Author: hballinger

Amazing Grace

I know the prodigal sinner’s path because I have walked it — and seemingly looked under every stone along the way and loved clinging to the filth I could find along its path — “UNTIL”.

I understand that not everyone has had that “UNTIL” yet in their lives. I realize that it is that encounter with God’s “Amazing Grace” that changes men and not some decision to act religious or “do right” on their own. And this is why I can neither look down upon the sinner who is my brother, nor take any glory for any saint-like actions that might shine through in my life that is truly the work of God’s Amazing Grace. I don’t sing and praise so that I might convince you to “convert” or “become religious” because that might have you just as evil ands wicked as so many self-righteous religious hypocrites out there that are twice the devils as a swindler or crook or murderer.

No, I tell you because it is truly Amazing! And He might just draw you to Himself as He has drawn me, and you might know the freedom and mercy and love and joy of His “Amazing Grace” too.

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Written almost 250 years ago, the song Amazing Grace was written by a man who grew up without any religious conviction, was known for his “recalcitrant insubordination”, and was a slave trader until he called out to God for mercy in a violent storm at sea.

He went on from that old life to be and ordained preacher in the Church of England. Having fully known the beautiful intertwining of sinner and saint that can only be produced by the work of God’s redeeming grace revealed through Jesus Christ — he wrote Amazing Grace to illustrate a sermon for New Year’s day 1773. In 1835, American composer William Walker set it to the tune known as “New Britain” and this is the version most frequently sung today.

Wikipedia has this to say about this quarter century old hymn:

With the message that forgiveness and redemption are possible regardless of sins committed and that the soul can be delivered from despair through the mercy of God, “Amazing Grace” is one of the most recognisable songs in the English-speaking world.

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God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Ephesians 2:8‭-‬10 NLT

From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another.
John 1:16 NLT

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.
John 3:16‭-‬17 NLT

Who has believed our message? To whom has the Lord revealed his powerful arm? My servant grew up in the Lord ’s presence like a tender green shoot, like a root in dry ground. There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him. He was despised and rejected— a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care. Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all. He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. Unjustly condemned, he was led away. No one cared that he died without descendants, that his life was cut short in midstream. But he was struck down for the rebellion of my people. He had done no wrong and had never deceived anyone. But he was buried like a criminal; he was put in a rich man’s grave. But it was the Lord ’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the Lord ’s good plan will prosper in his hands. When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins. I will give him the honors of a victorious soldier, because he exposed himself to death. He was counted among the rebels. He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels.
Isaiah 53:1‭-‬12 NLT

“I don’t know whether he is a sinner,” the man replied. “But I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!”
John 9:25 NLT

When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God. When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. Yes, people sinned even before the law was given. But it was not counted as sin because there was not yet any law to break. Still, everyone died—from the time of Adam to the time of Moses—even those who did not disobey an explicit commandment of God, as Adam did. Now Adam is a symbol, a representation of Christ, who was yet to come. But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ. Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous. God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 5:6‭-‬21 NLT

She Sleeps Peacefully

I remember bringing her home for the first time
Watching every car and every sign
Driving so slow and taking my time
Mindful of every bump in the road

And listening to her sleep peacefully at night
And being in awe of this precious gift
I wonder how I might ever live up to the task

I sure don’t want to let her down
I sure don’t want to fail
There is so much at stake in her sweet little life
There is so much that she’ll have to face

I remember that first time I sat up straight in bed
Not hearing her cry in her bassinet by the bed
Afraid that she needed me and I wasn’t there
Realizing it was all in my head

And listening to her sleep peacefully at night
And being in awe of this precious gift
I wonder how I might ever live up to the task

I sure don’t want to let her down
I sure don’t want to fail
There is so much at stake in her sweet little life
There is so much that she’ll have to face

I remember the first time we camped in a tent
Our start to campfires, smores, and stars in the sky
We laughed, we played, we sang aloud
And watched our breath like fog in the air

And listening to her sleep peacefully at night
And being in awe of this precious gift
I wonder how I might ever live up to the task

I sure don’t want to let her down
I sure don’t want to fail
There is so much at stake in her sweet little life
There is so much that she’ll have to face

I remember that first dance, her dressed like a princess

Beautiful, graceful, smart kind and sweet

A wonderful treasure in her daddy’s eyes
Smiling, laughing, swaying to music late into the night

Then listening to her sleep peacefully at night
And being in awe of this precious gift
I wonder how I might ever live up to the task

I sure don’t want to let her down
I sure don’t want to fail
There is so much at stake in her sweet little life
There is so much that she’ll have to face

I remember our trips building memories together
Seeing new sites, towns and folk
Walking, running, and playing pretend together
Until the fun of the day had us spent

And listening to her sleep peacefully at night
And being in awe of this precious gift
I wonder how I might ever live up to the task

I sure don’t want to let her down
I sure don’t want to fail
There is so much at stake in her sweet little life
There is so much that she’ll have to face

Today is the day she’ll wear the white dress
And I’ll walk her down that long isle
In truth I’ve dreaded this moment ever since her birth
I don’t know how strong I’ll need to be

But I have been blessed with this daughter of mine
Who is so precious that everyone can see
It’s no wonder she caught the eye of some sweet young boy
But I doubt he can love her like me

Will he listen to her sleep peacefully at night?
Be in awe of this precious gift?
I pray that he might live up to the task

Please don’t let us let her down
Please don’t allow her fail
Lord, there is so much at stake in their sweet new life
There is so much that they’ll have to face

There’s a new little girl that we met just today
Snuggled against my girl’s chest
I see that same look in my son in laws eyes
That I knew not so long ago myself

He’ll listen to her sleep peacefully tonight
And be in awe of this precious gift
And he’ll wonder how he might ever live up to the task

He sure doesn’t want to let her down
He sure doesn’t want to fail
There is so much at stake in her sweet little life
There is so much that she’ll have to face

——————

Original lyrics by Harold “Hop” Ballinger

Morning Confession

We confess this morning that we have fallen short of your perfect holiness and that we have sinned against you, Lord. We confess that our desires, that our emotions, that our doubts, that temptation, that the distractions of this dark world have led us astray from the perfect, narrow path by your side to fall into sin in our thoughts, words, actions, and disobedience. Lord, we repent from our own willful and prideful disobedience to surrender to your will and your way. We know that your forgiveness is available, and that your Blood on the Cross is sufficient to wash us clean from all unrighteousness. We know that this forgiveness is not there so that we could just continue in our own wicked ways, but so that we will be convicted in our hearts by your Word, by your holiness, by your grace and mercy towards us — so that we will gratefully and wisely and humbly follow you along the narrow path. Lord, give us your strength, write your lessons upon our hearts, place your armor of light upon us to protect us and guide us through what the days have to bring. Remind us that the time draws short and that we have a purpose and a calling today and now. Remind us that your resurrection from the tomb is a lasting sign and testament to the resurrection and everlasting life that lies ahead for those you have called and revealed yourself to, and who know you, and love you, and abide in your presence. We do not deserve such amazing things because of anything we have done ourselves — even our faith and our repentance is a gift from you. You blind carnal eyes set on a road to destruction, and restore spiritual eyes to lead us instead on that prodigal’s road back to you. Lord, see us through to the end for the glory and honor of your Holy Name. In Jesus name we ask such amazing ands awesome things of you, Amen.

Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
Romans 13:11‭-‬14 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.13.11-14.ESV

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
1 John 1:5‭-‬10 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/1jn.1.5-10.ESV

Valentine

So the late middle English speaks of “valentine” as “a person chosen” as a “special friend”.

This reminds me immediately of John 15:15-17 where He says “I chose you” and “I have called you friends”.

I hope this Valentine’s Day that you know Jesus Christ as your valentine. As much as I love my wife ands she loves me — He is the better valentine to both of us. We fall short and we let each other down at times, but He is always faithful and true.

Today, our family knows that He is our first love, and we are so much richer for it, and our love for each other is so much deeper, wider, fuller and abundant because of it.

Thank you, Jesus. Help us always remember. And remember us on that day, for your name’s sake. Amen.

Irritation

We all will face circumstances, or even people, that irritate us — that don’t go the way we think they should go.

We can come up with all kinds of justifications in our minds for our grumbling, our criticism, our anger — but that is all just our carnal nature examining and comparing and inflating our own ego to the point where we say, “I know better!!!”

But this is not the way of Christ, little children of our Almighty Heavenly Father. He says, “Do not judge one another” and “forgive” and “love your enemy”. And if this seems beyond your ability, it is because your trust lies in your own inability to accomplish it, not in His overwhelming ability to accomplish anything and everything. This is carnal thinking, relying on the ability of self — and it is the same type of thinking that leads us to judge others and grumble about our circumstances.

But to die daily to our carnal ways and choose instead to fellowship in spirit with Holy, Almighty God — will have us slowing our mental pace when we encounter “irritations” to “be still and know that He is God” and to remember that “we are not”.

Lord, help us, when we encounter those familiar irritations, to surrender them to you — to not fall into old patterns of carnal thinking and grumbling and complaining and anger — but to trust that you have a plan and purpose, and to provide us with a kind answer that soothes angry feelings. Amen.

What were you arguing about?

Then they came to Capernaum. While Jesus was at home, he asked the disciples, “What were you arguing about on the road?” They were silent. On the road they had argued about who was the greatest. He sat down and called the twelve apostles. He told them, “Whoever wants to be the most important person must take the last place and be a servant to everyone else.” Then he took a little child and had him stand among them. He put his arms around the child and said to them, “Whoever welcomes a child like this in my name welcomes me. Whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.” John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone forcing demons out of a person by using the power and authority of your name. We tried to stop him because he was not one of us.” Jesus said, “Don’t stop him! No one who works a miracle in my name can turn around and speak evil of me. Whoever isn’t against us is for us. I can guarantee this truth: Whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.” “These little ones believe in me. It would be best for the person who causes one of them to lose faith to be thrown into the sea with a large stone hung around his neck.
Mark 9:33‭-‬42 GW
https://bible.com/bible/70/mrk.9.33-42.GW

There are plenty of people who want to see themselves as the greatest, who want to argue, who want to try and exercise authority over others — even within the group who gathers together to follow Christ. But we see here that such behavior does not come from the spirit of Christ but is from the sinful nature of man, it rises up from the pride of life and is not the result of humble awe and wonder found in seeking the Lord.

It would be easy at this point to agree eagerly and point our fingers at some outwardly religious and judgemental person we know within the church who has behaved this way towards us and say, “Yes! See, we must stop them from teaching their vile behaviors to others! We must not listen to them! We must earn others of them!” When this rises up, and we are not quick to listen and slow to speak — we would be better off to first warn others not to listen to us!!!

Don’t fall into the temptation to aim this teaching outward towards others, and like the disciples, argue amongst yourselves who is greatest (and in turn make judgements about who you wrongly think is least) or you will be walking as blindly and confused as the disciples were before Jesus called them out. No, if Christ calls out his followers, and we claim to be a follower ourselves — our reaction shouldn’t be, “Look at those foolish disciples!” as if not including ourselves in the group to be corrected here. Our reaction should be to listen and look at ourselves. Where have we been prideful, religious, judgemental, divisive when it comes to other followers of Christ?

When have we too wanted to see ourselves as the greatest, wanted to argue, wanted to try and exercise authority over others? And those who quickly answer to themselves that they are innocent of such things — usually are not standing in close and right and humble relationship to the Lord, no matter how often they are seen amongst the religious crowd.

So first, we must ask whether we are willing to examine ourselves honestly and truly. Because the leaven of self- righteousness piety, of condemnation, of judgemental actions towards others sho their best to ship wreck the faith of these little ones around us — and who will answer for such things. We might know of those in “church leadership” whose hypocrisy and self-righteousness and argumentative and divisive nature has seemingly driven our ship off faith towards the rocks — and God grant us the grace to pray for our faith to be strengthened for their sake as well as our own. To rejoice in the thought that anyone have a milestone around their neck is to rejoice in a shipwrecked faith, so please, never let that be so in our hearts, Lord!!!

Can we see how this teaching, when aimed outward at others only breeds competition and division, but when we examine ourselves we can repent and be humbled ands praise God for the unmerited favor He shows us through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ?

Stop trying to be great. You aren’t.

To even think that you are sets you on the path to failure.

If your vision is that you are to build great men and women of God up with your own hands — even if your intentions are to build up a legacy and monument to honor the Lord — you should first ask (like David did when he wanted to build a temple for the Lord) to see if that is even your appointed task.

And we all should know that it is not a temple built by the hands of men where the spirit of the Lord dwells. Religious men build up many converts and proselytes who are twice the wicked and empty tombs they are themselves — regardless how bright and shiny and greatly honored they are in public view. It would be good to rest assured that this is not the type of builder you are — that the work be the hand of the Lord and not your own chiseling and cutting and shaping and molding and manipulating. There are grand architects hiding in the shadows asserting such religious construction efforts that will all be swept away by the consuming fires in the end.

No. See clearly your own overwhelming need for the gospel truth, your need for Christ Jesus, your need to fall humbly in awe at the foot of the cross, amazed that any of us “foolish followers” would have a chance to remain in the throne room of Almighty God and not be utterly destroyed (and rightly so) by the consuming fire that is our God. We should fall on our faces, praying that we trust that His promises are true, and that we come with nothing of value to offer but our testimony of His mercy and grace and glory and honor.

Lord, help us. You know our many failures and shortcomings, but we have covered the door posts of our lives with the Blood of the Lamb, and we are singing your praises and sharing our testimonies. We know that you have overcome ands that yours is the victory. Keep us in your grace and see us through to your glory and honor, in spite of our foolishness. Help us walk upright to the point that it might encourage others that your promises address true ands that they might long for your presence as well — but not so that in our own sight we would be comfortable standing proudly in the way of another or building up any obstacles or hindrances to Amy that would know you as Lord and Savior. Forgive us for those times that we may have in the past, and lead us along your narrow way. Amen.

I Am Weak, He Is Strong

One man says, “To Hell with God’s standards!” (1)

Another man says, “YOU all need to be sure to live up to God’s standards!” (2)

Yet another man says, “LORD, I have fallen short of your standards. I can’t live up to them on my own. Change my heart and establish my steps to walk in your way. I know YOU can do it.” (3)

I don’t look at the many examples of people falling short in the Bible and think to myself, “I’m not going to be like them! I’m not going to make their same mistakes!” (4)

No, I say to myself, “I see my own weaknesses and imperfections, the same as in these others, and I see that great contrast to Christ’s perfection. I see even the disciples, even after Pentecost still making mistakes and their weaknesses still being evidence to the glory of God.” (5) (6)

I say, “If I will walk upright, it will only be by the power of God and nothing else, because I can’t on my own.” (7)

So I don’t strive to be “good enough” or to be a “great man of God” or to “slay my Goliaths” — nor am I expecting you to go out and do the same. (8) (9) (10)

No, I will tell you that if you admit your weaknesses, pray for repentance and forgiveness and deliverance, that God will do a mighty work in those who humble themselves — but He opposes the proud. (11) (12)

Christians,

Rely upon Christ.
Encourage your brothers and sisters to rely upon Christ.
When you find yourself looking outward at others, rely upon Christ that He has a plan for them, and pray for them that He will accomplish a mighty work in them.
When you find yourself wanting to motivate people to action, motivate them first to humility and relying upon Christ.

Don’t make relying upon Christ a buzzword at the end of a sermon that lays heavy burdens and raises heavy walls and stands in the way of those seeking to enter in. (13) (14)

You who preach this gospel, do not waver — we aren’t master architects building “great men of God” — we are messengers bringing testimony of our weaknesses and His strength — so that others might have eyes to see in the same awe and wonder as we the glory of our God — beware the leaven… (15)

Amen!

1. Only fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and their actions are evil; not one of them does good!
Psalms 14:1 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.14.1.NLT

2. Oh, foolish Galatians! Who has cast an evil spell on you? For the meaning of Jesus Christ’s death was made as clear to you as if you had seen a picture of his death on the cross. Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law of Moses? Of course not! You received the Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Christ. How foolish can you be? After starting your new lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort? Have you experienced so much for nothing? Surely it was not in vain, was it? I ask you again, does God give you the Holy Spirit and work miracles among you because you obey the law? Of course not! It is because you believe the message you heard about Christ. In the same way, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” The real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their faith in God. What’s more, the Scriptures looked forward to this time when God would make the Gentiles right in his sight because of their faith. God proclaimed this good news to Abraham long ago when he said, “All nations will be blessed through you.” So all who put their faith in Christ share the same blessing Abraham received because of his faith. But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say, “Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands that are written in God’s Book of the Law.” So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.” This way of faith is very different from the way of law, which says, “It is through obeying the law that a person has life.” But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith.
Galatians 3:1‭-‬14 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/gal.3.1-14.NLT

3. But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus. Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith. So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law. After all, is God the God of the Jews only? Isn’t he also the God of the Gentiles? Of course he is. There is only one God, and he makes people right with himself only by faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles. Well then, if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law.
Romans 3:21‭-‬31 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.3.21-31.NLT

4. Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer : ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’
Luke 18:9‭-‬12 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/luk.18.9-12.NLT

5. “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Luke 18:13‭-‬14 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/luk.18.13-14.NLT

6. And the leaders of the church had nothing to add to what I was preaching. (By the way, their reputation as great leaders made no difference to me, for God has no favorites.) Instead, they saw that God had given me the responsibility of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, just as he had given Peter the responsibility of preaching to the Jews. For the same God who worked through Peter as the apostle to the Jews also worked through me as the apostle to the Gentiles. In fact, James, Peter, and John, who were known as pillars of the church, recognized the gift God had given me, and they accepted Barnabas and me as their co-workers. They encouraged us to keep preaching to the Gentiles, while they continued their work with the Jews. Their only suggestion was that we keep on helping the poor, which I have always been eager to do. But when Peter came to Antioch, I had to oppose him to his face, for what he did was very wrong. When he first arrived, he ate with the Gentile believers, who were not circumcised. But afterward, when some friends of James came, Peter wouldn’t eat with the Gentiles anymore. He was afraid of criticism from these people who insisted on the necessity of circumcision. As a result, other Jewish believers followed Peter’s hypocrisy, and even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. When I saw that they were not following the truth of the gospel message, I said to Peter in front of all the others, “Since you, a Jew by birth, have discarded the Jewish laws and are living like a Gentile, why are you now trying to make these Gentiles follow the Jewish traditions? “You and I are Jews by birth, not ‘sinners’ like the Gentiles. Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law.” But suppose we seek to be made right with God through faith in Christ and then we are found guilty because we have abandoned the law. Would that mean Christ has led us into sin? Absolutely not! Rather, I am a sinner if I rebuild the old system of law I already tore down. For when I tried to keep the law, it condemned me. So I died to the law—I stopped trying to meet all its requirements—so that I might live for God. My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.
Galatians 2:6‭-‬21 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/gal.2.6-21.NLT

7. The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.
Psalms 37:23‭-‬24 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.37.23-24.NLT

8. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:9‭-‬10 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/2co.12.9-10.NLT

9. Those who speak for themselves want glory only for themselves, but a person who seeks to honor the one who sent him speaks truth, not lies.
John 7:18 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.7.18.NLT

10. But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also. If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too. If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles. Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow. “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.
Matthew 5:39‭-‬48 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.5.39-48.NLT

11. Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus. God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Ephesians 2:1‭-‬10 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/eph.2.1-10.NLT

12. And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.
James 4:6‭-‬10 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jas.4.6-10.NLT

13. “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you shut the door of the Kingdom of Heaven in people’s faces. You won’t go in yourselves, and you don’t let others enter either.
Matthew 23:13 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.23.13.NLT

14. Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
Matthew 11:28‭-‬30 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.11.28-30.NLT

15. “Beware of these teachers of religious law! For they like to parade around in flowing robes and love to receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces. And how they love the seats of honor in the synagogues and the head table at banquets. Yet they shamelessly cheat widows out of their property and then pretend to be pious by making long prayers in public. Because of this, they will be severely punished.”
Luke 20:46‭-‬47 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/luk.20.46-47.NLT

Trusting in the Lord

I truly enjoy time with the Lord in Spirit through prayer, reverence, faith, hope, worship, and revelation. It is in that place of first love of God, of appreciating Him upon the throne of my life as both Lord and savior that so much is made new and alive even in the midst of challenge, struggle, trial and opposition.

I am learning to trust in the Lord more in this way than I even rely on my own natural soul (psyche) or natural body (senses) — which can both deceive.

When I look at the above two dimensional drawing, I can see in my mind how it can logically be compared to the:

– Triune nature of God: Heavenly Father, Holy Spirit, and Son come in the Flesh

– Layout of the tabernacle: outer court, holy place, most holy place

– Layout of the temple: porch, outer sanctuary, holy of holies

– Man’s three in one being: spirit, natural soul, and physical body

I’m not going to stand here on this website soapbox and tell you that I have it all figured out and that “X is the right answer” and shun you for not agreeing with me. I have new things taught to me everyday, and I’ve come to understand that my own reasoning and understanding and imagination comes from my natural man and can easily be flawed. I don’t trust that part of me 100%, and neither should you — but we should test all such things by the Word of God.

Having said that, years ago, I started this website — not because I felt that I had something to “teach others”, but because as I started learning and being taught by my teacher through those spiritual gates as shown in the diagram above, I wanted to be transparent and open and accountable and correctable. This is still my purpose today.

At times, I have faced criticisms and opposition, and other times I have been warmly welcomed into readers hearts and considerations — and I appreciate both because God is being glorified in all of it.

I can see that it is God alone who is trustworthy and reliable in bringing the increase in something that He is doing, that He has ordained. Whether during times where my body and my natural were generating page after page of content — or during times where my body and my natural were showing much less evidence in output of additional content — He is producing consistently a growth and a change in me, and seemingly a growth in outreach through the site. We have averaged a growth of 30 percent per year during the 5 year history of the site. And that has been with no marketing efforts, no boosting of posts for visibility — just sharing my journey as transparently as possible as a Student of the Word of God.

I know that some are destined to be teachers, but I am a student. I trust in the communion that I experience through the Holy Spirit and what my teacher teaches me one on one in that special place so inadequately illustrated in the middle of that diagram at the beginning of this post. And in sharing, I don’t want to be your teacher, but I want you to come to know THE TEACHER, personally, spiritually, consciously, and physically as an undeniable presence in your life.

Do you know “about Him” or do you know Him?

Do you “read about Him” or do you “spend time with Him in that Holy place”?

I encourage you — even if the wicked hate you for it — and even if the religious hate you even more for it (because they both will at times if you are doing it right) — seek Him first. Trust Him. He will do amazing things — in spite of your shortcomings and failures.

Don’t settle for being a well polished tomb of a dying body carrying around a natural soul that is starved from any spiritual nourishment or life because there is no real connection to the life giving source through the glory of God — come alive in Christ Jesus and spend time with God. And share this amazing truth with others as well.

God bless you and yours in this New Year!

When Passion Goes Quiet

There is a saying in the business world that you might catch on sites like LinkedIn, etc.:

“The biggest concern for any organization should be when their most passionate people become quiet.” – Tim McClure

For example, articles like this one: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/when-passion-becomes-quiet-sean-kelsey-1f

Will tell us that:

• Breach of trust: leadership integrity is paramount to maintaining relationships and keeping people focused and energized. Not living the company values inevitably leads to distrust.
• Lack of leadership consistency: fairness, consistently applied, leads to a growing confidence amongst the staff complement. Employees feel insecure when there is favoritism, nepotism or irregular behavior on the part of leadership. 
• Being overlooked: not being listened to, being ignored or contribution not being recognized all lead to apathy. Energy gets sucked out of the system and people lose heart.
• Dishonesty: leadership untruths breed distrust. Employees easily perceive dishonesty and hate any attempts at being conned. 
• Insufficient information and communication: where managers withhold pertinent pieces of information for power purposes or fail to communicate adequately with employees, staff feel neglected and worthless.
• Leadership selfishness: big leadership bonuses with small pay increases for employees, benefits and values being ‘customized’ to suit leadership desires, etc.
• Lack of vision: when leadership operates out of a vague sense of direction with little or no communication of an expected future state. 

I’m not going to agree with Mr. McClue’s conclusion for the “biggest concern for any organization” because in the history of the world of business — many organizations have been insanely profitable on the broken backs of quiet people who were there not out of passion but out of necessity. It sounds great as a sound bite, and could even be helpful to leadership understanding the consequences of their leadership style and the culture it breeds. And it could be helpful to recognize when a once passionate and engaged team member has become disengaged. But even G.I. Joe will tell you that “knowing is half the battle” — it’s the other half that still has to be won, though.

So what can we as Christians say to such things?

When we find that the fallible humans in leadership roles around us have:

– Broken our trust by not living the espoused values

– Been inconsistent, unfair, and shown favoritism and irregular behavior

– Outright ignored/snubbed, or not listened to, or not recognized subordinates fairly for our contribution

– Been dishonest, deceitful, and manipulative

– Not communicated sufficient information or guidance/direction

What guidance does the Word of God have for us when we find ourselves in such a place?

Is our passion and purpose meant to die on the vine in such circumstances with an excuse like:

Where there is no vision, the people perish:
Proverbs 29:18a KJV

when the wicked rule, the people groan. Proverbs 29:2b ESV

No! Of course not! Because we do not find our hope in men. We do not even work for men. I love how straightforward the paraphrase version of this is from Colossians:

Servants, do what you’re told by your earthly masters. And don’t just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you’ll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you’re serving is Christ. The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being a follower of Jesus doesn’t cover up bad work.
Colossians 3:22‭-‬25 MSG

And we are called to patiently endure evil:

And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil. 2 Timothy 2:24 ESV

And we are to respect those in authority over us:

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. Roman’s 13:1-7

Will this always be easy when we are faced with the consequences of bad leaders around us?

No, of course not! But the experience of enduring will produce character in us. Problems and trials help develop endurance. Endurance develops strength of character. And character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. Don’t just take MY word for it — see what The Word says in Romans:

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
Romans 5:3‭-‬8 NLT

Yes, He died for us while we were still sinners. He suffered unjustly with no cause. Are we so prideful that we think, “I deserve to be treated better than this!” Or that we would look at another fallible man in authority over us and somehow self justify resisting their authority because of their shortcomings — even while we refuse to pray for them:

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior,
1 Timothy 2:1‭-‬3 NLT

But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.
Matthew 5:44‭-‬48 NLT

Or are we like Jonah who didn’t want God to save the people of Ninevah but he would have rather seen them destroyed?

Oh, Lord, grant us repentance and teach us to truly pray for those in authority over us and those who persecute us and treat us unfairly. It is only by the power of your Holy Spirit that we can accomplish such amazing things that are contrary to our nature. Instead of allowing us to foolishly make war with enemies greater than ourselves — Lord, go before us and prepare the way for victory without us even having to fight. Let us pray and praise your Holy name instead. Be both our passion and our purpose. To God be all the glory. Amen!

Miserable Comforters

“I have heard all this before. What miserable comforters you are! Won’t you ever stop blowing hot air? What makes you keep on talking?
Job 16:2‭-‬3 NLT

I just love the book of Job.

Job, more than many other servants of God, Job has seen clearly that:

for our God is a consuming fire.
Hebrews 12:29 ESV

And…

For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”
Hebrews 12:6 NLT

We are each worthy of punishment. We have all fallen short of God’s glorious perfection. And discipline, and even suffering and persecution in this life, are always good for us — they produce in us a harvest of right living, of character built through endurance. They are the narrow path by which we share in His holiness.

When we have our eyes set upon eternity, momentary sufferings are endured through hope in the Lord and not in ourselves. We find our comfort in the arms of the Lord, because He is in the midst of the furnace with us. He may not remove the bitter cup of suffering from our hands, but He will not forsake us. Think back to Nebuchadnezzar’s furnace:

Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you refuse to serve my gods or to worship the gold statue I have set up? I will give you one more chance to bow down and worship the statue I have made when you hear the sound of the musical instruments. But if you refuse, you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace. And then what god will be able to rescue you from my power?” Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”
Daniel 3:14‭-‬18 NLT

Or remember Joseph put in the pit by his brothers, or in the jail by false accusations. Servant of God, remember this when suffering comes and those around you prove to be miserable comforters:

Then the Lord asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil.” Satan replied to the Lord , “Yes, but Job has good reason to fear God. You have always put a wall of protection around him and his home and his property. You have made him prosper in everything he does. Look how rich he is! But reach out and take away everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!” “All right, you may test him,” the Lord said to Satan. “Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don’t harm him physically.” So Satan left the Lord ’s presence.
Job 1:8‭-‬12 NLT

But remember even moreso, when you religious hypocrites (like Job’s “friends”) seek to attack another with the Word of God, judge another, make assumptions about why another is suffering harm.

Would you wicked people go to a man who has just lost a child and say, “It is your sin that has found you out and this is why your child has died.”

Would you wicked people see your enemy suffer harm and rejoice in it? Have you forgotten that a forgiven man is a forgiving man and is one who loves his neighbors and blesses those who consider themselves his enemies.

Would you wicked people judge a person by his outside circumstances and appearance alone? Have you forgotten the empty tomb of death and lies and wickedness and jealousy and pride and sinfulness that lies at the core of you that can only be covered up by the blood of Jesus Christ shed for you on a cross?

Yes, we may know many who have been miserable comforters to us in our times of suffering — but dwelling on that does little but sow seeds of bitterness towards an outward target with a speck in their eye. No, instead of proudly placing ourselves in the seat of “persecuted” and staying there — maybe se need to be reminded of how many times we have been miserable comforters to others, how often we have failed to forgive, how often we have lifted up accusations against others in our minds and in our hearts.

Lord, forgive us. We have many times been miserable comforters to our brothers, sisters, and neighbors. Help us to love, to comfort, to make peace — and to endure. Amen.