Sheep or Sheeple - Which One Are You?

John 10:1-21

My grandkids are in 4-H.  Since my 13 year old granddaughter, Ani, began three years ago, she has twice taken the Grand Champion title for the steers she has fed and conditioned.  Her brother, Liam, who is going to be 11 in January, has raised pigs for the last two years and has done quite well.  Kieran, brother number two who just turned 8, will be transitioning from a Clover Bud and open classes and into qualified projects next year.  I'm proud of all three of them.  The 4-H organization has taught them how to value livestock and the industry, and the responsibility and time and effort it takes to raise their animals.

But one animal that none of the kids will be raising during their 4-H tenure is sheep.   Sheep are easy to raise and feed, and the cost of doing so is dramatically less than raising a market steer or a pig.  Most parents prefer the seemingly non-offensive, less smelly, smaller animal to the larger varieties.  They think that their child should start out with livestock that's easier to handle and would never harm them.  They may have a point, especially for the "backyard" livestock keeper.  Who doesn't love a baby lamb and their cuddly, soft, downy wool?  And a well-fed lamb does produce wonderful chops!  The essence of my grandkids' decision not to raise one, however, is basically due to the challenge the larger animals offer, and the lack of the same with sheep.

Let's take a look at the character and habits of sheep.

Sorry, but sheep are dumb.  Sheep have a deeply embedded herd mentality.  Sheep have a propensity to follow after danger, grazing with their heads down, not knowing where they're going, and not recognizing danger before it's too late.  In spite of those attending them bearing the title "shepherd," it is almost impossible to drive them in the direction you want them to go.  All is well as long as the lamb has company - other lambs, that is.  Place a lamb skin on a wolf, and they will follow it, thinking it's another lamb.  (I once had an Old English Sheepdog that could get any balking herd of sheep to follow after her because she had the appearance of a lamb - in spite of her hatred and resentment for the things.)

When the lambs are presented in the show ring, no halter, ropes, driving sticks, or canes are required.  All the handler must do is place one of his or her hands under the lamb's lower jaw and the other on its rump to propel it into the position they desire.  When they stop to set it up (place it in its show position), the lamb stands there, imagining that the hand that's under its jaw is preventing it from moving.  My point is made: imagine an animal so dumb that it actually thinks it's tethered or unable to move where it wants because someone has a hold of its jaw.  (A sheep's brain weighs 140 grams, as compared to a cow's brain weighing in at 425-458 grams.  Compare both to a human brain weighing 1300-1400 grams, and that's all that needs to be said.)

Those who have no true knowledge of sheep might think, "That kid has trained that sheep well!"  Even though the kids work long hours conditioning their lambs, they begin when the lambs are very young.  The less-seasoned showman considers the lamb a pet and it is most often treated like one.  By playing with it and keeping a hands-on approach, the lamb becomes accustomed to being handled and falls easily and submissively into the proper techniques that are required to show it in the ring.  They are just simply an easier animal to raise and handle - unless you want to drive them.

Does any of this sound familiar?

It is no wonder that people are likened to sheep.  The often-used pun "sheeple" is appropriate in regard to how men behave.  They follow after danger with their heads down, fall into a herd mentality, and are unable to recognize a wolf in sheep's clothing (much like my old dog who fooled the sheep every time), and fail to follow after the true Shepherd, Jesus Christ.  Usually all it takes for a person to be led astray is a slyly placed hand under his jaw and a little push in the wrong direction, and off he goes!  Once he's in the position that the enemy wants him to be in, he remains frozen there.  He isn't aware that all he would have to do to break free from that which restricts him is to cry out for his Shepherd's aid and return to Him.

There is a sheep pen that has been established by the LORD where He puts all those He has gathered.   On the perimeter of that pen is a gate that He has secured and through which He leads His sheep out.  They know His voice and will turn and run from a stranger.  They know He is their Shepherd and will protect them.  They also know that the pastures He leads them to will be lush and verdant.  When one strays away from Him, He will leave the others behind to search for it.  He has even given His life for His sheep.  Jesus is the Good Shepherd who cares for His flock.  I might even go so far as to say that the sheep that belong to Him are wise.  

Unlike the foolish 4-H sheep described above, those who belong to Jesus know their Master and are faithful to Him.  He has no need for restraints to keep His sheep obedient and subjected to Him.  He makes no demands upon them except to love and obey Him.  When His sheep know Him, the hand He places upon their hearts is gentle, not forceful.  It guides them towards righteousness and holiness, perfection and peace.  And eventually, Jesus will shepherd them to His eternal kingdom where they will be forever free to graze with their heads down without fear.

So, are you a sheeple or a sheep?  It's a good question to ask oneself.  Jesus desires to add you to His flock.  Truly, there's no better place to be.  And if you are one that's being held captive by the hand of deception that is only leading you astray, simply call out to Him.  He's ready and willing to break that hold for you and lead you to safer pastures.

I hope I see you there. 

Getting Knocked Off the -Ism and -Ist Perch

If there was ever a time in history that has the propensity to confuse and befuddle Christians with excessive terminology, it's in this generation.  And the biggest problem with all the "isms" and "ists" that are being passed around is the division that is caused when differing viewpoints are debated - usually hotly and with little or no regard to the commonality Christians do have with each other: belief in Jesus Christ and His Gospel of salvation in its fullness.

The "5 Points of Calvin-ism"..."Arminian-ism"..."dispensational-ism"..."preterist"..."pre-mid-post-millenialist"...and every other "ism" and "ist" that can stir up and muddy the waters of the Gospel message reminds me of the photo I've attached to this post.  We  have become a bunch of different types of birds, each jostling for space on a narrow perch, and all singing discordant tunes that are out of harmony with each other.  This does nothing more than bring dissension among believers and a stubborn drive for each bird to make his position the only valid and legitimate one and to guarantee he remains on the perch.

Of course, then we have those who label themselves with cute hyphenated versions of "-isms" and "-ists" like silly little school girls.  The "Calvi-dispy" crowd and others remind me of immature children who form their own private little club.  In order to become a member, one must jump through the hoops these elitists have erected, learn the lingo, and agree completely with them.  If not, you have no hope of becoming part of this intimate and divinely inspired group and you're knocked off their perch.

This is not to say that I don't have my own convictions on these important doctrines, and most of those convictions are in line with the -ist and -ism crowd (minus half a point).  What I am saying is that all too often our approach comes across as arrogant and argumentative, rather than with gentle instruction and a desire to help others see their errors.  We become exclusive, wanting only to associate with those of like-mind.  We bar the door of our tight-knit, hand-selected, little group from those with differing opinions (and often misguided ones) and then gossip among ourselves about their ignorance.  Believe me.  I have witnessed this.

Should this be the way we, as Christians, behave?

It goes without saying that no one wants to deal with a trouble-maker.  Someone who inserts himself and attempts to cause division should be removed and handed over for the LORD to discipline, if that be His will.  But to merely turn your vitriol on someone who has the wrong understanding of a particular doctrine, and who may be quite capable through the intervention of the Holy Spirit working through you in coming to a right understanding, is the wrong way for us to behave.

Who are we to decide for God who should be the recipient of that understanding?  Is He not Sovereign in His choices?  Has He not given us the means and the knowledge to share with others what we do know and a clear mandate to accomplish it?  For us to hide our "lamp" under a "jar" is for us to also hide the Light of Christ that gives understanding and reveals the hidden and hard things.  The knowledge that has been given to us and the understanding we have should be put on a "stand so that those who enter may see the Light."  (Luke 8:16)  By employing Jesus' instructions, the goal of reaching unity in common belief is more easily attained, thereby keeping peace in His body of believers instead of us acting like a bunch of squabbling birds fighting over position on the perch.

It is no small wonder that so many refuse to hear the Gospel when they see us fighting amongst ourselves over "-isms" and "-ists."  How is that furthering the Truths of God?  At best, all we are accomplishing is proving the unbeliever correct in his assessment:  hypocrisy, arrogance, pride, and a stubborn determination to always be right are still very much present in the Church.

Like those who have gone before us have discovered, there will come a time when we all will be amazed (and probably ashamed) at how much we may have missed the mark regarding certain doctrines.  None of us should think that we have all the right answers.  If we do, we're only fooling ourselves and placing ourselves in the precarious position of being knocked off our self-elevated perch.  There is only One with ultimate wisdom regarding these issues and He will determine how and when we come to a full understanding of them in His own way.

Although I am in agreement with many of my brothers and sisters regarding certain tenets of belief, I will humbly reserve sufficient space for God to correct and instruct me when He deems it necessary, even if it's through another.  The ironic part about it is that I believed these things before I even knew they had a name with a suffix attached to their end.  I didn't need to bog my mind down with -isms and -ists in order to understand them.  They came with the Gospel, and that was enough for me.  The most important thing I can do for Him right now is to allow Him to lead me in how I share what He's given me to others with less knowledge so that they, too, may benefit from His wisdom. 

God knocked me off my self-elevated perch a long time ago, and I cannot express the gratitude I have for that lowering of myself.  Every once in a while I try and climb back onto it, but I'm beginning to see that the view is much better down here, at least until I reach the level of wisdom He desires for me.  If I do have a position on that perch, it's one that He has ordained for me, not one I've chosen for myself.

So, enough with the "-isms" and "-ists" - at least for a time.  They only benefit mature believers in furthering their understanding of God's purpose and will by digging deeper into His Word.   There's a world of unbelievers out there who need to hear the Gospel of salvation in its purest form: simple and direct with nothing left to conjecture or debate, and nothing that will confuse or distort their understanding of it.  Once they have that firmly planted in their hearts, the rest will come by the Holy Spirit's intervention and instruction.

Are You a Mary or a Martha?

But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me." But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her."

 Luke 10:40-42 ESV

This is an easy question for me to answer.  There's no doubt that I'm a Martha.

I want to be a Mary, but I find it difficult to allow others to serve me.  Instead, I charge headfirst into making sure that the comforts of others are met before my own, and the end result is usually exhaustion and regret that so much of my time I was allowed to be with them was wasted on making sure things ran smoothly.

This summer has been filled with visiting friends and relatives.  I looked forward to them coming, even for a day or two, but my excitement quickly dissipated as I found myself fussing over them and worrying that every moment was filled with making sure their needs were met.  Unlike Martha who complained that Mary failed to help her, I felt I needed to do it all so that my visitors' vacations would be memorable ones full of fun and relaxation.  Therefore, I missed out on a lot because of my predisposition to try and handle everything, including my six grandbabies and two of my son's fiance's young girls running in and out and meeting their demands.

It didn't take me long to realize I was actually worse than Martha!

Mary had it right.  She also had the best seat in the house: at Jesus' feet.  She knew her time with Him was going to be short and wanted to take advantage of every second of the time she had to spend with Him.  As I look back on the last month, I realize that I missed out on the enjoyment I could have experienced with my family because I refused to sit down with them and let come what may.  Unlike Mary, I failed to choose the "good portion," those times of reminiscing, memory building, and laughter that comes with the precious time we spend with those who live far away and are only able to visit once in a great while.  The photos I took should have been a reminder of the good times.  Instead, they are a reminder of how brief those intimate moments were because of my frantic desire to serve my loved ones, and the regret I feel for having done so.

Unfortunately, I will probably continue to be a Martha - at least most of the time.  It's just the way I'm equipped, wanting to make sure that everyone's needs are met.  But the next time I'm given the gift of having my family surrounding me, I'm going to strive real hard to be a Mary and treasure each second with them.

I'm going to sit down and let my family gather around my feet.  I'll let the dirty dishes and clothes pile up and the wet towels hang out on the line.  I'll try and turn a blind eye to the messes that build, knowing they can be dealt with later.  I'll accept the offer of help from the other adults that I so often refuse.  And as my grandchildren run rip-shod over my space, I'll smile to myself as their mischievous antics are buried deeply in my heart to recall at a later time when they are away from me.

I thank the LORD for blessing me with time to be with my family, even if I didn't utilize it they way I probably should have.  He has reminded me that the "good portion" of simply being in and enjoying their presence is the absolute best place to be.  The wonderful memories of them that He's buried deep in my heart, regardless of how brief, can never be taken away from me, and I will treasure them forever.

I'm Still Here!

Once again I find myself trying to balance the summer projects, visiting friends and relatives, chasing after grandchildren, and this blog.  It may appear that my interest in it is waning, but nothing could be farther from the truth.  I'm still here!

I usually try to post something new at least every three days.   Although I have many new ideas rolling around in my head, even some titles in the draft file waiting for inspiration, there just aren't enough "quiet" moments without interruptions to complete them.

So, if you are looking for something to read, I'd love it if you searched through the archives under "Labels".  There just may be something there you haven't read in the last two and a half years this blog has existed, or something you did read that you'd like to read again!  Sometimes I go back and read them as if it's the first time.  I hope you do, too, and find what you're looking for.

The summer is coming to a close here in our mountain valley.  It won't be long before precious family we don't see often enough go back to their own homes, 4-H projects are completed and this week's fair concludes, and I am left to wonder what I will do with myself, as is so often the case.  It's been a wonderful summer full of renewal and building memories.  I will cherish each moment that's passed.

Keep checking back.  Those rare moments of opportunity to write do come - once in a while.  Until then, continue to have a great summer and may God bless each and every one who drops by.

In Christ,

Karen

When the Wrong Use Of a Word Becomes a Lie

The wrong terminology can have devastating effects, especially when used by political factions with an agenda.  If the incorrect usage of a word is intentionally perpetuated, it's not long before people everywhere are indoctrinated to believe it's application is correct.   It becomes a form of brainwashing with the intent of convincing the masses to think and move in a particular direction.  And there's always someone or something that is adversely affected - like Israel.

When I Googled the phrase and image "occupied territory," the results were staggering but not surprising.  First and foremost, Israel and its "occupation" of the West Bank and Gaza Strip glaringly stood out at the top of the long lists of websites and definitions.  One such site, Wikipedia, defines the phrase in the following way:

Occupied territory is territory under military occupation. Occupation is a term of art in international law; in accordance with Article 42 of the Laws and Customs of War on Land (Fourth Hague Convention); October 18, 1907,^[1] territory is considered occupied when it is actually placed under the authority of the hostile army. The occupation extends only to the territory where such authority has been established and can be exercised. At the end of a war, usually the victorious side is in possession of territory previously possessed by another state. This territory is known as occupied territory. Acquisition of occupied territory is incidental to a war, where the military forces of the occupying power come into the possession of territory previously held by another state. Occupation is usually temporary; and under the subsequent articles of the Hague convention (articles 43, 44, and etc.), and the Fourth Geneva Convention the status quo must be maintained pending the signing of a peace treaty, the resolution of specific conditions outlined in a peace treaty, or the formation of a new civilian government.^[2] 

^{Wikipedia follows this definition up on another of its sites by describing the "Israeli-occupied territories" on its borders, citing the United Nations' (UN) Security Counsel Resolution 242 following the Six Day War in 1967, and demanding that Israel withdraw from the territories it has "occupied" and initiate "termination of all claims or states of belligerency."  Wikipedia further adds that the UN demanded Israel  show "respect for the right of every state in the area to live in peace within secure and recognized boundaries." (emph. mine)}

^{To this day, the on-going so-called "peace process" that has consumed American Presidencies since Jimmy Carter (whose writings, actions, and speech have revealed his true feelings for Israel and the Jews, and is an embarrassment to our nation) has remained stagnant with no equitable solution in sight.  All of the posturing in front of the cameras and hand-shaking between Israel and the Arab world, with each succeeding President standing between them, are merely a front to give the impression that "respect for the right of EVERY state in the area to live in peace" is not a possibility, but a pipe dream.} 

^{The so-called "Palestinians" are seen as the victims and Israel is seen as the aggressor, keeping the Arabs living among them subjected to poverty with no state of their own.  Forget the fact that Israel, which is the size of the state of New Jersey, is bombarded on a daily basis with the terror of incoming rockets into her towns and cities, suicide bombings, and the vitriolic hatred of the world.  Because of the perpetuation of a single phrase and the indoctrination of the world's population into believing it, when the wrong use of a word or phrase becomes a lie, the world will not recognize it as such.}

^{The following video is provided by One Jerusalem, an organization dedicated to retaining the city of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel; no divisions, no compromise.  If you want to know the truth about the phrase "occupied territories" and the true history behind the West Bank, watch it.  After you do, let's all start using the right term in relation to the on-going dispute over the land of Israel and Who really owns it.}

"For behold, in those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. And I will enter into judgment with them there, on behalf of My people and My heritage Israel, because they have scattered them among the nations and have divided up My land, and have cast lots for My people, and have traded a boy for a prostitute, and have sold a girl for wine and have drunk it."  (Joel 3:1-3 ESV)

Don't Taunt My God

(This was first posted in May of 2009 and written by my sister, who has contributed a few times to the blog.  One of her passions is for the unborn and the sanctity of life.  We need to encourage her to contribute more often!  I hope it also encourages you to stand up for God  in today's battles as young David did against Goliath. ~ Karen)

"I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth." Revelation 3:15, 16  (NASB)

When you think about it, there are not a lot of things that are good lukewarm.  In fact I would challenge you to name even one.  Well, I don't really want to take that bet but you know what I mean. Food is usually best if it is hot or cold. Mmmmmm.  Cold milk, cold watermelon, compare those to lukewarm milk, lukewarm watermelon.  No comparison.

Today, we as Christians tend to be lukewarm when it comes to issues that we need to take a stand on.  Normally it's fear that drives us to sit on the fence.  We certainly wouldn't want someone to think that we are judgmental or one of those religious nuts would we?  So, we either allow the world to skew the truth in our minds or we don't say anything at all for fear of retribution.

Take the abortion issue for instance. How many times have you heard this statement when a friend or acquaintance is explaining their stance on life?  "Well, I consider myself pro-life because I would never do that.  But I don't want to push my views on anyone else.  So I believe abortion should be between a woman and her doctor and her family. It should be legal."

Here is my answer to that person: " Um, excuse me, but how can you be pro-life if you would stand back and allow the systematic murder of our most innocent and vulnerable?  This is one of the most picture perfect examples of being lukewarm.  Do you think as a Christian that Jesus is pleased with your answer?"  There it is.  Fear of looking judgmental.  Fear of looking too radical.  Who cares what the truth is?  Who cares that the world in its self centeredness and sin is taunting the Living God.

That brings me to the following story.  We've all heard it, but have we really? 

For about the last 3 months or so, our adult Sunday school has been studying 1Samuel 17. The story of David and Goliath.  Our teacher has challenged us to really dig for the reason that God put this story in His bible.  Growing up, and even until the last few months, I was like most people and saw it as a story of the little guy going up against the big mean guy and prevailing.  I saw it as a story of courage and faith.  All of that is true.  But I missed the big picture.

For 40 days and nights the armies of Israel were being taunted by a Philistine warrior named Goliath.  We all know he was big.  Most scholars put him at about 9ft. 6in., give or take.  Truly, I don't care about an inch or two here or there.  This was a large scary man.  He was also covered from head to toe with the latest in armor and had a shield-carrier who walked out before him.  He carried a javelin which probably weighed around 30 lbs. and he could fling it because of the way it was made.  He also carried a large sword.  Well, Israel was terrified. Shaking in their boots so to speak.  Goliath was asking for someone to come and fight him. "Hey guys, if you win (yeah right) we'll be your slaves; if we win you come and be ours."  King Saul had even offered his daughter and basically no taxes for the man who would go out and take him on.  No takers.  Until David enters the picture.

Small of stature, young, just a shepherd, never been a warrior before.  Dad had sent David to find out how his brothers were doing on the front and to take some provisions to them.  About the time he got to the battle front to greet his brothers, David heard the taunting coming from Goliath.  He saw the army of Israel turning and running.  He was asked,  "Have you seen this man who is coming up?  Surely he has come to defy Israel." He also heard what Saul would do for the man who took this giant on.  Now listen to this: David says, "What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel?  For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should taunt the armies of the Living God!!?"  I love this man.  He has a heart for God.  Did you hear what he was saying?

The story doesn't stop here.  Satan starts his wicked work.  The attempt to discredit starts. One of David's older brothers, Eliab, says to David, "Why have you come down? (You little pipsqueak), And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? (Yeah, you and your nothing little job). I know your insolence and the wickedness of your heart; for you have come down in order to see the battle."  David says, "What have I done now? Was it not just a question?"  So he goes to King Saul.  Man, oh man. King Saul sees this inexperienced, small youngster and tries to discourage him from the battle also, but David doesn't give in.  Finally Saul relents and gives David permission to go out and fight Goliath. 

BUT FIRST let's try on this armor.  Doesn't fit.  Won't work.  But it doesn't stop David.  He goes out, gets 5 smooth stones (Goliath had 4 sons. He knew he only needed one for Goliath) and says to Goliath, "You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted. This day the Lord will deliver you up into my hands, and I will strike you down and remove your head from you. And I will give the dead bodies of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the Lord does not deliver by sword or by spear; for the battle is the Lord's and He will give you into our hands."  Well, we all know the end of the story.

So, about now you are saying to yourself, "where is she going with this?"  My question to you is this: was David lukewarm?  Who was his first love?  Who was He fighting for?  We need to ask ourselves these questions when faced with our Goliaths.  Do we run from the fight or do we go to it knowing that our God is fighting for us?  Do we tell the truth when faced with the lies of this world or do we run from it?  Do we allow the world to taunt the Living God with horrors like abortion, or do we pick up our little pathetic slingshots and our few stones and allow our God, the fiercest of warriors, to sling them for us?  He wants to use us like He used David.  He wants us to be like David, a man after God's own heart.  But to do that, we must be hot for Him.

This is a rallying cry for all of you out there who love God, who are tired of the taunting from the world.  I'm not afraid, and there is One Whom I do not want to offend.

The Cost of Faithfulness

(I thought I would re-share this with you.  Written over a year ago, it's a reminder of the cost we may pay for our faithfulness to Christ.  I hope it encourages you.)

As I sat down to study and read my devotionals this morning, my mind was still heavy over the loss of an old friend last night.  By loss, I mean he decided to delete me from his Facebook friend list.  I have known him for almost 40 years, we went to school together and when we reconnected on FB, it was a pleasure to know he seemed to be the same sweet person I remembered.  But time has a way of changing people in ways we can't fully understand.  

My friend and I had both changed, which is a good thing from certain perspectives, because I needed to change, as I'm sure he did.  We had matured and grown but most importantly at a specific time in our lives, had received and embraced convictions that now mastered our lives.  As we went on reestablishing our once-solid friendship, we were able to disagree over some things and still love and respect each other.  But it appeared that another change was beginning to be revealed that my friend found he couldn't, nor wouldn't, tolerate.  It was this that caused a tear in the fabric of our friendship, one that pulled at the threads of reason and truth and brought damage to it.  Whether or not it can ever be mended is not clear to me at this point.  But I still cling to a thread of hope that it can and after going into God's Word and receiving confirmation and peace over the conflict, I must leave it all in the Lord's hands to sort out.

Christ once said, "Do you think I came to bring peace on earth?  No, I tell you, but division.  From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three.  They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law." (Luke 12:49-53)

Jesus could have further added that there would also be division between friends because there would be those who would refuse to believe what others would bring them in the way of the truth of God's Word.  They would reject it and, perhaps, respond with willful separation from their family or friends and turn to others they have surrounded themselves with who bring them a false and destructive message.

"For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine.  Instead, to suit their own desires, THEY will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  THEY will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths."  (2Tim. 4:3-4 - emph. mine)

People such as those mentioned in Paul's exhortation to Timothy are not thrust upon those who refuse to hear the truth.  They are unable to infiltrate a church or a heart that is divinely guarded and protected by God.  Instead, they are invited in or sought out by the ones who want their ears tickled because of their desire to create a god of their own choosing rather than the God of the Bible.  The message these false teachers bring is more pleasing to their sense of fairness, individual responsibility, and what they, themselves, desire from God.  Rather than believe the truth that is being told them, they prefer the "myths" of sly, malevolent, untruths that appease their conscience and allow them an excuse for every aspect of their lives and how they live them.  In other words, THEY choose to "exchange(d) the truth of God for a lie" (Rom. 1:25) with conscious willfulness and blatant disregard for the true message they have received.

We have a tendency, whether we consciously know it or not, to compromise God's truth in order to prevent dissension or division.  After all, who wants to lose a valued friend or loved one over an argument?  But it goes much further than simply wanting to maintain a relationship with someone you cherish by avoiding conflict.  If we are who we claim to be, that is Christ's chosen, then we have a responsibility to obey His command that we "go and make disciples of all nations" (Matt. 28:19), and to "be prepared in season and out of season [to] correct, rebuke, and encourage - with great patience and careful instruction" (2Tim. 4:2) those who are being grossly misled.  There should never be compromise when it comes to preaching or teaching the Word of God.  We must choose whom we will serve, God or man, and remain firmly grounded on His truths.

The cost of remaining faithful to God can seem devastating to us at times.  It can mean being isolated from the ones we love here on earth, being castigated as "hateful", "mean", "self-righteous", or a host of other accusations.  It can cost us friendships.  But I think Oswald Chambers in today's devotion from "My Utmost For His Highest" speaks loudly of our responsibility to our Creator in how far we must go to assure God we are doing our best for Him, in spite of what may come out of it.  It's where I want to be and how I want my God to see me: faithful to Him regardless of the cost.

"The Price of Vision" 

"In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw also the Lord."  Isaiah 6:1

"Our soul's history with God is frequently the history of the 'passing of the hero.'  Over and over again God has to remove our friends in order to bring Himself in their place, and that is where we faint and fail and get discouraged.  Take it personally: In the year that the one who stood to me for all that God was died - I gave up everything?  I became ill?  I got disheartened? or - I saw the Lord?

My vision of God depends upon the state of my character.  Character determines revelation.  Before I can say, 'I saw also the Lord,' there must be something corresponding to God in my character.  Until I am born again and begin to see the Kingdom of God, I see along the line of my prejudices only; I need the surgical operation of external events and internal purification.

IT MUST BE GOD FIRST, GOD SECOND, AND GOD THIRD, UNTIL THE LIFE IS FACED STEADILY WITH GOD AND NO ONE ELSE IS OF ANY ACCOUNT WHATEVER (emph. mine).  'In all the world there is none but Thee, my God, there is none but Thee.'

Keep paying the price.  Let God see that you are willing to live up to the vision."


To Christ be all the glory, honor,  and praise!  And may our Lord and Savior have  our complete devotion, in spite of the cost!

 

Remember Them

"Does God judge the apparent foolishness of a particular Christian witness and the absence of immediate, tangible fruit?  Or does He look at our intent, our heart, our desire to follow Jesus' mandate in the great commission?"

The words of Tom White, Director of The Voice of the Martyrs (VOM), in the July newsletter brought conviction upon me as I read about the heroes I so often forget.   I say "heroes" because that's exactly what our brothers and sisters are who face persecution in ways that most of us in the west are unable to understand or comprehend.  It's not enough to just read about them once a month.  They must be remembered and the images of their faces and their stories burned upon our hearts with a scorching iron as a constant reminder that "there, but for the grace of God, go I."

Many churches in the United States refuse to stand with organizations like VOM who choose to enter the spiritual battle against the dark forces that hold believers in chains.   They look upon them as violators of the laws of the states in which these people reside, preferring instead to remain neutral in order to keep what they consider a peaceful relationship with the heads of these oppressive nations.   They choose to forget the words of our LORD Jesus Christ when He sent His disciples out to carry His message of salvation to a world lost in sin and the warnings He gave them that persecution would most certainly come upon them.

"Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues,  and you will be dragged before governors and kings for My sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles..."  (Matthew 10:16-18)

Often, the restrictive or hostile nations allow certain denominations to remain, mainly because of the compromise these churches maintain with them.  To me, it becomes obvious they have little regard for the command they've been given by Christ to make disciples of all nations.  Instead, they align themselves with those who oppress the very people whom they are sent to minister unto and forsake the Gospel.  Even more obvious is their refusal to heed the LORD'S admonition regarding what His purpose was in sending them out and what He expects from His followers:

"Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.  For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.  And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household.  Whoever loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.  And whoever does not take his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me.  Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it."  (Matthew 10:34-39)

The people we read about in VOM's newsletters are living the LORD'S words and the sting of the "sword."  And they are "worthy," not only in the context of Christ's words, but also  "worthy" of our recognition.  Their understanding of this passage in Scripture is a brutal reality to them as they are forced from their homes and possessions, their jobs, their villages and towns, and the pain they feel as their families and friends turn their hatred of Jesus upon them.  Many are left with nothing but the clothes on their backs and the faith that sustains them.  Far too many suffer physically, often by the hands of their own family.  And a multitude have died horrible deaths because of their refusal to deny Him.

You may call them "foolish" if you believe they are.  You can disagree with their willingness to violate the man-made religious laws of their nations and condemn them for doing so.  You can sit back in complacency, apathy, and condemnation, preferring to be obedient to your own  selfish dictates.  Or you can stand with them in solidarity and faithfulness to Jesus Christ.  You can pray that their tireless work for the LORD will bear "immediate, tangible fruit" that will bring honor and glory to Him.

When the time comes for God's faithful to receive their reward, whose do you think will be greater?  You by your refusal to stand with and defend the persecuted church?  Or will it be those who are daily taking up their cross, in spite of what they may suffer, and are fulfilling the Great Commission as mandated by the LORD?  Those who fight against the persecuted church through compromise with the enemy do nothing more than bring increased persecution.  The cost to believers in these nations is great.  But what is even greater is the cost brought about by those who stand in opposition to the persecuted.  They have inflicted great damage upon the LORD and His kingdom through their ignorance and blatant refusal to make disciples by fearlessly following their example.

"For whoever is ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels."  (Mark 8:38) 

I pray the same conviction I felt from my failure to always remember will also become yours.  Not just when you're reminded on occasion, or once a month from VOM's newsletter, but always.  Our brothers and sisters in hostile and restricted nations are asking from us the same thing Paul asked the Ephesians:

"Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should."  (Ephesians 6:19-20)

May the "heroes" who "fearlessly" stand for Jesus Christ remain faithful and obedient in the face of their oppressors.  And may they remember the words of encouragement from the LORD when they do:

"So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.  And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.  Rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.  Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?  And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.  But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.  Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.  So everyone who acknowledges Me before men, I also will acknowledge before My Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies Me before men, I also will deny before My Father who is in heaven."   (Matthew 10:26-33)

And may we, their brothers and sisters around the world, remember them in prayer and help bear the burden of their cross for our LORD Jesus' sake, and for His eternal kingdom.

 

Book Review: Dug Down Deep: Building Your Life On Truths That Last, by Joshua Harris

Whether you are an unbeliever seeking answers for the first time, or a seasoned Christian needing a refresher course, this book contains something for you.

By drawing on his and his family's own life experiences and shortcomings, Joshua Harris effectively causes us to consider what the foundation of our faith is built upon. Is that foundation on dangerous ground, or does it stand on the Solid Rock, Jesus Christ, and His Gospel of Grace?

Harris begins by gently defining the often troublesome catchwords that can sometimes confuse or trip up those who are trying to build a solid relationship with the Lord: orthodoxy, doctrine, theology, justification, sanctification, to name a few. His simple and direct approach leaves his readers with a clear and basic understanding that all of the above are vital in creating what is required for a good foundation on which to build your faith.

As I moved through the book, I found myself wanting to linger and contemplate Harris' words. I applied them to myself and realized my own failings or lack of consideration on certain points. Perhaps the most convicting was the final chapter, "Humble Orthodoxy", and how we relate to others. Harris convinces us that, in spite of our perceived level of maturity in Spiritual Truth, fervent study, and determination to be "right", "Every one of us will have a lot to apologize for."

The "non-essentials", those things that divide and cause dissension among believers and reside outside of God's grace (which is the only thing that really matters), will ultimately be answered in Heaven by the One with all the answers. Harris concludes that we will all find out how wrong we were about them and how little they mattered in relation to the bigger picture: Jesus Christ and His work to secure our salvation.

If you need a good book for your summer reading list, I recommend you add "Dug Down Deep". It's poignant, thought-provoking, Truth-filled, and often humorous. You may not agree completely with Harris (as I did with a particular point in Chapter 9), but one thing you will find yourself doing is picking up your shovel and digging down to the bedrock of your faith in Jesus Christ.

I can't think of a better way to spend your summer.


(Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes.  Please visit their website and rank my review.  Thank you!)
http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/bloggingforbooks/reviews/view/9843/bmc:4

Small "g" or Big "G"

"You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain..."

Exodus 20:7

The above commandment is perhaps one of the most ignored in Scripture, even by professing Christians.

Forget the fact that unbelievers freely misuse the LORD'S name without forethought on a regular basis.  Their abuse of it demonstrates their ignorance of the One Whom they are blaspheming.   You can almost forgive them for it because of their lack of understanding.  However, those who claim to know God don't have an excuse for their gross negligence of His command and the disrespect they demonstrate by blaspheming His Holy Name.

I recently listened to a portion of a sermon that had been posted online.  I say "portion" because after less than two minutes into the recording, the pastor expressed his frustration with some "technical difficulties" regarding the sound equipment by using God's Name "in vain."  What was disturbing was how quickly and easily the words left his mouth and the little chuckle that followed.  To be honest, why would I want to continue to listen to the sermon he had recorded before his congregation if he had no more respect and reverence for the One he was going to preach about?  Needless to say, I didn't listen to the sermon.

When I hear others exclaim, "Oh, my God!", or misuse His name in other various ways, regardless of the reason, it literally causes a physical reaction within me; a discomfort and uneasiness, as though I had been physically struck, and it makes my heart ache.  My usual response is to say to them, "Yes, He is."  It's my hope that, somehow, this truth will sink in and cause them to rethink their words and their position in relation to Him.

He is God Almighty Who has absolute and eternal power, majesty, and sovereignty over ALL of creation, including us.  Isn't He more deserving of our awe, our respect, our reverence?  Isn't He the One Who, with Divine and eternal love has given us all things, including Himself as Father, Savior, and Friend, Who provides for and sustains us even in the worst of times?

When we fail to remember this vital and necessary truth about our God, we relegate Him to nothing more than a god with a small "g" - a god who deserves no more acknowledgment than we are willing to give Him; a god of our own creation, one that fits the mold we've chosen for Him and don't mind using His Name as a swear word.  We are telling Him that we are sovereign over Him and His holiness, and that our thoughts about Him don't matter.  He is a little god in our eyes and we refuse to magnify Him above ourselves.

God deserves a big "G" in the front of His Name.  Not only in the way we think of His Person, but also in how we speak of Him, especially if we claim Him as the One and Only God Who has brought us from death to life.  He is the Creator, the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.  The Everlasting and Eternal God Who deserves ALL our praise and worship and certainly doesn't deserve having His Name used as a profanity, especially by those who should know better.

Give His Name the honor and glory it is due.  Use His great Name to elevate Him above all things and self, and to proclaim Him to others in need of His saving grace.  For it was by His  grace that YOU also were saved and His Name should never be blasphemed or used flippantly or abusively by anyone so blessed.

Let Him know you haven't forgotten how important He is to you by reminding others that, indeed, He is our God whose Holy Name deserves our highest esteem.

If you don't, as His commandment above states, He has promised He won't forget, either.