Dressed Appropriately

Posted on January 18, 2017 by jesustrek

school-jacketLast week I attended a middle school basketball game. I didn’t realize until I got to the game that the shirt I was wearing was maroon, the color of the opposing team. I took some good-natured ribbing from our fans for not being dressed appropriately.

Of course, that wasn’t a big deal, but in the Bible you could get into trouble for not wearing the right clothes.

Jesus tells a story in Matthew 22 about a man who showed up at a wedding without wearing wedding clothes. The man was thrown out “Into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (v.13).

This sounds like a harsh punishment for being dressed inappropriately, but apparently the proper clothing had been made available; the offender simply chose not to put the clothing on.

The Bible says that when we become Christians we take off the filthy rags of sin and become clothed in Christ. He gives us the proper spiritual apparel to wear; we simply have to put it on.

“So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”—Galatians 3:26-27.

 

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Can You Hear Me Now?

Posted on January 17, 2017 by jesustrek

Old man sitting in rocking chair

An older gentleman who could not hear very well finally went to a doctor to see if anything could be done to help his hearing improve.

After examining him, the doctor informed the man that there was a hearing aid available that should work well for him, but it was very expensive. The man replied that he was quite wealthy and that the expense would not be an issue.

So the doctor fitted him with a top-of-the-line hearing aid that was so small people couldn’t even tell that he was wearing it.

A month later, the man returned for a follow-up examination. The doctor asked him if the hearing aid worked. He answered, “It is fantastic! I can hear as well as I ever could.”

“I suppose your family is thrilled that you can hear again,” the doctor said.

“Oh, I haven’t told them,” the man answered. “I just sit around listening to their conversations. I’ve changed my will three times in the last month.”

The way some people talk, they must think that God is like a wealthy, but deaf, grandfather who is going to shower them with blessings no matter how they talk.

They might end up with a surprise someday.

“Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely.”—Psalm 139:4.

 

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The Worth of a Picture

Posted on January 16, 2017 by jesustrek

baptism_imageOver the years I have seen numerous photos and videos of baptisms posted on line. Some are humorous, while others are quite serious. Some depict the sheer joy of the person who has just been baptized.

It just occurred to me that while I have seen many postings of baptisms, I have yet to see a video of someone praying the “Sinner’s Prayer”, or asking Jesus into their heart or raising their hand to accept Jesus “while every eye is closed and every head is bowed”.

Many people think that salvation occurs during one of those man-made traditions. But the fact that it is the act of baptism that is photographed and distributed for all to see makes me think that, deep down, most people realize the importance of baptism in our response to the salvation that God offers freely through Jesus.

Jesus links the act of baptism to a saving faith (Mark 16:16). Peter, who was given the keys to the kingdom, preached baptism for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). Paul’s account of his conversion reveals that he called on the name of the Lord by being baptized, and it was at this point in time that his sins were washed away (Acts 22:16). Luke, the historian of the church, consistently records in the book of Acts that those who wanted to be saved were baptized immediately. Romans 6:3-4 plainly says that we are “baptized into Christ Jesus”.

The next time you see a picture of someone being baptized, remember the old saying—“A picture is worth a thousand words.” Then think about all the wonderful words the Bible has to say about baptism.

 

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Something Bugging Me

Posted on January 13, 2017 by jesustrek

insect1_2182Last night I sat on the second row at a middle school basketball game. The game was a blowout, so the people in my area found something else to occupy our attention. Someone pointed out that there was a live insect crawling around on the floor in front of us. We watched to see if he would survive being in that dangerous situation, with players and referees rushing back and forth at high speeds.

A couple of people tried to save the bug during breaks in the action. They deposited him safely along the sideline, but each time he headed back out onto the floor, oblivious to the danger of being squished. The little creature was completely clueless as he scurried around in that precarious situation.

People who are outside of Jesus are often clueless to the danger of their position in life. Without Christ, they are only a moment away from going into an eternity without God. They scurry about in a perilous world, oblivious to their plight—unaware that they could be snuffed out at any moment. Even when people try to steer them to safety by sharing the gospel, they hurry back to their dangerous path.

We need to try to rescue those poor lost souls.

“Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire…”—Jude 22-23.

In case you are wondering, the bug didn’t make it.

 

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Just What I Needed

Posted on January 12, 2017 by jesustrek

Grandfather and grandchild

I recently talked with a man whose cancer has reappeared after enjoying several years of remission. He says that things are going pretty well and that he considers himself to be blessed.

My friend pointed out that when he was going through treatments a few years ago, he had a two-year-old granddaughter who loved being by his side. He would often wake up from a nap to find her snuggled up against him.

Now, as he is going through treatments once again, guess what? He has another little granddaughter who adores being around her Papaw!

My friend summed up his experience with these words—“God gave me what I needed when I needed it.”

“But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength…”—2 Timothy 4:17

 

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No Fair!

Posted on January 11, 2017 by jesustrek

pigsA preacher once paid a visit to a farmer who was a member of his church. He was trying to convince the farmer that he should tithe.

“If you had 100 cows,” the preacher began, “would you give 10 of them to the church?”

“I reckon I would,” the farmer replied.

“If you had 50 sheep, would you give 5 of them to the church?”

“I sure would, preacher!”

“If you had 10 pigs, would you give 1 of them to the church?”

“Now that’s not a fair question!” the farmer complained.

“Why not?” the preacher asked.

“Because you know that I have 10 pigs!”

Have you ever noticed how generous people are with the money they might have someday? If they ever win a $10 million sweepstakes, they will give $1 million to the church. That’s just fine, but what are you doing with the money you already have?

“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. ‘Test me in this,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.”’—Malachi 3:10.

 

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Keep Going!

Posted on January 9, 2017 by jesustrek

URBAN TEXTURES © 1998 PhotoSpin www.powerphotos.com

A timid driver was so nervous about merging onto a busy highway that he actually came to a complete stop on the ramp, anxiously waiting for an opening. The impatient driver in the car behind him shouted, “The sign says ‘Yield’, not ‘Give Up’!”

The Bible continually reminds us that we are never to give up. We need to persevere in worshiping and serving the Lord. Rewards are only promised to those who finish the race.

“…Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.”—Revelation 2:10.

 

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Missing

Posted on January 8, 2017 by jesustrek

people-in-church-doorway1Here is a poem someone wrote about people who miss church:

You missed the fellowship that’s there,

You missed the handshake, missed the prayer.

You missed the Word of God when read,

You missed the things the preacher said.

You missed the worship’s wondrous hour,

You missed the Holy Spirit’s power.

Not only did you miss the chance

Your life in Jesus to enhance,

You missed your chance to do your share,

To build His church, the house of prayer.

And so the loss is yours indeed,

God had no chance to meet your need.

–Unknown Author

“Not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”—Hebrews 10:25.

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Still Competitive

Posted on January 7, 2017 by jesustrek
Robert Marchand

Robert Marchand

Frenchman Robert Marchand recently set a new world record in his age group for bicycling the greatest distance in an hour. His age group? 105 and over.

Marchand doesn’t have much (any!?) competition in that age group. And the fact that he can go any distance at all on a bicycle is quite remarkable. In case you are wondering, the 5 feet, 115 pound athlete pedaled over 22 and a half kilometers in an hour. In appreciation of his feat, those in attendance gave him a standing ovation, and he was mobbed by dozens of cameramen and television crews.

Stories of perseverance like this one motivate us to continue to do our very best. As long as we have breath in us, let us run the race of life with perseverance, keeping our eyes on the finish line and the prize that awaits us at the end of the journey.

“I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”—Philippians 3:14.

 

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All My Bags Are Packed

Posted on January 6, 2017 by jesustrek

Old suitcase

Jim Denison remembers something remarkable that happened while he was serving as a missionary in East Malaysia. At the end of a worship service at a small church, a teenage girl came forward to announce her decision to accept Christ by being baptized.

During the service, Denison had noticed some worn out luggage leaning against the wall of the church building. When he asked about it, he was told, “Her father said that if she was baptized as a Christian she could never go home again. So she brought her luggage.”

The Bible says, “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Phil.3:20).

I guess some people have a greater understanding of that than others.

 

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