How Good Are We?

When I was growing up I had a great friend.  We used to ride our bikes all over  the country in our area.  We even were known to ride to a neighboring town (if my Mom had know that she would have died).  On one of our trips we were followed by three dogs.  They came after us barking and intent on catching us.  As we peddled uphill as fast as we could I began to run out of steam so to speak.  My friend jumped off his bike and began to grab rocks off the side of the road and throw them at the dogs as hard as he could.  One caught me and nearly licked me to death.  We felt horrible.

My friend was a good shot with those rocks.  We both had gotten much practice over the years with throwing rocks.  Look at II Samuel 16:5-6, “And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still as he came.  And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left.”

Here is my thought today.  How good are we at throwing rocks?  I mean people deserve to have rocks thrown at them.  Remember in the Old Testament people were simply stoned for certain crimes.  So, we are justified in throwing rocks today.  Wrong!  We are not justified in throwing stones or rocks today.  I remember one instance were Jesus Himself told a crowd that “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her..” John 8:7.

I think it is high time that we quit casting stones at others and get our own lives cleaned up.  God cannot bless someone who has known sin in their lives.  The Church is getting more and more powerless and I believe that it is the powerless people who will not get the sin out of their lives that are causing it.  Are you good enough to qualify for Jesus’ statement?  Me either.

So, how are you doing?

 

What Are You Saying?

My wife made a recording of her playing the piano and singing some songs to help some friends of ours in a puppet ministry.  I received the sweetest message telling me that the dear friend writing had heard the recording in a puppet performance and knew it was my wife and how this dear friend missed us.  Well, you know what happened next.  Yes, I cried like a baby silently as I sit at my desk.

Our words can tare down or build up.  The choice is up to us.  Like my post yesterday, if that young girl had heard the adjectives associated with her name I bet she would have cried.  Our words are powerful.  Christian, you and must be very careful.  Pastor, you and I must be even more careful of our tongue.  God has given us a tongue to build up.  I know that sometimes in the building process you must start by ripping something down first.  We have to be not too quick to rip down before building up.  I don’t know about you; but, I need to work on this myself.

Look at Ephesians 4:29, “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”

So, how are you doing?

The Christian’s Job Description 6

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.”

Today will be our last installment of “The Christian’s Job Description”.  Today my final thought will be that we need to Edify Christians.

Edify means “to make understand” according to the Word Web dictionary.  According to the Scriptures it means to build up.  It seems that everywhere we turn today there are forces at work that seek to tear down the Christian.  A man has been appointed in military leadership that is giving consideration to court martial for sharing your Christian faith if you are a soldier and try to share your faith.  This will take a toll on Christian people who serve in our military.  They allow the muslims to worship their false god and they want to disallow people to share the truth that Jesus Christ is the ONLY way (John 14:6).

With that said, we are going to need one another even more now than ever.  When you interact with other Christians try to put them first.  Try to meet their needs over your own needs.  We need to build one another up and quit fighting like children!  Grow up!  This may hold a key.  If we are going to build up one another we are going to have to grow up ourselves first and then we will be better equipped to meet the needs of others.

I have some close friends that all I need to do is hear their voice, see their text message or be in their presence and I am encouraged and built up on my most holy faith.  I hope you have someone that can be an exhorter, encourager and edifyer in your life (my grammer is not too good).

So, how are you doing?

Jubilee

Yesterday was an amazing day!  I had the privilege of going to Illinois with my dear friend and his wife to a jubilee meeting. This was the second year I have attended this jubilee meeting.

Jubilee was celebrated every fiftieth (50th) year.  During this year slaves were to be set free, alienated property restored to the former owners and the land was to be left lay and not tilled. I understand the modern day concept of Jubilee.

Every sermon preached was right on target and they all melded together perfectly.  This happens when you allow God to control things.  It was refreshing and uplifting to spend time with other people who have the same beliefs as you do.  The love flowed deeper than the sweet tea also.

Most people associate fellowship with food in our circles.  This is not fellowship.  Fellowship is partnership, i.e. (literally) participation.  It is coming together and encouraging one another to keep pressing on in the Christian life.  The sermons were of the same.  Look at Acts 2:42, “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”

Families of children with special needs are in desperate need of true fellowship.  They often call it things like play group and many different adjectives.  The fact is that it is simply fellowship.  If you are a parent of one or more of God’s Special Children make sure part of you plan for life includes time away with other adults getting refreshed.  I know it is easier said than done because I live this every day.  Make a concentrated effort to do this.

So, how are you doing?