Helpless

Posted on May 14, 2014 by jesustrek

Baby birds in nestWe recently had some overgrown trees and shrubs removed from around our house. After one tree was cut down, we noticed that it had contained a nest with 3 baby birds. The babies seemed to have survived the fall, but their survival was in jeopardy. They were completely helpless as they lay there on the ground. They were in danger of starving, becoming dehydrated in the sun or becoming lunch for a neighborhood cat.

We put the baby birds back in the nest and placed it in a nearby tree. Perhaps their parents would hear their cries and find them and give them the food and protection they needed to live. It was their only chance to make it.

Our sin renders us helpless and subject to destruction. Our only hope is that our heavenly Father hears our cries for help and gives us salvation.

Thankfully, he has done that through Jesus!

“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.”—Romans 5:6.

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It’s Not Fair!

Posted on May 12, 2014 by jesustrek

scales of justiceLife is not fair. Upon accepting an award, the late Jack Benny once remarked, “I really don’t deserve this. But I have arthritis, and I don’t deserve that either.”

From a young age, we tend to be disturbed by the injustices of life. Children often exclaim, “It’s not fair!” As adults we continue to be frustrated when the scales of justice are not balanced. We wish we could fix every situation and make it right. I’m not saying that we should give up, but we do need to understand that life is not fair. Some people get away with murder. Others steal and don’t get caught. Wicked people sometimes appear to be quite happy with their lives.

And it’s not fair. The Bible points this out. Jesus says, “…He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” (Matthew 5:45).

In eternity, God’s justice will be administered fairly and finally. But in the meantime, we had better get used to the fact that life isn’t fair.

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Best Way to Remember

Posted on May 9, 2014 by jesustrek

spike nailsIn one of our recent worship services, our church passed out nails to everyone in attendance. These nails, while probably smaller than the ones used to crucify Jesus, were shaped much like the ones the Roman soldiers may have used to nail our Lord to the cross. The nails were given out to remind the worshipers that Jesus died to pay for our sins.

While this is an effective reminder, no one has yet come up with a better reminder than the one Jesus himself gave us—the Lord’s Supper. The best way to remember him is to obey him by participating in communion every chance we get.

“…Do this in remembrance of me.”—Luke 22:19.

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Stains Removed

Posted on May 8, 2014 by jesustrek

stain-on-carpetThe carpets in our house were professionally cleaned about three-and-a-half years ago, just before we moved in. Some stains were removed, and the carpet looked like new.

Recently, the stains have reappeared on the carpet. I thought it was strange, since we have not spilled anything that would cause these stains. Then my wife informed me about how stains can be with carpets. They sometimes go all the way down to the base of the rug. You can clean the top of the carpet, and it looks fine…for a while. Then the original stain works its way up to the top and it is visible again.

That’s just the way it is with sin in our lives. We can try to clean ourselves up, and for a while we look pretty good. However, on our own, we can never take away the stain of sin. It will always resurface. Only the blood of Jesus can take away our sins forever.

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

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You Know What Sin

Posted on May 6, 2014 by jesustrek

sinYou have probably heard the claims made by many people that Jesus never said anything about homosexual behavior. This dangerous false teaching must be exposed and refuted.

In Matthew 10, as Jesus sends out his twelve disciples on a ministry trip, he tells them that things will not go well for people in the towns that reject his message. He says, “I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.” (Matthew 10:15).

What terrible sin did the people of Sodom and Gomorrah commit that caused Jesus to hold them up as the ultimate example of depravity? Were they litterbugs who carelessly dropped candy wrappers on their beautiful streets? Did those scofflaws fail to put coins in the parking meters? Perhaps they defiantly recorded ball games without the expressed written consent of major league baseball!

No, it wasn’t any of those things. The sin of Sodom and Gomorrah was so well-known by everyone that Jesus didn’t even have to name it.

Jesus knew what their sin was.

You do too, if you have enough integrity to admit it.

Let us never condone any behavior that Jesus condemns.

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Non-Productive

Posted on May 5, 2014 by jesustrek

dead flowerA few years ago, we planted a couple of hydrangea plants behind our house. These plants did pretty well, producing beautiful flowers that we enjoyed for much of the year. However, the hydrangeas didn’t fare too well in the harsh winter we just experienced. We kept waiting for signs of new life this spring, but we finally had to admit it—our hydrangeas were dead. Today I dug them up and burned them.

This reminds me of a story Jesus tells in Luke 13. A man who had planted a fig tree expected it to have fruit by now, but it had none. He told his hired hand to cut it down. The worker suggested that they fertilize it and give it one more year to bear fruit. If it didn’t, then they would cut it down.

The point of the story is that God expects us to live fruitful lives. We are saved by God’s grace through our faith in Jesus, but we are saved in order to do good works that prove that we do indeed have a saving faith.

Let’s make sure that we are producing something for the Lord.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith…For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”—Ephesians 2:8-10.

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False Generosity

Posted on May 2, 2014 by jesustrek

high gas pricesI once lived in an area where the gasoline prices were inflated. In our county the prices were about 15% higher than in neighboring counties. I learned that there were a couple of men who controlled the local fuel businesses, and they collaborated to keep the prices high.

One of these oil barons liked to portray himself as a philanthropist. He would make occasional donations to various charities in the area—$1,000 here and $1,000 there–always making sure that a newspaper photographer was on hand to spread the word about his “generosity”.

I often wondered how little time it took this man to take in $1,000 by over-charging people on fixed incomes. Elderly war veterans, widows, single mothers and hard-working people who did not earn much money all suffered in order to make this man rich. And he had the nerve to boast about his generosity!

Oh, well. We are only accountable for our own actions. God will bring justice in due time. Let’s just make sure that we don’t profit unjustly at the expense of the poor.

“Food gained by fraud tastes sweet to a man, but he ends up with a mouth full of gravel.”—Proverbs 20:17.

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Reason for Learning

Posted on May 1, 2014 by jesustrek

All of the Bible is important, but some parts are more critical than others for Christian living. For example, you could memorize the 12 tribes of Israel, but you might find it more useful to spend your time meditating on other portions of Scripture, ones that focus on how to follow Jesus.

Chance are good that you have never said to yourself as you were trying to fight off temptation, “I sure am glad I memorized the names of the 12 apostles!”

This is not to say that such endeavors are not worthy of our time and effort. However, we might do better to concentrate on other parts of the Bible—parts that build our character and help us to live holy lives. This is the reason we learn what the Bible says.

“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”—Psalm 119:11.  the-holy-bible

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Change of Plans

Posted on April 29, 2014 by jesustrek

Cliff Barrows

Cliff Barrows

In 1945, Cliff Barrows and his fiancée, Billie, had scraped together enough money for a simple wedding and two train tickets to a city with a resort hotel.

On arrival, however, they found the hotel shut down. Stranded in an unfamiliar city with little money, they thumbed a ride. A sympathetic driver took them to a grocery store owned by a woman he knew. The newlyweds spent their first night in a room above the store.

The next day, when the lady overheard Cliff playing Christian songs on his trombone, she arranged for them to spend the rest of their honeymoon at a friend’s house. Several days later the host invited them to attend a youth rally where a young evangelist was speaking.

The song leader that night was sick, and Cliff was asked to take charge of the music for the service. The young evangelist happened to be Billy Graham. This turned out to be a match made in heaven. Cliff Barrows served as Billy Graham’s lifelong associate in ministry and crusade song leader.

This just goes to show you that God has a plan for you, even when things aren’t working out the way you had hoped they would. Don’t let a bad day, or week, or year, or decade take away the hope that God will surely work things out for the best. Remember what Romans 8:28 says—“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

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Rush to Judgment

Posted on April 28, 2014 by jesustrek

Donald Sterling

Donald Sterling

There has been a lot of harsh criticism directed toward Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling over racially offensive remarks that have been attributed to him. This outrage is understandable. There is no place in our society for that kind of attitude.

However, it amuses me to see criticism coming from people who can’t see the huge piece of lumber in their own eye!

One of Sterling’s most vocal critics is an NBA star player who for years openly lived with a woman to whom he was not married. Another is a star player who famously cheated on his wife. Still another critic is a high-ranking politician who champions abortion and thinks that there ought to be such a thing as same-sex marriage.

The quality of the “morality police” certainly isn’t what it used to be!

“You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”—Matthew 7:5.

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