"A God-Honored Marriage"

  I wished things in marriages were easy. In some ways they are but in others, no. Marriage isn't all sweetness, candlelight dinners and the little sweet-nothings whispered back and forth. At the same time it isn't all tough, leveling things at one another while holding to our side of things refusing to back down in the presence of another. Marriage is work but the work is much smoother if we would center our lives around the Lordship of Christ Jesus. That's easier said than done in the cases of some. We have seen our spiritual leaders display some of the worst examples in marriage and yet they seem to talk endlessly about a Christ-centered marriage. That's complete hypocrisy! 

  Marriage is about a man and a woman loving one another that they don't want to love anyone else in the same way! In that alone is the commitment, the covenant and a willingness to walk before the Lord in this mind-set and devotion. It's that dedication that no matter what comes, you will do anything for the other except leave them. As we hear from the Lord, "I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you." we too need that same heart of devotion toward the Lord which will translate into our marriages. It's that kind of deep commitment we should have in our faith! With that kind of commitment in the covenant of marriage, adultery should never enter the equation. It doesn't in God's mind. God will never leave us to join Himself to another while forgetting His covenant He made with us through Jesus Christ to Himself. We might 'adulterate' by joining up with some false concept or notion that would violate God but He will never do that to us! 

  While there are disagreements with one another those disagreements aren't the grounds to break the covenant. The intellect can say, "I won't commit adultery as that would be wrong." but if the heart is engaged in faith in the Lord their actions will speak, "Adultery is dishonorable and treacherous." You see, adultery is not simply a sexual sin but it is a base betrayal, the betrayal of the Lord Himself and His covenant. Those disagreements should find us loving more to learn to give to the other while thinking less of yourself. That is growing in faith and love.

  Many years ago while speaking with a couple about their marriage, one spouse said plainly and seriously in the presence of the other, "I will never do anything to dishonor my mate and knowingly want to embarrass them!" You should of seen the other smile! What a commitment. What a love that they would not allow any other into this love meant only for one another. Trustworthiness comes to the front. Nurture the relationship. Keep Jesus at the center knowing He will never betray you. Only then can you work together through any situation you might encounter and the good-times will be greater. 

"Living Holy"

  We are called to holiness. "But like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves in all your behavior." (I Pet. 1:15) Behavior that is holy. Many have little insight as to what that means and their lives show it! When we speak of holy many equate that with perfection or sinlessness. That's not holiness. 

  Holiness is linked to our rescue which God did for us through Jesus. Jesus paid out debts and out of His cleansing comes people who are pure and blameless in the sight of God. Jesus sanctified us so that we stand before God holy. We have come from common sinners to children of God. It's not something we accomplished but done for us through the offering of the body of Jesus. Pure, clean and undefiled. What is our response to be? Live holy lives. God calls wives to accept the husband's headship. That's holy living. Husband's are called to be self-giving to their wives as Jesus does the church. That's holy living. When your brother sins, forgive him from your heart. That's holy living. As Christ has received each of us we are to accept one another (Rom. 15:7). That's holy living. We are called to submit to governing authorities no matter who they are (Rom. 13). That's holy living. To avoid sinful situations we select lifestyles that promote the Lord Jesus Christ is holy living. We get all this from being cleansed by the blood of Jesus!

  We are called to pattern our lives after our Lord and Savior. Because we have been redeemed that is the very basis of holy living. Listen carefully to the verse that proceeds the above verse calling us to holy behavior: "As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance." (I Pet. 1:14) We were called by God to Himself and that means leaving our former life behind and transform into His life. "Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord." (Heb. 12:14) "The sanctification" is the state the Lord has called us into by His blood and we are to pursue that holiness in our lives. Holiness is not earning you anything before God but is a life because we are holy by Christ before Him! You are holy! Live holy! Christ made us holy! Live holy! Live in ways that honors His life and His ways. Yes, we fall short at times but realizing we are holy before God because of Christ gives us every reason to live as He is. Put away your former life knowing God raised you with Jesus. Pursue holiness as He is holy! 

"OUR god or GOD?"

  People can deceive us but the worst deception of all is 'self-deception.' With all our 'God-talk' and business in so called church matters, our outreaches and programs, we can deceive ourselves into believing all this brings us into the fellowship of God, after all, we are doing His will! Take away our programs and all the busy things we do in the spiritual arena and where would that leave us? Some would believe we are dead spiritually.

  Israel had their golden-calf to raise up as their spiritual work of their hands. Their 'god' was one they created by their efforts and it made them feel good to worship and they could see their 'god'. The God of heaven who delivered them was hidden from them by sight. Man wants things seen!! When they asked for the Almighty's name He said: "I AM WHO I AM." The eternal God will not be controlled or manipulated by any efforts of man. What is all this to us?

  We are much better off today. Religion flows all around, preaching and teaching, religious programs and Christian music. We claim to know our God!!! But is this really true? Maybe we too have created a 'god' in the image of man?

  How many movements among those calling God their Father have arisen? Too many have their political 'golden calf.' Or maybe education can bring us out of the dark and atone for our sins? Maybe our 'god' is one we can explain in terms of sociology and behavioral patterns? These are predictable and under our control! Maybe it is a 'god' that we have made dependent on us so we can worship us at the center and use all this great talent as the draw while making us feel so good, so special. The questions have changed from, "Is it truth?" to "Does it make us feel something?" Listen, I'm trying to get us to think about the frenzy many have created in the name of the Lord calling things spiritual! If all these things are so adequate for us in our thinking and worship how come so many have difficulty coping? Here's a struggle one goes through and the answer: "Read this book!"  or "Take this medication!"

  It seems at times there is little reaching to the God of heaven and earth. Little reading and learning the insight from the God who is Spirit. And yet God is the one who controls it all by stating through Jesus: "At that time Jesus said, 'I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these thing from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him." (Matt. 11:25-27) May the Lord open our eyes and hearts!

  

"What's Your Message?"

  If you were asked, "What is your message to the world?" how would you respond? Let's start in your home. What is the message you send in your home? How terrible things are out in this world? Put emphasis on school or sports above others? What do you speak about or maybe silence is the issue and the tv is all important?

  What message do you send to your co-workers? How lousy your job is, the boss is, your work load and on goes the complaint list? Maybe it's how you like or don't like the political arena? That seems to be a message both on the job and public media at this point. But is that the message you have for those you are around on a daily issue? 

  Let me ask you again, but this time take serious thought about your life. What is your message to those around you on a daily basis? You're sending some type of message.

  Jesus sent a message of hope. Our families need to hear the message of hope and life and it isn't coming from the television or video games. We need to place hope right in front of the eyes of our family knowing that the hope we have in Jesus is the very anchor of our souls. That hope is sure and steadfast (Heb. 6:19). We need the message of hope when the political word is filled with hate and verbal abuse. Those without hope are stuck with only their own personal ingenuity and manipulative efforts which will ultimately fail.  Knowing our hope is in Jesus as He is LORD in heaven and on earth. It's all under His control and those out of control need to be brought under the hope found in Jesus.

  If you are in Christ, don't live your life as someone without God. You are in Christ which means you possess His life and our lives are reaching beyond this temporary. If you are in Christ, exercise your faith not your rights! Your rights were given up to Him because of hope. Live in life. Make your message about hope! Jesus is near.

"Seeking the Truth"

  God wants one thing from His creation of mankind: seek the truth! It's always been that way from the beginning. Adam and Eve were given freedom of everything except one tree. Keep walking in and seeking the truth and all would be fine but we know it didn't happen that way. One act, one little twist of deceit and their world, our world changed and it has been corrupting itself ever since!

  God allowed the Egyptians to put His people under bondage but in that bondage the call rang out to seek the truth. Plagues hit the Egyptian's hard but the truth wasn't part of their thinking. The Egyptians worshiped and adored their gods. The god of the river Nile, the god of the earth to bring crops, the god of the moon and sun and the list goes on. In all this, as God hit them with plagues from what they thought was their gods they were exposed and their hearts weren't tender and accepting. Still seeking their own way in their own thinking, it had to come down to the death of their first born. The truth God sent among His captive people was "when I see the blood." Listening and seeking the very presence and teaching of God was the difference between life and death. Once they were set free the heart of His people were revealed as they wanted to go back under this Egyptian bondage rather than walk with God and seek His teachings. What God wanted so much for them ended up being a great loss because they simply believed as they wanted to believe.

  We come to today. There are teachings flying everywhere from all discourses of life. Teachings of philosophies, psychology, power of positive thinking, worship like this, accepting of anything believing in little and on and on it goes. The seven "Ones" presented in Eph. 4:4-6 seem to be tossed aside. Leave out ANY of these ones and you will not be walking in a worthy manner or sustaining the truth. Paul warned the church of Thessalonians about deception and the power of the activity of Satan coming to the perishing "because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved." (II Thes. 2:10) The love of the truth must be sought and received. It's not a free for all to anyone who says they believe in the Lord. But the seeking and loving of the truth has this warning tied to it: "For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness." (II Thes. 2:11-12)

  When we speak of "the truth"and the promises tied to truth tells us there is a standard of truth that was taught it must be held to and received or the delusion will begin. God's not so unjust to teach us this without giving us insight to what is true and right. And those who fall under the delusion of falsehood would never accept what they believe is wicked which exposes the depth of delusion. In all, we must be an humble people, bowing under the teachings of God and listening what He deems as the truth and what needs to be rejected. May we have hearts humble and seeking while our eyes are looking for the truth of God's word. Seek the truth no matter what!

"The Clutches of Guilt"

  Many, including myself, have been held in the clutch of guilt. People go through many things in life and the result of their choices has led them into guilt. People become despondent so they turn to alcohol only to ruin themselves and those they love. Others get involved in immoral behavior, seduced by another or the internet and it destroys much of them only to feel the guilt and shame. That  is why they hide! Some fail as a parent and it grieves them to watch what their children have become and the agony of guilt sets a hold on the heart. Still others get caught in the drug world which leads to all types of wrong behavior of lying, stealing or angry outbursts and the guilt buries them. This guilt that haunts so many is what produces the anxieties in the life of an individual. Unresolved regret makes emotional wrecks out of people. 

  You don't have to look to hard to see that from the beginning of man creation (Gen. 3). From talking and enjoying the presence of God to hiding, accusing and wanting nothing to do with Him was caused by the guilt of a sinful choice. Fears came into their life. Shame pounded on them. The awareness of their naked condition was discovered simply by sin. And reading carefully the account from Gen. 3 we find the sequence: (1) A choice to sin (2) Guilt (3) Anxiety (4) Fear (5) Shame (6) Hiding and (7) Blame. When our guilt isn't dealt with, our lives become such a struggle. Guilt completely robs people of life! I heard a preacher once proclaim, "You need to fake it until you make it!" That's right, let it keep pounding you and fake because in reality, faking is the hiding of our guilt which results in our anxieties and weariness.

  As guilt destroys us, the grace of God restores us! Jesus confronted man in their guilt and hate only for one purpose: to redeem us from the clutches of the sin that created our guilt. Jesus fought the battle and God made a covenant: "Your sin and lawless deeds I will remember no more!" (Heb. 8:12) How could He do that? Because Jesus Christ paid my debt! Grace given but do we receive it? Jesus paid my price and paid for all those horrible choices I made. Our choice is Him! If you are living in guilt you need to understand why you have so many anxieties and burdens in your life. People blame others, circumstances rather than admit their guilt in the presence of a Father who gave up His Son in your place. Jesus paid that price! I can't undo what I have done but I can have it blotted off the pages of God by the blood of Christ. Never any more remembrance! What graciousness. But there was a price paid by the Lord. It wasn't cheap as it cost the Lord everything. Remember that next time you pray, worship or read. Your right to speak to God is because of Christ. When are you going to come to the Lord confessing, being buried with Him in baptism to raise to newness of life (Rom. 6:3-7)? You already have done that? Why won't you repent and lay yourself, your messed up self at the foot of the cross and commit you life to Him turning away from all those practices that take you down? Cleansing will be there and a newness will come about but that takes a sincere and honest faith! The Lord is waiting.

  

"Is Your Back Against the Wall?"

  Are you going through some difficulties? Rejoice! Have you found your back against the wall? Rejoice! That's hard for us to do much less accept. Yet that is precisely what the Lord calls us to do. It just doesn't make sense to rejoice when things are difficult and might even look hopeless.

  When things are going well for us and it seems all the pieces fall in place, our dependency upon the Lord diminishes as we subtly take on a self-maintained attitude. The desire for the Lord, listening to Him through His word and our prayer life might somewhat dwindle. Our wanting to worship and express our thanks doesn't seem to be what it was. Some people view their relationship with the Lord based on how well things are going for them! What a shame. It's when our backs are against the wall that we get to view who is really running the show...GOD!

  When we are in deep need looking for direction and answers, somewhere we must put all our faith in the God who called us to Himself through Jesus. God knows what we need. We might even say that but do we believe it? Right then and there faith either reaches to God on God's terms or we just sit and fret hoping for the best while never making any gain during the difficulty. It is the difficulties that give us the opportunity to gain real strength! It's the difficulties that bring us back to our senses that we dare not try to maneuver through this life without His guiding hand and insight that He is using this difficulty to get us to trust and obey. When our backs are against the wall that's when true gain spiritually is available. You don't have to look far in Scripture to see this over and over. 

  If you're presently experiencing difficulties and it has you down ask yourself, "Why?" Where are you looking? Why are we called to "consider it all joy when you encounter various trials?" (Jam. 1:2) Because at our bleakest time our faith is being brought to strength if we take the right attitude. God is trying to work. When things are well it's easy to take the right attitude. When our backs are against the wall we are given opportunities to walk by faith and grow in our weaknesses. Jesus told His disciples that "every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit."  (John 15:2) How's the pruning going in your life? It depends on your attitude when your back is against the wall!!