The Rock of Offense

1 Peter 2:4-8

Jesus is so much more than that little baby in the manger. He is so much more than the sacrificial Lamb. (Revelation 19:11-16 and Colossians 1:15-17)

People who do not believe find it offensive when we say that there is only one way to heaven (John 14:6). They become angry when confronted with the truth of their sin. When the light of Truth shines into someone's life, and their mask is torn away, they come unhinged. At the mere mention of Jesus' name, nice, smiling people form a scowl on their faces. They show their true colors for just a moment. They stumble. (Isaiah 8:12-15)

I read in 1 Peter 2:7-8 that for those who do not believe, Jesus has become a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense. I had to ponder this for a while. As I rolled it around in my little head, a thought began to take shape.

We (I say we because all of us are in the same boat (Romans 5:8, Ephesians 2:1-9)) generally don't like to hear the truth about ourselves. It is that pride that so easily ensnares us. Pride is the sin that will sneak up on us. When you think you have done so well in resisting temptation and treating everyone as you would have them treat you, it is then that pride will try to enter your mind and produce sin (Genesis 4:7). It was pride that got Satan booted out of heaven (Isaiah 14:12-14).

Truth knocks at the door, Truth begins seeping in through all the cracks, shedding light on everything that is dirty. Truth holds out hope. Truth offers to clean up that which is dirty, to make it new, to restore everything. Pride wakes up and hears the knocking. "I can deal with it myself, thank you very much!"

Truth offends people because there is nothing you can hide that Truth can't find. Offended people become angry. Anger takes away focus, reason and balance. Without those three, a stumble is inevitable.

Jesus is Truth. The world offers a lie that sounds better than Truth. The world offers multiple ways around The Way and says that there is no Truth. So some exchange Truth for the beautiful lie (Romans 1:25).

But there is still the pesky Truth. Every time they try to step over it or go around it, they always manage to catch their toe on it...the Stone of Stumbling.

God is AWESOME!

In God We Trust

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust. It's something that has to be earned. It can be hard to come by.

When someone comes to me to confide something, it tells me they trust me. When someone trusts me enough to share something that they don't want anyone else to know, something deeply personal, it is one of the highest of honors.

When we get into a bus or a taxi or board an airplane, we are entrusting our lives to a stranger. We don't worry and fret the whole time we are in these vehicles. Why is it then, that we worry and fret so much when things in life get tough. Our Wise Father said that we can trust Him. He has a proven track record and He has our best interests at heart. He is not some stranger giving us a ride. He is absolutely worthy of our trust. When He makes a promise, He keeps it.

Some of my favorite promises from Christ Jesus that are the most encouraging and comforting are these:

1. Matthew 11:28-30
2. Philippians 4:6-7
3. Romans 10:8-9

Thank You, Father, for Your promises. Thank You for the knowledge that, no matter what, I can put my trust fully in You.

God is AWESOME!

The Two Wolves

Colossians 3:2

Our Sunday school class finished a study of Habakkuk today. My friend Jena lead the study. She is a great speaker. I always enjoy her lessons.

In the course of the study, Jena told the Cherokee legend of the two wolves. The legend goes like this:

A Grandfather from the Cherokee Nation was talking with his grandson. "A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy. "It is a terrible fight between two wolves." The young grandson listened intently. "One wolf is evil, unhappy, and ugly: He is anger, envy, war, greed, selfishness, sorrow, regret, guilt, resentment, inferiority/superiority, false pride, coarseness, and arrogance. He spreads lies, deceit, fear, hatred, blame, scarcity, poverty, and divisiveness." "The other wolf is beautiful and good: He is friendly, joyful, loving, worthy, serene, humble, kind, benevolent, just, fair, empathetic, generous, honest, compassionate, grateful, brave, and inspiring resting wholeheartedly in deep vision beyond ordinary wisdom." The grandson paused in deep reflection of what his grandfather had just said. Then he exclaimed; "Oyee! (in recognition). Grandfather continued; "This same fight is going on inside you, and inside all human beings as well." The grandson paused in deep reflection and recognition of what his grandfather had just said. Then he finally cried out deeply; "Oyee! Grandfather, which wolf will win this horrific war?" The elder Cherokee replied, "The wolf that you feed. That wolf will surely win!"

This story made me pause and reflect. Which wolf am I feeding? Sometimes it feels like the evil wolf is winning.

It is the political season. The Presidential campaigns and the debates are getting heated up. I allow myself to get all worked up about a lot of what is being said. I usually end up saying things that I regret saying.

I sometimes forget that it is of no real consequence who gets elected. It will be the one whom God wants in the office.

Our study in Habakkuk helped me to remember to focus on what is really important. To focus on the things above. God has the rest of it handled. My focus and trust should be on Christ Jesus.

The world has so many things in the way of distractions, yet nothing really very substantial or fulfilling to offer. I have been reminded to continue moving forward...to stick to the Plan.

Thanks, Jena.

God is AWESOME!

Speaking Out

Titus 3:1-2

The more I read about the Westboro Baptist Church, the angrier I become.

These people do not represent true Christianity. As Christians, we are Ambassadors of Christ. We are supposed to be gentle and humble and live at peace with others (1 Timothy 2:1-2). We are not supposed to be going out of our way to disrupt society and offend people.

The only offensive thing about us is the Gospel of Jesus Christ (John 15:18-19).

I am going to make it a point to pray for Westboro Baptist Church. Join with me in praying that the Holy Spirit will move in their hearts and convict them of their sin and that God sends some real teachers. They are being led astray by false teachers and by what the Apostle Paul called "doctrines of demons" (1 Timothy 4:1).

The people at Westboro Baptist Church are taking our Lord's name in vain and spreading hate. We are to share the love of Christ Jesus in gentleness to bring glory to His name.

God is AWESOME!

Always On My Mind

Acts 8:26-38

My wife and I were talking this evening, and she mentioned to me that a friend of hers whom she hasn't seen in a long time called her today. Her friend told her that she had been thinking about her quite a bit, and she saw this as prompting from the Holy Spirit to pray for her. She called my wife to tell her that she loved her and wanted her to know that she was praying for her.

I have always thought that was one of the neatest ways the Holy Spirit works. Someone's name, out of the blue, pops into your head and you can't get them off your mind until you either call them or pray for them.

I just look at it as further assurance that God is concerned for and involved in the lives of every one of His children. He is, after all, our Wise Father who loves us dearly. (Luke 15:18-20, John 3:16)

God is AWESOME!

No Introduction Needed

John 2:23-25

My pastor has been participating in an accountability group with some other local pastors. As an outgrowth of his participation in this group, he has presented the congregation with a challenge. We are doing a 40 Day Spiritual Journey.

The challenge is to read five chapters of the bible a day. The same five chapters. This week we are reading the first five chapters of John's gospel.

On Sunday, he will ask if anyone wants to share something that stood out to them in their reading, or if God had shown us something that we had not seen before. Well, I'm cheating. I'm going to share mine here.

The passage that stood out to me was John 2:23-25. "Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man."

I think this stood out to me because it is such a sad statement, and it reminded me of how the condition of my heart was described. (Jeremiah 17:9)

I am thankful that when God looks into my heart, He sees only the Blood of the Lamb that covers it.

Thank You Father that Christ Jesus is my righteousness and that You entrusted Yourself to Him...because you know what is in me.

God is AWESOME!

The Patriot

Jeremiah 20:7-9

We recently celebrated the 236th birthday of our great nation. July 4th is the day we remember the brave men, the patriots of old who fought and died for the freedom that we enjoy today. We celebrate the great men who wrote our founding documents and declared that we are a free people, an independent nation of sovereign states. One nation, under God.

Whenever I think of great patriots, as weird as it may seem, I think of the prophet Jeremiah. He was born to be a prophet (Jeremiah 1:4-5).

Jeremiah loved his country. He didn't like having to prophecy against it. He suffered greatly for saying what he had been told to say.

Jeremiah trusted and loved God more than he hated what he was doing (Jeremiah 20:11-12). In misery, like Job, he pressed on. Trusting God with every word, with every step. Trusting God through every beating. He loved God and his country enough to continue.

I often ponder how a Jeremiah would be received in the United States. Probably much the same as Jeremiah was received in his own country (Jeremiah 20:7-8).

Since we as Christians are called to expose darkness to light and speak Truth, which will bring persecution, I hope we will have the courage to say what Jeremiah said: If I say, "I will not mention Him, or speak any more in His name," there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot.

God is AWESOME!