"Treachery"

When people are disloyal to us, we feel all kinds of hurts deep within. Someone we love or trusted turns on us and the sting goes right to the heart. There aren't many things more painful than being betrayed by a loved one. Have you ever had someone tell you as a parent the shameful and public behavior of your child that you love? Or a devoted mate of their mate's betrayal of the sacredness of marriage? At that moment, you experienced sin striking the heart of love. It makes me think of God, looking at us and asking us if we understood a little of His pain! Treachery is so hard to take.

It started in the garden with Adam and Eve. Everything they needed to fulfill every need and the greatest of all, a loving fellowship with their Creator that is beyond words. They betrayed God and His love. David, a man after God's own heart, a man of integrity and valiant. He lusted, committed adultery and planned the murder of Uriah having it carried out. Treachery is so hard to take. The list is too great to mention all the times that man has rejected the love of God and betrayed Him. Haven't you done that?

Her husband was convicted of a crime he didn't commit but he was sentenced to 14 years in prison. The wife, who loved him deeply and knew he was innocent, was going to find a lawyer that would take the case but it would be costly. She had little money. She worked at washing dishes at one job during the day, taking a part time work at a convenience store in between. At night she cleaned offices, as many as her body would allow. It took her five years to save the money, but she made it! She hired a good lawyer, got his sentence over-turned and he was set free!! However, she had lost some of her beauty during this time because of all the hard labor and lack of rest. Her husband, whom she loved and labored for, left her for another woman six months after being released. She lay down, pale with a broken heart. Treachery is so hard to take.

Our Lord God created us for His fellowship and friendship. He has endured generation after generation and what did He get in return? Treachery! He sent His Son to help and reconcile and man rejected Him and had Him brutally murdered while insulting His Father. Treachery is so hard to take. Today, millions upon millions could care less while depending on Him for their very lives. They reject His offer of love and mercy not realizing the doom that awaits. And what does the Father get? TREACHERY! Treachery is so hard to take! And you can almost hear Him say, "Now you have a little insight to how I feel!"

"A Word To the Weak"

We live in a society that adores strength and worships success. People love power. People are drawn to those with physical strength. Where does all this lead? To running over the weak and counting those as weak as in the way! This attitude has made its way into the church of our Lord. Members of Christ's body view themselves as mature, wise and strong. They view others with a little attitude of contempt because they have not matured as themselves. Over the years I have watched men and women run over the top of those that are weak and quiet. People in Christ treating others as they are nothing.

Let me say this about the weak (because I am speaking about myself). No matter what you think or if you think your years of service have given you a special place, the weak are as saved as you if they are holding to Christ! It doesn't matter if they are new in Christ, if they struggle in their weakness but hold to the promises with all their heart, the weak are saved and are important to Jesus! Jesus is for the weak! God did not give the strong their place to look down or sneer at those with weakness. A person that looks down their nose at the weak is really weak themselves. They have not matured enough to realize the strong are to "bear the weakness of those without strength and not just please ourselves." (Rom. 15:1)

When we speak of those weak, that's me and you! We are what we are because of Christ. We aren't special and come into a knowledge of God without the help of God. It's not our doings. It's all His doings that we are in Christ (I Cor. 1:30). Some act like they have arrived and are so far ahead of others. We are saved, all of us, by the blood of Christ. That blood covers my sins, my weaknesses and failures. That blood is what brings us near and into the presence of God. No one is ahead of another. If you're in Christ, you are as saved as you will ever be! We need to mature and grow in Him, but that doesn't mean I am becoming more saved. One is saved or lost! There is no gradual growing into being saved. Do you remember the day you were baptized into Christ? Reflect on that just a moment. Recall it in your mind. What was that day about? Having all your sins washed away, becoming pure and clean in the sight of God. That day still holds as long as you hold to Jesus with all your heart. In the end, your strength will be Him, not your own. If you are one to look down on others less fortunate or feel superior because of your years of service, you might look closely and see that you indeed have wandered away from the strength of His might and are the weakest of the bunch! Now that's a thought worth contemplating!

"The Christ of the Cross"

Let me share with you just a few words to think about and put some serious thought into all this. Jesus did not die for nothing! His death was not forced on Him by the physical power of people. He laid down His life freely because He chose to (John 10:17-18). Just think, Jesus gave up His life of His own free voluntary will, knowing the horrors He would face, just because He wanted to save us from our sinfulness. He is our REDEEMER! When Jesus arrived by birth into our world, He was on a death mission and He knew it. How would you like to know ahead of time that you would suffer a dark, horrible fate that would send you into an eternal world of gloom and doom just to save someone else? The prostitute, the drug user, the rapist, the murderers, the liars, the adulterers and those who commit indecent and vile acts would be the beneficiaries of your dying. We run from such people, especially if they are into a depth of sin we have never touched. We remove ourselves thinking how much better off we are than they, yet in all this, Jesus voluntarily laid down His life as a ransom, to buy them (and us) back. Look how much different He is than us!

The cross of Christ dealt with our sin FIRST! After the dealing with our sin, then there is example. He came to "seek and save the lost." He came to save "the sinners." (I Tim. 1:15) He came "to destroy the works of the devil." (I John 3:8) In all this, there is one theme that needs to hit our hearts: WE ALL HAVE A SIN PROBLEM! Christ took our sin problem, went voluntarily to death to deal with it and that is a love that should reach to the depth of the human soul! Too many are trying to live by example without the cross. There is no newness of life, no sharing in God until we come to the Christ of the cross. When we see the relationship of Jesus and His cross to our unholiness, then we will begin to perceive the greatness of His love for us. Seeing His love, His death mission because we are unholy will bring you to your knees and place within you a desire to be like Him. "My sin - Oh, the bliss of the glorious tho't - My sin, not in part but the whole, is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more: Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord, O my soul!"

"The Repulsiveness Of Sin" (pt.2)

Sin is repulsive to God. We have difficulty grasping that. God thundered against the sin of man! He made spectacles of individuals and nations because of their sinfulness. God did not create man to live in sin and rebellion to Him. He created us in His image, to gain and share in His glory. Our problem is we do not see the seriousness of sin and the love of God dealing with it. We just shrug our shoulders and walk on in life, no big deal. But it is a big deal to God. Sin, all sin, is an open rebellion to God and His holiness. Sin has such reaching affects it reached all the way to heaven and laid its hand on God Himself! Think about that. Sin kicks God out of His rule and right over our lives and makes us set ourselves up as our own boss and authority. How do we act? However we feel at the moment. If we feel like we need to lie to get us out of a situation, we lie! No big deal! It doesn't matter what God wants. All that matters is what we want at the moment. Sin is that kind of master over us. God tries to pull us back and we won't allow that. We loudly justify we had a right to do this or that! We shake our fist in the face of God because of our sins and speak, "Why do you always get in our way?"

We sit smugly in our assemblies and studies. Those people who delivered Jesus up, we speak how ungodly they were. They saw the miracles of Jesus and we would not have done that. REALLY? They held to the Scriptures! They professed their belief in God. They hated, just plain hated. (Sound like some of us claiming to love the Lord?) They were envious. (Sound like some of us who claim Jesus as our Savior?) They plotted and gathered others around them who thought like them. (Sound like some of us who fellowship in the Supper each first day?) They lied. (Sound like some who deceive their mates or brethren?) They felt no shame in the end. (Sound like some who assembly week after week, holding to grudges and unforgiving spirits and still think they are in fellowship with the Lord?) They were ordinary sinners, just like us and we pass judgment on them in their settings, never looking at the realities of our own sins. WE WERE THERE WITH THEM!

Christ, the Lord and heart of God, came! There was no truce between the Lord Jesus Christ and sin. Whatever is not like Christ in attitude, word or deed is utterly sinful. Every act of wrong we do is a result of my sinfulness. We speak a profane word. Did that come from Jesus? No, that was our sinfulness speaking. When it is in my power to help the weak, reach out to the lost, encourage someone who is faint hearted and I don't really want to be bothered, especially go out of my way for another, sin says, "Pursue your own selfishness and forget Christ!" Our sin robs us from being like Him.

The dying of Jesus in our place speaks: "I love you!" The death of Jesus speaks: "I wish My love were returned!" The crucified Christ says: "I cannot endure or tolerate sin as it is the one thing that separates us!" SIN MUST BE DEALT WITH AND IT WAS! What are we going to do?

"The Repulsiveness of Sin" (pt.1)

From the very beginning of creation, God has tried to show us His utter abhorrence of sin. We live among sin, sin ourselves and one can grow a little numb to the fact of sin. Look carefully at Adam and Eve. When they sinned, tried to play the blame game, God "drove" them from the garden and from His presence. God was not going to live in peaceful existence with sin! He refused to live and abide where sin was present. Along with sin and their expulsion came disunity, shame, guilt, disharmony and death! Sin entered and out went the beauty of fellowship. Sin came in and so did ugliness, lies and the blame of loved ones. Sin waltzed in and so did lust and man's wisdom.

Cain comes along and what do we find? God's intolerance of sin. Cain has a mark set on him and lives his life as vagrant and wanderer on the earth. Cain cries out in the misery of sin, "My punishment is too great to bear!" (Gen. 4:13) Sin cost him dearly. In the days of Noah, man's love for sin became so great that God completely wiped everything out (even the innocent land), save those on the ark. God will not co-exist with sin. The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah (and surrounding areas) were completely expelled from the face of the earth to show God's utter abhorrence. Even in Israel, His chosen people, they were not allowed into His presence because of their sins. There were veils and only one man, one time a year, the high priest, was allowed to enter into God's presence but not without bringing blood. But not just any blood. The blood of an innocent animal! Why was it so difficult to come into the presence of God? Because man has a sin problem and sin barred men from fellowship with God!

Then the final act to show how completely intolerable God is of sin. He came from heaven in His Son. He died a horrible death to show that God was not accepting or will ever accept any fellowship where sin is present. Why is God so intolerant of sin? Why does He make such a big deal about sin? People lie, cheat and murder. They gossip, steal and are ungrateful. Why doesn't God in His love just over-look it all and embrace us anyway? Because we were created in His image that we might share in His glory!!! His glory will not be shared with sin! Where sin exists, God does not. Maybe we need to re-think our attitude toward sin instead of shrugging things off by saying, "Everyone sins! We are only human you know!" God....OPEN OUR EYES!

"Embracing Forgiveness"

It's one of the greatest words man could ever hear. The word means "to pardon, a cancellation of debt or obligation." It has been used in the release of the captive, as they are set free. It is called forgiveness. However you define it in whatever terms, the one pardoned, set free and the debt cancelled, they enjoy the benefits. One is either forgiven or they aren't. There is no "kind of" forgiveness or partial forgiveness. Partial forgiveness is like being somewhat pregnant or just ringing half a bell. Let me say it again: YOU'RE EITHER FORGIVEN 100% OR YOU'RE NOT FORGIVEN AT ALL!

Why do so many in Christ live in the torment of their sins? They seem to grope about, hoping somewhere they will hit the forgiveness they seek. They say it is available, but there is no assurance. How can people sing: "Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!" without knowing they are forgiven 100%? Are we faking? Lying?

God offers forgiveness through His Son. That's the covenant, the agreement. "Come to Jesus the crucified in your place and I'll pardon you" God speaks. When are we going to grab hold of His forgiving love? As long as one lives in their guilt, they are still guilty! As long as one is still guilty, they cannot be serving the Lord (Heb. 9:14). They are serving their guilt! They try to do things to relieve the pain, to make up for what they have done. That's loveless legalism, refusing the love of Christ. It creates a loveless life. A life that works it's way to God, always feeling the pressure to perform and never sure when enough is enough. That's why many fall away from the Lord. They get worn out from trying to perform!!! We just do not repent! We will not turn our hearts over to the Lord, submitting to His love for us because we will not receive His love. That day when the apostles thundered the news to the Jewish community they had crucified the Messiah from God, 3000 received the message and they found the forgiveness offered in Christ. How do we know? They were praising God, devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and fellowship and continued with one mind. These are the natural results of forgiveness.

When Israel refused God's word, He sent them back into the wilderness because they would not trust. Go ahead, speak about your sinfulness and shame. Face God with your horrible failures but whatever you do, trust Him! The indictments against you are true and yes, we are utter failures at times, but listen carefully at His calling and plea. Cling to His promises and rest assured He will do exactly as He says He will do. Trust His word! Trust His promises! Trust His assurances! Give your life to Jesus and hold to Him tightly, believing what He tells you. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (I John 1:9) Do you still doubt His forgiveness?

"Comfort"

It seems more and more are wanting proof (and some even demand proof) about God and His love for them. In most cases, the searching for God's love comes when difficulties hit us. We cry, hurt and question why doesn't God do something. It reveals more about us and less about God. God already proved something!

When children are suffering with a sickness, you never hear them demand from their parents to prove their love. In godly, loving marriages, the mates do not ask the other to prove their love. Good, close friends do not come asking the other to prove their commitment in the friendship. Anytime when one starts questioning or demanding from the other the proof of their love or commitment in a relationship, something has already been lost! If a husband has been such a 'clod' to make his wife question his love, there needs to be a sincere, honest move toward her to set her heart and mind at ease in his actions, not by his words. What are we learning? God has already demonstrated His love toward us! Just look at the cross! If that doesn't do it for you, then we need to go back and look at our faith because we simply do not believe or trust Him. When you suffer, God enters that suffering with you! Just look at Stephen in Acts 7. When he was being stoned because of his love and commitment to the Lord, the Lord didn't take away his suffering but gave him a power to rise above the suffering and he uttered the words, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them!" (Acts 7:60) Right there, in the midst of what seemed like gloom came a power into his life that led him to lean on Christ.

We stand at the graveside of a beloved brother, sister or godly mate. People grieve and feel the loss. But wait, what about God? Where is He is all the pain felt in the heart? Right in the middle sharing in the whole. God has intervened to take us to a higher level telling us that those who have "fallen asleep" are with Jesus! His word assures us to not grieve like those without hope. It all comes down to one thing: 'IF WE BELIEVE'! (I Thes. 4:13-18) You want proof? Look at the resurrected Lord. God says to those faithful believers that He will bring them back with Him. They aren't dead. Jesus defeated death and God proved it by raising Him from the dead. We aren't in this world by ourselves. We are in this world of suffering with a God who suffers with us, only to provide us the strength to endure, the power to rise above and the assurance that God is in control. And how does all this end? "Therefore comfort one another with these word."