What do you expect them to do?

Recently, we were on vacation in Savannah, GA. While we were there, we saw 2 young men standing up in the middle of the touristy part of town preaching the gospel at the top of their lungs. I sat down and watched them for at least an hour each.

The first one, without fail would take things that were happening in real time and place it in a Biblical context. A nice car would pass by and as people would turn to look at it he would say something like: "Things like cars and clothes are temporary, they'll pass away. But the word of God hasn't changed. The message has been the same for over 2000 years."

The other said "We are all sinners, there is nothing that we could do to be right with God, but he sent His son to die on he cross so we could have relationship with God again."

After about an hour, 2 younger kids. It was their first time street preaching. One stood up and read from the Bible. We encouraged them.

Some people stopped and listened with smiles on their faces, others glared at them like they were an annoyance. Some ignored them. They still persisted.

I think a lot of people don't share the gospel because they are afraid of not being accepted by people. It's a difficult thing to stand up and talk when people don't want to hear what you have to say.

But in all honesty, it doesn't matter what people say. Jesus said:

A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they malign those of his household. (Matt 10:24-25)

We live in a sinful/fallen world. Jesus came and shed His blood so that the world might be reconciled back to God, but still, they have to believe this in order to partake of this wonderful gift. The gospel message is a hard message to give. Jesus told His disciples:

Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those in his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. (Matt 10:34-39)

So... my question is... what do you expect people to do when you tell them about the gospel? I, personally would hope that they receive the message, but I should be prepared for them to call me a fool. And that's okay with me.

Try not to get sick...

When I was young, I use to hate having to take my kids in to get their routine shots. Not for the reasons that you think. My sons didn't mind having shots... I was more concerned about the sick kids. There's nothing worse than taking a healthy child to the doctor, and bring them home with a cold.

Fortunately, our doctor had a sick child waiting room and a well child waiting room.

A lot of times, we as Christians view the world the same way. We want Christians to be in the well child waiting room and a sick child waiting room for those that don't believe in God. And... if we had our way, we would never mix the two except in passing.

We like to go to church and meet with other people who are trying to be Christians, and only deal with people who stumble into church who may not know God because... well, because they want to get better.

This isn't quite the way that Jesus did it.

And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples.
And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"
But when he heard it, he said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go learn what this means, 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.' For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners." Matt 9:10-13

Let's try to remember that there are a lot of people out there who don't know Christ... it's our job to introduce them.

What is real?

I was listening to a minister preach, when he stopped... looked at his hand and said to the congregation, "God is more real than my right hand." He then continued to preach... but every once in a while, he would glance down at his hand.

In my life, I have had instances where God has been so real that it literally brought fear to my heart. But this blog isn't about me, it's about us and our struggle to be the best Christians that we can be.

So... I ask you these questions:

• How real is God to you?
• How does that impact your life?

And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets—33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35 Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. 36 Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated—38 of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.39 And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect. (Hebrews 11:32-40)

Some of the people mentioned here had great victories through the mighty hand of God. Others, didn't they suffered, were tortured, killed... in either instance, God was more real to them than their own lives.

How real is God to you?

I promise to do my best...

I [state your name] promise to do my best, to do my duty to God and my country, to help other people, and to obey the law of the pack. These are the words to the Cub Scout Promise. When I was 8 years old, I took these words very seriously. Any time I put on my uniform, tightened up my neckerchief, and tightened my swanky little belt.

Fast forward 30 something years later, and I rarely think of this promise. I can honestly say that there are times when I have not done my best, or my duty to God or my country. As far as the pack goes? Well, I left the pack years ago, although I did go back as a Scout Leader for all 3 of my sons.

I guess the question of the morning is... "How long do promises last?"

This really jumped out at me last night as I was reading Matthew 1:1:

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

It's a simple sentence, but it fulfills 2 promises:

And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever. In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David. (2 Sam 7:16-17)

I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, and your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice. (Gen 22:17-18)

God is and always will be true to  His words and to His promises. Let's struggle to remember that God is faithful, and let us stand on His promises.

Hiding doesn't work...

I remember the first time I played dodge ball in elementary school. I was full of confidence. When the whistle blew to start the game, I fearlessly ran towards the center of the court to grab a ball. I stayed up towards the front,  recklessly throwing, dodging, trying to catch balls hurled in my direction.

Thinking about this now brings a new understanding to a Mike Tyson quote: "Everybody has a plan, until they get hit in the face."

By the 2nd or third game, I was hiding in the back, trying to dodge and not be seen.

This mirrors the life of a lot of Christians, the enthusiasm that we had when we first believed in Christ has been replaced with tentative actions and 2nd guesses.

¹⁷ And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you,Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you,but my Father who is in heaven. ¹⁸ And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock^[b] I will build my church, and the gates of hell^[c] shall not prevail against it. ¹⁹ I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed^[d] in heaven.” Matt 16:17-19

Jesus says that the gates of hell shall not prevail. Most Christians read this passage like I played dodge ball. If we sit back and play defense, then will be protected.

Actually, when someone is on the offensive,  they don't bring their gates with them. Hell is not bringing their gates to you!   We are to be actively storming the gates of our enemy under the leadership of a sovereign God. We need to stand on God's word, pray that his will be done, and move when the Captain of the Lords host says move!

Let us struggle to not stand back in fear, but to join our Christian brothers and sisters around the world advance the kingdom of God!

What do you do to remember?

My life is so busy and so fast paces that occasionally, I will forget something important. Not because I'm forgetful, it's just that the next important thing needs to be done, and as a result - things fall through the cracks.

I've resorted to a few different things to help me remember. I keep a notepad and a pen in my car for those random thoughts that pop into my head when I'm driving. I also try to make a to-do list at the beginning of the day that has everything that has the things that I have to do on it.

There are two things that never make it to my list though... prayer time and studying my Bible... but that's not what this post is about although that would probably be a good practice to have...

The truth is, we have a tendency to forget about God. In the old testament, people would heap stones together so they would remember what God did at a particular place, so that when they saw them, they would remember. During Passover, even until today, the people of Israel tell the story of how God brought them out of captivity - so they won't forget. At one point, God even told the people to put a fringe or tassels on their clothes - so that when they looked at them they would not forget!

And it shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the Lord, to do them, not to follow after your own heart and your own eyes, which you are inclined to whore after. (Numbers 15:39)

Even with the promise of God's Holy Spirit, which He has given us to teach us all things and bring all things to our remembrance (John 14:25-27), we still tend to forget about God and will from time to time.

Let us not forget God. He loves us so dearly that He gave His son to die for our sins so our relationship with Him could be whole again. Let's struggle to remember that and let it impact our lives on a daily basis.

Selah

Who would you trust in a desert place?

Do you trust God? Do you really trust God? Sometimes, when I read the Bible I come across something that I don't ever recall reading before and it throws things into a sharp perspective.

In Psalm 105:16-17 it says:

When he summoned a famine on the land and broke all supply of bread, he had sent a man ahead of them Joseph, who was sold as a slave.

Wait... God summoned a famine and broke all supply of bread? That is a deliberate activity on the part of God. He chose to cause a famine. Although the people suffered during the famine, God comforts them by saying "I sent Joseph ahead of you as a slave."

None of those things sound comforting. Famine. Joseph ripped from his family and sold as a slave.

The thing is God has a bigger picture in mind. He has a plan. So, I ask the question again... do you trust God when things look bad? Do you trust that he has a plan?

Let us struggle in our current situation to trust that God is in control and that He has a plan. We may not see it, and we may not understand it... but God has a plan that will bring Him glory.

Selah