled to ‘make ends meet’ under the oppressive Roman government, which overtaxed their livelihood (Matthew 17:24-27), and the oppressive religious leaders (the Pharisees), who overtaxed their worship (Matthew 23:1-4). Most of Jesus’ followers didn’t have much earthly wealth to speak of. Why then, did Jesus give them, and us, this instruction?

To answer this question, consider that much of Jesus’ teaching focuses on our attitudes. The famous ‘Sermon on the Mount’ (Matthew 5-7), from which out text is taken, begins with nine ‘beautiful attitudes’ (i.e., beatitudes). Therefore, Jesus was not just talking about how we should treat earthly treasure (money, wealth). Rather, He was more broadly talking about our attitude to earthly treasure (money, wealth). In other words, many of us do not store up money/wealth/treasure ONLY because we don’t have any to store up. But, if we did have money/wealth/treasure to store up, we would!

Jesus, then, is showing us that we need to change our attitude to material wealth, whether or not we have any.

This is a big problem among Believers today. Many of us (author included) become frustrated with our lack of earthly treasure (money, wealth). We wonder why God hasn’t blessed us with the things that “moth” and “rust doth corrupt”. Somehow, we fail to recognize that God has lovingly removed from our lives the temptation to accumulate wealth unto ourselves. Indeed, we fail to see that our very desire for material wealth demonstrates that we are focused on earthly treasure rather than on the “treasures in heaven” that Jesus instructs us to hold dear.

Whether rich, or poor, or somewhere in between, let us heed Jesus’ command: Let us learn to value heavenly treasures (humility, mercy, meekness, purity, etc.—Matthew 5:3-12) over earthly treasures (money, wealth, stuff). Moreover, when heavenly treasures are all we have left, let us recognize God’s merciful hand and REJOICE!

All have Knowledge, Some have Salvation, None have Excuse

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“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world” ~ Titus 2:11-12

The implications of this verse are truly amazing. It declares that ALL the goodness, ALL the morality that is seen in EVERY man, woman and child ever born and to be born comes from the Grace of God! Therefore, EVERYONE in the past and in the future (1) has had a personal interaction with God (knows God exists) and (2) is aware of the truth of God (knows God is Righteous). In other words:

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” ~ Romans 1:18-21

NOTE: “…so that they are without excuse” (Romans 1:20b). There is no excuse for not knowing God. None!

Therefore, knowledge of God and Godliness is not what the world lacks; rather the world lacks Salvation. As our text shows, the Grace that brings salvation is the same Grace the imbued knowledge. Knowledge is given, but salvation is offered.

To understand this, consider Cornelius who is described as a God-fearing man who knew nothing of salvation in Jesus (Acts 10:1-8). Therefore, God sent Peter (Acts 10:9-48) to tell Cornelius the Good News of redemption through Jesus Christ. Despite living in a largely pagan society, Cornelius responded positively to the Grace of God working within him, making him aware of God and God’s cal to righteousness. Cornelius accepted the truth revealed by God’s grace and sought to worship God, and God led him into salvation.

Therefore, mankind’s problem isn’t fundamentally one of knowledge. For, as our text points out, God has already revealed Himself to each of us. Rather the issue that besets the world is one of will. We know God exists, we know what is right. But will we seek God? Will we humbly accept His Way and His Salvation?

Consequently, (with due respect to Christian apologists) the evangelical work of the Church is not proving the existence of God. Rather the evangelical work of the Church is revealing the saving work of Jesus Christ by both word and deed (Matthew 26:18-20, Matthew 5:16). The Light that is Jesus must shine through Believers. So that those who are willing to surrender their will to God’s Will, can find The Way to Salvation (John 14:6), just like Cornelius: No excuses!

Life is in The Light

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“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” ~ John 8:12

This is a popular passage of Scripture with far-reaching implications for Believers. Firstly, and perhaps most plainly, Jesus outlines for Believers how to avoid stumbling: follow Christ. This point is not as facile as it seems, because the ongoing, persistent , unrelenting clamor baying at every Christian is to follow the principles of the world around us.

For example, we are constantly being told to get physical exercise and eat healthily: but God’s word tells us that bodily exercise profits little; instead our focus must be on Spiritual exercise and ‘eating’ the Word of God. And hour in God’s Word has far more benefit than an hour in the gym. Moreover, the more we grow spiritually, the less prone we are to give into the desires of the flesh, including overeating.

Another example, the world tells us to “take care of number one”, but God tells us to put ourselves LAST and take care of others first. Therefore as we follow the worlds edicts we stumble around in the traps hidden therein. The world says, divorce if you are unhappy with your spouse, God’s word tells us not to separate what God has joined together. How many homes have been wrecked by focus on self-fulfillment? How many marriages could have been saved by focus on God-fulfillment instead?

We stumble around, falling into trap after trap, pothole after pothole, ditch after ditch, because we fail to follow Christ, we fail to walk in The Light. To avoid the innumerable pitfalls of life we must constantly reject the principles of the world. Rather, we must learn, inculcate and follow earnestly the principle of Jesus Christ as presented in the Bible, the Word of God.

A second, related, implication of the text is that those who walk in darkness, because they have no direct access to the light (i.e., those who reject or do not know Christ), MUST stumble; they have no choice. Therefore, Believers should EXPECT the world around us to ‘decay’. Individuals, groups, and governments of ALL ‘stripes’ will ALL tend to make foolish choices because they are walking in darkness with no direct access to the light of Jesus Christ.

“O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD.” ~ Isaiah 2:5

This is a crucial point for Believers, because we often get caught up in an ‘expectation game’. For example, we follow political leaders/movements hoping for a change or some improvement. But we are frequently disappointed (or at a minimum ‘under-whelmed’) by their failure to effect the transformations we had hoped for. Instead they often make decisions that patently unwise: the y often stumble around because they are not walking in the light!

Similarly, we sometimes get into ill-advised relationships with non-believers only to be left disappointed, broken-hearted and/or bankrupted by their repeated stumbles. Believers must never expect those who don’t believe to do anything else but stumble around in error, repeatedly making bad choices, because they are NOT walking in The Light, they are not following Jesus Christ.

Finally, every Believer must consider his/her role in the world. Jesus is The Light, and we have The Light inside us. It is God’s plan for The Light that is Jesus to shine through us into the dark world in which we live (Matthew 5:16). It is critical, therefore, for every Believer to recognize him/herself as a “Light bringer” (i.e., a lamp). In every situation that we find ourselves, it is our calling to “bring the Light”.

A Believer in a boardroom must bring The Light of Jesus Christ to the decisions being made by that board. A Believer teaching in a classroom must bring more that merely the curriculum: by word and deed that Believer must bring the Light of Jesus Christ to the students. Wherever we are and whatever we are doing, Believers must bring The Light to help those with no direct access to The Light avoid stumbling.

“For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light” ~ Ephesians 5:8

Believers must show those walking in darkness that there is a better way. Consequently, it is folly for Believers to only have Christian friends; Jesus was the friend of the publicans and sinners. It is folly for Believers to spend most of their time only with other Believers; Jesus spent most of His ministry reaching out to those who would later reject Him.

Believers must choose to go where the darkness is darkest, because that is where the light is needed the most! Conversely, when Believers do assemble in church (as we should), our church services should be a meeting of floodlights on full power. So that every sin, every sinful way, is revealed.

Ananias and Sapphira could not hide their sins because the light of the church was too bright! It is folly for our churches to be places where wolves can hide in the shadows waiting to raven the sheep. If believers bring The Light of Christ with them there will be NO shadows in our churches; and sin will have to place to hide.

Brothers, Sisters, let us walk in the Light of Christ, rejecting the darkness offered by the world. Instead let us shine The Light everywhere it is needed and into the life of everyone who needs it. Amen!