Concealed Love

Better is open rebuke, than love that is concealed.---Pro 27:5 Life is short, and often we do not share with others our most prized possession to give...love. The writer of the Proverbs was said to be the wisest man to ever live. In this succinct sentence he says that it is better to openly rebuke someone than to hide one’s love. Is he telling us to go around rebuking people in public? Is he telling us to go around wagging our fingers at people in judgment? Of course not! His point is that we are to openly love one another. Lest we take this verse and misinterpret, use the rest of God’s Word to grasp its meaning. Elsewhere we are told to “speak the truth in love.” The truth can hurt, but if given in a loving manner it can do the work of sanctification it was meant to do. For further understanding of the power of love, read 1 Corinthians 13. There you will find the power of love to conquer all. Indeed, love wins, but not without truth. In a world that needs healing, in a world that needs to be made whole again, in a world that needs to be turned right-side up... do not hide your love. Imagine a world where love was not concealed.

Boycott Boycottin'

Alright. Alright. Alright. I rarely jump in on boycotting anything, because it always ends up biting me in the rear. And if you don’t boycott everything, then how can you boycott anything? It’s a slippery slope. --- So I thought about Jesus, because He knows the way, and of course, He is the way. He should have boycotted the planet, but He didn’t. He loved the world, “as is,” so much that He came and died for it. The world loved Him so much it put Him on the cross. Yet, nothing happened (the cross) that He didn’t let happen. Love caused Him to go willingly. So too, the followers of Jesus are to be “in the world, but not of the world.” As mad as we get that our voice is not heard, we don’t have legitimate grounds in Jesus to boycott anything. The fact of the matter is that we are called to die to self. And the more we actually live like Jesus (I’m not talking acting like a weirdo), that is love on people, we will be hated. We will not be tolerated in this world. --- So shop where you shop. Get amused where you get amused. Get your hair cut where you get your hair cut. And live for the One who died for you and rose again in all these place; and make His name famous by showing what Jesus’ love looks like. --- To bring people to Christ we have to be around them. Don't worry about the favor of the world, “in Christ” you are more than conquerors. The One you follow defeated death!

Sin Diagnosis

Once we are diagnosed with some kind of physical disease we take action. We seek a cure. We seek a remedy. We don’t sit still. —- According to the Bible we all have a diagnosis that leads to death. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. The wages of sin are death.” This is bad news for every human. Yet the Bible is the book that gives the diagnosis and the cure. Though we fall short, and have death coming to us; “the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our LORD.” My friend, we are at the end of days, the signs are all around us. Take seriously your diagnosis. Seek Jesus Christ while he may be found. —- Furthermore, Jesus is not like a pill that you take and are cured. Yes He is the Savior with the cure, but He is the Lord to be followed. Head knowledge of Jesus will not save you from your sin. The Bible is clear that demons believe in God. They know who Jesus is, and what he did. What you confess about Jesus with your mouth must be genuinely believed in your heart. Only those who truly repent of their sin and turn to Christ will be saved. It is not an emotional decision. It is a life-changing event. Are you still living like the rest of the world? Paul told believers to check their salvation to make sure they weren’t faking it. Love the LORD God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength. If this is your desire, then that is a good check mark. Lastly, those that believe in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ can be sure that they are saved…they have been cured of sin, and will avoid being eternally separated from God in the Lake of Fire. —- Child of God, live like it, so that others see Jesus in you and are drawn to that. #PrayHard

Tested Love

“If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes true, concerning which he spoke to you, saying, ‘Let us go after other gods (whom you have not known) and let us serve them,’ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams; for the LORD your God is testing you to find out if you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.“You shall follow the LORD your God and fear Him; and you shall keep His commandments, listen to His voice, serve Him, and cling to Him.--Deut.13:1-4 Consistently the Bible teaches that our love for God is exhibited in our outward obedience to Him. The two are insistently tied together according to God. This is consistent throughout the Old and New Testaments. --- In this case God tells the Israelites through Moses to use the head the Good Lord gave them. If some prophet or wannabe prophet compels them to go and follow other gods, then they should no longer listen to that person. In such cases, the LORD God is testing them to see if they will jump to the other side, the dark side by following a false god. If we love the LORD God with all we’ve got, we will spot a fake a mile away. People are only gullible when they are either new to the faith, or have not spent time with God in His Word. Listening to the voice of God, serving God, and clinging to Him are not works unto salvation; they are acts of love. Don’t fall for the dreamer or the sensational, God is right there with you in the daily stuff of life. Have the kind of love that passes the test.

So I Was Reminded

So I am feeling the frustrations of many Americans right now. I am literally going to have to vote for the lesser of two evils when it comes down to the presidency of the United States. It seems like it has been that way for several years now, which begs the question: “In these United States are there no intelligent, upstanding, for-the-people, persons of integrity available to run for the office?”--- Of course that question alone sparks a debate in which sides are quickly chosen, and we are right back where we started. --- But I did pose this question to some men, and suddenly I was reminded of the truth. You know every now and then we just need to be reminded of the truth. You see, God foresaw evil days when He told Israel, that when they found themselves all messed up, and it seemed like wickedness had taken over rule of them...on that day remember this: If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.---2 Chr.7:14--- Quit looking for a person to lead this country. Instead, go to the top! Get your heart right in humility as you approach the King of Kings in prayer. Seek the face of God in prayer. Turn from your wicked ways. Stop blaming everyone else, and get your house in order. Only then will God hear from heaven. The good news is He promises to hear you, forgive you and heal the land. And isn’t that what we want anyway? So, here’s a reminder: go to the top. #PrayHard

RESCUED

I saw this one word on a ball cap, and I couldn’t get it off my mind. “Rescued,” it is probably the best word that can describe me (period). Oh, I would like to pick a lot of other words, and even some of them might sound humble. But the truth is God has rescued my “sorry behind” over and over. At times I’ve told people that the thing that has gotten me to where I am is “faith.” Let it be known that I believe God just needs a little dab of faith from us to make big things happen. But when I say that it is my faith that has gotten me this far, that still sounds like I’m taking a little credit. In the words of a famous person that will remain nameless, “to be clear” I’ve got nothing. What I bring to the table is a person that needs more than rehabilitation, I need to be rescued. I’d love to say it was a one-time rescue even as Jesus saved me from my sin at salvation; but truth be told I have to be rescued so often I’d swear He has a leash on me. Thank God! --- Oh, I do understand when Paul says, “What a wretched man I am, who will rescue me from this body of death?” --- So, I’m thanking you publicly Jesus for my rescue. --- Now, it’s time to get the t-shirt.

Our Problem #ItIsUniversal

Our problem is with the truth. We don’t get the truth. We don’t want to hear the truth. We don’t get the whole truth. We don’t believe in absolute truth. We aren’t looking for the truth. When we actually get a dose of the truth, we can’t handle the truth. Most importantly, when the Truth showed up on our doorsteps, we put Him on a cross. --- The truth only hurts when you’re on the wrong side of it.

The Love Challenge #Supernatural

“For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?—-Mt.5:46 Here’s the challenge: it is easy to love those that treat you nice, affirm, encourage, and forgive you. Anyone can do that. Jesus is calling for his followers to be above that. You see, God loved us first. He loved us while we were yet sinners. He loved those that cursed and persecuted him. That is not a natural love; it is a supernatural love. —- God will reward you for loving those that do not repay your kindness. God will reward you for loving the unlovable. Believe it or not, tax collectors had a worse reputation back in Jesus’ day than today. Many of them took extortion to the next level as they ripped off the population. Jesus said that if you only love those that love you in return, then your love is equal to that of a tax collector. In other words you have not truly expressed the kind of love God wants to see from Jesus’ followers. —- What person or people group are you having a hard time loving right now? Check yourself, because that is what Jesus is talking about. Note how Jesus treated those who arrested him. Re-read his attitude towards others while on the cross. —- This kind of love isn’t popular, yet it is what the Savior calls for.

Love Your Enemies

”You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you...”---Mt.5:43,44 So the first time we see “love” in the New Testament is in Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount.” And of all things, he is telling his followers to love their enemies. In a year’s time or in a decade we all have people that we would consider as enemies at some level relationally. --- If Jesus were here today, and he posted this on Facebook, Twitter or some other social media; how radical would this be? How fitting would it be in today’s time? He reminds them about loving their neighbor. This was something they were supposed to be doing. Pause for a moment. If everyone was loving their neighbor, then we would never be at war. Soak on that one. But we obviously are not, because we don’t always adhere to the teachings of Jesus, and others reject the teachings of Jesus. If we were all indeed devout followers of Jesus Christ, then there would be no skirmishes, no war; instead there would be peace. --- Jesus knew so much, therefore he followed with “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” How would that post from Jesus fly on social media today? Well, his words have been posted into a text that like a “screenshot” cannot be taken back. Are the words of Jesus relevant today? --- I think those who love him and those who reject him, and even those who live for him every now and then can see the truth. Will we, however, ignore the powerful words of Jesus? Will we in 2016 test the power of love by extending love and prayers to those whom we would naturally consider enemies? ---- If you’re like me, then you are frustrated with the unrest in the world today. You also feel like terrorism and such is so global that you can do nothing about it. --- Let’s take Jesus’ word to heart by loving our neighbors. If real change is to take place then it will be from a grassroots effort locally first. Add to that praying for our enemies to be changed by love. Perhaps that sounds unbelievable, but think about--- have we really tried it?

"Whom You Love"

He said, “Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.”---Gen.22:2 Last year I did devotions from verses that had the word “now” in them using the ESV translation. This year I am doing the same with the word “love” from the NASB. It’s a different type of study that forces me to slow down and focus as well as viewing a different English translation in a year’s time. --- Follow along if you like. The first time we find the word “love” in the Bible is when the LORD God tells Abraham to take his his one and only son, Isaac, and offer him as a sacrifice to the LORD. Now, the text is clear that God was testing Abraham (see the previous verse) and did not intend for him to kill his son. God’s promise to Abraham was tied up in this son, so this was a big deal. God wanted to see if Abraham trusted God to this extreme. —- I believe this little test was more than just for Abraham though. For the doubters, us, thousands of years later would need to see the faith and the promise exercised for us to be able to believe as well. —- More importantly, this was a foreshadowing of what was to come as the Father sent the Son to die on the cross for our sin for our redemption. —- No doubt this was a confusing test for Abraham, but he learned to trust the Promise-Keeper over the promise. He knew that if God said He was going to do something, then God would do it. —- When we are walking in the Spirit, we can trust that God will get us to where He wants us to go even when we cannot figure out how. Just trust and obey.—- It was in his obedience that he learned that not only could God be trusted, but God was able to provide a substitute at just the right time for the sacrifice. --- Trust God with who and what you love for He is worthy!