Encouraging Word

Posted on December 26, 2014 by jesustrek
Coach Bill Snyder

Coach Bill Snyder

Kansas State football coach Bill Snyder often sends notes of encouragement to players from the opposing team. The notes usually arrive shortly after the game has been played. Coach Snyder finds some way to express admiration or encouragement. Sometimes the recipient of the note has had an outstanding game. In other cases, the player might have been injured, and Snyder sends his wishes for a speedy recovery.

This is a nice gesture, especially considering the quick, easy and informal means of communication that are available today. The hand-written notes are a thoughtful and much-appreciated source of encouragement.

Encouragement is…well…encouraged, I guess, in the Bible. Paul and his travelling companions were once urged, “…Brothers, if you have a message of encouragement for the people, please speak.” (Acts 13:15).

It has been said that discouragement is the devil’s greatest tool. There certainly are a lot of discouraged people in the world today. You and I could help them out with just a little encouragement. Let’s find a way to encourage someone today.

 

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The Interview

Posted on December 24, 2014 by jesustrek
Larry King

Larry King

Talk show host Larry King was once asked, “If you could select any one person across all of history to interview, who would it be?”

King responded that he would like to interview Jesus Christ. When the questioner followed with, “And what would you like to ask him?” King replied, “I would like to ask him if he was indeed virgin-born. The answer to that question would define history for me.”

Jesus Christ, God’s one and only Son, the Savior of the world, certainly does define history. In addition to that, he determines our eternity. He says that no one can come to the Father except through him (John 14:6).

I doubt that Larry King will get that interview that he wants. Jesus has given us all the evidence we need to believe in his existence, his identity and his purpose.

We can expect an interview with Jesus someday, but he will be the one asking the question—“Did you believe in me?”

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”—Isaiah 7:14.

 

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God’s Visit

Posted on December 23, 2014 by jesustrek

earthI once saw a cartoon that showed two angels looking down upon the earth. One angel asked the other, “I wonder why God favors that planet over all the others?” The second angel replied, “I suppose it’s because he visited there once.”

We should never cease to be amazed that God loves us so much that he chose to come down here to live among us and to die for us! Let us respond appropriately by giving our worship and service to him!

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”—John 1:1,14.

 

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Clear Message

Posted on December 20, 2014 by jesustrek

answering machineTime after time I listen patiently to a message someone has left on my answering machine. They want me to return their call to talk about something that is very important to them. Then, when they leave the number I am to call to get in touch with them, they mumble the number so quickly that I can’t get it on the first try. Or the second. Sometimes the third. Occasionally I never get it. When you get to the most important part of the message, this is the time to slow down and speak more clearly, not do the opposite!

I suppose no one else has ever had this problem.

Anyway, it’s just a reminder to be thankful that God doesn’t mumble. His Word is clear and distinct.

Mark Twain supposedly once remarked, “It’s not the parts on the Bible I don’t understand that bother me; it’s the parts that I do understand!”

The Bible makes it quite plain how God wants us to live. It couldn’t be any clearer.

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”—Psalm 119:105.

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At War

Posted on December 18, 2014 by jesustrek

war zoneThis week I have visited both a local high school and an elementary school during school hours. At both schools, I found the doors locked and had to wait to be buzzed in. This is certainly different from how it was when I was in school, but we live in a different world now.

My first thought was that it is good that we are taking these measures in order to protect our children. My second thought was that it certainly is a shame that we live in such a fallen, sinful world that we find it necessary to do such things.

The threats we face, both foreign and domestic, are very real and very evil. The terrorist attack on a school in Pakistan that killed 132 people serves as a stark reminder that we are involved in a war between good and evil.

For our own sake, and for the sake of others, let us never let down our guard!

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”—Ephesians 6:12

 

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Surefire Cure

Posted on December 17, 2014 by jesustrek
Sidney Crosby

Sidney Crosby

Several players in the National Hockey League have been sidelined for an unusual reason—they have the mumps! Even All-Star Sidney Crosby has come down with the mumps, in spite of being vaccinated against the illness.

This is one disease that we just can’t seem to eradicate. The vaccine for mumps works well for most people, but some who receive the vaccination get the mumps anyway. Their bodies simply don’t respond to the vaccine, therefore the disease continues to make some people sick.

The spiritual disease of sin continues to plague mankind. This goes on in spite of the fact that there is a cure available that works perfectly well for every single human being who will accept it.

“…Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”—1 John 2:1-2.

 

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Joy to the World!

Posted on December 15, 2014 by jesustrek
Friedrich Nietzsche

Friedrich Nietzsche

Joy is high on the list of attributes that are expected to be seen in the lives of Christian people (Galatians 5:22). As Christmas approaches, we especially think of the joy that we experience as we celebrate the birth of Jesus our Savior.

How tragic it is that people often have difficulty detecting joy in the lives of people who profess to believe in Jesus. When the German nihilist Friedrich Nietzsche was asked why he had such a negative view of Christianity, he replied: “I never saw the members of my father’s church enjoying themselves.”

That is a terrible perception of the church! Let’s do everything we can to make the joy of our salvation evident to all the world!

 

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Worshiping in Difficult Times

Posted on December 12, 2014 by jesustrek

worshipJob was experiencing the worst day of his life. Not only had he suddenly lost all of the livestock that had made him a wealthy man, he had just been informed that all of his children had suddenly died. One can only imagine the devastation that Job felt at this point in his life. How would he respond to such a sudden, unimaginable loss?

He would respond quite remarkably! Job 1:20-22 says, “At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.”

No one knows what life holds in store. However, we all must face times of trials. Some blame God for the horrible things that happen to them. Others, like Job, have already made the decision to worship God…no matter what.

May we all decide to do the same.

 

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Wrong Book!

Posted on December 11, 2014 by jesustrek

President ObamaPresident Obama has been taken to task for his recent botched attempt to make a Bible reference. He said that in the “Good Book” it says—“Don’t throw stones in glass houses.” Of course, that statement is not found in the Bible. He must have read it in some other book. Maybe he read it in that book he has that says it’s all right to kill an innocent baby while it’s still in its mother’s womb. It’s probably the same book where Mr. Obama got the idea that there should be such a thing as same-sex marriage.

Whatever book he’s referring to, it certainly isn’t the Bible!

“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.”—2 Peter 2:1-2.

 

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What Do You Know?

Posted on December 9, 2014 by jesustrek
Sergeant Shultz

Sergeant Shultz

Recently I have watched a few episodes of the old television show Hogan’s Heroes. Quite often, the bumbling German soldier, Sergeant Shultz, would catch Hogan and his buddies breaking the rules at the prison camp where they were held captive. Whenever Shultz threatened to go to his superiors to report the infraction, Hogan would always find some clever way to suggest that the action would backfire on Shultz and make life harder for him. After taking a moment to think about it, Shultz would deliver his classic line—“I know nothing!”

Too often we pull a “Schultz” by pretending we don’t know of any wrong-doing in our own lives. We think that if we ignore the sin, we will somehow be better off.

That’s not the way things work with God. He would rather have us tell him what we know about ourselves, even if it makes us look bad.

“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”—1 John 1:8-9.

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