Category Archives: Christianity

If Not You

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1 Timothy 1:3-11

Paul left Timothy in Ephesus and gave him the responsibility of guarding the truth against false doctrine and those who were teaching it. Makes me wonder who is guarding the truth today. Or are the things Paul warned Timothy about not applicable in 2025?

The thing is, I don’t think false doctrine is a result of evil men sitting around a table in a dark, smoke-filled room with Satan, coming up with strategies to derail the Gospel. I think it generally comes from good men wanting the Gospel to be inviting, fun, attractive, and accepted by all. What could be wrong in that, right?

I think these are probably praying men, but not listening men. They may tell God what they’re going to do for Him, without hearing what He wants from them. They use Scripture, but they don’t understand it.

The Church has used “church-speak” for so long the words have taken on false meaning without us realizing it.

“God is love,” has come to mean God accepts everyone.

“Don’t judge,” means what is right for me doesn’t have to be right for you.

“Enter his court with praise,” means worship ought to be fun, our demonstration equal to that of a football fan at the Super Bowl, an experience that leaves us with a euphoric, spiritual high.

Do you recognize the subtle falseness that renders such doctrine fruitless? How can we recognize the counterfeit? By studying the real thing. Our time in the Bible ought to exceed our time listening to sermons, reading commentaries and religious literature.

Bank tellers learn to recognize counterfeit bills, not by studying the counterfeit, but by studying the real thing so that they can recognize ANY deviation.

Do you want to guard the truth? Read your Bible. Read it again. Read it often. Memorize it. Think on it. Let it become so real to you that you can recognize ANY deviation.

Then what? Is it enough for you to know the truth? If we are to guard the truth we need to speak up. Question. Point out errors. Hold each other accountable for what we believe and say.

If not you – who?

Stay Out of the Fire

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James 1

I watched part of an interview with Erika Kirk this morning. She was asked if she wanted a public apology from Jimmy Kimmel for the lies he told about Charlie’s assassination. She said the show did reach out to her and asked how they could make it right. Her answer to them was, “This is not our issue.” She went on to say that forcing an apology didn’t interest her, that this issue isn’t between the two of them, but between Jimmy and God. She said she didn’t want or need an apology. Case closed.

What I got from what she said about that is that she refuses to enter into a battle with Kimmel over what he said. A public apology to make himself look human wasn’t on her agenda. Jimmy was not on her agenda. No hatred or anger on her part. Simply disinterest, and removing herself from a volatile situation.

Why can’t we all have that attitude when someone wrongs us? Why immediately jump into the ring, start swinging, and make it bigger than it ought to be?

“Well she disrespected me.” or “He started it…”

Just because someone started a fire, doesn’t mean you have to go stand in the flames.

James tells us, “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger, for human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness.” (1:19b-29)

Is accomplishing God’s righteousness on your agenda? The old “what would Jesus do?” is a questions we might ask ourselves. When they lied about him he opened not his mouth. He picked his. battles. And so should we.

I hear God say today, accomplishing God’s righteousness ought to be our goal. I might get my feelings hurt today. You might have someone pull out in front of you in traffic. We might be lied about, gossiped about, judged unfairly. How do we accomplish God’s righteousness in those situations?

Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger.

You don’t go and jump into the flames just because someone started a fire.

Living in Poverty

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Ruth 2:1-7

What does it say that Ruth was so willing to go to work upon arriving in Bethlehem? She was an undocumented immigrant, penniless, homeless except for any property still in Naomi’s family name. But it doesn’t seem like she waited to see if the neighbors would provide, or if there was government assistance. She knew that if she was going to eat, she would have to go to work.

We could make this about financial poverty, food stamps and free healthcare. But I think there might be a more important lesson here.

Too many Christians are living in systemic spiritual poverty. They are taught to pray like their parents prayed, “Bless me, God. Heal me. Provide for my needs, God,” and expect spiritual hand-outs. But are they willing to do the work?

Do they spend quality time in God’s Word? Do they pray for more than themselves? Do they give, go, grow, obey. Are they the hands and feet of Jesus? Do they surrender their wills and have the mind of Christ?

James tells us that we might have faith, but if we don’t do something about it, our faith is worthless. I think that’s what spiritual poverty looks like.

The thing about living in financial poverty is it can become the norm after a generation or two. It can become a mind-set and an expectation.

The same is true for spiritual poverty. I guess what I see here in the book of Ruth is, God has a better plan. It’s a plan to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (from Jeremiah 19:11)

Are you living in spiritual poverty? Do you feel God isn’t hearing your prayers, not meeting your needs? Then, like Ruth, get to work. The blessings are just around the corner.

They Are Right In Front of You

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Ruth 1:19-22

Naomi was beaten down by circumstances, by a long and difficult walk from Moab to Bethlehem, and I believe she was beaten down by the things she told herself about her situation. With every step she took, I think she sunk deeper and deeper into self-pity and anguish.

I’m not throwing stones. She had reason to be sad and discouraged. The outlook was indeed bleak. But don’t you find that when you are in that state of mind, you can miss the blessings right in front of you?

Naomi was greeted by family and friends who worshiped her God, something she’d been without all those years in Moab. She was home, no longer a stranger in a strange land. And she had Ruth by her side, evidence of unconditional love and support. I think Naomi missed the blessing that was Ruth because she may have seen her as just another mouth to feed, someone to be responsible for when she couldn’t even take care of herself.

Namoi was so low, she didn’t want to be reminded that her name meant “pleasant.” Call me bitter, she said, because that was the cup she was drinking from.

I don’t know what you are going through right now. Just don’t let the circumstances cause you to miss the blessings right in front of you. You say you can’t see any? Then remember all the ways God has blessed you in the past. Read Psalm 103 and be reminded of his mercies that are new every day.

Every. Day.

Naomi will come out of this funk as we’ll see in the next few chapters. You’ll come out of your’s, too, if you allow yourself to recognize the blessings God has showered on you, if you hear Him promise to see you through even this.

Did you wake up feeling like Marah, bitter water good for nothing? I pray you’ll let God turn you into a Naomi, pleasant, gentle, and beautiful. Keep your eyes on Him who works all things out for the good of those who love Him.

Don’t miss the many blessings that are there right in front of you.

It’s Not Your Choice

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Ruth 1:6-14

I’m doing something a bit different in my personal devotional time. I started looking at the book of Ruth as I read “The Girl’s Still Got It” by Liz Curtis Higgs. (WaterBrook Press, 2012). I think she’s a good writer, clever and amusing. She’s encouraged me to slow down as I read this part of God’s Word, and take a look at my walk with the Lord. Yesterday it was a question I had to ask myself about where I turn for answers when trouble comes. Higgs also challenged me to consider who I am in good times as well as in bad. It was a good first day in the book of Ruth.

But I think those of us who fancy ourselves writers need to be careful not to interject our own bias and/or hangups into our interpretation of Scripture. I’m sure I’ve been guilty of that, and will try to do better in the future. I want Scripture to speak for itself and not assume I know what’s going on behind the scene.

That being said, I whole-heartedly disagree with Mrs. Higg’s reasoning behind Naomi’s seemingly change of heart. From what I read in these verses, there is nothing to indicate she was afraid of the reception she’d receive upon return to Canaan with two Moabite daughters-in-law in tow. I don’t see that she was a menopausal emotional basket case. In fact, I see nothing of a self-serving motive for why Naomi seems to suddenly do an about-face.

The only thing we know for sure is that three women started out on a journey. Naomi stops and offers the younger women a chance to decide for themselves whether or not they will continue. I see selfless love in Naomi’s words, and I see a lesson all parents must learn.

You know that your decision to follow Jesus was a personal decision you had to make. The same is true for your children. We bring up those precious ones in the way they should go. We take them to church, pray before meals, talk with them about right and wrong, about Jesus and their need for the Savior.

You can take a horse to water but you can’t make it drink.

And you know that.

Naomi chose to leave her life of sin and embrace the one True God. She brought her daughters-in-law as far as she could, but there came the time she had to let them choose for themselves. I see a loving mother setting her children free, knowing she couldn’t force them to choose her God or follow her path.

Some of you have experienced the heartache of watching a child walk away, turning a back on God and embracing a life of sin. Is that what Naomi felt as she watched Orpah walk away?

Some of you – I pray most of you – have known the joy of watching a child turn from sin, choose to embrace the God you love, and walk with you in relationship with the Savior. I think that’s what Naomi felt when Ruth clung to her.

Parents, you have the awesome responsibility to teach, to demonstrate, to model what it means to be saved by grace, and to walk with Jesus. Don’t take that lightly because the window for this ministry is fast closing. Your kids are growing up and learning to make decisions for themselves – right or wrong. Help them learn the blessings that come from choosing right, and the painful consequences for choosing the wrong.

As much as you’d like it to be different, their decision to follow Christ is their’s alone. I think Naomi wanted both her daughters-in-law to choose her God. (my opinion. Scripture isn’t clear about that). I think you want your children to choose your God, too.

But in the end, it’s not your choice.

Keep teaching. Keep praying. Keep following the Lord loud and strong. Keep loving. And keep hoping that one day they will choose to turn from sin and follow God. Keep believing that God’s Word doesn’t return void.

I’m praying for you.

Silence

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1&2 Samuel; 1&2 Kings; 1&2 Chronicles

Angie Smith (Seamless; Lifeway Publishers; 2018) points out that the books of Samuel and Kings are about the political history of Israel. Chronicles is about their religious journey during the same time period. (page 100) That said, I wonder why any preacher refuses to speak to current political issues when God Himself inspired twice as much attention on the political scene than He did the spiritual aspect.

I think we’ve become too comfortable with our heads in the sand. We convince ourselves that God will take care of the country. But if we can learn from Scripture that God uses us to take care of the country, we will speak up loud and strong.

God uses our voices to make His voice heard. God uses our hands and feet to stand up against evil. And, sadly, God uses our silence to mete out punishment we deserve.

German pastors were silent in the 1940’s.

Are we trying to fight this war against evil simply sitting in our pews with hands raised and eyes closed? We say God is on our side, when what we really mean is we expect God to fight while we sit back and cheer Him on. That’s a horrible battle plan.

Pastors, we sheep need you to protect us. We need to know the enemy. We need to be led in this battle. Name names. Bring the facts. Be political.

Jesus was. He railed against the religious political machine. But he also addressed the government. “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” (Mark 12:17)

I guess we can continue to stay silent. God’s given us that choice. But understand silence is not golden. It is never golden. It’s a tool of the enemy we willingly hand over to him. It’s easier that way.

And it will be our ruin. Just read the Bible and see for yourself.

Pursuing God’s Heart

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2 Samuel

Does it ever make you wonder how David, the adulterous murderer, could be considered a man after God’s own heart? What’s up with that? Seems to me those are opposite character traits.

In her study book entitled, “Seamless” (Lifeway; 2018; p. 99), Angie Smith said something that hit home for me today. She writes:

“David wasn’t a man after God’s own heart because David didn’t sin. He was a man after God’s own heart because he kept coming back to God.”

David kept pursuing God’s heart even after falling repeatedly. I can’t think of anything that’s more encouraging to me in my walk with the Lord right now.

I sin. Sometimes I fall into a familiar sin I’ve confessed before. Then I get down on myself. “How can I go to God and ask Him to forgive the same sin for the umpteenth time? Why would He want to?”

Well, because that’s WHO He is!

If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9) That’s a picture of unlimited grace for a repentant sinner.

Paul said that he pressed on toward the goal of knowing Christ and becoming more like Jesus. (see Philippians 3:14). He’s not describing a peaceful jog. It’s a grueling marathon, sometimes falling, sometimes weary, sometimes tripped up by obstacles. But at the same time continuing to keep the goal in view, standing up again, allowing God to brush him off and clean him up, then pressing on.

David pursued God’s heart. That’s why, even though he committed some doozie sins, we know him as a man after God’s own heart.

Most of us are not adulterers or murderers. But we are all sinners. The question is, can we be described as men and women after God’s own heart? I pray that is so.

I would encourage all of us to start our day by sincerely praying:

Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me. (Psalm 51:10-12)

Then press on, forgetting what is behind. Today is a new day. Pursue God’s heart.

Too Harsh?

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Deuteronomy 34

Have you ever thought God was a bit too harsh when he prevented Moses from entering the Promised Land? Moses had tapped a rock like he’d done before to get water. Sure, he was frustrated and angry at the time, and expressed an “I’ll show you,” attitude toward the people. Sure, God had told him to speak to the rock this time, and said nothing about tapping it, so there was that. But Moses had worked hard most of his adult life, trying to get a thousand Jews into the Promised Land. One goal. One focus. Every waking minute was spent toward that end. Plus, he was a good man!

But when Moses stood right there in front of the Promised Land, steps away from realizing his goal, God slammed the door in his face.

Harsh.

Where is patience, slow to anger, abounding in love? Where is forgiveness?

Angie Smith, in her book “Seamless” published by Lifeway, said something I hadn’t considered before. It’s found on page 79:

“Moments after Moses was blocked from the promised land, God brought him into an eternal life with the Father. The loss was momentary. Temporary. It paled in comparison to what was next.”

I love that.

The consequence for his disobedience was an important lesson for the Jews, and us. It doesn’t matter who you are, disobedience of any kind is rightly punished by God. All of us are to obey God or face the consequences.

For Moses, however, his momentary disappointment was replaced by the most amazing experience of his life – entering into the arms of God in a place too wonderful for words; a place that made Moses forget the so called Promised Land without regret.

This life is full of disappointment, often caused by disobedience. There are also times of blessings as we enjoy an imperfect relationship with God. But take heart.

We believers will one day be ushered into the Presence of God where all of it – good and bad – will pale in comparison to looking into the eyes of our Savior and getting lost in His embrace.

Was God’s punishment for Moses’ sin too harsh? Believe me, Moses hasn’t given a thought to what we see as loss. Not one thought.

Say Your Name

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Genesis 32

I love that, and am convicted by the fact that, before God would bless Jacob He made him say his name – DECEIVER. Jacob had lived his life as a deceiver. God wanted him to own up to it.

Sometimes I think we make it too easy for people we want to lead to the Lord, and perhaps we lead them into a false Christianity without meaning to. We tell them Jesus died to pay for our sins, that if we confess that we are sinners in need of the Savior, “He is faithful and just to forgive our sins…”

That’s all true. Hallelujah!

But is acknowledging our “sins” the same as owning up to them? We aren’t all adulterers, but some people are. We aren’t all liars, but some people do lie. We aren’t all thieves, but there are some who take things that don’t belong to them. We aren’t all narcissistic, but some people look at the world through a very self-centered lens.

If I simply have to ask God to forgive my sins, I don’t have to look inside my heart. I don’t have to confront the specific things I have done to anger and offend Him. I don’t have to look at the areas where I disobey and reject Him. It’s much easier to acknowledge that I, along with every other human being, have fallen short of God’s demands.

Which makes me recognize the fact that God didn’t ask Jacob to state his gender or his membership in the human race. He said: What is your name?

So what name is God asking you to declare? Cheat? Arrogant? Homosexual? Gossip? Angry? Unforgiving? Deceiver? You all know that list of names is long. You won’t identify as all of them. You will identify as some.

After Jacob identified himself as a deceiver, God changed his name to Israel, “You have struggled with God and with man and have prevailed.” (28b) He went from one who lied and cheated to get what he wanted, to someone who struggled between the evil within him and the God who wanted better for him – and Israel won! He later confessed that he was amazed that He had seen God face to face, and God spared him.

I challenge us all to take an honest inventory of our hearts’ condition. Hear God asking us to say our name so that He can change it into something God-honoring and beautiful.

Born in Sin

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Genesis 1-3

I have to confess that I have always had a bit of trouble understanding the whole “born in sin” thing. I wasn’t able to get past the fact that a newborn hasn’t had time to sin, yet is condemned because someone did sin thousands of years ago. I mean, I accepted that fact by faith. But I couldn’t understand it. (which is what faith is, right?)

I’ve started a new study recently, “Seamless,” by Angie Smith (Lifeway Press, 2018). She said something that turned on a lightbulb for me. She reminded me God created humans with a chance to obey Him, or not. They chose not. So Holy God had to separate Himself from disobedient them.

Since they could no longer live in fellowship with God, their children would be born out of fellowship with Him, they would be separated from Him because their parents were separated from God when they were born.

You can’t claim to be a natural born American if your parents were citizens of another country and you were born in that country.

“Born in sin” means to be born separated from God. Being separate from God is where sin is. Even a newborn’s heart is separated from God’s because Adam and Eve’s hearts were separated from God when they received the punishment for their sin in the Garden. No one, except Jesus, could ever be born in fellowship with God again.

But we don’t have to live out of fellowship! Our beautiful Savior gave His life so the gap can be bridged, the separation obliterated. Through Jesus’ work on the cross, and because of God’s love, mercy, and grace, we can have God Himself living within us!

But that fellowship doesn’t come with being born. It comes with being born again. We are “born in sin” but we don’t have to live there.