My daughter has two boys, one that is around 6 months and another which just turned 2. When you go to her house one does not have to look far to notice that this house has babies. Even if no one was home it is easy to tell it is a house that has babies.
How so? Cabinets that have dangerous chemicals have a special lock on so that children can’t open the door. There are gates to keep the children from falling down stairs. The house has many safety features to keep little fingers from danger.
The house has been baby proofed. As much as possible, the desire is to protect them from danger. Protection.
Proverbs 4:23 says, “Guard your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.”
This is a protection passage. The instruction here is with passion, diligence, be deliberate, on purpose, protect your heart. Is this the muscle that beats in our chest?
No, this is not a call to watch our sugar intake and get cardio exercise. Even though I could use that advice as well.
The heart in this passage is the essence of your life. The mind. That thing that processes what we see and hear.
This passage is saying, be careful what you see and hear. Be careful what you allow into your world. This is a baby proofing passage.
Just as my daughter takes precautions for her boys, this Scripture is saying, take precautions. Set up boundaries.
My Lord has taught me to look away. That is protection. Keep the danger from entering the mind. Do this with vigilance.
When we are faced with the potential of thinking deadly thoughts of lust, anger or anything else like this, guard the heart. Don’t let it in. keep the springs of life pure.
Throughout my office and studio I have a LOT of things that have been given to me. They are little treasures.
Here is one, it is a little ceramic heart that my daughter Madison made for me. On the bottom is her name and month and. Year she made it. Inside of it is more treasure. I have coin from the Holy Lands that my mother and father gave me. It is called a mite. Also inside of this is a very tiny shell that my daughter Hannah gave me on one of our trips to the Ocean.
This little heart is just the beginning of all kinds of stuff. In fact, I have one shelf that has a big collection of all this stuff given to me through the years. I see most of them every day of the year.
What makes these valuable? For everyone else, at best, these items are nice to look at but in reality they are pieces of junk, nothing to be valued. Why are they valuable to me?
They are tied to something, someone or some place that I love. They bring back memories. The treasure is NOT the item but what the item represents.
2 Corinthians 4:7 it says, “We have these treasures in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.”
What is the treasure here? What does jars of clay mean?
The jars of clay are the believers. That is what we are. Just simple jars of clay. Out of the dust we were formed and to the dust we will return.
The treasure is Christ! In the sight of our Lord we are valuable when Christ is in us.
In the same way that the value of the various items in my office are only valuable because of what is tied to them, we are valuable because of Christ in us. He is the one in whom God is well pleased.
Your worth in God is connected to the worth of Christ. As He is worthy, so are you, if you are in Him.
I once had a fat fly buzzing around my office. The plan was to ignore it and remain focused on the reading in which I was engaged.
However, the more I tried to focus, the more the fly got my attention. So a new plan emerged and it was capital punishment for the fly. God father reference: the fly would swim with the fishes.
I got up and began following it all around the office. Swing and miss, swing and a miss. I am no Babe Ruth, the sultan of swat! Follow it some more until I realized that I was now completely distracted from my reading.
I had gone from being emerged in reading to erratically following a fly.
This is so much like life, even life for the believer.
We discussed the reality for every person born into this world, no matter if you are born in America or Angola, if you are born, you inherit the rebellion of Adam. For those who are born again, in Christ, we inherit His righteousness.
Which brings up a good question: What if that old Saab, after repaired, broke again? What if that synchronizer went out again?
It is a good question because even though we are born again, forgiven and in Christ, there are times when we still sin.
We are trying to live focused on the Christian life yet we are distracted, just as I was with that fly in my office.
When we are living this life in Christ as a believer, and a follower, it doesn’t mean that sin won’t distract us and take our attention off the Christ we love.
I say this as an encouragement because as we strive for holiness, we are still in this body. It can be temptations and harassment from the enemy. For it is true that “Satan walks about like a lion, seeking who he may devour” but most often the source of our sin is . . . our flesh.
When we were born again, our ability to sin was not removed. What did happen is our hearts were changed and we desired passionately to obey God. We are disappointed when we do fall short and are given a will to love God’s word and to seek God. (Jeremiah 31:31; Ezekiel 36:25-27).
We have always been and always will be solely dependent upon Jesus.
I recall the first time I saw a European car in real life. It was not a photo in a magazine but real silver Saab. A much younger version of me was near Lexington, KY and this 900S turbo with a sunroof passed by and became my favorite.
Fast forward a few years, now into adulthood, my first car purchase was a silver Saab 900S with a sunroof. I loved everything about this car. I l loved the way the doors shut. I loved the way I felt in the leather seats. The seats were even heated, terrific for those deep cold winter days.
Within literal weeks of owning this car I learned that there was a design flaw. Upon putting the car in reverse, it would pop out of gear and found that around 110K miles, every single car (not some of them but all of them) have a piece of the transmission fail. It is called a synchronizer
The cost of the part was under $20. The installation was near $2,000. The engine had to be removed from the car to put the in the new part, thus why the big expense.
This is true for every Saab built in a certain timeframe. All of them.
It reminded me of a situation in which we all find ourselves. If you are watching this, it means you were born. (no brainer, right?).
Let us take it one step further; if you were born, you were born in the image of Adam. Which means you share Adam’s flesh.
Do you and I have to be taught how to lie? Were you taught how to be rebellious?
The answer is no. Why? Because all of us were born in the flesh of Adam. We inherited his rebellion. Just like the flaw in ALL the SAABS, the flaw of Adam is in every human.
Romans 5:18, “One trespass led to condemnation for ALL”
This is about our position in this life. If we are IN Adam, you and I, are like my old Saab, beautiful outside, but flawed inside.
Our hope is in Christ. Again, Paul writes, “Through one man’s obedience many will be made righteous.” (Romans 5:19) If you are in Christ, who Paul calls the second Adam, you are perfect.
Through the second Adam, Jesus, the curse of first Adam is cured, fixed, settled.
But what happens if the transmission breaks again (what if we still have sin and rebellion)? What does that mean?
We will address this next time – until then S.D.G.
It may be a surprise to find that the word “FROM” is interesting. You may not think so but in the Greek language it certainly is. Kenneth Wuest makes a very good observation when he notes there are two types of FROM.
Type 1: Jane came “from” the building. The from in this scenario means she could have been leaning on the building but it does not mean she was inside the building
Type 2: Jane came “from” the building meaning she was inside the building but exited from the building.
Throw in some Biblical Scripture and this is where “from” becomes interesting. Consider Jesus’ words from two differing prayers.
As Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane before he was crucified, he asked the Father, “Let this cup pass “FROM” me.” (Matthew 26:9) This was the first use of the word from. The “cup” was near, Jesus was around it but he was not IN IT.
The writer in Hebrews 5:7 says that Jesus, “offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears to him who was able to save him FROM death.” The second use of “from” is used in this case.
What that means is, Jesus was praying for his resurrection.
Jesus, in the flesh, prays that the Father would deliver Him from actual death. This is the second use of the word. Jesus would be IN death and prayed he would be given life again.
For those who are IN CHRIST, because of Him, we are delivered from death. This is because of Jesus. Isn’t that beautiful? Christ delivered us from eternal separation from the Father. IN CHRIST we are set free from death. S.D.G.
My father had A LOT of tools. Most men who have tools have a favorite brand. For hand tools (wrenches and ratchets and the like) my dad’s favorite was craftsman.
He liked the fact that they were made with quality in America, but important to him was the lifetime guarantee policy.
If the tool broke for any reason you could return it. You could have the tool for 30 years and if it breaks you simply take the tool to the store and they hand you a replacement. The tool was forever covered.
Yesterday my sermon focus was on eternal security. This is the teaching that if one is saved, they will never fully fatally lose that salvation. Today I wanted to address a thought I have had as I reflected on that teaching.
I was thinking of the people we know who have been associated with the faith in some way. Maybe they are raised in the faith, maybe they were youth group friends or something similar. But as time passed they are no longer a part of the faith.
What do we do with that?
I have a child in which this has happened. Brought to church from infancy, taught Bible songs, attended church camps, was even baptized. However, a few years after high school was no longer interested in church.
He was not angry or resentful. He would still reflect fondly on early church memories and friends. But he was not faithful in anyway, reading or being a part of a faith family.
What do we do with that? I am n the only on. It is a tragic thing isn’t it? It feels even more tragic because you raised this child.
The Scripture does clearly teach that if you are truly saved, you will not FULLY or FATALY fall. You may have a season of unfaithfulness. But like the prodigal son, there will be an awakening and you will return to the open arms of a welcoming Father. Though this person was straying sinfully, they are still a part of the family.
If one is truly saved, born again, born from above as John 3 teaches, they are given the Spirit. And this Spirit is the guarantee (as Paul puts it). Lifetime guarantee. The seal of God. Let us continue to pray for those away from the family.
And as it is written in Ephesians 1:5-6 it is all for His glory.
A few days ago, I began reading through the book of Lamentations. To lament is to weep or an expression of sorrow or grief.
In the Hebrew Bible, Lamentations is called “How” which is the first word in the book.
“How lonely sits the city that was full of people! How like a widow has she become, she who was great among the nations. . . She weeps bitterly in the night, with tears on her cheeks”
These opening words, referencing a widow, really hit home. It was not long ago that my father passed away from this life leaving my mother alone. They had been married for 69 years, has come to an end.
The past weeks I have heard and felt her weeping. She is experiencing deep sorrow and I can only imagine, the sounds of grief that only the walls the house they built, witness.
The reason for the weeping, sadness and sorrow of Lamentations is the rebellious people of Jerusalem (the lonely city that was once full of people) are being taken into exile.
The patience of God has come to an end. The city is being destroyed. It has come to an end.
The hundreds of years of God’s patience has come to an end. The people are facing judgement by being exiled and their city destroyed.
The focus Monday was to encourage those in the faith or Christ. Today, I would like to lovingly address any who hears this and you are NOT in Christ.
I am calling you. I want you to hear me.
On one extreme there are those raised in a church family, and you have abandoned the faith. The other extreme are those who never sat foot inside of a church building. The rest fit in between. My words for you today, come to Jesus.
God is patient. God is loving. God is merciful. But for those outside of the faith, it will come to an end.
For those outside of the faith, there will be a final day. Just like those in Lamentations, there will be a final day, a final hour and a final breath. There will be a day of judgement.
Being outside of Christ means, you will not have the righteousness of Jesus on which to claim. That will certainly be a moment to lament. Oh, how you will weep.
If you would like to discuss this, privately and confidentially you can reach out to me at:
Sometimes it is nice to receive a little encouragement. It is always nice to hear a few words that you are doing great.
Today my hope is to be that encourage for those who are believers in Christ and the focus is going to be on a passage you already know.
In Matthew, Jesus was teaching what we call the Sermon on the Mount. He was addressing keeping law when he said,
“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder’ but I tell you, everyone who is angry without cause shall be guilty.”
Jesus is pointing out an issue with which we all struggle.
The quote is pulled from a larger section in Matthew 5, dealing with keeping promises, getting even, lust and loving enemies.
Jesus is taking law and saying, keeping law outwardly is not enough. He is pointing to a much bigger issue.
The standard is high; VERY HIGH! We break law in our hearts by pondering sinful things.
Here is the encouragement: Jesus kept the law perfectly for you. He was absolutely perfect in thought and deed, which means for believers, you are absolutely perfect. Right now, at this moment.
You are doing great. You are doing superb. How do I know this?
3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:3-4)
You are in Christ. You are perfect. You are doing great because Jesus is great!
As a Christ follower, there is a passion to be like Christ. Think again of the scene where Jesus was washing feet.
Who cares about dirty feet? Why was this important?
They reclined at the table. There was no sitting in chairs as we do today. Therefore, feet were in close proximity with the head.
Jesus was literally hours from being abandoned, mocked, tortured and crucified and he was having a meal with his disciples. No one washed feet. With the weight of the world on his shoulders, Jesus washed feet. Then says, I have done to you, go and do.
For those who are believers, you have access to accomplish this. How?
How do we imitate Jesus? Do we muster this under our own strength? Are we to buckle down and try hard?
Scripture says no.
I can’t stress this enough. We are not left without strength on which we can call. As believers we are given life in the Spirit. This is our strength! It is from the Lord.
“Be strong . . . in the Lord and the power of His might!” Ephesians 6:10
Our strength is in Him.
You want to grow as a believer? You want strength to serve as Jesus served? Pray! Our Lord is totally able and willing to help you imitate Jesus.
I can tell you this is the ONLY way I have grown. I have had to realize I am weak. I simply ask the Lord help me.
The great thing about this is not only will He grow you in holiness, but it is to His credit alone.