Accepting God’s Purpose

Posted on April 16, 2011 by jesustrek

It was a common sight in Christianity. Yesterday evening a family gathered together to celebrate as a young lady was baptized into Christ. It was a joyful occasion for everyone as she made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ and was baptized.

Some groups within the kingdom have been accused of placing too much emphasis on baptism. I suppose this could be true if they neglect some of the other teachings of Jesus. However, I think the greatest danger is for those who place too little emphasis on baptism.

A quick Bible study on baptism (use a concordance to help you) will soon yield a wealth of information on the importance of this Christian practice. Many people are coming to a greater understanding of this wonderful initiation into the Christian faith.

Luke 7:30 says, “But the Pharisees and experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.” If those who ignored the baptism offered by John are said to have rejected God’s purpose for themselves, how can we say anything less about those who refuse the baptism offered by Jesus?

Among the final words Jesus had to say before he went back to heaven are these: “He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” (Mark 16:15-16).

Let’s accept God’s purpose for our lives and help others to do the same. Baptism is an important part of this equation.

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Taking Shape

Posted on April 15, 2011 by jesustrek

Billy Graham tells about a friend who lost his job, his fortune, his wife and his home during the Depression. However, he held steadfastly to his faith—the only thing he had left.

One day he stopped to watch some men working on a huge church building. A stonemason was chiseling a triangular piece of stone. “What are you going to do with that?” he asked. The workman replied, “See that little opening way up there near the spire? Well, I’m shaping this down here, so it will fit in up there.”

Tears filled the man’s eyes as he walked away. It seemed as if God had spoken to him through the stonemason to explain the ordeal through which he was passing—“I’m shaping you down here, so you will fit in up there.”

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”—James 1:2-4.

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Talking or Doing?

Posted on April 14, 2011 by jesustrek

“Too many of us have a Christian vocabulary rather than a Christian experience. We think we are doing our duty when we’re only talking about it.”—Charles F. Banning.

This fellow may have a point. Someone else said, “When all is said and done, much more is said than done.”

James 2:14-17 says, “What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”

Most of us are pretty good at talking about our faith. Maybe it’s time we let our actions speak for themselves.

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On Fire for Jesus!

Posted on April 13, 2011 by jesustrek

Each of the men who gathered for a Promise Keepers’ rally a few years ago was given a candle as he arrived at the event. 50,000 men packed a football stadium, prepared to be challenged to become better men for God.

At one point in the session, a single candle was lit. From this candle, others were lit. This was continued until all 50,000 candles were burning. The whole process only took a little over 10 minutes.

The purpose of this exercise was to illustrate how quickly the word of God can spread if we are willing to share it with others. It happened in the first century; it can happen again today.

“The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.”—Acts 11:21.

“Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you.”—2 Thessalonians 3:1.

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Ups and Downs

Posted on April 12, 2011 by jesustrek
Rory McIlroy

Rory McIlroy was playing some fantastic golf at the Masters in Augusta, Georgia this past weekend. The 21-year-old was poised to become the second youngest player to ever win the Masters. With a 4-shot lead to begin the final round, McIlroy had everything going his way. Then it all came apart.

A couple of disastrous holes cost McIlroy the lead. An errant tee shot on number 13 sealed his fate; he would not win the green jacket. Instead he would be remembered with other golfers who squandered a big lead on the final day of a major tournament.

Life can be cruel that way. Everything is going your way, and then, suddenly, it all starts to go downhill.

Paul knew what it was like to experience the ups and downs of life. In Acts 14, some people at Lystra thought so highly of Paul that they were actually prepared to worship him. But some other people came along and quickly turned the crowd against Paul, and they stoned him and left him for dead.

I’ll never blow the lead at the Masters. I just try not to embarrass myself at the church golf outing. And I doubt that I will ever be dragged out of town and left for dead, but the thought of that possibility gives me incentive to work a bit harder on my sermons.

We all have to understand that life has its ups and downs. Let us try to remain humble in victory and gracious in defeat.

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Keep Moving

Posted on April 11, 2011 by jesustrek

A college class was graduating on a hot and humid day. Graduation ceremonies sometimes seem to last forever, so the college president was doing the best he could to speed up the process. As the graduates walked across the stage to receive their diplomas from him, the president smiled, shook their hands, and loudly said, “Congratulations!” Then, in a much lower voice that could be heard only by the graduates, he said, “Keep moving!”

The college president was only trying to keep the line moving, but his words are good advice for a lifetime. Too many people slow down or eventually come to a stop in life when God has plans for them to keep moving.

“We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.”—Hebrews 6:12.

Keep moving!

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The Games People Play

Posted on April 9, 2011 by jesustrek

Some men die in battle,

Some men die in flames,

But most men perish inch by inch,

While playing little games.

            Author Unknown

 

It’s sad to see people wasting their lives away, playing little games that are not at all important. On more than one occasion, Jesus had to rebuke his followers for wanting to be more important than the others. His followers still jostle for position, playing politics in the church and trying to see who can wield the most influence. They gossip and complain and otherwise waste their lives away in insignificant pursuits of self-indulgence.

Jesus wants more from us. He says, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33). He wants us to have our priorities in order.

I don’t want to major in the minors. I want to lead a life of significance, the way that Jesus defines such a life. I want to go down fighting for the greatest cause in the universe, the building of God’s kingdom.

How about you?

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Too Comfortable?

Posted on April 8, 2011 by jesustrek

An advertisement for a drive-in movie about the life of Jesus said: “Come and experience the life of Christ all from the comfort of your car.”

That doesn’t seem to be the kind of life Jesus says we can expect if we choose to follow him. He promises that we will have trouble in this world (John 16:33). Jesus teaches that we can expect to be insulted, persecuted and have people speak evil against us (Matthew 5:11). He even goes so far as to say, “…If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24).

Jesus expects us to deny ourselves and put to death anything in our lives that prevents us from truly following him. Far from a life of comfort, Jesus paints a picture of striving against the flow of the world around us. Truly following Jesus is anything but a life of ease.

We American Christians tend to lose sight of the cost of true discipleship. Is following Jesus costing you anything? Anything at all? Have you ever paid a price—mentally, emotionally, financially, physically, etc.—for having decided to follow Jesus?

If you are living a comfortable life, you need to look in the mirror. Check to see if there is a cross on your back.

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Different Kind of Study

Posted on April 7, 2011 by jesustrek

In a report requested by the National Institutes of Health, the National Academy of Sciences said Thursday, March 31 that the federal government should conduct research to understand why homosexuals are more likely to have certain chronic conditions. There seems to be a prevalence of obesity, depression, cancer, heart disease and other health conditions among people who participate in homosexual relationships.

While such research might prove beneficial, I propose a different kind of study to help those who are inclined to engage in homosexual behavior. A study of Romans 1:27 reveals the following: “…Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.”

This study would save taxpayers a lot of money, and help many people escape a lifestyle filled with heartache and suffering.

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Devil of a Problem

Posted on April 6, 2011 by jesustrek
Tasmanian devil

The Tasmanian devil has earned a reputation for being smelly, loud and nasty. The marsupial has long been reviled in its native country of Australia. Recently, however, Australians are rallying around the Tasmanian devil because its existence is being threatened by a terrible disease. Once thought to be a virus, it has now been determined that what is killing the Tasmanian devil at an alarming rate is actually a highly infectious cancer—one of only three communicable cancers known to medicine. The disease is spread through facial bites when the devils fight one another.

In nearly twenty years in the preaching ministry, I have had to work with a few “Tasmanian devils” in the local church. I don’t know if they actually enjoy all the fighting among themselves, but it seems to be something that they can’t keep from doing. The damage to themselves and to others is devastating to a local congregation and is a terrible witness to the community.

Galatians 5:15 says, “If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.”

Wildlife groups in Australia are still working to find an answer to the serious problem facing the Tasmanian devil. As for the cancerous devils in the church, the answer is strong leadership that demands repentance. 

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