It's a Spiritual Stimulus that We Need

Hosea 4:1b-3: "The LORD has a charge to bring against you who live in the land: 'There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment of God in the land. There is only cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed. Because of this the land mourns, and all who live in it waste away; the beasts of the field and the birds of the air and the fish of the sea are dying.'"

There is no doubt that the global economy has been struggling over the past decade. Sustained market declines, failed corporations, increased unemployment, and mortgage foreclosures are mere symptoms of a deeper crisis that prevails in our nation. Whereas the government pumps money into the economy through its stimulus packages, these measures will never remedy our crisis; rather, it only sustains the system a little longer. Much like life support . . . it is not the cure!

From the above cited Biblical passage, we find that the LORD had removed His hand of blessing upon the Israelites for their perpetual rebellion against His Sovereign reign. Whereas God had promised that Israel would thrive as a nation if they only would follow Him as their Lord (see Deuteronomy 28:1-14), the Israelites of Hosea's day stubbornly refused to submit to God and His decrees. They had determined to live their own lives the way that they saw fit. They would not refuse to indulge in anything that their heart desired; and they shunned the Lord, daring Him to do anything about it. Rather than loving God, they loved themselves first. They cursed God and His decrees. They found that lying was expedient if it promoted their agendas. They were willing to take from others what they coveted . . . whether property, spouses, or even life itself. In effect, these people had made themselves into their own gods and sought to assert their own lordship over the One True God.

Of course, we see from this historical account the inevitable outcome. Due to their cosmic treason against the Lord, He in turn removed His hand of blessing from them. Everything in creation suffered because of the obstinacy of these wicked people. Their only hope would be repentance and surrender to the Lord.

Oh how we see similar tendencies within our own nation. People today are living very similar to the lifestyles of the Israelites 2800 years earlier. Since we know that God does not change (see James 1:17), we would do well to learn from these Israelites as to what we should not be doing if we desire God's blessings upon our nation. Rather than waiting for the debt-laden stimulus money from the government to rescue our abysmal economic circumstances, we should be on our knees asking God's forgiveness.

Sadly, if history repeats itself, then we will find our future to be rather bleak. Israel would not respond to the warnings of God through His prophets; therefore, the Lord brought a conquering nation (the Assyrians) to devastate the land of Israel in 722 B.C. It would take this level of punitive judgment from the Lord to get the Israelites' attention, and given our nation's similar ways of debauchery and rebellion, we should not expect anything less. God's extension of favor is with us now, so let us as a nation respond with repentance and obedience. This is the spiritual stimulus what will bring God's favor upon the land.

You Can't Claim Ignorance When Sinning

Galatians 5:19-21: "The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God."

It seems that in our culture today, there are many who want to claim ignorance in matters of sinful behavior, or they will say that they could not help themselves while engaging in actions contrary to the will of God. One thing that we find in the above mentioned Scripture is that acts of the sinful nature are obvious. For the one who would challenge this Biblical truth, I would ask, "Why is it then that people attempt to hide their sinful actions? . . . Why are they subversive when perpetrating these sins? Why do they often engage in this activity in the dark? [See Jesus' response to this issue in John 3:20]. The answer can be found in the simple fact that God has created all men with a conscience that can recognize evil; the Holy Spirit also actively brings conviction to those walking in darkness so that they might respond with repentance (i.e. a turning from wickedness to obedience to the Lord). Thus, people cannot claim ignorance as an excuse to indulge their debased passions. They are guilty before the Lord and they know it.

Sadly, there are those who will perpetuate such wickedness to the point that their consciences are seared from the Lord's convicting Word of Truth. These are the people who brazenly celebrate their debauchery, though they never forget that such behavior is wrong and contrary to the expressed will of God. These are the people described in Job 15:25-26 who "shake their fist at God and vaunt themselves against the Almighty, defiantly charging against him . . ." Later in this chapter God decrees that such a person will not "escape the darkness . . . the breath of God's mouth will carry him away." God will not hold such a man guiltless for his treasonous behavior against His Lordship!

So, how should we respond to the Scripture cited above? We need to ever be conscious of any thoughts or behaviors that are contrary to God's decrees as expressed in His Holy Word. We need to be surrendered to the Lord and receptive to His word of admonishment when we engage in sin, and we must truly repent from such behavior. God will respond with forgiveness, and we will be blessed by finding His favior.

Let us not fall prey to the fallacious worldly notions that sin is beyond our awareness or ability to control. Let us respond to the convicting power of the Holy Spirit with contrition, confession, and repentance. By this, we bring glory to the One True Lord, which is our purpose in life!

Belief in God Is Not Enough

I Corinthians 15:2: "By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain."

Salvation is more than mere assent to the reality of God, or the awareness of Jesus' death for our sins, or even a genuine feeling of remorse for our sins. To receive the gift of God's forgiveness and adoption into His eternal kingdom necessitates a response of surrender from us.

In effect, our response to Christ is to yield ourselves fully to Him as our Master, Savior, and Lord. This is seeing ourselves as a humble servant of the Living Lord, and desiring to follow Him in obedience by abiding by His commands as recorded in Scripture. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we hold firmly to the truth of the gospel and we consider our Lord so worthy of our allegiance, that we have an "I'm all in" mentality for the will of God. There is no room for duplicity here. We surrender to the yoke of Christ, which is not laborious . . . rather it is a delight (Matthew 11:30).

Therefore, this offering by Christ of redemption requires a response from us. Are we willing to relinquish our presumed right for our own glory and happiness? Will we renounce the exaltation of our wills to the will of God? Can we see ourselves as servants of the One True Lord? Truly, we were created for such purposes of surrender.

Jesus declares that the man who does not fall away in view of His Lordship will be blessed. Today, each of us is faced with a decision. Either we can capitulate ourselves to His rightful reign in our lives, or we can continue to perpetuate our selfish quest for lordship. Only the one who will profess and live a life yielded to the Lord will be saved (Romans 10:9). God's offering has been afforded to us through the death and resurrection of His Son. He now extends His grace to each of us who would receive it.

Being a Slave to All

I Corinthians 9:19: "Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible."

The book of I Corinthians was written by the Apostle Paul in part to defend his calling by the Lord to be an apostle, whose responsibility was to herald the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the Mediterranean world. Paul had served with the church at Corinth for more than a year, but he had been apart from them for more than three years. These Corinthians began to despise Paul's simplistic message in favor of their newly acquired spiritual wisdom and their impressive display of spiritual gifts that they liked to showcase in public. They too were forming cliques and quarrelling with one another as to who was more spiritually refined.

In chapter nine, Paul reminds the church that he had been called by the Lord to be an apostle; in fact, he shares that he had actually seen the risen Lord . . . something that none of them could use as evidence for boasting. Paul was not using this argument to regain recognition for himself; it was not as if he were feeling insecure at the church's rejection of him and wanted to blast them for not venerating him in his position. Instead, Paul was reminding his hearers that he had been called as a messenger of the Lord and that their rejection of his word was a rejection of the Lord's commands to them.

What is so telling in this chapter is Paul's understanding of himself as a slave to everyone for their salvation and edification (9:20-23). Paul didn't want to use his position to vaunt himself above others and demand their praise and adulation; rather, Paul was willing to humble himself and assume the role of a slave so that they might be drawn closer to Jesus Christ. Though Paul could have asserted certain rights in being an apostle (see 9:14), he refrained from doing so in order to bless others. This is Christianity at its finest! This is the role that all of us in Christ should assume, no matter what position we find ourselves in the church.

Sadly, we find in our churches those who use their positions of power, status, and influence to draw attention to themselves. They work to secure the praise and respect of others, and they push their personal agendas for their own veneration. This is not the role that Christ expects of His true followers.

Let us re-examine ourselves in view of this example given to us by Paul. Let us strive to be slaves to each other, striving to minister to others before ourselves. Let us take on a spirit of humility and bless others without expectation of praise or reward, for we know that God above is well pleased with such a disposition.

How Can We Experience the Blessing of God in Such a Turbulent World?

Psalm 1:2-3: "Blessed is the man . . . . whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields it fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers."

How can a person experience the blessed contentment in life when life is filled with such uncertainty, upheaval, and disappointment? How can a person have a focused, positive perspective when he loses a loved one to death or is himself diagnosed with a irrecoverable malady or is betrayed by his spouse, etc.?

I believe that the answer is found within these verses above; specifically, we find that the blessed man "delights" in the law of the LORD. The word used in the original language for "delight" means "chief desire." This is a person who is consumed with the choice morsels of God's WORD; he wants to feast frequently on the edifying, encouraging Words of God, from which the Holy Spirit enlivens the spirit of the reader as he stops to ponder its truths. This soul is strengthened in knowing that God is Sovereign and is in control. This man is reassured that God is working His purposes for His glory, which is always best . . . even though he may be going through a great tribulation and can't seem to make sense of his ordeal.

This man is like the tree that produces wonderful fruit, no matter the circumstances around him, for he is connected to the nourishing water of the adjacent stream. To be sure, this tree can have a dry, despondent desert around him, and yet he seems to radiate a beauty of produce because he does not permit his circumstances to dictate who he becomes. His perseverance and contentment is quite distinct from all other "trees" that seem to capitulate to the difficulties around them. This too is the man who because he is able to shine for the LORD in the midst of tribulation, is able to be an inspiration to those dying around him . . . possibly being catalytic in leading others to the "Living Water" (i.e. Jesus Christ).

So too his fruit is produced "in season." This is a man who through the power of the Holy Spirit is able to demonstrate constancy and dependability, both in good and bad times. When the time comes, his fruit bursts forth in a glorious display of beauty. He does not start to wither on the vine when the perilous times come his way. He does not become angry at life, or God, and renounce his allegiance to the Lord because things aren't going his way or because he doesn't seem to get the breaks/blessings that he sees others getting.

This is such a good Word for us to hear. In the uncertainty of this life, which is filled with pitfalls and heartaches and struggles, we need to tap into the nourishing strength of Christ. We need to move ourselves close to His life-giving water and rely on Him, even though we travail under the most abysmal circumstances. This is the only way that we will endure and press on with our lives. To fail to tap into Christ is to shrivel up and die, for we will lose heart and give in to our difficulties.

Let us press on, being dependable fruit bearers through the power of Christ working within us. Let us soak up the Water of Life within our veins and be transformed from within so that we can stand firm to that which is found around us.

Is It Ever Right To Do Wrong To Do Right?

Exodus 1:15-21: "The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and Puah, 'When you help the Hebrew women in childbirth and observe them on the delivery stool, if it is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, let her live.' The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live. Then the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, 'Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?' The midwives answered Pharaoh, 'Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women; they are vigorous and give birth before the midwives arrive.' So God was kind to the midwives and the people increased and became even more numerous. And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own."


Is it ever right to do wrong to do right? It certainly seems that way in the passage mentioned above. The Egyptian king had ordered that the Hebrew midwives kill all newborn boys, in order that the Hebraic slave population might be kept in check. Although these midwives were in dangerous peril for disobeying the edict of the king, they determined not to execute his command. These women feared the Lord and likely knew of His covenant commitment to their patriarch, Abraham, promising the blessing of many descendants. When the king found out that these midwives did not obey his command, he summoned them and asked why they had not followed orders. In reply, these midwives shared that the Hebrew women were "vigorous and give birth before the midwives arrive." This may very well be a truth statement, as the Lord was blessing the Israelites with many children, and consequently the midwives were unable to get around to every birth taking place. Still, one may surmise that these midwives were not being completely truthful with the king. Could it be that these women were trying to give reasonable excuse in order that they might not abide by the decree of the Egyptian king? If anything, we find that the Lord was pleased with how they handled the situation and subsequently blessed them with families of their own.


This example brings to mind the example of Nazi Germany during the World War II era. I specifically am reminded of Corrie Ten Boom, who with her family in the Netherlands provided a Hiding Place for Jews attempting to avoid capture by the Gestapo. When these Nazi police would visit the home to investigate the harboring of Jews, Corrie and her family would deny that any Jews were being kept there. Sadly, Corrie and her family in 1944 would be taken to concentration camps in the Netherlands and Germany. Corrie's father would die just 10 days after arriving at his camp, and Corrie's sister would perish just a few weeks prior to Corrie's release in December, 1944. Interestingly (or should we say Providentially), Corrie was released due to a clerical error at the camp. One week after her release, all of the women in her barracks were executed.

In Corrie's example mentioned above, we find that she and her family intentionally refused the truth to the authorities, because such information would have led to the death of a number of Jewish people being harbored there. We can see that the telling of a lie in this instance is morally preferable to telling the truth, due to the devastating consequences. As we reflect upon the Biblical story or the story of Corrie Ten Boom mentioned above, we must not quickly impute culpability to those who are forced to make such decisions under duress. There is a hierarchy of values that must be considered; and in both instances, the value of life supersedes the importance of telling the truth. The sin is not to be ascribed to those who are forced to tell a lie, but to those who would force others into such perilous decisions.

Therefore, there are those rare instances in which it may be right to do wrong to do right. The context of the situation, filtered through the commands of the Lord as observed in the Holy Scriptures will be the key. Caution, however, is in order here. These examples mentioned above are anomalous and cannot be used to exonerate inappropriate behavior in a majority of cases.

Receiving a Covering from God

Genesis 3:21: "The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them."


This early account found in Genesis, recalls the Lord's decree not to eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, and Adam and Eve's subsequent rebellion against the Lord's edict. Adam and Eve desired to be like God, and they craved the forbidden fruit to satisfy their own wanton lusts, even though it was directly in defiance to their calling as faithful servants of the One True Lord (Genesis 3:5-6).


Even with God's responsive curse upon Adam and Eve for their rebellion, the Lord would provide garments of skin for them to hide the shame of their now recognized nakedness. To be sure, Adam and Eve knew that they were exposed before the Lord, and they had sewed fig leaves together to make garments; still, the Lord knew that man's efforts at a covering for sin would never suffice. Therefore, the Lord would take the skin of a sacrificed animal to clothe them and cover their shame. We can see even from this early historical account that God was using the imagery of "sacrifice" and "shed blood" to teach the fallen that He ultimately would provide a Sacrifice to cover their sins, if they would respond with faith, repentance, and obedience.


We specifically can see beautiful imagery of Jesus Christ in this story. He is our Passover Lamb that has been sacrificed for our sins (I Corinthians 5:7); and with His death, we have the opportunity of being clothed with Him in Righteousness (Romans 13:14). If we respond with faith and surrender to His offering of forgiveness through His sacrifice, we can be freed from the shame that comes from our wickedness. Our sins are pardoned, and we experience the blessedness of imputed righteousness. Our sins that once were red as scarlet, now have become white as snow (Isa. 1:18).


Maybe this is why there is so much emphasis upon the righteous receiving white robes to wear in eternity (see Revelation 7:9, 14). They are wearing robes that have been purified by the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ! God desires to use the imagery of a "covering" to remind us that he has given to His bride (i.e. the Church) a garment that not only protects and identifies her as His betrothed, but it also proclaims to us that we never have to see the shame of our sin. God's redemption offers the gift of His righteous covering that forever will remind us that He has purified us from all of our sin. Take time today to thank the Lord for His "covering."

Watch Out for the "False Christs"

Mark 13:21-23: At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'Look, there he is!' do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect-if that were possible. So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time."

If there is one thing that the Evil One is noted for, it is his deception. Scriptures refer to Satan as the "murder, not holding to the truth . . . [speaking] lies, for he is a liar and the father of lies." (John 8:44). Jesus in one of His last conversations with His disciples just before His crucifixion, warned His disciples of deceivers who would attempt to sway allegiance to themselves. Whereas, these "false christs" who would come, appear to be genuine; in reality, they are instruments used by Satan to deceive followers of Christ.

We must remember that Satan's strategy is not as provocative as one might expect. He is more clandestine in his measures, in order that he might soften the opinions of people toward him over time. We can see such ideologies being purported over a number of recent decades . . . like the theory of evolution, the global spiritual union of all peoples, the acceptance of alternative lifestyles, the propagation of moral and religious relativism, etc. With these prevailing philosophies in our culture, we are seeing the fulfillment of the prophecy that "many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other . . . . because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold." There seems to have developed even among those who would profess "Christianity" as their religion a cold indifference to the commands of the Lord, clearly communicated in the Holy Scriptures. There also has developed an self-centered hedonism, in which satisfaction of self has become preeminent, even over surrender to Christ as Lord. Jesus anticipated this, and this is why He added the warning, "But he who stands firm to the end will be saved." Jesus again in Revelation 3:5 confirms this warning by saying, "He who overcomes . . . I will never blot his name out of the Book of Life." We cannot merely profess faith and believe that our words will find the Lord's salvation; rather, our lives must demonstrate that we truly have been transformed. Fruit is the evidence of true redemption (Matthew 7:16-20)

Let us not fall for the deceptive enticements that the Evil One would throw our way; rather, let us stand firm in the true faith, even though it might not be the popular thing to do. Let us not fall prey to those who would espouse diabolical ideologies that we know are contrary to the Word of God. Let us press on in our allegiance to the One True God and stand firm, knowing that the Lord will save those to endure to the end. We will never have to question when Jesus Christ makes His triumphal return, for He will split the heavens and appear with His heavenly hosts in brilliant light much like lightning (Matthew 24:27). As our Lord repeatedly commands of us until that time, we much keep ourselves focused upon His return and be ready. We must live our lives as if it is our last, and we must renew our minds as to our ultimate purpose: to submit ourselves to the One True Lord as our Master and Savior and serve Him faithfully.

Don't Mess Around With People Who Are Not Faithful

Proverbs 25:19: "Like a bad tooth or a lame foot is reliance on the unfaithful in times of trouble."

In my ministry position, I council with a lot of people who are grieving because they have been hurt by people who are unfaithful to their commitments. These undependable people make great promises up front; however, they never seem to follow through. It might be an unfaithful husband/wife, an uncommitted business partner, or even an undependable church member . . . these people reveal by their duplicity that they are people of little character. I always have said that true character is revealed over time, especially in times of adversity. These unfaithful ones are only willing to remain committed if they perceive some benefit for themselves. When better opportunities lie elsewhere, they will bail in a heartbeat!

The Word of God warns us about being too involved with people like this. Specifically, God's Word tells us that if we rely too much on unfaithful people, we will find ourselves in a lot of pain and without much progress in times of trouble. The Scriptures use the imagery of a bad tooth and a lame foot to describe such relationships. We know that a bad tooth is quite painful. With each pulsating throb, we are reminded of the tooth's dreadful presence; and we never seem to gain relief until it is extracted. So too we know that such association with an uncommitted person will continue to hurt and frustrate us until we determine to set boundaries with that person (in effect extracting their ability to further hurt us by their lack of dependability).

One thing that we know about a lame foot is that when we need it, it doesn't provide us with the mobility that we need to move about. Whereas we want to be able to walk and do what needs to be done, we find ourselves frustrated that we cannot get accomplished what needs to be accomplished. So too it is with relying on unfaithful people. If we depend too much upon such duplicitous people, then we permit their hallow promises to inhibit us from doing what we know we should be doing to glorify the Lord. Again, the remedy for those who have been hurt by such people is to set clear boundaries to prevent such disappointments from ever happening again. Of course, the one thing that manipulative, controlling, unreliable people do when others set boundaries with them is to press to break down the walls. They don't like not being able to wield their influence upon others; and in their frustration, they will pull out all the stops (and make a lot of promises) to re-establish their dysfunctional relationships of control. Be warned! Character is not found in what a person tells you, but how that person lives his life [which can only be discerned over time]. Make it a point to observe this person in times of tribulation and temptation; this is when you particularly can see the person who resides within.

Make no mistake about it. The unfaithful are self-centered, ego-centric, self-idolizing persons who will promise things in order to use people to benefit themselves. They are people with whom we should have very little contact.

True Love Never Fails

I Corinthians 13:7-8: "Love always perseveres. True Love never fails."

There are few instances in our lives, when someone shares a word of blessing with us that is so incredibly impacting and inspiring to us, that we know that we will carry those words with us for the remainder of our lives.

One such event happened with me just last evening. The phone conversation with my father started as any normal conversation that I would have with him, when our discussion gravitated to the memory of my mother, who passed away 10 years before. I have fond memories of the beautiful marriage that my mother and father had. I remember as a young boy watching my mother and father flirt with each other with hugs and kisses in the kitchen. Whereas I thought at the time that such displays of affection were "yucky," I remember that they were genuine. My mother and father truly loved each other, and they selflessly ministered to each other . . . putting the needs of each other before themselves. There never was a doubt that my parents were committed to each other, for their relationship (though not perfect) was filled with evidences of love and faithfulness. They always went above and beyond the expected to bless each other and to do whatever they could to be a source of enrichment for their mate.

When my mother, who was the bastion of health and fitness, was diagnosed with terminal cancer at 54, it truly was a devastating time for the entire family. Still, my dad loved his bride, and he cared for her at home. I remember my dad carrying her to the restroom, when she was too weak to walk, and I remember him changing her diaper when she became bedridden. As she lay continually in bed, my dad would not permit his lovely bride to develop bed sores, so he made it a regular regimen to apply lotion to her body. He too would lie in bed and hold his wife, even when she was lapsing into a comatose state.

Just before my mother's passing, I remember visiting one weekend and being awakened in the middle of the night by my dad, who told me that my mother had opened her eyes. Ten years later as I reflect upon my dad's calling me, I suspect that he was sitting next to her, just looking at his bride and tenderly loving her, even though she was unresponsive to his presence.

Just one day after our middle-of-the-night encounter with my mother, my mother died. For three months my father displayed such profound love to his wife of 35 years. But the thing that so blessed me last evening in my phone conversation was finding out "the rest of the story." When the funeral home staff arrived at the home, they invited my father to step outside the room in order that they might prepare the body for transport. This my father would not have. He loved his bride, and he wanted to carry his love in his arms to the vehicle. The funeral home staff were shocked. They had never seen such a display of love before. As he carried his wife out of the bedroom, down the hallway, and across the threshold for the last time, my father was loving and honoring his wife. I can just see him showering his bride with kisses as he held her close to him one last time. And as he lay his bride in the vehicle, he kissed her good-bye, sharing with her that he looked forward to the day of their reunion before our blessed Lord. This folks is love at its finest!

Even as I share this story, I can't hold back the tears. There is not much more that can be shared, other than to say "True Love Never Fails!"

Lack of Fruit Brings God's Curse

Mark 11:13-14, 20-21: "And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. And he said to it, 'May no one ever eat fruit from you again.' And his disciples heard it . . . . As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. And Peter remembered and said to him, "Master, look! The fig tree which you cursed has withered.' And Jesus answered them, 'Have faith in God . . . . "


This passage gives account of Jesus returning to Jerusalem from Bethany on the east side of the Mount of Olives in anticipation of His death and resurrection. As Jesus and His disciples walked westward across the mountain on the way to Jerusalem, Jesus approached a fig tree to see if any fruit might be found on it. The tree from a distance seemed as if it would have something on it; after all it gave an impressive, outward display with lots of leaves. But as Jesus drew closer to the fig tree, he noticed that it had no fruit on it. Again, the tree gave a good external presentation, but it failed in fulfilling its purpose and potential.

In response, Jesus would curse the tree, in effect bringing judgment upon that which did not bring glory to the Lord. That next morning, when the disciples passed by again the spot where the tree was, they saw that the tree had withered to its roots. For the disciples to discern that the roots were impacted, they likely would have gone over to inspect the plant. Peter then would confirm to Jesus that the tree was in fact dead, to which Jesus responded that they must have faith.

What is noteworthy is that Jesus performed this sign during a period when the people in Jerusalem had received Jesus into the city with shouts of "Hosanna, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" (Mark 11:9). They had placed their garments and leafy branches before Jesus has he rode on a colt into the city. Jesus however knew that their shouts of praise were filled with expectation that He would fulfill their purpose as a political revolutionary who would rid them of the Roman occupation. They too liked His miraculous healings and provisions of food. Therefore, these people were not yielded to Him as Lord; rather, they were opportunists who saw potential in Him to meet their own needs.

Within a week, many of these people would turn on Jesus with shouts of "Crucify Him!" because He no longer fulfilled their expectations. For Jesus to reply to Peter and the disciples that they must have faith would tell them, that they must not want Him for what they might get from Him; rather, they would have to trust that He is the One True Lord of hosts, who is worthy of our surrender, our allegiance, and our faithful obedience. This necessitates capitulation of self-centered agendas for the purposes of the Lord. Only then will a person produce much fruit for the glory of God, through the power of Christ (John 15:5). Otherwise, we will be spiritually barren and subject to eternal condemnation.

Let us not merely give a good display of "spirituality." Rather, let us be genuine in our faithful allegiance to Christ as Lord. Let us produce the fruit of righteousness, as we take upon ourselves the yoke of submission to the Lord, permitting His power to radiate in and through us, leading to glorious spiritual produce. It is then that the Lord will be pleased and will desire to bless us for our faithfulness to Him.

Stop Comparing Yourself

2 Corinthians 10:12, 17: "We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits . . . . Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."

Paul's letters to the Church at Corinth were follow-up responses to a church that permitted its pagan culture to infiltrate its walls. This church thought itself to be impressively refined by its appreciation of the finest philosophies of the day. Sadly, this church permitted very debased immorality to permeate it, thereby presenting itself as an entity not noticeably distinct from the immoral world around it. This church also had a bad habit of comparing itself with others. Rather than keeping their eyes on the Lord, these church members would formulate opinions of others; and as might be expected, those whom they evaluated never seemed to measure up to their status and their accomplishments.

So too, the church at Corinth believed Paul not to be a respectable philosopher comparable to the wise men of the day. Paul would fall prey to their comparative habits, and he lost credibility for not measuring up to the impressive displays of other philosophers around them.

In response, Paul warned the church that such patterns of behavior were not wise. He too reminded them that their boasting ultimately should be in the Lord, not in their perceived accomplishments relative to what others were doing.

This is such a good word for us. How often do we fall into the trap of comparing ourselves with others? How often do we find ourselves smugly prideful because we are able to do things better than others? How often do we shun those who don't measure up to our expectations that are vainly formulated? When we do such things, we reveal our sinister nature of self-centeredness. The Scriptures tell us that such behavior is not wise, for our eyes are upon ourselves rather than upon God.

Paul demonstrates Godliness even in the way that he dealt with this church. Paul loved these people, and he did not shun them because they were not impressed with him. Paul approached them in a spirit of meekness and gentleness (2 Corinthians 10:1). Let us find ourselves with the same disposition of love, for this is the way in which God truly is glorified in and through us.

Introspection Is Seldom Painless But Always Beneficial

2 Corinthians 13:5: "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you-unless, of course, you fail the test?"


I have always said that introspection is seldom painless but always beneficial. When we peel away the exterior facade to peer into the true person within, we then are getting to the place where our true identity is found. And whereas we might be apt to present ourselves as moral, good people, who are we when we look deep within ourselves? Do we find a person who, though not perfect, is surrendered to Christ as Lord and is following Him in obedience? Do we find a person with sinister intent to assert his own quest for lordship above all other persons and things?

The Apostle Paul warns us of the importance of examining ourselves to see "whether you are in the faith." For Paul, this involves a testing. Whereas Paul did not explicitly say what the testing is, the following verse suggests a holding fast to allegiance to Christ even in the midst of challenge and difficulty. I often have said that true character is revealed in times of tribulation and temptation. Who you are under those difficult circumstances is a good indicator of who you really are. Particularly, when you face those situations, are you steadfast in your loyalty to your Master and Savior? Do you capitulate to the circumstances that come your way? Do you sense the convicting power of the Lord and do you respond with repentance and resolution to do what is pleasing to the Lord? Or do you enjoy the way that you respond selfishly to the situation and have no intent of changing your response, because in reality it's your own lordship that you are pursuing.

These are not easy questions to answer, but they are of utmost importance, for we do not want to find ourselves before a Holy God one day unable to present ourselves as the beneficiaries of God's grace through Jesus Christ. Test yourself through introspection. Though this is likely not to be a pain-free experience, it is the best thing that you can do to determine who you really are.

Don't Believe Everything You See and Hear

2 Corinthians 11:14-15: "Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve."

If there is one certainty about Satan, it is that he is one who is crafty and deceptive. And as the great 16th-century reformer, Martin Luther, exclaimed, Satan is "armed with cruel hate." He truly hates the followers of Christ and his goal is to inject havoc and confusion into the Church by masquerading as an angel of light. His primary resources at his disposal to accomplish his bidding are his followers. They present themselves as people of righteousness, only to reveal their sinister nature later. How many times have we seen a person assimilate within a church and cause havoc within its walls? How many times have we seen a person exclaim their allegiance to Christ, only to reveal later by their actions that they are pursuing a clandestine, destructive agenda and are looking for followers? How many people have we observed in our society label themselves as Christian, but propagate ideologies that clearly are in defiance to the precepts found in God's Word? Such people are deceptive and vain; they are instruments of the Evil One to cause dissension and confusion for the Church. The Church must discern such apostates and keep clear of their influences; otherwise, heartache is the natural consequence.

We must remember that not everyone who espouses Christianity is in fact a true follower of Jesus Christ. Their fruit, observed over a period of time, will reveal their intent. Of course, the Lord will not be mocked by such rebellion. As the Scripture says above, they will receive in the end what their actions deserve.

Again, it can not be reiterated enough. When these "wolves in sheeps' clothing" infiltrate our assemblies, we are not to be swayed by their vain philosophies and charismatic personalities; rather, we are to remain steadfast in our allegiance to the Lord and His will as communicated to us in His Word. To Christ we must find our foundation, otherwise we will fall into the trap that the Evil One continually lays before us, through his emissaries that he sends our way.

When Trickery is Love

2 Corinthians 12:14-17,19: "Now I am ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. If I love you more, will you love me less? Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you. Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery! Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent you? . . . . Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We have been speaking in the sight of God as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends, is for your strengthening."

If there was a church to which the Apostle Paul endeared himself, it was the church at Corinth. Paul had visited with the church several times, and most assuredly it was a momentous task of ministry for him. This church struggled with the wayward, immoral influences of the pagan city in which it was found, and Paul lovingly and repeatedly confronted them with these issues (see I Corinthians 5 & 6).

These Corinthians also had fallen prey to the prevailing opinion that great philosophers were ones who spoke with great oratory and would never stoop to working for income. Sages of the day would expect their community to remunerate them for their sagacity. Of course, Paul was just the opposite of this. He did not speak in the stylistic eloquence of the philosophers (1 Cor. 2:4); instead, he only desired to preach the simplicity of the precious gospel of the Lord (1 Cor. 9:16). Paul also did not exploit his position to gain materially from the people; instead, he worked among them to provide for his necessities (1 Cor. 9:15). Ironically, such behavior caused the Corinthian church to question his status as a philosopher (for no good philosopher would stoop to such measures). And as a result, they withheld their affection and appreciation from him (2 Cor. 6:12). They also would demand proof that in fact God was speaking through him (2 Cor. 13:3).

Paul would respond to them by saying that he did not want to be a burden to them by using up their possessions; instead, the apostle loved the people, and he was willing to give all that he had (including himself) for their benefit. Paul also mentioned that he was a crafty man who engaged in trickery. This was not designed to deceive the people; rather, Paul wanted to share the precious Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to his hearers. Whereas it appeared that Paul was attempting to defend himself, he used such opportunity as a platform to get God's truth to those who needed the Light of life for their strengthening against the enticements of the Evil One.

This is a wonderful depiction of a loving spiritual leader who endeared himself to those he loved. Though the Apostle Paul was not as impressive as the philosophers of the day, he made a tremendous impact on the people because he truly cared for the people and wanted to see them shine for the Lord. Paul was willing to give everything in order that God would be glorified through the church's surrender and obedience (1 Cor. 9:22). As we live our lives, may we have the same sense of purpose in being a conduit through which God might pour out His truth and love to those around us.

Godly Sorrow Versus Worldly Sorrow

2 Corinthians 7:10-11: "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. See what this Godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter."

There truly is a difference between Godly sorrow and worldly sorrow.

Godly sorrow is sadness at one's offense against God.
Worldly sorrow could care less if God is offended.

Godly sorrow brings determination to change one's sinful ways.
Worldly sorrow is only upset at the consequences.

Godly sorrow understands that one is to be surrendered to Christ.
Worldly sorrow sees self as the one on the throne.

Godly sorrow brings an earnestness and longing to do what's right.
Worldly sorrow is the product of one who hates he got caught.

Godly sorrow brings indignation toward sin in the future.
Worldly sorrow would never be sorrow if the person could get away with the action.

Godly sorrow brings the Lord's forgiveness which leads to salvation.
Worldly sorrow brings eternal death.

May we all examine ourselves to see the type of sorrow we have, when we sin against the Lord.

Unhealthy Alliances

2 Corinthians 6:14-17, 7:1: "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? . . . . What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: 'I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people. Therefore come out from them and be separate,' says the Lord. 'Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.' . . . . Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God."

These verses have been the preeminent ones to warn true followers of Jesus Christ from entering into marital relationships with unbelievers. It is true that entering into the holy covenant of marriage with an unbeliever is not a wise thing, for that unbeliever is not yielded to Christ as Lord and is not directed by the conviction and inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Rather, he is directed by his own sinful, selfish ways that are contrary to the will of God. This type of union most assuredly leads to disaster.

Still, when one references the Old Testament passage that Paul cites in these verses above, we find that the book of Isaiah is quoted. Isaiah lived 700 years before Paul, during an era when the people of Israel and Judah had assimilated with the pagan Canaanites of the region. As a result, these chosen people of God had become a "sinful nation, a people loaded with guilt . . . forsaking the Lord and spurning the Holy One of Israel" (Isaiah 1:4). They were a despicable sight . . . propagating their own carnal wills over submission to God's will, and they would not hear the prophetic warnings of God's prophets, calling them back into intimate fellowship with the Lord. Still, God would offer salvation to those who would come out from those unholy alliances and be a separate people, surrendered and obedient to the One True Lord (Isaiah 55:10-11).

In the 2 Corinthians passage, Paul reminds the church that it is not to be tethered to pagans in unholy alliances; for, the apostle writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, understood that those associations would tend to lead to the "contamination of the body and spirit." Those associations likely would cause the follower of Christ to compromise convictions and standards, leading to chronic rebellion against the Lord.

On occasion, I will hear this response: "But aren't we to be in the world, to show the light of Christ to it? I believe that I can be a positive influence in his/her life." In most instances, this response is shared in the context of a dating relationship. My reply ALWAYS includes Paul's remarks in I Corinthians 15:33, "Do not be misled. Bad company corrupts good character." Whereas we are called to live in the world and are to witness to others the Truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ, no where will one find that we are to enter into unholy relations with those who are not surrendered to Christ as Lord. This was the problem with the Israelites of Isaiah's day. At first, their associations were seemingly "innocent"; however, the more they lived among the Canaanites, the more they yearned for the debased, immoral lifestyles of these pagans. This assimilation began a downward spiral of rebellion by the Israelites, who again would not hear the warnings of God's ordained prophets. And it would not be until God enacted His judgment through the Assyrian and Babylonian invasions that the wickedness of the Israelites would stop.

This is a good word for us. We are called to live in the world, but we are not called to be a part of the world. God has summoned us out from the wicked associations with pagans. He has called us to "purify ourselves from everything that contaminates both body and spirit" (7:1). And out of our reverence for Him, we set ourselves apart for His glory. This is what holiness is all about.

Bearing Up Under a Trial

I Corinthians 15:58; 2 Corinthians 1:3-5,8-11: "Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain . . . . Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows . . . . We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many."


In our Single Adult Bible Study, we have been working through a series by James MacDonald, entitled, "Turning to Trials into Gold." It has been a powerful discussion in which we have learned that trials are an inevitable reality for humanity. This is because we live in a fallen world, which is subject to calamities of all sorts. No one is immune from the painful ordeals that come our way, though we know that God allows such events in our lives in order that we might grow in our dependence on and intimacy with Him. No trial is permitted by the Lord, unless He desires to use the difficulty for the ultimate good . . . to demonstrate the all-sufficiency of a life lived in surrender to God and His purposes.


The above mentioned passage reminds us that we are called to "stand firm, letting nothing move us as we give ourselves fully to the work of God." It is SO easy to falter when calamity befalls us. We want to fold under the pressure, or escape it to better circumstances. God tells us instead that in the midst of trial, we are to stand firm. And God tells us that we are able to remain steadfast in our full work for the Lord by knowing that our efforts are not in vain. One can see that God has in view His eternal redemptive plan, that will reward those who are faithful to Him in this life. Even in those circumstances that seem to have no evidence of ever improving, we know that they ultimately will be transformed for the better in eternity. God will bring full restoration, and it is to this certainty that we are to put our trust. It's the only way to press on in life, especially when our circumstances look rather abysmal.


We too must remember that God has not left us alone in the midst of our difficulty. Rather, he is the "God of all comfort, who comforts us in ALL our troubles." Never can we say that God has overlooked us in a difficult situation. God has promised to provide us His loving comfort, no matter what the circumstance is. This of course suggests that if we are not experiencing His loving peace and presence, we need to look to see if we in fact have asked for it (see James 4:2). But what we are commanded to do with His peace and comfort is not to hoard it for ourselves; instead, we are to share this wonderful gift with others who are struggling through a painful trial. We are to be a conduit of blessing to others, showing the love and peace of Christ that we have received from Him.


The Apostle Paul in the above passage mentions that He struggled with some very difficult persecutions . . . even to the point of wanting to see an end to his life. In hindsight, Paul was later able to see that God was allowing such events so that Paul would become even more dependent upon God, the All-Powerful One. Clearly, if God can "raise the dead" as Paul exclaims, then God can take care of us in our difficulties. One can almost see the hope in Paul's words, knowing that His deliverance ultimately comes through the One True Lord of Hosts! Paul also recognized that God had permitted these painful circumstances to give opportunity for others to offer prayers to the Lord in his behalf. In effect, Paul's difficulty was being used by God to draw others into a greater dependence upon Him, and Paul noted that God's miraculous response in the matter would result in many giving thanks to the Lord for His "gracious favor granted in response to the prayers of many." It was because of the pain of one, that many were drawn closer in intimate fellowship with the Lord.


This is such a good word for us. We must see that our trials are opportunities for God to show us His great love even more, bringing us into a closer intimacy than ever before. He is using the trial to reorient our understanding of this life in view of eternity, and He is educating us to understand that our lives will only find satisfaction and fulfillment the more we understand our dependence upon Him.


God too wants to use our difficulty to impact the lives of others for His glory. As others see the way that we handle our trial and as they are blessed by our passing His comfort that we have received to others, then they will be drawn closer to Him.


Therefore, let us not see our trials only for the misery that they might bring; rather, let us see the opportunity that the Lord is using our difficulties to do some truly incredible works for His kingdom. This is not to belittle the pain that might be associated with the trial. Still, we as followers of Jesus Christ are able to have better perspective . . . that truly God is using our trials for an even greater good. Let us not give up on the hope that in the end, He will make all things new. Blessed be the Name of the Lord.

Do Not Defy the Redemptive Work of God

Obadiah 4: "Though you soar like the eagle and make your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down."


The book of Obadiah is one of those seldom referenced books of the Bible. It is nestled in the Old Testament among the other minor prophetic books; still, it is an invaluable Word from the Lord to which we must look to find important truths. These truths of God aid us in living lives of obedience to Him as our Sovereign Lord.

Not much is known about the prophet Obadiah other than he was a prophet devoted to God and assured that God would vindicate the righteous and judge the wicked ones who would attempt to thwart His redemptive work.


The book is specifically addressed to the Edomites. This tribe of people were descendants of Esau, and they lived in the region southeast of the Promised Land/Judah on the other side of the Dead Sea. Their land was much more barren as compared to the land God gave to the Israelites, as it was filled with red sandstone soil that did not yield much fruit.


These Edomites were constantly warring against their distant relatives, the Israelites, over land and preeminence in the region. In Numbers 20:21, the account is given of the Israelites under the leadership of Moses moving from Egypt to the Promised Land. The land of Edom was one of the last territories that the Israelites had to pass through to reach their final destination and experience the redemptive work of God in delivering His people from bondage. However, the Edomites would not permit the Israelites to pass through. Instead, the Edomites came out with a powerful army and turned away the Israelites from being obedient to the redemptive calling of God.


Years later, these Edomites would war against King David (2 Samuel 8:13) and against King Solomon (I Kings 11:14-15). They were a continual threat to the Israelites in the region of Palestine, as is evidenced by their invasions during the reigns of Jehosophat, Jehoram, Amaziah, and Ahaz. And later, when the Babylonians invaded the land of Judah, not only did the Edomites refuse to help their distant relatives, but they instead aided the Babylonians destroy the people of Judah. These Edomites cried out for Jerusalem to be torn down (see Psalm 137:7). Some historical sources even claim that the Edomites were directly responsible for destroying the Temple at the time of the Babylonian invasion (see I Esdras 4:45). And even while the people of Judah were fleeing the region, these Edomites took full advantage of the Israelites, seizing their wealth and "cutting down" the fugitives who were trying to escape the slaughter by the Babylonians (Obadiah 13-14). They were quite brazen after the destruction of Jerusalem, drinking in celebration among the ruins on the Holy Hill of Jerusalem. (Obadiah 16).

If anything, the Edomites are analogous to Satan, who attempts to thwart the redemptive work of the Almighty, who offers the ultimate "Promised Land" (i.e. Heaven) to His chosen ones (i.e. those who have responded to His grace). As Edom attempted to inhibit the Israelites from entering the Promised Land, so too is Satan actively at work trying to thwart God's redemptive process for His followers.


Therefore, the strong judgment response against the Edomites in the book of Obadiah is understandable, as they are seen as the epitome of wickedness and rebellion against God and His work of reclamation. God will not hold guiltless the ones that would "shake (their) fists at God, vaunting (themselves) against the Almighty, defiantly charging against him with a thick, strong shield" [Job 15:25-26]. The vanity of these Edomites' with their prideful hearts and the false presumption that they lived in impenetrable fortresses would lead to their destruction (see Obadiah 3). God promised to "bring them down" from their lofty position, and would judge them for their abject rebellion, and His prophetic words were severe, "Oh, what a disaster awaits you . . . . Esau will be ransacked, his hidden treasures pillaged!" (Obadiah 5-6).


As we see in Obadiah 1, our God has the final word on the matter. He promised that He ultimately would deliver His people and His land (Obadiah 17), thus restoring the divine blessings that had been lost. God would not be challenged in His redemptive work, but he would restore His kingdom to the place it once was (Obadiah 21).

We can see today that God was true to His Word, for the Edomites no longer exist as a nation. And so too will all those who perpetrate rebellion against the Almighty fall to a similar fate (see Revelation 20). Let us not be associated with the Edomites (i.e. purveyors of rebellion against the purposes of the Lord); rather, let us surrender to Him as Lord and experience the blessings that the Lord desires to lavish upon us.

Being a Person of Sexual Purity

I Corinthians 6:13-15 17-20: "The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord and the Lord for the body. By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? . . . . But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit. Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins agains his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body."

The physical body is very precious to the Lord. He created our bodies (which He declared good [Genesis 1:31]), and He has determined that our spirits would indwell these bodies in order that we might glorify Him through our physical experiences. We must remember that God is the owner of all things (see Ezek. 18:4); therefore, He has the right to dictate what we would do with the bodies given to us.

One of the problems with the church at Corinth was their inappropriate sexual behavior. In chapter 5, one of their members was having sexual relations with his "father's wife . . . something that does not even occur among pagans." In that instance, Paul summoned the church to meet together in the name and power of the Lord Jesus and hand the man over to Satan for the destruction of his body. Paul then advised that the church was not to have any contact with a person who would consider himself a follower of Christ and yet was sexually immoral; for in reality, such a person who perpetuates such debauchery is no true follower of Christ. Instead, he is subject to losing the kingdom of God, offered through God's grace, because he is defying the Sovereign One in such an egregious way (see I Corinthians 5:6:9).

In the above mentioned passage, we find that everything we do with our bodies ultimately is for the glory of Lord. This is because we have been bought with a price by the precious blood of Christ, who will raise our bodies to glorious, perfected, immortality at the resurrection. For the true follower of Christ, our bodies have become the residence of the indwelling Holy Spirit, and therefore, we are a temple unto the Lord. Therefore, such sinful, sexual wickedness is nothing less than a sacrilege against the Lord and the repercussions are severe, since such behavior is a sin directly against the body . . . the dwelling place of the One True God!

Living in such a sex-saturated society that exonerates all kinds of sexual deviations is not an excuse for the believer to follow suit. We must never forget that we are the possession of the Lord, and we are called to maintain sexual purity as an offering of worship to the Almighty. He has created us and called us to obedience in our physical bodies. Let us be faithful to the calling given to us.