Sin's Deceitfulness

See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart

that turns away from the living God.  But encourage one another daily,

as long as it is called Today, so that none of you

may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.

Hebrews 3:12-13

Our faith in Christ Jesus must persevere through the temptations of this life.  We must endure the struggle between the desires of our sinful nature and the leading of the Spirit.  The inspired writers repeatedly warn us to be cautious of Satan’s efforts to entrap us.

The “Evil One” is shrewd, crafty and skilled in his ability to mislead us.  He often works his harmful plans in a subtle, stealthy manner.  He desires to deceive our minds and cloud our judgment.  The devil is a liar and he is dangerous.

Sin’s deceitfulness can harden our hearts, causing us to turn away from God.  A deceived heart will have changed priorities.  A deceived heart trusts in the wrong things, hopes in the temporary, and only loves what feels good for the moment.  Unfortunately, the hardened heart needs more and more to achieve the desired gratification (see Ephesians 4:17-19). 

Wealth deceives.  Sensuality deceives.  Pride deceives.  Power deceives.

Paul pleads, “Put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:22-24).

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, please help us live up to your calling and be like you in true righteousness and holiness.  Help us to put away our old self, thus avoiding being hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.  Please strengthen our spiritual discipline to recognize and refute Satan’s temptations.  We give praise and glory to your name for being trustworthy.  You give us peace and hope and love eternal.  In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

Carl Smith

Stephenville, Texas

The Call

"For this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you leaving you an example, that you should follow in his step."  -1 Peter 2:21

                                                                                                                                   

We see the word “called” several times in the New Testament.  

We also see the idea expressed without the word actually being used.  The idea that God invites us to fellowship is appealing.  The invitation out of darkness is reasonable. The call to holiness is exciting, but when Peter calls us to submission and suffering that is depressing.  Isn’t life hard enough?  Do I have to suffer as well?  Why would God expect such a thing?  Aren’t we free in Christ?  Sometimes we suffer injustice.

Peter says we are not permanent residents here.  He even calls us aliens.  As citizens of heaven we have the honor of standing in for Jesus.  The world cannot see God, they do not know God, but you do and you get to represent him to the world.

Like Jesus we surrender our will for God’s will.  This means we decide to trust him on these matters.  We decide he knows us and he knows the situation and has invited us to be where we are at this time.

The question is not that we suffer as everybody suffers but that our suffering has a purpose.  He even says when we stand the test we receive his approval.

We will never understand suffering.  We don’t seek it, but we should trust God to know what is best for us and the world around us.

Dear Father-

I come praising your name.  I know you know everything.  I know you know me.  I know you love  me.  So why do I argue with you so much?

I am sorry, I want to please you.  Help me, Father, to be able to say not my will but thine be done.  Help me to mean it when I say it.

Forgive me.

In the name of your son our perfect example, Amen.

Paul Shero  

San Angelo, Texas      

Is Forgiveness Enough?

Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.” The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 

Luke 5: 18-21

The story tells what the Pharisees and teachers of the law thought upon hearing the words of Jesus, but what about the paralyzed man?   When Jesus said I forgive you, instead of, I heal you I wonder what raced through the paralyzed man’s mind.  The obvious response expected of Jesus by this man, his friends, and the crowd watching was to heal his broken body. Instead he stunned everyone by forgiving his sins.   And that, I think, was Jesus' plan:  to show the world the greatest gift he could give had nothing to do with the man's physical state. 

To place myself in the sandals of the paraplegic, would I be satisfied to have my sins forgiven but left lying on the mat.  What do I ask for and what do I expect from Jesus?  How can being forgiven be enjoyed or considered valid if I can't walk, or can't see, or don't have a good family, a good marriage, or a good job?   Lord give me physical happiness and I will rejoice in the forgiveness of my sins!

Our humanity makes this seem impossible to reconcile.   Living comfortable physical lives is a wonderful blessing, however there is great danger in losing our spiritual bearings.   The subtle lie of spiritual happiness being attached to our physical well-being blurs our judgment as we all search for peace and contentment.    And so to regain our bearing we must constantly fight our way to get to Jesus and stay in front of him.   At times must rely on friends to get us there but our focus and prayer must be to get to Jesus.  That is all we have to do and just has he gave sight to the blind man who asked to see, clean skin to the leper, and running out of the room, mat in hand and a clean slate to the paralyzed man,  Jesus will reward our faith with an unexpected spiritual healing.        

Father, may we grasp the significance and permanence of your forgiveness.  May we know because of this spiritual healing we have true joy, peace, and happiness no matter our circumstances.   Real joy is in You. We ask for it and we seek it as your children.   Give us friends that will carry us.  May we be friends who will carry others.   In Jesus name.

Scotty Elston  

Shallowater, Texas

Say it Carefully

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. - Romans 13:8

While in Dublin, Ireland we toured St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the resting place of Jonathan Swift – well-known author of Gulliver’s Travels, prolific writer, and popular satirist with a passion for the interrelatedness of politics and religion.  Etched on his tomb was this epitaph:   “He lies where furious indignation can no longer rend his heart.”

I sometimes have bouts of “furious indignation.”   I get so passionate about current political and social paradigms that I feel like a racehorse tied to a plow!  I strain at the bit to be a prophetic voice, but I also have to wonder if my concerns are God’s concerns. 

Jesus told the Pharisees to “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.”  (Matt 22:21).   And in Romans 13 Paul admonishes the Christians in Rome to submit to “governing authorities” because they are of God.  (They were also mostly pagans!)  Given these examples, what is our role in current events?

In Walking Between The Times – Paul’s Moral Reasoning (Fortress Press, 1991), author J. Paul Sampley outlines Paul’s perspective regarding eschatology (end times).  He states, “In Paul’s thought world he and his followers stand on the brink of the end.  The structures and patterns of this world, marked by sin’s power, are passing away….Paul’s moral reflections respond only to those issues raised by his congregations, and whatever he engages is viewed only as a stop-gap measure between here and the imminent end of the ages.” 

In other words, Paul expected the end to come during his lifetime or shortly thereafter.  Twenty-first Century politics, the world-wide web, social media, a book called The Bible in multiple translations, instant updates of world events were not in his forecast.  The world remains a mess, and Christians are still trying to live in all the messiness.  We pay our taxes and obey the laws of the land but we also have the freedom to address current moral issues.

Nothing turns me off as quickly as a furiously indignant voice, but I will listen to, learn from, consider and take seriously a voice speaking to me from a heart overflowing with God’s love.   Whether we share Christian perspectives with the masses or with one precious soul at a time, let’s do it prayerfully, kindly, and from an informed heart overflowing with God’s love.              

      

Sandra Milholland

Abilene, Texas

       

Samson's Honeymoon

“Then Samson’s wife threw herself on him, sobbing, ‘You hate me! You don’ really love me.  You’ve given my people a riddle, but you haven’t told me the answer.’” (Judges 14:16)

A honeymoon is special.  With all the emotions, dreams, hopes and pent-up feelings imaginable, a husband takes his new bride and they begin their new life together – alone.  Thus did the wisdom of God in his Old Testament law make provision:  “If a man has recently married, he must not be sent to war or have any other duty laid on him.  For one year he is to be free to stay at home and bring happiness to the wife he has married.” (Deuteronomy 24:5.)  For one year – at home – happiness to the wife!

That depends.  Such depends upon the man, upon the woman, and upon their mutual response to each other, within God’s purpose. (Cf. Psalms 127, 128.)  Sadly, such happy, blessed oneness is not always the case.  It certainly was not, in the case of a notable fellow named Samson.

Samson was one of the judges God raised up to help his people, before the days of the kings.  He was the son of godly parents. His sterile mother  was visited by an angel who promised her a son.  ”…the boy is to be a Nazirite,  set apart to God from birth…”(Judges 13:3-5.)  When she had told Manoah, her husband , he “…prayed to the Lord: ‘O Lord …te
ach us how to bring up the boy who is to be born’  God heard Manoah…”.((vs. 8, 9.)

Samson , blessed by God, grew into an amazing physical specimen.  He could be today’s ‘Friday night hero’, the coveted first-round choice by the pros, the Super Bowl MVP interviewed on ESPN’s prime time Sports Center  - or the Olympic Gold Medalist smiling at us from the cereal boxes.  And, as such, he would have the pick of the ladies.

So, he did.  “Samson went down to Timna and saw there  a young Philistine woman.  When he returned, he said to his father and mother, "I have seen a Philistine woman in Timnah.;  now get her for me as my wife.”  No “one night hook-up”.  Samson wants the beauty “as my wife”..  He had been taught well, and he listened…somewhat.

But there is more.   A “young Philistine woman”?  A  woman of the very nation determined to destroy  God’s chosen Israelite nation!  His godly parents protested, but Samson was not listening.  “Get her for me. She is the right one for me.”(v. 3.)  So they did.  And he did. 

But what a honeymoon!   She cried nonstop all week.  He gets mad.  His father-in-law comes after his distraught daughter, “and Samson’s wife was given to the friend who had attended him at his wedding”. His “best man!"  We would do well  to choose our friends, and our spouse with godly wisdom.

Then there’s a wife named Delilah…!(16:4ff.)

Such are the stark lessons from the love-life of Samson.  He scored a “10 “as a physical specimen. But he missed the charts in moral judgment, and in respect for the spiritual counsel of his parents. Such contribute to a memorable honeymoon – but not a desirable one! 

Ted Kell

Brownwood, Texas

God is My Rock

Psalm 62 will lift you up no matter what is going on in your life today.  Allow David’s words, inspired by God, to sink into your heart and bless you.

1 Truly my soul finds rest in God;
    my salvation comes from him.
2 Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
    he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

3 How long will you assault me?
    Would all of you throw me down
    this leaning wall, this tottering fence?
4 Surely they intend to topple me
    from my lofty place;                                                                                                  
    they take delight in lies.
With their mouths they bless,
    but in their hearts they curse.

5 Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
    my hope comes from him.
6 Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
    he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
7 My salvation and my honor depend on God;
    he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
8 Trust in him at all times, you people;
    pour out your hearts to him,
    for God is our refuge.

It is truly amazing to have God be our rock, the steady force in our life!  He is the one who loves us unconditionally and we can always depend on Him to be there for us and give us strength.  There is so much peace in having someone we can trust at all times.  Do we realize every day what a blessing we have? I encourage you to allow your soul to rest in God today. Do not be shaken. Know that you are blessed!

Terry Smith  

Stephenville, Tx

Outrage for What?

Then Jesus said to them, “Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and give to God the things that are God’s.” - Matthew 22:21

When Jesus came, the people thought they finally had their earthly ruler.  They thought he was the one who would set things straight and make their lives better.  They thought Jesus was there to rule their nation not realizing he was there to rule their lives.  

I am sometimes saddened, sometimes dumbfounded today by the desire I often hear expressed for “Christian leadership” for our nation and for government intervention in spiritual matters.  Prayer in schools.  Ten Commandments posted on government buildings.  Abortion.  Those are just three hot-button issues I hear many Christians calling on government to fix/change/enact yet I do not remember Christ ever calling on the government for such things.  Christ has never called governments to comply; he has called people, individuals, to follow him and be his disciples.

Too often I hear the outrage when children cannot officially gather to pray and read scripture in schools.  Where is the outrage when they are not coming together as families in their own homes to do this?  I hear outrage when the Ten Commandments are removed from a building.  Comments often follow saying “we need more discipline” and “we should follow a Christian example”.  Where is the outrage when porn shows up on a computer, when men and women look at over-sexed pictures in magazines and eye someone with lustful thoughts?  Where is the outrage when self-proclaimed Christians gossip about the latest town scandal, yell and talk about the coach’s perceived bad decision and pass judgment on others who don’t dress, drive or act “properly”?  And then there’s abortion.  Abortion is horrible and it is so easy to pass judgment on the women who choose this option.  It raises two questions for me.  First, where were the loving disciples of Christ in her life before this became a choice she made?  Second, how do disciples of Christ condemn her for her choice and walk away when she may be at her most vulnerable point?  Where is Christ’s example for that?  

I admit I find it easy to talk down to people who call themselves Christian but call on government to do the things Christ called individuals to be and do.  I find it easy because I am not far removed from being one of those people (and far from perfect yet).  I knew doctrine but I didn’t know compassion.  I knew what was right but I didn’t know unconditional love for others.  Over the past few years I have come to know so many others who were much like me and we all look back and say “what if?” but also know we have to be present and say “what now?”

Prayer in school and signs on buildings and baby Jesus on the town square and the end of abortion are all wonderful things.  They just aren’t the things Jesus called me

to petition government intervention for as his disciple.  He called for my intervention.  He called for my action.

I encourage you to be outraged with me if, like me, you haven’t done what a disciple should be doing;  praying and studying with my children, being the hands and feet of Jesus to the world around me and being vulnerable to whatever God calls you to with no regard to how dirty or detestable it seems.  Let’s be outraged and let’s be moved to change, to take on the mantle of Christ, to be a living example of who he is.  Let us be outraged where love and compassion for the hurting and wounded doesn’t exist and let us be light and life to those who need it the most.

Jesus called me to be his disciple.  He called you too.  He told us to give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and give to God what is God’s.  My life and my energy and my submission to him is his.  I just have to decide if I will give it or ask the government to do it for me.  What about you?

Jeff Jones

Decatur, Texas