"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
More and more it seems that society equivocates on religion or rejects it altogether. Of course there are many reasons for this but among them is the perception that a relationship with God is too restrictive and too burdensome. There are so many bright, shiny, comfortable and sensually pleasurable things out there that seem to be prohibited by the Christian faith. As a result, many people choose to fulfill their momentary desires rather than secure their eternity.
A closer look reveals that the pursuit of pleasure and the rejection of the structure and discipline of righteous living comes with their own cages and are often difficult and costly to maintain. When our interpersonal relationships are our number one priority, there is no one who does not know the effort this can take and the heartbreak that it can involve. It is only Jesus who has truthfully said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you," Hebrews 13:5. When we make working our priority for the sole purpose of gaining more and more and then conspicuously consuming it, we find that it is never enough and become trapped in a cycle of trying to protect what we've accumulated while attempting to gain even more. Jesus asked the question, "For what will it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose or forfeits himself [his soul]," Luke 9:25. Lastly, what of the things that look, feel and taste good to us? Does not the pursuit and enjoyment of some of these things cost us dearly in health, relationships, finances, time and inner peace? It is written, "What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members?" James 4:1.
Beloved, a relationship with the Lord and membership in his body is not the trap that some would make it out to be. It is submitted to you that living outside of a relationship with God is the true trap. We should know that from the Garden of Eden. All of the things outside of Him that are dangled in front of us are merely bait designed by the adversary to trap us and keep us imprisoned. Jesus offers freedom: freedom from worry, stress, strife, the eternal consequences of our sin and everlasting destruction. Are there observances that we must maintain, obey and respect? Absolutely, just as there are with everything from traffic laws, to work policies and procedures to family rules. None, however, are more beneficial than Jesus' offer of rest from the burdens and weariness generated by the detrimental choices we make. Available to us is an easier yoke with a lighter burden. Let all who have ears hear and let all that hear understand.
In pursuit of a transformed life,
Lee
Thursday, November 21, 2019
Friday, November 15, 2019
God Does Not Supply Faith
"And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him." Hebrews 11:6
During a recent Bible study, I made the statement, "God does not supply faith." This was a shock to some, confusing to others and confirming to others still. The context was that we were contemplating faith in Mark 9:14-29, particularly verse 24, in which a distraught father desiring healing for his son cried out to Jesus saying, "I do believe; help my unbelief." To most present, it was felt that the man was asking Jesus for an additional measure of faith as if it was something that could be inserted, integrated and made to be a thought and behavior influencing part of a person as if it were some type of software upload. It does not work like that.
God gave all humans free will. This means we have the ability to choose God or not. We can believe in Him or not. We can have faith or not. To have faith, we must make a deliberate decision to believe and put confidence in all things, God. Romans 10:10, 17 states, "for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation... So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ." What this reveals is that the Lord provides the information. Having been exposed to it via sermons, classes, study or any other presentation of the word, we then can choose to have faith based upon the information supplied.
Beloved, we so often pray that things would be given to us. While there is nothing wrong with this, it is important to understand how things typically work. God does His part but requires a part from us. We pray for strength. God does not supernaturally impute our bodies and psyches with enhanced ability, but he does put us in circumstances through which that strength can be developed and grow. It works the same way with faith. If after having a favorable response to information from and about God, faith is developed and grown by learning more about Him, spending more time with Him, trusting self less, and trusting Him more (Prov 3:5-7). Through these and other ways of living righteously, He will manifest himself to us more and more. We will ever more clearly see Him moving in our lives and this is what builds faith over time.
We all have gaps, lapses and failures in our faith. Even the disciples felt the sting of the words, "oh ye of little faith" from time to time. When these very human moments occur, let us not hope for some magical increase in our ability to stay on the narrow path. Let us instead avail ourselves of more information from and about our Lord and resolve to trust in Him with a renewed enthusiasm. Faith is a choice.
In pursuit of a transformed life,
Lee
During a recent Bible study, I made the statement, "God does not supply faith." This was a shock to some, confusing to others and confirming to others still. The context was that we were contemplating faith in Mark 9:14-29, particularly verse 24, in which a distraught father desiring healing for his son cried out to Jesus saying, "I do believe; help my unbelief." To most present, it was felt that the man was asking Jesus for an additional measure of faith as if it was something that could be inserted, integrated and made to be a thought and behavior influencing part of a person as if it were some type of software upload. It does not work like that.
God gave all humans free will. This means we have the ability to choose God or not. We can believe in Him or not. We can have faith or not. To have faith, we must make a deliberate decision to believe and put confidence in all things, God. Romans 10:10, 17 states, "for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation... So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ." What this reveals is that the Lord provides the information. Having been exposed to it via sermons, classes, study or any other presentation of the word, we then can choose to have faith based upon the information supplied.
Beloved, we so often pray that things would be given to us. While there is nothing wrong with this, it is important to understand how things typically work. God does His part but requires a part from us. We pray for strength. God does not supernaturally impute our bodies and psyches with enhanced ability, but he does put us in circumstances through which that strength can be developed and grow. It works the same way with faith. If after having a favorable response to information from and about God, faith is developed and grown by learning more about Him, spending more time with Him, trusting self less, and trusting Him more (Prov 3:5-7). Through these and other ways of living righteously, He will manifest himself to us more and more. We will ever more clearly see Him moving in our lives and this is what builds faith over time.
We all have gaps, lapses and failures in our faith. Even the disciples felt the sting of the words, "oh ye of little faith" from time to time. When these very human moments occur, let us not hope for some magical increase in our ability to stay on the narrow path. Let us instead avail ourselves of more information from and about our Lord and resolve to trust in Him with a renewed enthusiasm. Faith is a choice.
In pursuit of a transformed life,
Lee
Friday, November 1, 2019
From Whom Will You Hear It?
"And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, that you send him to my father’s house --for I have five brothers—in order that he may warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ But he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!’ But he said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’” Luke 16:27-31
A man known only as being rich, dressing well and eating sumptuously, found himself in the unenviable position of being in a place of torment after his death. During his life, it is evident that he did quite well for himself; however, there was a man named Lazarus whose place of torment was at the rich man's gate. Despite seeing him there begging and covered with sores, the rich man could not be bothered with displaying the slightest grace or mercy toward him. In the end, their places were reversed. Lazarus, in death, enjoyed peace and comfort.
The point being made here is not so much about the current situation of either man, but the pleas of the tormented to get the truth and reality of life after death to his relatives. In short, he begged that a warning, even one from beyond the grave, be sent to them that they might avoid his fate by seeking the righteousness that he failed to embrace. Unfortunately, the request was refused. Why?
Beloved, there are scant few of us who have not been exposed to the truth. What is determinative regarding our afterlife is what we do with the information. Jesus' "Parable of the Sower" is an excellent example of what can happen when we receive the word of truth and why. It is demonstrated in the parable that the spreading of the seed (the word of truth) is both ample and wide ranging, allowing everyone access. The impartation of the information originated with God communicating directly with man, then through His son and now through the written, preached and taught word of the Bible. It is available to everyone everywhere. We have every opportunity to embrace it while we yet live. Abraham refused the rich man's request because if there was/is no willingness to receive and repent based on all the ways righteousness is offered now, offering it yet another way will also fail to convince.
There is no better evangelist than the living Lord (Heb 1:2). Let us strive to hear him and encourage others to do so through us.
Pursuing a transformed life,
Lee
A man known only as being rich, dressing well and eating sumptuously, found himself in the unenviable position of being in a place of torment after his death. During his life, it is evident that he did quite well for himself; however, there was a man named Lazarus whose place of torment was at the rich man's gate. Despite seeing him there begging and covered with sores, the rich man could not be bothered with displaying the slightest grace or mercy toward him. In the end, their places were reversed. Lazarus, in death, enjoyed peace and comfort.
The point being made here is not so much about the current situation of either man, but the pleas of the tormented to get the truth and reality of life after death to his relatives. In short, he begged that a warning, even one from beyond the grave, be sent to them that they might avoid his fate by seeking the righteousness that he failed to embrace. Unfortunately, the request was refused. Why?
Beloved, there are scant few of us who have not been exposed to the truth. What is determinative regarding our afterlife is what we do with the information. Jesus' "Parable of the Sower" is an excellent example of what can happen when we receive the word of truth and why. It is demonstrated in the parable that the spreading of the seed (the word of truth) is both ample and wide ranging, allowing everyone access. The impartation of the information originated with God communicating directly with man, then through His son and now through the written, preached and taught word of the Bible. It is available to everyone everywhere. We have every opportunity to embrace it while we yet live. Abraham refused the rich man's request because if there was/is no willingness to receive and repent based on all the ways righteousness is offered now, offering it yet another way will also fail to convince.
There is no better evangelist than the living Lord (Heb 1:2). Let us strive to hear him and encourage others to do so through us.
Pursuing a transformed life,
Lee
Friday, October 25, 2019
Follow Me
"The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you." Philippians 4:9
In today's social media driven world, one of the things by which people are known and sometimes evaluated is by how many followers they have. Whether it is the number of friends on Facebook or followers on Twitter, it says something about your fame and popularity (or lack thereof). For this reason, we are constantly invited to "friend," "like," or "follow" individuals, companies and institutions. The question, however, is why?
When you follow your favorite athlete, singer or actor, what is the benefit? You may be among the first to know about their next event. You may be a part of the "in crowd" that learns what happens to them before the news media blasts it all over the world. Mostly what you will get are their opinions (qualified or not) about other people and their circumstances. It is virtually an every day occurrence that someone is forced to apologize for something they said about someone else our of anger, retribution, jealousy or influence of substances via social media because so many are following them.
Beloved, the apostle Paul made an audacious yet qualified "follow" request 2000 years before it was the mainstream thing to do. He was able to do this for three very important reasons. First, he was personally commissioned by the Lord to do it (Acts 9:15). Second, the example he offered was one designed to benefit the follower (Galatians 2:20). And finally, the destination of the follow-ship he requested was not himself, but Jesus (1 Corinthians 11:1).
Let us be mindful of who we follow, why we follow them and most importantly, where we are allowing ourselves to be led. Jesus once famously said, "If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit" Matthew 15:14b.
Pursuing a transformed life,
Lee
In today's social media driven world, one of the things by which people are known and sometimes evaluated is by how many followers they have. Whether it is the number of friends on Facebook or followers on Twitter, it says something about your fame and popularity (or lack thereof). For this reason, we are constantly invited to "friend," "like," or "follow" individuals, companies and institutions. The question, however, is why?
When you follow your favorite athlete, singer or actor, what is the benefit? You may be among the first to know about their next event. You may be a part of the "in crowd" that learns what happens to them before the news media blasts it all over the world. Mostly what you will get are their opinions (qualified or not) about other people and their circumstances. It is virtually an every day occurrence that someone is forced to apologize for something they said about someone else our of anger, retribution, jealousy or influence of substances via social media because so many are following them.
Beloved, the apostle Paul made an audacious yet qualified "follow" request 2000 years before it was the mainstream thing to do. He was able to do this for three very important reasons. First, he was personally commissioned by the Lord to do it (Acts 9:15). Second, the example he offered was one designed to benefit the follower (Galatians 2:20). And finally, the destination of the follow-ship he requested was not himself, but Jesus (1 Corinthians 11:1).
Let us be mindful of who we follow, why we follow them and most importantly, where we are allowing ourselves to be led. Jesus once famously said, "If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit" Matthew 15:14b.
Pursuing a transformed life,
Lee
Friday, October 18, 2019
Keep Your Feet (Don't Stumble)
"But Peter said to Him, 'Even though all may fall away because of You, I will never fall away.' Jesus said to him, 'Truly I say to you that this very night, before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.'” Matthew 26:33-34
Imagine what it must have been like for Jesus to be experiencing his last night before being hung on a cruel cross and dying. Spending time with his inner circle, he had just partaken of what we know as the Last Supper and informed them that one of them would betray him. Subsequent to this, however, he told them that they would all fall away (or stumble). He quoted Zachariah 13:7 which states, "Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered." We all know that it was Judas that betrayed the Lord but what of those who stumbled? What does it even mean to stumble? And why was Peter pointed out in particular?
The simple truth is that most of us avoid trouble at all costs. Jesus was considered to be and treated as a criminal and the apostles were his closest associates. On that same night, while in the company of some of them, he was arrested, beaten and taken to trial. That is most certainly trouble. As it was predicted, the apostles, with the exception of John, all scattered. Peter in particular followed Jesus to the trials at some distance but did in fact deny him three times when people recognized that he had been one who walked with Jesus. It is also known that the apostles did not busy themselves carrying out the training and mission they had received but instead hid, returning to their prior vocation as fishermen. This is stumbling.
Beloved, we must ask ourselves if we ever stumble in our faith and purpose. Though Jesus is no longer physically being dragged through the streets and falsely accused, his cause is still under indictment by some. When atheists attempt to legislate the Lord out of our lives, do we make our voices heard? When we are attacked for our stance on God ordained relationships do we hide and cower? When Satan tempts us personally do we give in or tell him to go away? The potential to stumble most surely continues to exist among the followers of the Lord. Even the most ardent, such as Peter, can find themselves out of position. We therefore must guard against the impulse to flee the one who left heaven to seek and save us. Let us not stumble but let us keep our feet.
Pursuing a transformed life,
Lee
Imagine what it must have been like for Jesus to be experiencing his last night before being hung on a cruel cross and dying. Spending time with his inner circle, he had just partaken of what we know as the Last Supper and informed them that one of them would betray him. Subsequent to this, however, he told them that they would all fall away (or stumble). He quoted Zachariah 13:7 which states, "Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered." We all know that it was Judas that betrayed the Lord but what of those who stumbled? What does it even mean to stumble? And why was Peter pointed out in particular?
The simple truth is that most of us avoid trouble at all costs. Jesus was considered to be and treated as a criminal and the apostles were his closest associates. On that same night, while in the company of some of them, he was arrested, beaten and taken to trial. That is most certainly trouble. As it was predicted, the apostles, with the exception of John, all scattered. Peter in particular followed Jesus to the trials at some distance but did in fact deny him three times when people recognized that he had been one who walked with Jesus. It is also known that the apostles did not busy themselves carrying out the training and mission they had received but instead hid, returning to their prior vocation as fishermen. This is stumbling.
Beloved, we must ask ourselves if we ever stumble in our faith and purpose. Though Jesus is no longer physically being dragged through the streets and falsely accused, his cause is still under indictment by some. When atheists attempt to legislate the Lord out of our lives, do we make our voices heard? When we are attacked for our stance on God ordained relationships do we hide and cower? When Satan tempts us personally do we give in or tell him to go away? The potential to stumble most surely continues to exist among the followers of the Lord. Even the most ardent, such as Peter, can find themselves out of position. We therefore must guard against the impulse to flee the one who left heaven to seek and save us. Let us not stumble but let us keep our feet.
Pursuing a transformed life,
Lee
Thursday, October 10, 2019
When You Are Down Look Up
"For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime; Weeping may last for the night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning." Psa 30:5
David was a man of vast experience with God. He is well known as one who was "after God's own heart." Also well known are both his triumphs and his utter failures, yet he maintained his vast love for the Father and never ceased trying to please Him and live according to His will.
There were times that David endured the depths of despair. There were times when he was literally punished by God, but the love between them never ceased. David realized that among the most temporary things in life were God's anger with him and the commensurate suffering he endured. Vastly more prevalent was the grace and mercy given and the resultant joy experienced.
Beloved, we all have times in life when we are down. Sometimes it is because we have brought it upon ourselves. Other times it is due to happenstance. Regardless of the causality, we must remember that we are God's own and that He will never leave us or forsake us. If we be chastised know this: "All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness" Heb 12:11. If it be happenstance or even persecution know this: "Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life."
Each life is filled with things that are good and things that are not so good. It is part of the human existence. The Christian, however, has hope in the One who made all. When you are down, look up.
Pursuing a transformed life,
Lee
David was a man of vast experience with God. He is well known as one who was "after God's own heart." Also well known are both his triumphs and his utter failures, yet he maintained his vast love for the Father and never ceased trying to please Him and live according to His will.
There were times that David endured the depths of despair. There were times when he was literally punished by God, but the love between them never ceased. David realized that among the most temporary things in life were God's anger with him and the commensurate suffering he endured. Vastly more prevalent was the grace and mercy given and the resultant joy experienced.
Beloved, we all have times in life when we are down. Sometimes it is because we have brought it upon ourselves. Other times it is due to happenstance. Regardless of the causality, we must remember that we are God's own and that He will never leave us or forsake us. If we be chastised know this: "All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness" Heb 12:11. If it be happenstance or even persecution know this: "Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life."
Each life is filled with things that are good and things that are not so good. It is part of the human existence. The Christian, however, has hope in the One who made all. When you are down, look up.
Pursuing a transformed life,
Lee
Friday, October 4, 2019
Trials, Trust and Love
"Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, 'Abraham, Abraham!' And he said, 'Here I am.' He said, 'Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.'” Genesis 22:10-12
It is well known that God promised Abraham a legitimate son through whom nations would be built long before He delivered on that promise. It is also well known that Abraham was 100 years old when the child was born thereby proving the hand of God in his life. One can only imagine the overwhelming love Abraham must have had for his son Isaac. Contemporary parents are head over heels after nine months. Abraham must have been out of his mind with adoration for his child. Can it be at all imagined what it must have been like to hear God tell him, "Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you,” Genesis 22:2?
Beloved, as was the case with Abraham and many others we read about within the pages of inspiration, God tests us. Through these tests, it is not He who learns things about us (He knows all) but we learn things about ourselves. More specifically, it is through our trials that we can see where are love truly is. When the night is darkest and our health is failing, a loved one is hurting, our finances are flagging, our relationships in trouble and our hope threatened, to whom do we turn? Do we seek the face of God for our relief or do we become angry with Him for allowing the situation to occur and seek other means of relief and resolution? Could any of us have done what Abraham did in Abraham's circumstance?
As much as he loved his son, Abraham loved God more. If you are anything like me, the words "how," "what" and "why" come to your confused mind when you consider how Abraham could have done such a thing even if he had 26 children. The word of God contains the answer in Hebrews 11:19: "He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type." Abraham loved, trusted and believed God so much that it did not enter his mind that he would not walk back down that mountain without his beloved son (Genesis 22:5). Through our trials, whatever they may be, let us prove to ourselves that God is first in our lives.
As an epilogue, consider the fact that Moriah is likely the place on which Jerusalem was built. That being the case, the same mountain on which Abraham offered his son was the same place God gave His. Like Isaac, Jesus even had to carry the wood. When the scripture mentions that Abraham received Isaac back "as a type," it means that it was a foreshadowing of us all receiving Christ back from the dead through the power of God that we all might live, and that the promises to Abraham (Genesis 12:2-3) would find their delivery. What an amazing display of love.
Pursuing a transformed life,
Lee
It is well known that God promised Abraham a legitimate son through whom nations would be built long before He delivered on that promise. It is also well known that Abraham was 100 years old when the child was born thereby proving the hand of God in his life. One can only imagine the overwhelming love Abraham must have had for his son Isaac. Contemporary parents are head over heels after nine months. Abraham must have been out of his mind with adoration for his child. Can it be at all imagined what it must have been like to hear God tell him, "Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you,” Genesis 22:2?
Beloved, as was the case with Abraham and many others we read about within the pages of inspiration, God tests us. Through these tests, it is not He who learns things about us (He knows all) but we learn things about ourselves. More specifically, it is through our trials that we can see where are love truly is. When the night is darkest and our health is failing, a loved one is hurting, our finances are flagging, our relationships in trouble and our hope threatened, to whom do we turn? Do we seek the face of God for our relief or do we become angry with Him for allowing the situation to occur and seek other means of relief and resolution? Could any of us have done what Abraham did in Abraham's circumstance?
As much as he loved his son, Abraham loved God more. If you are anything like me, the words "how," "what" and "why" come to your confused mind when you consider how Abraham could have done such a thing even if he had 26 children. The word of God contains the answer in Hebrews 11:19: "He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type." Abraham loved, trusted and believed God so much that it did not enter his mind that he would not walk back down that mountain without his beloved son (Genesis 22:5). Through our trials, whatever they may be, let us prove to ourselves that God is first in our lives.
As an epilogue, consider the fact that Moriah is likely the place on which Jerusalem was built. That being the case, the same mountain on which Abraham offered his son was the same place God gave His. Like Isaac, Jesus even had to carry the wood. When the scripture mentions that Abraham received Isaac back "as a type," it means that it was a foreshadowing of us all receiving Christ back from the dead through the power of God that we all might live, and that the promises to Abraham (Genesis 12:2-3) would find their delivery. What an amazing display of love.
Pursuing a transformed life,
Lee
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