Developing a Taste for Truth

     When I was a little girl, there were certain foods I just did not care for.  I disliked tomatoes, pizza, and cauliflower.  I even avoided ketchup if at all possible.  Gradually, I developed a love for all these things over time as I was exposed to various recipes.  In high school, nothing tasted more delicious than a pizza or french fries and ketchup.  Isn't it funny how we have to develop a taste for some items while we instantly love others?

     Unfortunately in the spiritual realm, we are all born with a sin nature.  We are much more comfortable with our flesh than being obedient to God.  When the Holy Spirit awakens us and we come to know Christ as our Savior and Lord, we take on an entirely new set of tastes.  No longer do the sins of the flesh taste delicious to us as they once did.  Oh, there is still temptation, but we are now free to choose the best spiritual nourishment.

     In the Book of Psalms, we read this in Psalm 119:103:  "How sweet are Your Words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!"  As a new babe in Christ, we had to learn how to eat and digest the Words of God.  It was not instantaneous, but slowly we developed a hunger for God's Word.  The 

more we read it on a daily basis the sweeter the taste of His instruction to us becomes.

     I compare this whole process to what happened in a big diet change I made over the last six months.  Having discovered that I had a blockage in a major artery of my heart which needed to be remedied, I knew that some changes had to take place in my daily diet.  Trust me, this was not easy to do as I had grown up eating what I thought was a healthy diet.  I took a food program led by a doctor and his wife which looked at research concerning diet.  Along with the classes, they provided healthy food for those of us taking the class so we could learn how to prepare it and grow accustomed to some new tastes.  After completion, I went through my cupboards and my refrigerator removing items that were not healthy for me.  I replaced them with the healthier vegetables and fruits.  I had to learn to cook differently and I had to change my tastes.  After years of bad habits, this was not easy.  However, I have been determined to improve my overall health so I can enjoy my family for as along as the Lord allows.  Since beginning this program in September, I have remained on course, and I am enjoying a whole new way of eating.

     In the same way, we need to develop new habits so we fully acquire the taste for God's Word.  When Jesus prayed for the disciples and all who would come after them in His high priestly prayer, He asked the Father to sanctify us in the truth because God's Word is truth (John 17:17, my paraphrase).  So we have to stop and ask ourselves, "How much time do we spend in the Word of God?"  Do we try to read daily?  Certainly there are many good books out there about God that can encourage us in our walk but they can never replace the Bible when it comes to truth telling.

     One of the dangers I see today is that believers often spend more time reading what someone else's experience with God has been rather than spending time in the Word.  Man is fallible while God is infallible.  What a man writes out of his/her own experience may miss the mark as we are not perfect.  However, we know that "All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17).  Therefore, knowing that God's Word can instruct us, we need to develop our taste buds for more not less of His Word each day.  It is like taking a medicine critical for our health.  We dare not miss a dose!

     There are many fine Christian writers out there, but we need to look upon their work in light of what Scriptures teach us.  As we do this, we can be certain to maintain balance in our walk.  Digesting the Word of God first will guide us into all truth for His Word is truth.  Be thankful that we have the Holy Spirit living within us to teach us as we read, pray and contemplate the Bible.  Remember, His Word is a light unto our path.  Selah!

During Lent Consider: Are We That Addicted?

     Trust me...I love my IPhone, IPAD, IPOD and MacBook.  I have been a techno Mom from the word go and now I am a techno Grandmother as well.  However, there are some issues that concern me about all our wonderful gadgetry.  As I was driving home the other day, I had a very close call.  Another driver began drifting into my lane causing me to nearly run off the road.  They corrected their vehicle just in time and guess what?  They were glued to their cell phone like their life depended on it.  I took a deep breath and thanked the Lord for His protection.  These types of incidents are not isolated.  Nearly every day, I see people driving their vehicles with a cell phone seemingly stuck to their face.  Can't calls wait until they arrive home?  Don't they have a voicemail that will allow them to return the call at a better time?  I understand emergencies and the need to connect when something has happened, but often, there is no urgency to the phone conversation.  It is something that could have waited for another time.  However, what was even more surprising to me was something I witnessed at a recent conference.

     When my husband and I attend any gathering of Christians for the purpose of fellowship around the Word of God, we turn our cell phone ringers off while the speakers  are presenting their talk.  A

couple of years ago at the Ligonier Conference, we were amazed at the number of people who came to the sessions with their cell phones on.  I observed a fellow texting during the entire presentation by a speaker.  Another person worked on his laptop.  I admit I had my IPAD, but I was doing some note taking on it so I could review what the speaker said following his talk.

     Quite frankly, I think I must be old school.  I grew up without cell phones, IPAD's, laptops, and even computers.  I actually learned how to sit through a talk and take lots of notes so I could remember what was said.  Now that I have and enjoy using the modern technology...I still take notes and listen carefully to a speaker.  I have to wonder, though, are we that addicted to technology that we cannot sit for an hour and listen to a speaker without checking our email, playing a game or texting a friend?  Will the world self-destruct during the time we are not on the "NET"? 

     In Scripture, we see a similar scene being played out in the life of the disciples.  They may not have had electronic distractions, but they were not able to watch with their Lord and Master as He prayed in the garden.  Mark 14:32-41 describes the scene:  "And they went to a place called Gethsemane.  And He said to His disciples, 'Sit here while I pray.'  And He took with Him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled.  And He said to them 'My soul is very sorrowful, even to death.  Remain here and 'watch'" (vs. 32-34).  What transpires next is His heartfelt cry to the Father concerning what He was to face; yet in the end, He yielded in perfect obedience His will to the Father's.  Verse 37- 41 describes what happened next:  "And He came and found them sleeping, and He said to Peter, 'Simon are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour?  Watch and pray that you may not come into temptation.  The spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak.  And again He went away and prayed, saying the same words.  And again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy, and they did not know what to answer Him.  And He came a third time and said to them, 'Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough; the hour has come.  The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners."

     Jesus had made a simple request for His disciples to watch and pray with Him.  He was in deep turmoil over what He would have to face.  However, three times in a row, He returned to find them asleep.  This occurred right after Peter had protested that he would never deny Jesus even if it meant he had to die with him.  Would we do any better than these disciples?  I do not think so.

     Some at the conference we attended could not even sit one hour to hear a speaker without clicking away on their cell phone to send text messages or "tweet".  It made me wonder why they had spent the time and money to come when they seemed so far removed mentally from what was being said.  I had to wonder if, indeed, technology and electronic gadgetry is displacing God?  Are we becoming so attached to it that we do not have time to concentrate on a church service, conference speaker or musician?

     Obviously, I love the internet and the ability to communicate with people all over this world.  It can be a marvelous tool for reaching others very quickly.  Nevertheless, it can also be an addiction and temptation that keeps us so preoccupied that we do not have time for God and His Word.  I am as guilty as the next person for wasting my time in fruitless game playing, or some other activity.

     Jesus told His disciples to watch and pray that they may not fall into temptation.  He further reminded them that the flesh was weak even though the spirit was willing.  This holds true for us as well.  We need to take some time to evaluate our use or over use of our electronic devices.  Certainly, this is especially true while we drive.  In addition, we also have to keep in mind that a face to face encounter with another human being is far more effective than just sending them a text message.  Our goal should be to spend quality time first with the Lord and second with our family and church family.  Nothing is as meaningful as that.  A text message cannot give a hug.  An email cannot replace a smile, and a phone call cannot connect as well as an eye to eye conversation.  Lets keep these things in mind the next time we attend church, a Bible study, or a Christian conference.  May we be watching for Jesus and praying for  His soon return.  Selah!

Picture courtesy of  K Ballard on Wiki Commons

It's All in How You Say It

         For many of us, communication is a hard thing to do well.  Yet it is vitally important in healthy relationships, business and our church fellowships.  If we are going to live in the love of Christ, we must be able to communicate with clarity to others.  Unfortunately, our schools today have cut many of the speech, and debate classes which were once a staple in a well-rounded education.  As a result, we find that many people have trouble being able to clearly ask for what they want or need.  In addition, lack of communication can lead to misunderstanding, hurt feelings and as the Bible warns us "vain imaginations".  It is not only idle hands that are the devil's workshop.  An overactive imagination fueled by lack of communication is also a leading cause for broken relationships, church splits, and emotional wounds.
     When we look in God's Word, we find many verses that pertain to communication.  James writes a good deal about the tongue and what a world of trouble it can cause (read James 3).  He rightly says that with our mouth we can bless someone in one breath and curse them in the next.  Of course, this is the height of hypocrisy and further proof of our sin nature.  As Christians, however, we are to be growing in sanctification daily and guarding our conversations so it they may be edifying.   Paul told us to speak with one another using words of encouragement and to sing Psalms, hymns and make music to the Lord in our hearts (Colossians 3:16 and Ephesians 5:19).  Obviously, when we are speaking Scripture to one another, we cannot be engaged in unkind conversation or gossip.
     Another feature of good communication comes when we are honest with others.  We are told in Proverbs 26:28:  "A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin."  What God desires is that our conversation consist of truth spoken in love.  A great example is what Jesus taught about how to deal with a brother who is caught in sin.  Jesus taught that if someone sins against us, we are to go and speak with this brother.  If he listens, the conversation was a success and the brother is restored.  However, the person may refuse to listen.  Therefore, the next step would be to take two or three witnesses with us.  At times, this can clarify communication on the issues at hand.  If the brother still will not listen, then the matter is to go before the church.  Ultimately. the goal is to communicate in love so that a brother or sister can be won back (Matthew 18:15-17).  Notice as you read this passage of Scripture that our Lord never said we are to talk about the person behind their back but only to their face.  Restoration cannot occur without communication and understanding.
     Because we are Christ's ambassadors in this world, our conduct and especially our speech should be seasoned with grace.  There should not be slander, gossip, lies, off color jokes, or filthy language present among us (Ephesians 5:4).  Can we do this perfectly?  I wish I could say we could but it is impossible without the help of the Holy Spirit.  Likewise, the more we saturate our mind with the things of God as found in His Word the greater our success will be in communicating with others the true character of our Lord as well as His love.
     When I consider the importance of what I say, I think of two verses which I want to leave you with to think on.  The first is found in Matthew 12:34 where Jesus is addressing the Pharisees.  He says:  "You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of."  It is frightening to think that the words we speak come from our heart.  They reveal who we really are.  The second set of verses are found in Matthew 12:36-37:  "36"But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. 37"For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."  This is why communication matters!  Let us strive to watch our words and the way in which we speak to one another that we can build each other up for God's glory!  Selah!