Guarding Our Faith

     In high school, I had a wonderful teacher who told us to approach news shows, magazines and newspapers with caution.  He said we needed to read more than one source in order to get a balanced view because everyone writes or speaks with a worldview that influences their words.  I have never forgotten that advice.  From writing term papers to giving presentations, I always made certain I had several sources.  In reality, there is only one source that holds truth and that is the Bible.  For the Christian, this is not only the foundation for our faith but also, the guide for our lives.  What God loves, we are to love and what God hates (sin), we are to hate this as well.  

     With that said, we need to look at current events today (which are tumultuous) through the eyes of the Bible.  There are tons of conspiracy theories floating around and rumors after a contested election.  Some people are panicked, others are upset, and with the pandemic, a lot of fear abounds.  However, Jesus Christ spoke words of comfort to His disciples not only as He discussed His imminent death but also for His future return.  He knew the disciples would suddenly have their world rocked as He went to the cross.  They would be confused, fearful and uncertain in the aftermath, and He wanted to offer them assurance that all would be well if they trusted in Him.  John 14:1 says:  "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me."  Then, again, in verse 27, He says:  "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.  Not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."

     What Jesus told the disciples then is the same advice for us today.  His Word will never pass away though everything else will some day.  We can take this to the bank as my father used to say.  We must not let the circumstances of this world determine or shape our outlook.  Jesus says we can trust Him and the plan God has for each of our lives.  We are not here in this time in history by chance.  We are here by design and for a purpose which can get lost if we give in to lies, rumors and fear.

     In his letter to a young pastor Timothy, whom the Apostle Paul had trained, He advises Timothy not to give in to fear.  2 Timothy 1:7 tells us:  "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."  These words apply to us all as believers.  God is more than able to carry us through the changes and uncertainties.  So who is it that is spreading the rumors or theories that confuse us?  The answer is very clear.

     Speaking to the Pharisees and religious leaders who challenged Jesus, He spoke very directly to them because they could not accept the truth.  In John 8:44, He said to them:  "You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies."  Of course, the Lord was speaking of Satan who brings confusion, condemnation, fear, murder, lies and misunderstanding to all those who do not believe in Jesus Christ.  The Enemy of our Souls also wants to stir up believers so they will question God. We become ineffective when we fall into fear.  This is why it is so important in our present day and age not to believe any story that comes along.  Instead, check it out and see if it is so...remembering that the Bible is the foundation for our truth.

     Of all people, Christians need to trust the Lord to see us through the hard places of life.  He has promised to never leave us or forsake us.  We aren't guaranteed we will know what is going to happen, but we know He holds the future.  Therefore, let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid.  The Bible tells us that if we stand our ground the devil will flee from us.  The key for us to remember is not to believe everything you see or hear.  We need to research something before we accept it as truth and compare it to the Word of God which guides us daily.  Selah!

     

     

Quit Your Grumbling

     I can hear my mother now, "Barbara Ann quit your grumbling.  Things are not going to change when you complain all the time."  She was right, too.  Dwelling on negative circumstances of life only steals your joy and darkens your outlook.  After all, we are called to be a light in this world.  I would liken this to putting a 15 watt light bulb into a lamp that previously had a sixty watt bulb in it.  There is a big difference in the amount of light it gives off.  When we grumble, the light of the Gospel within us dims in this world of unbelief in which we walk.

     In Paul's letter to the Church at Philippi, he wrote these words (Chap. 2:14-16):  "Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in that day of Christ, I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain."

     Certainly, we do live in a crooked and twisted generation just now where people call evil good and good evil.  Justice seems to elude us and the wicked seemingly get away with anything.  Living in a fallen world is not easy, but God has given us the light of His Holy Spirit to comfort, guide and nurture us so we may shine in the darkness around us.  

     Reading Psalm 37 is great comfort for all believers because God speaks to us through these words and points to what will transpire in the end.  When it comes to the crooked and twisted generation, verse 1-2 tells us:  "Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb."  Then the Psalmist tells us this:  "Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness....(vs. 3) Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act. (vs. 5)"  These are just a few of the verses that speak to us about those who seem to get away with everything.  They do not honor God and yet they prosper.  This is when we are tempted to grumble.

     David, the writer of this Psalm, knew all about evildoers.  For years, his own father-in-law King Saul hunted him like an animal.  The circumstances of his life were not easy, but David found that he needed to trust God with his life.  I love what vs. 5 says to us.  If we are committed to the Lord and trusting in  Him, we can be assured He will act.  It is not up to us to take matters into our own hands or to grumble and complain.  God has a plan that we cannot see and He promises to work all things together for good to those who love Him.

     Reading further in this Psalm, we see in verses 28-29 a precious promise:  "For the Lord loves justice; He will not forsake His saints.  They are preserved forever; but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.  The righteous shall inherit the land and dwell upon it forever."  The beginning of the verse is what grabs me:  "For the Lord loves justice..."  Isn't it good to know that the Lord loves the very thing that believers desire to see?  We want to see justice and good triumph over evil, and if we wait upon the Lord, He will act.  His actions are far more effective than ours could ever be.  So then, what should we do to keep from that grumbling spirit?

     Let us put on the garment of praise each day focusing on God's ability to do what we cannot.  We are to be the light in this dark world sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Keeping our eyes on the prize of the high calling we have in Christ, studying His Word and faithfully praying each day.  In other words, we need to "trust the Plan" that God has for each of us and for this world.  Be a sixty watt bulb today....not the 15 watt bulb!  Selah!

P.S.  Please read all of Psalm 37.  It will encourage your soul.

     

A Time for Restoration

     As the New Year fast approaches, many of us take the time to reflect on the events of the past year.  Of course, the year 2020 will long be remembered because no one expected a Pandemic, rioting in the streets, and damage to the economy.  Change of any sort grabs our attention, and wakes us from complacency.  Certainly this was true for the remnant of Israel that had returned with Ezra to rebuild the city of Jerusalem and the Temple.

     They returned after living in exile 70 years in Babylon.  We can only imagine their grief at looking at the ruins of their city and Temple but also they were told about
the Law of the Lord which they had not obeyed. Yet Ezra encouraged them to remember that their joy and strength would come from the Lord as they walked in obedience to His Word (Nehemiah 8:10b).  They were not to grieve as people with no hope, and this message is one we need to embrace as we enter the New Year ahead.

     No one knows what the coming days have in store for us, but we know that God holds the future.  He is our source and provision.  He knows the plans He has for us (Jeremiah 29:11), and is our Good Shepherd (Psalm 23).  With His guidance, we can experience the fullness of His joy.  In John 15:10-11, Jesus said: "These things I have spoken to you that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full".  So how should we respond to the words of encouragement we hear from the Lord?

     First, this is a great time to reflect on the past year.  Prayerfully, we need to think on our lives and ask the Holy Spirit to show us the areas where we have missed God.  This is what the people of Israel did.  They heard God's Word read to them and repented of their sins.  Then, they sought to be obedient to His Word once again.  As they stepped out in faith, they trusted God to give them strength and restore their joy.  We need to do the same both individually and as a church fellowship.

     After reflection, we need to come to a place of true repentance. As the Holy Spirit shows us areas where we have not lived in obedience to the Lord, we need to seek His forgiveness.  I John 1:9 assures us of the Lord's total forgiveness when we confess our sins to Him.  Both sins of commission (things we know we have done) and omission (things which we may not even be aware of at the time) are areas we need to ask for the Lord's forgiveness.  Keeping our account clean before the Lord and with our neighbors allows His joy to fill us completely.

     Following repentance, we can enter into His complete restoration and renewal.  Every morning brings new opportunities just as every new year does as well.  The old has passed away and all things are made new in Christ.  When the Lord is at the center of our lives, we find real joy and peace. Certainly, the remnant of Israel found great comfort in their restored relationship with the Lord and in obediently serving Him.  They rebuilt the Temple and the city to His glory.  In the same way, we can rebuild our lives to be more conformed to His image by immersing ourselves in worship, Bible study and prayer.  Let us enter the new year ahead with a greater resolve to seek Him in all things that we may glorify the Lord and find His joy and strength in all we do.  Selah!