hballingerLeave a comment

How many Bibles?

​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. – Psalms 19:7‭-‬11 ESV

Have you ever counted the number of Bibles that are in your house? How about the number that your parents owned?

Are they gathering dust on the shelves or are they serving a daily purpose in our lives? Are they touched once or twice a week and sitting in their assigned place far from us, or are they a close reference that we apply and consult regularly? 

Whether or not a Bible is physically close to us isn’t quite as important as whether we are spiritually close to the Word of God. What does our relationship with Christ look like? Are we drawing closer or falling away? Are we resting, crawling, walking, or running to both receive this Truth, this Life, this Way of Christ and to carry it to the nations?

We live in a country where the Bible is readily available, but that isn’t true everywhere in the world. In some places, those in power are working to keep Christianity and the Bible out of the hands of the people they oppress and control. And some people do not yet have the Bible translated into a language they can understand. 

There are some people in the world who would gladly give months worth of their wages just to have their own copy of the Bible. In one way, we are blessed to have access to the Word of God, to devotionals,  to churches on many corners in our cities. But I wonder if we sometimes forget the value of this freedom? I wonder if we sometimes take for granted these precepts that give us insight to life and that provide both a warning and a great reward. 

Lord, remind us of that precious bond. Remind us of that sweet, sweek aroma of your presence. Remind us of that healing touch of your hand. Let us draw close to you, knowing you will draw close to us. Speak to us through your Word,  and let it cut deep into our hearts, casting aside the weeds of doubt, unforgiveness, bitterness, strife, and anything that doesn’t glorify you – so that your seed is planted in good soil to grow and flourish. Send the rain and light that will grow our faith to be strong and sound and trustworthy for your name’s sake,  Lord. You are our comforter and guide. You are the true bread of life that we consume, and the blood of salvation that washes over us,  and the living waters that overflow or vessel with your very character and nature,  and the fire in our bones that sends us our to tell the nations of this Good News: that God has come in the flesh,  that Jesus Crust is not dead in the ground, but risen and alive as the first fruits, the way,  the truth,  and the life example of what lies in store for those whose faith is working through love, for those who have taken up their cross to follow Jesus, repenting from sin, turning to God, sharing their testimony, and not loving this world but loving and serving God and one another even unto death. 

Thank you, Lord. 

Amen.

hballingerLeave a comment

Ultra- High Lumen Tactical Lighting

Good, Reliable, Tactical Lighting that will consistently perform in live fire situations isn’t common, cheap, or widely available. In fact, you won’t find what Seal Team 7 uses at your neighborhood Dollar General store because it has a specific purpose and is meant for a select set of particular buyers. That “other stuff” at Dollar General or Walmart is good enough for “the rest of the world”, but they need purpose driven tools for their trade. 


Christian, you are not just part of “the rest of the world” — you are called — you are set apart —  you are Children of God — you are Sons of light — you walk a new way different from the world. Come, let’s walk together in His Word.

​And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. – Genesis 1:4 ESV

It isn’t surprising that light is good  –since it sprang up from the command of our Good Good Father speaking, “Let there be light.” 

And can we agree that even those of us who enjoy the light should probably be more grateful for it than we sometimes are — and we should  probably want to see even more of God in it and by it than we have so far.

So let’s dig in together. 

Lord, open our eyes to see, our ears to hear, and our hearts to receive what you have to reveal to us today through your Word. Amen.

Physical light is said by Solomon to be sweet:

Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun. – Ecclesiastes 11:7 ESV

But gospel light is infinitely more precious and valuable, because it reveals eternal things unseen and it ministers to our immortal natures, our deceitful hearts, our very character and innermost desires.

And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.  For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.  But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.” – John 3:19‭-‬21 ESV

When the Holy Spirit gives us spiritual light and opens our eyes to witness the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ, we recognize sin in its true colors, and ourselves in our real position;  

And He [the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, our Helper], when He comes, will convict the world about [the guilt of] sin [and the need for a Savior], and about righteousness, and about judgment:  about sin [and the true nature of it], because they do not believe in Me [and My message];  about righteousness [personal integrity and godly character], because I am going to My Father and you will no longer see Me;  about judgment [the certainty of it], because the ruler of this world (Satan) has been judged and condemned. – JOHN 16:8‭-‬11 AMP

In this pure spiritual light we see the One True God, the Most Holy God, without blemish or spot. Almighty God who is never changing, who has no deceit in Him, in Whom there is no darkness at all, as He reveals Himself, 

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. – Romans 1:18‭-‬20 ESV

In the blinding clarity of this spiritual light shining in the darkness,  we see His plan of mercy – as He whispers it to us in His still quiet voice – for us to consider:

Now, the way to receive God’s approval has been made plain in a way other than the laws in the Scriptures. Moses’ Teachings and the Prophets tell us this. Everyone who believes has God’s approval through faith in Jesus Christ. There is no difference between people. Because all people have sinned, they have fallen short of God’s glory. They receive God’s approval freely by an act of his kindness through the price Christ Jesus paid to set us free ⌊from sin⌋. – Romans 3:21‭-‬24 GW

And this revealing spiritual light shows us the Truth of the “world to come” as this Word of God commands in the same way what is coming as it has what is finished:

There is nothing hidden that will not be revealed. There is nothing kept secret that will not come to light. – Luke 8:17 GW

The day of the Lord will come like a thief. On that day heaven will pass away with a roaring sound. Everything that makes up the universe will burn and be destroyed. The earth and everything that people have done on it will be exposed. – 2 Peter 3:10 GW

Spiritual light has so many beams like eyes searching in every direction for a heart that is fully committed to Him so that He may shine His light upon them — for His glory and honor and mercy and power to be revealed in the midst of this dark world through the faith of His people working through godly love poured out upon an undeserving world. 

And all the varied colors and tones of the rainbow can be found in these rays of this spiritual light — whether they are knowledge, joy, holiness, or life — all are divinely good because they come from the divine. 

So if the light received is good, what must the essence and source of that light be, and how glorious is the place where it comes from, that place where He reveals Himself?

Oh, Lord, since your light is so good, give us more of it,  and more of yourself,  the true light. Amen.

Sons of light – you who have ears to hear – listen:

As soon as there is a good thing in the world, a division is necessary. There is no time for hesitation, no time for contemplation, no profit in delaying:


​And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. – Genesis 1:4 ESV

And God separated the light from the darkness.

Light and darkness have no communion;  God has divided them — let’s not confuse them or foolishly, selfishly and pridefully believe that any mere man could bind together what God has set apart. 

Sons of light must not have fellowship with the deeds and actions, doctrines and heresies, or deceits and trickeries of darkness. 

Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.  Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you,  and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.” – 2 Corinthians 6:14‭-‬18 ESV

The children of the day, those who walk in the light —  must be sober, honest, and bold in their Lord’s work — leaving the works of darkness to those who will dwell in it forever. 

Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” – 1 Peter 1:13‭-‬16 ESV

Our churches, these bodies of true believers, should by discipline and discernment —

Yes, by self-discipline —

And by discerning what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God:

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. – Romans 12:1‭-‬2 ESV

We the followers of the way, 

The sons of light, 

The children of God,

The true children of Abraham by Faith,

We train and equip ourselves to rightly divide the light from the darkness –

And if we have that inward, spiritually distinct separation of Spirit from Flesh that can’t be seen by the eyes of mere men, 

Our outwardly visible lives will manifest that same distinct separation from the way of the world — because we walk a different path, a narrow way that doesn’t lead to destruction. 

In our life’s testimony to what truly lies within –

In right judgement, 

in loving action, 

in patient hearing, 

in sound teaching, 

in brotherly association,  

we must discern between what is precious and what is vile,  

A believer strives to maintain that same great distinction that the Lord made on this world’s first day between light and dark  —

This same border, 

boundary, 

limit, 

and guardrail —

should be drawn in our own lives so that His light might shine brightly and distinctly against the darkness of this fallen world.  

Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.” – John 7:24 ESV

Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. 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.  Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. – Ephesians 4:17‭-‬32 ESV

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. – Galatians 5:16‭-‬26 ESV

Oh, Lord Jesus,  be our light throughout the whole day, because your light is the light of men. Amen.

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. – Proverbs 14:12 ESV

I do not turn aside from your rules, for you have taught me.  How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!  Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.  Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. – Psalms 119:102‭-‬105 ESV

I hate the double-minded, but I love your law.  You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word.  Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commandments of my God.  Uphold me according to your promise, that I may live, and let me not be put to shame in my hope!  Hold me up, that I may be safe and have regard for your statutes continually!  You spurn all who go astray from your statutes, for their cunning is in vain.  All the wicked of the earth you discard like dross, therefore I love your testimonies.  My flesh trembles for fear of you, and I am afraid of your judgments. – Psalms 119:113‭-‬120 ESV

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. – Proverbs 1:7 ESV

My son, do not despise the Lord ’s discipline or be weary of his reproof,  for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights. – Proverbs 3:11‭-‬12 ESV

The Lord ’s curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous. – Proverbs 3:33 ESV

hballingerLeave a comment

Faith working through Love

​Love does no wrong to a neighbor [it never hurts anyone]. Therefore [unselfish] love is the fulfillment of the Law. Do this, knowing that this is a critical time. It is already the hour for you to awaken from your sleep [of spiritual complacency]; for our salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed [in Christ]. 

The night [this present evil age] is almost gone and the day [of Christ’s return] is almost here. So let us fling away the works of darkness and put on the [full] armor of light. Let us conduct ourselves properly and honorably as in the [light of] day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and irresponsibility, not in quarreling and jealousy. But clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for [nor even think about gratifying] the flesh in regard to its improper desires. – ROMANS 13:10‭-‬14 AMP
You have been severed from Christ, if you seek to be justified [that is, declared free of the guilt of sin and its penalty, and placed in right standing with God] through the Law; you have fallen from grace [for you have lost your grasp on God’s unmerited favor and blessing]. For we [not relying on the Law but] through the [strength and power of the Holy] Spirit, by faith, are waiting [confidently] for the hope of righteousness [the completion of our salvation]. For [if we are] in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but only faith activated and expressed and working through love. 

But I say, walk habitually in the [Holy] Spirit [seek Him and be responsive to His guidance], and then you will certainly not carry out the desire of the sinful nature [which responds impulsively without regard for God and His precepts]. Now the practices of the sinful nature are clearly evident: they are sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality (total irresponsibility, lack of self-control),  idolatry, sorcery, hostility, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions [that promote heresies], envy, drunkenness, riotous behavior, and other things like these. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature together with its passions and appetites. If we [claim to] live by the [Holy] Spirit, we must also walk by the Spirit [with personal integrity, godly character, and moral courage–our conduct empowered by the Holy Spirit]. We must not become conceited, challenging or provoking one another, envying one another. – GALATIANS 5:4‭-‬6‭, ‬16‭, ‬19‭-‬26 AMP

hballingerLeave a comment

Sometimes we need a push

​You ain’t no punk. 

Get up. Get to walking. 

Put your hand on that plow, 

and don’t turn back by just talking. 
Yesterday is gone, 

today is here, 

live for eternity like you 

only have God to fear.
Don’t play those games, 

Don’t walk those old ways, 

Step with a purpose, 

For the rest of your days. 
This time will fly by, 

Things will quickly gather dust, 

So make sure you have a crown, 

That will never rust. 
Don’t mistake friends for enemies, 

Or enemies for friends, 

There are very different destinations, 

When we all come to our ends. 
Know who you love, 

Know who you serve, 

Live it like He’s worth it,

if you’ve got the nerve.
Love you, brothers and sisters. 

Eyes up. It’s time to walk it out.

hballinger1 Comment

 See No Evil

“​I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me.  A perverse heart shall be far from me; I will know nothing of evil.” – Psalms 101:3‭-‬4 ESV

We live in a world where dishonesty, perversion, cursing, vulgarity and all kinds of godlessness is not just tolerated but is celebrated. 

“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 desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” – 1 John 2:15‭-‬17 ESV

Yes, as we learn more of the ways of God, it seems like the world and sin has been allowed to take so much of a hold on the things around us. We can find ourselves consuming TV and radio programs that glorify violence, where immoral people demonstrate life examples of indecency and drunkenness and selfishness, where swearing and using the Lord’s name in vain is considered common place, where adultery and deceit and sexual immorality is glorified. And when this is what we choose to consume, it will impact our minds and our lives. 

Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame. – 1 Corinthians 15:33‭-‬34 ESV

“Do not be deceived.” 

“Do not go on sinning.”

“For some have no knowledge of God.”

“I say this to your shame.”

Do we live in a time where even those who call themselves “Christians” fear guilt and shame and separation from the ways of the world they love — more than they have any fear or love for God?

Are we careful about what we let our eyes see on television and Internet and books and the company that we keep? 

Some will hear this message and refuse to let it fall upon their hearts. They will say that I am lifting up heavy burdens because they see godliness as a thing to be despised – they see it as a heavy burden because they have no love for God and His ways. Their only strength is in self and their slavery is to the heavy chains of sin that bind them. 

I am telling you that the sin is the burden – it is the poison that is leaving you weak and dying and with a cold and hardened heart. But we can repent,  we can confess or sin and be forgiven,  we can believe in His promises and walk free, empowered by the Holy Spirit given to those who believe, to those who are reborn as a new creation in Christ.

What needs to be laid down today? 

What influences do you need to begin refusing in our lives today? 

How can we fill our lives with more of His guidance and instruction and direction and presence?

Pray – heartfelt, humble, contrite prayer surrendering, dying to self and dedicating ourselves to discipleship, sanctification, holiness, godliness, obedience, forgiving others, being a living example of godly love. Turn off the distractions of the world and talk to God, listening for His still, quiet voice. 

Read – get into the Word of God, and when conviction comes, decide that you will choose to not just hear the instruction but to obey. Decide to follow, to put your hand to the plow and to not turn back. Turn off the worldly TV programs and Internet and consume the Bread of Life,  the Word of God.

Listen – listen to some praise music or hymns or sermons that are about glorifying God. Switch the dial on the radio away from those other influences to one that reminds you of who you are in Christ.

Praise – thank Him for your mammy blessings, sing a song to Him,  let your heart be filled with gratitude for His love and for the price paid at Calvary.  Switch your mind off from anxiety and worry too trust that He has the best in store for those who love Him

Worship – I’m not talking about a Sunday gathering – I’m talking about a life lived in love, providing for the needy, bringing hope to the imprisoned, isolated and afflicted, sharing the testimony of your life lived out day by day, moment by moment as a testimony and add our reasonable service

Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. – Colossians 3:2 NKJV

hballingerLeave a comment

Preparations

As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.  Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways,  and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’” – Luke 3:4‭-‬6 ESV

We are going on a journey, friends. Yes, we are not staying where we are, but we are travelers passing through this land, headed to our true home. And shouldn’t we be preparing ourselves?

“Prepare the way of the Lord”

This preparation begins in the wilderness, in “the desert of my nature”, but my attention to the Master’s call,  and my giving Him a path to my heart, it demonstrates His gracious operation within our lives played out as very real substance of a faith alive and at work through the true believer, follower, disciple of Christ.

So what does this preparation look like? How can we rest in the blessed assurance that we have given this the serious attention that eternity deserves from one who would “work out their salvation in fear and trembling” — from one who would “not deceive themselves by simply listening to the Word”? 

Make His paths straight

Don’t make the mistake of thinking that you will change His path or that His ways are ever not faithful and true. No. This is not about our changing His path, but about us changing to align ourselves so that His work is profitable through us, so that we are not a hindrance to our own testimony and usefulness. 

And this doesn’t mean that we must clean ourselves up in order to come to Christ either. It primarily means getting rid of the baggage of the past, along with our doubts, in order to repent and allow Him to lead us straight away towards our destination from this now, into eternity. It means an abandonment of the old and a coming into the new. A death of the old man, and new life in Christ who leads, guides, instructs,  and yes, even disciplines us. 

Every valley shall be filled

The Lord doesn’t just offer us happiness that is contingent upon our circumstances – He offers us peace and joy. And He doesn’t give like the world does, His gifts don’t wither away according to circumstance or season leaving us parched and empty. No, the gifts of His peace and joy are even more evident in the valleys where happiness and pleasure and health and prosperity and pride fail men. It is in the deep valley that these treasures show themselves sufficient. It was in the valley of Elah that David defeated Goliath, not upon a mountaintop. And we see in David’s ever popular Psalm 23, that it is in the valley that our hearts are filled with the strength of trusting in the Lord.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.  He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.  You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. – Psalms 23:1‭-‬6 ESV

Too often, we fear the valley instead of waiting expectantly to see what the Lord will do next to prove Himself faithful and true to those who love Him. 

Any low and groveling thoughts must be given up. Doubting and despairing must be removed. Self-seeking, carnal, and worldly thoughts must be utterly abandoned. Across this chasm a glorious bridge of grace must be raised to reveal our standing firmly upon the foundation of belief in the sufficiency of Christ, and Christ alone, as the cornerstone of our salvation. 

Every mountain and hill will be laid low

What did Jesus say would lay low the mountains? Faith. 

Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him.  Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.  And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” – Mark 11:23‭-‬25 ESV

And what are these mountains that threaten us with the possibility of great falls, if not prideful self-sufficiency and foolish self-righteousness.

These must be crushed and leveled, must be blessed with humble bended knee, to make way for the King of Kings. Fellowship with the Lord is not available to haughty, high minded sinners – but the Lord respects the lowly, and visits the contrite and repentant heart of the true believers, while the lofty are an abomination to Him. 

Only the Holy Spirit can set a man right in this respect, and I pray that His hand is upon each of us, and that we have not hardened our hearts against bearing the sweet aroma of the fruit that He bears everywhere that He dwells. 

Remember from whence your grace comes, and that it is not from your own works but through Christ, and Christ alone. Remember your unworthy state and inability to fulfill the law under your own power, and wonder in awe at His mercy and grace that He bids you carry to all who will come prepared to participate as a guest at the great feast.

The crooked shall become straight

And if a man has truly 1) turned from his sin and also 2) turned from his high opinion of himself, isn’t the only gate to this way — for him to find it in Jesus Christ upon the cross, raised to new life, and offered as the Holy Spirit to those who hear His voice? 

There is no other way to truly believe and walk in both these while in the flesh, because they are contrary to one another by the flesh, and can only be satisfied, overcome, fulfilled in the Spirit of Truth. 

And if we walk in the Spirit of Truth,  we walk in godly love – joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, goodness, and self-contol. And isn’t it clear that these fulfill the law and that sin is not in them? Isn’t it clear that God is love and there is no sin in Him? Isn’t it clear that God is light and there is no darkness in Him?

So how could the crooked say that they have fellowship with God unless they are liars like their true father? 

So, yes. What was once crooked is made straight. The thief is now the hard working and generous provider. The gossipper is now the humble, quiet and prayerful penitent. The drunk is now the steadfast who carries the burdens of his fellow man. 

The hand of the potter upon the clay vessel does not leave one untouched and unchanged, but utterly new in purpose and vision and direction and substance. 

There is no room for wavering or doublemindedness. So make sure that in everything you are honest and true, because your very thoughts, desires, and intents are clearly visible to the heart-searching God.

The rough places shall become level ways

Stumbling blocks of sin must be put away, and the thorns and briers of rebellion must be uprooted. These things that might serve to stumble and confuse others about Christ’s ministry and work within the believer must not be left to mar our testimony — or even worse, to distract these little ones by any unfaithfulness that is not by any measure a reasonable service to Almighty God whose grace wrenched us from the punishment and separation that we deserve. 

So let our life path and our dwelling place not be a muddy and rocky path that is treacherous to others, but a clear highway upon which many might find safe and sound footing when traveling this path of Grace –

So that in our lifesong –

All flesh shall see the salvation of God.

What will they see today in my life, Christ or me?

Whether faced with circumstances or temptations, valley or mountain, will my spiritual path remain unshaken, firmly fined and sure footed?

Lord, lead us along this triumphant procession of being reconciled to you in the souths of our hearts, minds, body, and spirit, may you reign and may your will be done. Amen.

hballingerLeave a comment

Do Something

​If I say that I want to see more hands reaching out and feeding the hungry, more feet carrying the gospel to the lost, more cheeks covered with tears for the mourning and hurting –
I better not be found lounging when the opportunity comes for me to show the way through sacrifice and faith in God to provide and bless those who provide for others. 
Helping others has very little to do with “deserve”. We are called to be perfect like our Father in heaven who sends rain on both the just and the unjust. 

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you this: Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you. In this way you show that you are children of your Father in heaven. He makes his sun rise on people whether they are good or evil. He lets rain fall on them whether they are just or unjust. If you love those who love you, do you deserve a reward? Even the tax collectors do that! Are you doing anything remarkable if you welcome only your friends? Everyone does that! That is why you must be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Matthew 5:43‭-‬48 GW

I have heard (and have used myself) the excuse of whether or not someone “deserves” help. Or I’ve ask myself,  “but if I help this real person requesting help, there might not be enough for me to help another theoretical person that REALLY NEEDS IT.” How foolish are we to protect for a maybe by withholding and denying the real opportunity to love in front of us. 

What comfortable lies we tell ourselves – but do we not trust our heavenly Father to provide? Do we not trust Him to bless us even through our making due with less — or bless us in our humble pleading with others once we have ourselves given to our absolute limits — or bless us by providing the means through us to meet every need? Or do we love our stuff, our things, our wants more than we love those who have needs. 

Lord, show us our treachery so that we might repent. 
Proverbs 19:17 ESV

Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.
Hebrews 13:16 ESV

Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
Acts 20:35 ESV

In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
“The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before you. They shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways. The Lord will command the blessing on you in your barns and in all that you undertake. And he will bless you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. The Lord will establish you as a people holy to himself, as he has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the Lord your God and walk in his ways. And all the peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the Lord , and they shall be afraid of you. And the Lord will make you abound in prosperity, in the fruit of your womb and in the fruit of your livestock and in the fruit of your ground, within the land that the Lord swore to your fathers to give you. The Lord will open to you his good treasury, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hands. And you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail, and you shall only go up and not down, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, being careful to do them, and if you do not turn aside from any of the words that I command you today, to the right hand or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.

Deuteronomy 28:7‭-‬14 ESV
Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.

Malachi 3:10 ESV
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

James 2:14‭-‬17 ESV

hballingerLeave a comment

Making Amends

​”He shall also make restitution for what he has done amiss in the holy thing and shall add a fifth to it and give it to the priest. And the priest shall make atonement for him with the ram of the guilt offering, and he shall be forgiven.” – Leviticus 5:16 ESV


God’s Word provides for us wonderful instruction in how to handle making amends when we have done wrong. The example is not that we should just ask forgiveness and continue the same path. The example is not that we should just ask forgiveness and make restitution back to how things were before. The example is given that we should make restitution “plus some” so the person is better off than before our actions harmed them. 

Whether we have stolen, 

Whether we have not paid back a debt.

Whether we have claimed something found as our own.

Whether we have caused them harm intentionally or unintentionally,  we are to make amends with that person. 

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “If anyone sins and commits a breach of faith against the Lord by deceiving his neighbor in a matter of deposit or security, or through robbery, or if he has oppressed his neighbor or has found something lost and lied about it, swearing falsely—in any of all the things that people do and sin thereby— if he has sinned and has realized his guilt and will restore what he took by robbery or what he got by oppression or the deposit that was committed to him or the lost thing that he found or anything about which he has sworn falsely, he shall restore it in full and shall add a fifth to it, and give it to him to whom it belongs on the day he realizes his guilt. And he shall bring to the priest as his compensation to the Lord a ram without blemish out of the flock, or its equivalent for a guilt offering. – Leviticus 6:1‭-‬6 ESV

And we aren’t supposed to be lime the Pharisees who followed the letter of the law but didn’t live in the Spirit of the law. This makes it clear to us that we should make amends not only over “things” stolen, but also over our actions, our words, our bitterness or withholding forgiveness. Yes, this is meant to be a life of repentance, a life walking in the Spirit bearing the fruit of a life surrendered to pouring out love onto others.

We don’t use the idea of grace to excuse our continued hurting and oppression of our brothers and sisters. And we don’t use Jesus or religion or law or tithes as an excuse for why we haven’t made things right or done what we know is right towards another person, or withold what we owe them.

He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ But you say, ‘If anyone tells his father or his mother, “What you would have gained from me is given to God,” he need not honor his father.’ So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God. You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: “‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” – Matthew 15:3‭-‬9 ESV

And another way to say the same thing:

Pay your debts as they come due. However, one debt you can never finish paying is the debt of love that you owe each other. The one who loves another person has fulfilled Moses’ Teachings. The commandments, “Never commit adultery; never murder; never steal; never have wrong desires,” and every other commandment are summed up in this statement: “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” Love never does anything that is harmful to a neighbor. Therefore, love fulfills Moses’ Teachings. – Romans 13:8‭-‬10 GW

If there is some area of your life that is not right with God,go to Him in humble, repentant prayer. If there is some address of your life where you have hurt someone else, make amends now for your debts.

According to Proverbs 22:7 (NIV), “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.” When Dave was confronted with this Scripture, he had to really consider who was right—his broke finance professor, who taught that debt is a tool, or God, who never has anything good to say about debt. – The Truth about Debt, Dave Ramsey

And:

“So if you are offering your gift at the altar and remember there that another believer has something against you, leave your gift at the altar. First go away and make peace with that person. Then come back and offer your gift. “Make peace quickly with your opponent while you are on the way to court with him. Otherwise, he will hand you over to the judge. Then the judge will hand you over to an officer, who will throw you into prison. I can guarantee this truth: You will never get out until you pay every penny of your fine.
Matthew 5:23‭-‬26 GW

I do not say these things to leave you trapped in guilt and shame, but to encourage you towards love and good works – and so that you might be a blessing to others and not a burden. I say this so that the ones who have operated as thieves will learn discipline and hard work and will not only provide for themselves, but will become generous providers for others as well. I say these things because I have learned these things are the best, they are the way that I follow, they are the Truth that leads to life.

You were taught to change the way you were living. The person you used to be will ruin you through desires that deceive you. However, you were taught to have a new attitude. You were also taught to become a new person created to be like God, truly righteous and holy. So then, get rid of lies. Speak the truth to each other, because we are all members of the same body. Be angry without sinning. Don’t go to bed angry. Don’t give the devil any opportunity ⌊to work⌋. Thieves must quit stealing and, instead, they must work hard. They should do something good with their hands so that they’ll have something to share with those in need. Don’t say anything that would hurt ⌊another person⌋. Instead, speak only what is good so that you can give help wherever it is needed. That way, what you say will help those who hear you.
Ephesians 4:22‭-‬29 GW

Lord, do not let this Word fall by the wayside. Lord, do not let it be stolen away. Do not let it just stir our feelings and excite us for us to give up when the challenge comes. Lord, plant this firmly into our hearts and minds, and help us to live this out. Renew us to walk in Truth and Love. Amen.