A Light in the Dark

A Light in the Dark   13 Jan 2013

"Enoch lived 365 years in all. He enjoyed a close relationship with God throughout his life. Then suddenly, he disappeared because God took him." —Genesis 5:23-24

Enoch lived at a unique time in history, prior to God's judgment by the Flood. People of Enoch's day were really wicked. So wicked, in fact, that God was sorry He ever created them. Scripture tells us of that time that all their thoughts were "consistently and totally evil" (Genesis 6:5). But in the midst of this dark environment was an individual who walked with God. Enoch shows us that it is possible to live a godly life in an ungodly world.

We also read in Hebrews 11:5 that Enoch was pleasing to God. We too can live our lives in a way that pleases God. How? We can start by finding out what God specifically says is pleasing to Him. Here are a few from the pages of Scripture:

1. God is pleased when, in spite of the fact that we are in the right, we patiently endure when misunderstood (see 1 Peter 2:19).
2. God is pleased when children obey their parents (see Colossians 3:20).
3. God is pleased when we worship Him and help others (see Hebrews 13:15).
4. God is pleased when we give to the work of the kingdom (see Philippians 4:17).

Of course, as you read and study God's Word, you'll discover other things that please Him. Some people have the mistaken notion that God is very difficult to please. He is not. He loves you. He knows all about you. Your failures do not come as a surprise to Him. He wants the very best for you. His resources are at your disposal. He is patient with you.

Enoch had this testimony: he pleased God. How is your testimony today?

Ready to Go?

Ready to Go?  12 Jan 2013

"Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ." —Titus 2:12–13

If the rapture happened today, would you be ready to go? The Bible says that Christ is coming for those who are watching and waiting. Does the thought that Jesus could come back today make your heart leap? Or does it make your heart sink?

Any person who is right with God should be excited about the imminent return of Jesus. It is a good litmus test of where you are spiritually. If the thought of His return brings joy to your heart, then that would indicate to me that you are walking with God. But if it causes fear, then that would be an indication that something is not right spiritually.

As Jesus spoke to His disciples about end times events, He closed His teaching with a personal exhortation: "But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth" (Luke 21:34–35).

As followers of Christ, we need to be living in such a way that we are ready for His return. We need to be living in such a way that every moment counts. One day, each of us will be held accountable for how we spent our time, our resources, and our lives. Let's not waste them. Let's allow the anticipation of the Lord's imminent return to keep us on our toes spiritually. Let's allow it to motivate us to live godly lives.

Dealing with Distraction

Dealing with Distraction  11 Jan 2013

"So I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step." —1 Corinthians 9:26

In first-century track competitions, each runner would be assigned to a lane on the track. Each was expected to stay in his assigned lane. In the same way, as you and I run the race of life, our competition is not with other believers. Rather, our competition is with our enemies—the world, the flesh, and the devil. The goal is not to outrun someone else. The goal is to outrun those wicked influences that could bring us down.

You might justify your slow pace by pointing to other people still running behind you. True. But there are probably some people ahead of you too. You are not to concern yourself with who is behind you or who is ahead of you. You are to run the race before you. God has not called you to run someone else's race. We are each called to run our own race.

An incident from the life of Peter illustrates this truth. After Peter had been restored to the Lord following His denial, Jesus said to him, "Follow me." Then the Lord proceeded to tell Peter how his life would end. As they were talking, Peter noticed another disciple, John, was walking behind them. Peter asked, "What about him, Lord?" (John 21:21).

Jesus said, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You follow me" (John 21 22). A loose paraphrase would be, "Peter, it is none of your business. You just do what I have told you to do."

I ask you today, are you just offering a half-hearted effort in the race of life? Or are you running as well as you can?

Discipline Begets Self-Discipline

Discipline Begets Self-Discipline  10 Jan 2013

1 Kings 1:6 NIV

(His father had never interfered with him by asking, "Why do you behave as you do?" He was also very handsome and was born next after Absalom.)

Adonijah had grown up in a life without limitations. He had always had his own way. David had never questioned his behavior, had never shown him any boundaries, had never given him any form of discipline. The result was the adult Adonijah, a man without self-discipline, a man who still wanted his own way.

Children need discipline - discipline administered with love. Once, when my oldest son was about 12, he disobeyed me - and then lied to me to try to cover for his disobedience. When I discovered what he had done, I explained to him that disobeying me was bad, but lying to me about it was worse. His punishment was to be grounded (staying in his room at all times except for school and church) for two days for disobeying me and another seven days for lying to me. We suffered through his grounding together (it's sometimes harder on the parents than the child!), but I pretty much forgot about the ncident in years to come. But my son did not forget. I later learned that he had not forgotten when I overheard a conversation he was having with one of his friends when he was about 16. The friend was angry at some punishment his own mother had administered. My son related the punishment he had received four years earlier, in an apparent attempt to show his friend that the friend's punishment was minor compared to that! Upon hearing the story, my son's friend became adamant, stating that if his mother had done that to him, he would have run away from home. My son's answer to his friend's outcry showed me that he understood the reason for discipline when he said, "But Mom only punished me because she loves me!"

Show your children how much you love them by giving them boundaries - emotional, behavioral and spiritual - within which to live. Teach them self-discipline through your loving discipline. Allow them the opportunity to grow up to be adults of whom you - and God - can be proud.

My son, keep your father's commands
and do not forsake your mother's teaching.

Bind them upon your heart forever;
fasten them around your neck.

When you walk, they will guide you;
when you sleep, they will watch over you;
when you awake, they will speak to you.

For these commands are a lamp,
this teaching is a light,
and the corrections of discipline
are the way to life,

Proverbs 6:20-23 NIV

"He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him." Proverbs 13:24 NIV

How Long, O LORD?

How Long, O LORD?  9 Jan 2013

Psalm 13 NIV

How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and every day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?

Look on me and answer, O LORD my God.
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death;
my enemy will say, "I have overcome him,"
and my foes will rejoice when I fall.

But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
I will sing to the LORD,
for he has been good to me.

Oh, how easily we can relate to David's feelings! "How long, O Lord?" How often does it seem that God has us "on hold," taking forever to respond to our prayers. so very slow in acting on our behalf. allowing evil to go unchecked. bills to go unpaid. pain to go on and on. loneliness to continue unceasingly. life to continue to be frustrating?

Take a look at the number of people in the Bible who had to wait YEARS for God's promises to come true. Look at Abraham. he was 75 years old when God first told him, "I will make you into a great nation." (Genesis 12:2 NIV), but there he was with a barren wife, and already well past his prime. Twenty-five years later Isaac was finally born! What a wait!

Remember, God does not wear a watch, nor does He pay attention to our calendar. He exists outside of time and space, and He causes things to happen in HIS time according to HIS eternal purpose. But even though we know that, we can become frustrated while waiting for God's promises to be fulfilled. I can remember one particular promise God made to me through His word, and it took five months for Him to begin to fulfill that promise, and He is still fulfilling it today, sixteen years later, one step at a time.

When we feel the same feelings that David expressed in this Psalm, we must also emulate David's commitment - to continue to trust in God's unfailing love for us. to rejoice in His salvation in the midst of our pain. to sing praises to God. to remember how good He has been to us already. to seek His purpose in our lives. and to continue to live for Him, no matter how slow He seems to be to act.

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 NIV

Preaching the Cross

Preaching the Cross  8 Jan 2013

For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. —1 Corinthians 1:22-24

We may look with some envy on first-century believers who seemed to have miracles as part of their daily lives. Certainly, there were dramatic miracles that took place during their time.

We read of great things happening, such as the man at the gate Beautiful who received the ability to walk. Peter was released from prison by an angel. A woman was raised from the dead. We can look back on that time with some fondness and say, "Those were the good old days."

Realistically, though, I think we should recognize that the Book of Acts is a record of what God did over a 30-year period. As we read it, it almost appears as though miracles happened every 12 minutes. But the truth is that it's a record of miracles that took place over a long period of time.

Some Christians may think that if they could perform a sign or miracle for the unbelievers they know, then they would believe. But here is the sign they need to know about: what Jesus accomplished on the cross.

It is the preaching of the cross that will make the difference. "We preach Christ crucified," Paul said. That is our message. That is what we have to say.

Paul said, "For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified" (1 Corinthians 2:2)

Though I believe in miracles and hope to see more in my lifetime, one thing will never change: the simple message we must proclaim.

Listening to God

Listening to God  6 Jan 2013

Read: 1 Samuel 3:4-10

"Speak, for your servant is listening." (v. 10)

The word for prayer in Aramaic, the language Jesus spoke, means to open oneself to God. In prayer I enter a relationship in which I am attentive to God, listening as well as speaking.

If I truly want to pray I need to do some listening to what God is saying to me. Reading the Bible is a way of doing that. I ask God, "What is it that you want to say to me?" As I approach the Bible with that request I am attentive to a word or phrase that seems to carry something that demands my attention. I am not trying to comprehend all that is said in the text. I am paying attention to a word that resonates in me.

When I receive that word I spend some time asking, "What does this mean for me? What am I being told? How does this apply to my life?"

Then I form my words of response. It may be in thanksgiving for what I have heard. It may be a petition for help in following what is indicated.

Finally, I let the word I have received sink deep into my heart. I give some time of silence to this. Then I can take that word with me for the day. Listening prayer isn't easy, just richly rewarding.

Prayer: Help us, Triune God, to listen attentively to your word for us. Amen.