The Dirtmaster Special

Murphy with his favorite toy

     Our family pet is a most beloved Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier named Murphy, a.k.a. The Dirtmaster.  We call him that because he seems to attract sand, sand spurs, clinging seeds and almost anything that can catch on his soft hair.  When he returns from a walk, I can tell that he has explored the weeds and tall grass carefully for all that falls off on my floors.  Seems like I major in sweeping here at our home to get up all the sand almost every day.  Of course, Florida is one big sand dune and even though we have grass, Murphy can find areas in and around bushes that are filled with black sand.  He often comes in with his legs covered in the stuff.  Even though he creates extra work, we would not trade him for the world.
     At times, I wonder if God sees us in much the same way.  We can often wander into the weeds of life and step into a patch of thorns or sand spurs.  Certainly the Apostle Paul spent a good deal of
time warning Christians about all the pitfalls in this world.  We are saved by grace, washed by the blood of Christ, but we still carry about us the old man of the flesh that likes to wallow in the dirt.  As I see it, we have to make a choice every morning to put on the mind of Christ and be renewed in His Spirit even before we begin the day's activities.
     In the letter to the Ephesians, Paul contrasts the ungodly with those who have come to Christ.
Ephesians 4:20-24 tells us what we must do each day:  "But that is not the way you learned Christ! - assuming that you have heard about Him and were taught in Him as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness."  We can either allow the old self, with which we are very familiar, to run the show or we can consciously put on the new self in Christ.  We are no longer in bondage to the old man by the blood of Christ.  Before, we had no ability to walk away from sin and evil desires.  Now, by the grace of God, we have the Holy Spirit living in us to empower us to walk in holiness daily.  We don't have to wallow in the dirt any more.  We can wear our robe of righteousness.
     However, there will be those days and times when we allow the old self back in the driver's seat.  This is when we become human dirt masters carrying the grime of sin with us wherever we go.  When this happens, we do have an advocate who pleads for us before the Father in heaven (our Lord Jesus Christ).  I John 1:9 has the remedy:  "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  We don't have to wait to be made right with God.  He hears us when we call to Him with a repentant heart in the name of Jesus Christ.  Now while the process is easy it can also be messy because sin brings with it consequences.  While God forgives the sinner, there are some things that cannot be "unsaid", "unseen" or "undone".  This is why we should start each day with the prayer that God would renew us in the spirit of our minds that we may be transformed in our thinking.  We must also declare to the Lord that we are putting on the new man and putting off the old.  With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can walk in the light as He is in the light.  No where is this promised to be an easy walk, but we know that it is a joy filled walk with the Lord by our side.
     If Murphy, our dog, is the dirt master than I am the bath master in charge of keeping him clean, groomed and brushed.  I take care of him because I love him.  I do think God looks at us when we get in the weeds and shakes His head too as we come trudging home with all that dirt.  But like the father who welcomes the prodigal son, God is more than ready to clean us up and set us back on the path if we will confess our sins and humble ourselves before Him.  Let us resolve to put on the new self each day and be renewed in the spirit of our minds so that we may bring glory to His name.  Remember...we are no longer slaves to the old self and sin!  Selah!

Cleansing the Temple of God

     Today, as I was reading John 2
:13-17, I learned something new that I had never thought about before.  The passage deals with Jesus cleansing the Temple at the time of the Passover early in His ministry. According to the John MacArthur Study Bible footnote on John 2:15, Jesus cleansed the Temple twice at the beginning and towards the end of His ministry.  He writes:  "As John recorded this cleansing of the temple at the beginning of Jesus' ministry, the synoptic Gospels record a temple cleansing at the end of Jesus' ministry during the final Passover week before Jesus' crucifixion  The historical circumstances and literary contexts of the two temple cleansings differ so widely that attempts to equate the two are unsuccessful.  Furthermore, that two cleansings occurred is entirely consistent with the overall context of Jesus' ministry, for the Jewish nation as a whole never recognized Jesus' authority as Messiah."  This is the first time I had heard about two cleansings of the Temple taking place, and in relation to our own approach to worship, there are some things we can learn.
     First, Jesus drove out those who were making a profit on selling animals and changing foreign currency because they were cheating the people in the very House of Worship which God had appointed.  These merchants knew that devout Jews from around the known world would come to Jerusalem to sacrifice at the Passover so they took advantage of the situation.  Jesus told these people, "Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a house of trade" (vs. 16).  He was zealous for the holiness and reverence that was due to God the Father.  His Temple was to be a place where worship occurred rather than a common place for trade to take place.  I wonder at times if we approach worship with a holy attitude in our preparation or is it just another place to go on Sunday?
How often do we take time to drive out the extraneous thoughts, worries and attitudes that keep us from entering His presence with praise?  Are we making Him the center of our concentration as we listen to the preached Word and sing our hymns?  If not, perhaps it is time for us to do some self examination before we attend worship service.
     In his letter to the Corinthians (I Cor. 6:19-20), the Apostle Paul reminds believers that we are the Temple of the Holy Spirit:  " 19Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.…"  These are important words for us to consider as we prepare for worship.  Our blessed Lord lives within us and therefore, we must be careful to keep our Temple clean from sin.  God wants us to be holy even as He is holy.
     Years ago when our children were growing up, it was usually a mad dash to church on Sunday mornings.  Someone could not find a sock, shoe or other apparel.  Then, in the car, there might be a disagreement between siblings or some other distraction.  By the time we arrived, we often felt frazzled to say the least.  So, we tried different avenues to calm the situation like laying clothes out the night before, praying on the way to church or playing praise music as we drove.  It certainly helped and even today, my husband and I often listen to a sermon or hymns before we go to church preparing our spirit to receive from the Lord.
     Cleansing the Temple of our hearts and minds even as Jesus drove out the moneychangers and merchants is essential to upholding reverence for our God in worship.  Adding to or taking away from what God has ordained in church worship can lead us astray from the Lord's best.  Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones made a great observation about worship in an article published in a blog called "Growing in Grace".  I will leave the link here for you to follow (https://growingingrace.blog/2019/09/23/lloyd-jones-on-numbers/ ).  May we seek always to honor the Lord by making certain our temple is cleansed before we come together for worship and as we walk with Him each day.  Selah!

The Whole Truth

     My grandfather was a good criminal attorney, and I remember going to some of his trials and hearing the oath given to witnesses before they entered the stand.  "Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?"  The bailiffs question usually was followed by an "I do", but in today's world, we aren't certain that truth means as much as it used to.  What we see and hear in the news can be slanted, misrepresented or totally false.
     For example, today a commentator said that a major news network put out a video of an "alleged" town in Syria being attacked by Turkish troops.  It gave the appearance of a horrible situation.  Come to find out, someone recognized the scenery in the video and did a little research.  As it turns out, the "so-called" village was really a gun range in Kentucky, and the video was shot in 2016.  The story was run to give an impression that was false.  So what can we believe when we watch the news?  What is true and what is truth?
     Jesus put this question to Pontius Pilate when He was brought to stand before him.  John 18:37-38 says:  7Then Pilate said to Jesus, 'So you are a king, are you?' Jesus answered, 'You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.' 38Pilate said to him, 'What is truth?' After saying this, he went back out to the Jews and told them, 'I find no guilt in him'”  For Pilate, there was no absolute truth...only expedient truth.  It was relative depending on the need of the moment.  In Pilate's eyes, Jesus was innocent, but for the Jews, Jesus was guilty.  So, Pilate washed his hands of the matter and let the Jews declare Him guilty.  This kind of approach to the truth is very dangerous.  In reality, it is contradictory.  Without a solid foundation upon which to base our conclusions, we might as well be standing on quick sand.  However, God has laid a sure foundation for truth which is based upon His Word.
     Psalm 19 clearly points this out in verses 7-11:
       "The law of the Lord is perfect,
        reviving the soul;
        the testimony of the Lord is sure,
        making wise the simple;
        the precepts of the Lord are right,
        rejoicing the heart;
       the commandment of the Lord is pure,
        enlightening the eyes;
       the fear of the Lord is clean,
        enduring forever;
       the rules of the Lord are true,
        and righteous altogether.
       More to be desired are they than gold,
       even much fine gold;
       sweeter also than honey
       and drippings of the honeycomb.
      Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
       in keeping them there is great reward.
   
     This clear passage shows us that God's Law is perfect, His testimony is sure, His precepts are right and His commandment is pure.  We can trust them as the bottom line for our life and conduct in this world.  Filling our minds with the Scripture on a daily basis renews our minds and revives our souls.  Our hearts rejoice at truth and our understanding of life in this fallen world is enlightened.  Isn't this what we want and need?  How else can we make sense of our purpose, worth and significance unless we look at who we are in light of what God has said about us?    He is our Creator and knows us more intimately than we know ourselves.  The Psalmist concludes by saying that we are warned by God's Word and when we keep His commands, we will be rewarded.  Without a solid, unchanging foundation, anything goes, and it seems that this is precisely where our world system is today.
     Satan, the Father of lies, is ruler of this fallen world where truth is relative and there are no absolutes.  Yet, Jesus came to bear witness to the truth and forever defeat sin and death by His atoning sacrifice.  When we spend more time in His Word and less time on the nightly news, we will find that God will revive us as we seek His truth.  Don't look for truth in any other place!  Selah!

The Secret of Contentment

     As a young mother, I will never forget a conversation I had with my husband one day.  I wanted the house to be immaculate just like a friend's home.  The thing is she had a maid who worked for her and so her home was always pristine.  I tried to keep things neat and tidy but with a small child and another on the way it was difficult.  When I started complaining about how messy things were, my husband said he had the solution.  He said the answer was to have a home across the street with a tunnel between our real home and this perfectly kept, undisturbed home.  Then, when company came, I could entertain them in the tidy home keeping them from seeing the normal mess that occurs in a home with children.  Somehow, I did not find that an amusing answer, but I knew he was right.  I was demanding perfection, and I was not being content in the circumstances of life.  After all, our home might be messy but it was clean.  Whether it is a spotless home or something else, we all need to learn how to be content.
     In his letter to the Philippians (4:11-13), the Apostle Paul tells the believers, from his own experience, what contentment is really all about.  "Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."  Paul is not patting himself on the back here but giving the credit for his peace of heart to the Lord.  Because Christ lives big in his life, he has found it possible to accept whatever comes his way.  Oh what a victory this is!  How many people suffer an unhappy life simply because they want things they cannot afford or have at this time.
     Look at television commercials.  If we drive a certain car or live in a certain neighborhood, our value is increased by worldly standards. Then, each year, we are tantalized by newer and better cell phones, laptops, tablets or some other gadget that will make our lives easier.  In reality, the advertisers know that each of us has a void inside.  We want to be popular, significant, attractive.  They appeal to this need we have, but once we get the item, we are disappointed because it doesn't deliver what we really need.  Paul addressed this in his letter to young Pastor Timothy.
     I Timothy 6:6-12 reads:  "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses."  In this passage, Paul reminds Timothy that our greatest joy and contentment come from a living relationship with Jesus Christ.  Money and wealth can quickly disappear, and the Apostle reminds Timothy that we come into the world with nothing and will leave the same way.  Striving after all the toys in the world will not give us the fulfillment that only Christ offers.  He is our significance and our worth.  He makes us new inside, and gives us a peace that allows us to face the good times and the bad.  Since our salvation is secure in Christ, we need never fear losing it the way we can lose other things.
     Cell phones can be lost or broken.  Cars get old and need to be replaced or repaired.  Houses need constant attention to stay in good condition, but "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8) .  This is why Paul could be content no matter what happened to him each day.  This is what Paul wants for Timothy and for each believer.  God is our provider, and He knows what we need...not what we "want" but what we need.  Therefore, we have to learn that the secret of contentment is to rest in Christ and know that He has us right where he wants us at this time in life.  Let us learn to be content in all circumstances that we might glorify the Lord in all we do.  Selah!
 

What's On Your Mind?

     Lately, the news has not been very positive in our nation.  It seems that division rather than harmony is the trend, and we hear about it 24/7.  There was a time when national news came to us for about an hour each evening.  Now, however, an entire day can be filled with news and opinion.  Listening to this as a steady diet can be discouraging, disappointing and a waste of time.  So this morning, I was discussing with my dear husband that I needed a break from this evening bombardment.  We would turn off the news/opinion and watch a good movie.  He agreed and quoted a great Scripture that really stuck in my heart.  Then, when I went to read my devotions this morning, the same Scripture was quoted.  God's providence, no doubt!
     In his letter to the Philippians 4:8, the Apostle Paul penned these inspired words:  "Finally brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy, meditate on these things."  What a contrast this is compared to the daily news outlets filled with grim details of one crime or another!  Yet, we might wonder how do we find all these good things to think about that Paul references in his letter?
     First and foremost, we must look no further than the Bible.  A steady diet of God's Word leads us to truth about God, about us and what He has accomplished for us.  His character is embedded into every page so that we might grow to know Him.  His commandments are laid out before us that we might learn how to live a holy life of obedience by the power of the Holy Spirit.  His promises encourage us to know that we are never alone for He keeps watch over us.  Of course, my most favorite place to look is in the book of Psalms. Here, we find rejoicing, praise, and many promises of God.  We can graze on these thoughts and never tire.  Isn't it better to wake up in the morning with a verse of praise on your mind rather than the dread of what might happen in the national news today?
After all, we are citizens of heaven where we will spend eternity quite unlike this world where we face sorrow, sickness, death and sadness.
     Secondly, what we think about the most influences who we become.  Each day our minds are filled with many thoughts.  We need to discard those thoughts that tear down our faith and meditate on those that increase our faith.  Too much T.V., radio,  podcasts or even social media can weigh our spirit down.  Scripture teaches that we are to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind and soul (Matthew 22:37).  Therefore we need to bring our thoughts under His Lordship every day.
     Finally, we need to remember that we are in a battle against the Enemy of our soul.  He cannot steal us from the Lord but he can take us out of action by wounding us or causing us to run down
a bunny trail.  The more we grow in the knowledge of the Lord and His Word the stronger we become as we face daily trials.  God gave the commission to share the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ with those around us.  If our mind is cluttered with "junk", we won't have the right words to say at the right time.  Instead, we will be worried about the "news" of the day or what someone said about us on social media.  So what is our take away from all this?
     Taking Paul's advice is a good start.  Begin our days with God's Word and end it the same way.  Talk to Him in the Morning and in the evening and any time in between.  Think on His promises...not the promises made by politicians who cannot deliver.  Most of all, take a break from electronics for a while.  Focus on the Lord and what He has done for us!  In fact, I believe that if we all walked away from the T.V. for a week we would come back to find much the same headlines like a soap opera.    Only God offers the "Good News" and the truth.  This is what should be on our minds!  Selah!