Tag Archives: character

Appearance

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A couple days ago I was walking through the house and I saw a “fuzzy” on the floor.  I kicked it with my foot to move it out of the way.  It is so far down to pick it up off the floor.  The floor gets farther and farther away each year.

When I kicked at this “fuzzy” it ran away.  I ran and got a facial tissue and squished it and then sent it off to a watery grave at the waste water treatment plant.

I started thinking about this little “fuzzy” creature.  It is like so many people.  We hide in social media.  We hide in books.  We hide in food.  We hide in drugs and alcohol.  You name it and people try to hide in it.  It is like the rearview mirror on your vehicle.  Objects do not appear as they really are.

Look at II Thessalonians 5:22, “Abstain from all appearance of evil.”  If we are God’s child then we should want to keep away from things that do not appear what they really are.  I have a friend that told of a bar in his college days that had a name that sounded like a candy store if I remember correctly.

So, if we are going to be God’s kind of people then we are going to have to be what we appear to be.  We must be in public what we are in private.  We must be in private what we are in public.  We must be consistent Christians that follow Christ.So, how are you doing?

The Patience of Job

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Growing up all of my life I have heard different people make a statement to the effect of, “He/She must have the patience of Job.” I don’t know where this came from.  One thing I do know is that Job had a relationship with Jehovah.  There is no way he could have responded the way he did without it.

Someone said, “What does not kill you makes you better.”  If ever there was an example of extreme testing it is Job.  He lost his ten (10) children and many possessions.  Have you ever wondered why?  I know I have.

Then it dawned on me one day.  Look at Job 1:8, “And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?”  As the LORD threw Job under the bus so to speak He knew something.  He knew how Job would respond.  The LORD is omniscient.  He knows all.  He knew how Job would respond.  Job on the other hand may not have known how he would respond.

Trials are a part of life.  Our response to them is optional.  Many Pastors, Preachers and people have jumped all over Job’s wife for her “curse God and die” statement.  Maybe; just maybe, it was made out of love.  If Job cursed God and died his suffering would be over.  I don’t believe this is the context of her statement; but, it is possible this was her motive.

The next time life caves in on top of you remember that God is more concerned about your character than your comfort.  He wants to conform you into the image of Jesus Christ.  He is allowing this (He is not doing it to you) to mold you and make you into the person He wants you to be.  That is God’s purpose in trials.  Your response is; again, optional.

So, how are you doing?

Consider Him 6

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Someone said that your character is what you are when nobody is around watching you.  That is really something to think about personally.  We think we are really getting away with something that we do “in secret”.

Here is the thing.  Even though there might not be anyone else in the room or even the building there is Someone that knows.  So, when we think we are all alone and we are going to indulge in some sin we need to remember that the ever watchful eyes of God are watching.

There is one thing about our LORD Jesus Christ.  He was sinless.  No matter how people then and now want to attack Him there is nothing they can attack.  He was, is and will always be sinless.  He is the Sinless Son of God.

Look at II Corinthians 5:21, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”  You and I are plagued with sin.  We fight against it all the time.  At least we should fight against sin.  Some will give in to the temptation.  Persons of character strive not to get caught up in sin.

Jesus’ character was spotless.  He could not sin because He is Holy God.  You and I are bent toward sin; but, He could not sin.  Because of this He was the only One who could die on the cross and pay the price for all man’s sin.

We all want to be like someone else from time to time.  Here is an idea.  How about we try to be like Jesus and be a person of real, godly character.

So, how are you doing?

Christmas 16

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I hate to admit it; but, I am usually the first to complain about an unpleasant situation.  I have been trying to see these situations as they are, a part of God’s plan.  This is not always easy.

As I was reading some Scripture I came across this verse in Luke 2:1, “And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.”

I am sure that this was not something that Mary and Joseph looked forward to doing.  Mary traveling pregnant would be so stressful for her.  I feel sorry for them.  Yet; on the other hand, God had orchestrated these most unpleasant circumstances to move Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem.  His plan was playing out just as He; Almighty God, had planned.  God used a decree by a pagan king to bring to pass His will for Jesus to be born into this world.  This was not comfortable and it was not convienant at all.  Remember God cares about our character more than our comfort.

So, how are you doing?

What Is Your Name?

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The story is told of a man named Alexander who was a soldier.  This man was filled with fear.  One day he was summoned to see Alexander the Great.  As he stood before Alexander the Great he was terrified.  Alexander the Great asked this man, “Are you named for me?”  The man said, “Yes, I am named after you.”  Alexander the Great replied, “Either change your name or become more brave.” (this is my paraphrase).

At first when I heard this story I laughed because it was funny to me.  Then the reality set in on me.  Jesus could say the same thing to me.  We need to have a testimony for God that is honest and believable.  Do you and I reflect Jesus so that others would say of us that they know that we are Christians (little Christs is the meaning)?

Proverbs 22:1, “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.”  Christian, if you are not living in such a way that draws people to Jesus then either straighten up and live that way.  If not then quit telling people that you are a Christian and giving Jesus a bad name.  You may think that I am being hard; but, I am not.  It is in love that I urge you to live right and reflect the character of Jesus.

So, how are you doing?

The Express Image

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Being a photographer, the words of this verse stand out to me.  The phrase, “and the express image”.  The two English words “express image” in the Greek is where we get our English word “character”.  In other words we are to express the image and character of God.

As a photographer, I can take the most breath-taking photograph a person has ever seen.  This is nice.  With the meaning of the Greek for our phrase here indicates that there is an impression made.  In other words it is like tooling leather.  There is a mark made that cannot be simply wiped away.  There is an impression made.

What about you my dear reader?  What kind of impression are you making in the lives of people?  I hope that you are making an impression that points people to Jesus and not one that pushes them away from Jesus.  The choice is ours to make.

Look at that verse again, Hebrews 1:3, “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;”

So, how are you doing?

The Christian’s Job Description 2

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Philippians 3:13, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

Yesterday we looked at the reality of people going to Hell and our duty to evangelize the casualties.  Today we will be looking at the Christian’s duty to Exemplify Christ.

Many years ago I had a job where I answered the phone.  The other person I worked with and I were often confused on the phone for one another.  One person who called would say both of our names when he called just so he would have a 50/50 chance of getting it correct.  It was funny.

As you life your life what do others say about you?  Would you be convicted in a court of law of being a Christian if it were illegal?  The day is coming and soon.

To exemplify means to be characteristic of.  Do your characteristics testify to others that you are a child of God or do they tell others that you are a child of the devil?

So, how are you doing?

 

As The Eagle, So The LORD 1

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Anyone who knows me, knows that I love eagles and lighthouses.  We take special trips to Michigan to see lighthouses and if I can find an eagle, I will definitely try.

Eagles are a fascinating study.  I am going to try to impart some of what I have learned about them to strengthen your and my Christian life.

Look at Deuteronomy 32:11, “As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings:”  Let’s take a look at the first phrase, “As an eagle stirreth up her nest,”.  “Stirreth up” means the idea of opening the eyes; to wake (literally or figuratively).  When the eaglet gets to  a certain age the mother begins to take the nest apart while they are out of it.  So, when the eagle returns to the nest it is not as comfortable and nice as it was before.  The nice comfortable hide that once lined the nest is now gone and the sticks poke and hurt.  Eventually the nest is gone.  At this point the eaglet spends a long night on the rock.

With the LORD, He is more concerned with our character than His is our comfort.  He wants you and I to be conformed into His image.  He wants us to be like Him.  In this process of sanctification things get uncomfortable.  Sometimes they are down right painful.

Such is the life of a parent with a child with special needs.  The awesome thing is that if you will allow God, He will use your child to show you things and teach you things that were not possible without that experience.  I know firsthand.  My wife and I have the scars to prove this.  I have to say with the Happy Goodman family, “If I could still I wouldn’t take nothing for my journey now.”  Remember when the nest hurts that it is God molding you and that is painful if you do not yield to Him.

So, how are you doing?