True Obedience

Posted on February 10, 2011 by jesustrek

In his book, The Last Season: A Team in Search of Its Soul, coach Phil Jackson of the Los Angeles Lakers wrote about the difference between Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant: “Ask Shaq to do something and he’ll say, “No, I don’t want to.” But after a little pouting, he’ll do it. Ask Kobe and he’ll say, “OK” and then he will do whatever he wants.”

Jesus told a story of a father who had two sons (Matt.21:28-32). He told both of them to go and work in his vineyard. The first son said that he wouldn’t do it, but later changed his mind and went to work. The second son said that he would go, but then he never did. The lesson is that God expects more than lip service from us; he wants to see some true obedience.

When it comes to obedience, are you more like Shaq or Kobe?

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Versatility

Posted on February 9, 2011 by jesustrek

Frank Fitch, of the Lexington, Kentucky area, is ambidextrous. He is equally adept at bowling with either hand. Such versatility is rare. Fitch is one of only a handful of people who have rolled a 300 game and an 800 series with each hand.

David had some warriors who were versatile. They “…were able to shoot arrows or to sling stones right-handed or left-handed…” (1 Chron.12:2).

God has a great way of using versatile people. Some can lead worship and they can also preach. Others can play an instrument and they can also work with children. Some are equally adept at teaching or helping with a construction project on the church property. Some are prayer warriors and they also help plan fellowship activities.

Whether you are versatile or a “specialist”, make sure you give the Lord your very best!

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Storm Warning

Posted on February 8, 2011 by jesustrek

Prov.27:12—“The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.”

Cyclone Yasi struck northeastern Australia last week with heavy rains and winds gusting to 186 mph, tearing off roofs, toppling trees and cutting off electricity to many people. It was the most powerful storm to hit the area in nearly a century. However, no deaths were reported because people heeded warnings to retreat to home bunkers or evacuation centers.

God has warned us that there is a storm coming. A day of reckoning is approaching when God will judge all the unrighteous for their disobedience toward him. Those who are prudent will take refuge in Jesus Christ and be saved from the eternal devastation.

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Filthy, Dirty Sin

Posted on February 7, 2011 by jesustrek

A middle school in Oregon had a problem keeping the mirrors clean in the girls’ bathroom. A number of the girls were beginning to use lipstick, and they would put it on in the bathroom. Then they would press their lips against the mirrors, leaving dozens of lip prints.

Finally the principal decided that something must be done. She called the girls to the bathroom and met them there with the custodian. After a brief lecture about how difficult it was to clean the mirrors each day, she asked the custodian to give a demonstration. He proceeded to dip a toilet brush into a commode and scrub a mirror with it. Since then there have been no lip prints on the mirrors!

This story should remind us of how filthy sin is. We wouldn’t be so attracted to sin if we really understood how dirty it is.

Col.3:5-8—“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.”

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Focused on Jesus

Posted on February 5, 2011 by jesustrek

It is said that when Leonardo da Vinci painted his famous Last Supper, he asked a friend to tell him what impressed him most about the picture. He replied, “The cup in the hand of Jesus. The Holy Grail brilliantly catches the eye.”

The great artist quickly took his paintbrush and erased the cup from the painting. When asked why he did that, da Vinci answered, “Nothing must detract from the face of Jesus.”

Jesus deserves to be the focus of our attention. Heb.12:2-3 says, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

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From Riches to Rags

Posted on February 4, 2011 by jesustrek

Prov.21:17—“He who loves pleasure will become poor…”

Many professional athletes do not know how to handle their new-found wealth. It is sad to see so many of them squander their fortunes in an attempt to buy happiness.

Orlando Sentinel columnist Mike Bianchi recently wrote: “By some estimates, 60 percent of NBA players are broke five years after they retire. Meanwhile, Gilbert Arenas spends $6,500 a month feeding his pet sharks. Mystery solved.”

Even those of us who are not rich need to understand that God expects us to be good stewards of our finances. We must not waste our resources on a constant quest for life’s pleasures.

Prov.28:19—“He who works his land will have abundant food, but the one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.”

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Keep Your Fork

Posted on February 3, 2011 by jesustrek

2 Cor.5:8—“We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”

We probably don’t think about heaven as much as we should. Sometimes we need to be reminded that this life is temporary and that the best is yet to come.

After Glen Wheeler’s wife died several years ago, he often reminisced about the little things he missed. For instance, after supper, as she was clearing the dishes, sometimes she would say, “Keep your fork.”

Glen always smiled when he heard those words because he knew that they were going to have dessert. The best was yet to come!

Heaven will be so much better than what we experience here on earth! In a very real sense, God says to the Christian, “Keep your fork. As wonderful as this life is, the best is yet to come!”

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Necessary Pain

Posted on February 2, 2011 by jesustrek

My friend’s young son received a small cut on his head that required stitches. Several attempts to numb the wounded area failed, so they decided to go ahead and sew up the cut with the father holding his son. The boy cried out, “Daddy, you can’t let them do this to me!”

But he did. The father felt so bad that he himself had to lie down afterwards. But he let them do that to his son because he knew that it was necessary.

My friend now understands a little bit better how God must have felt when he let men do to his Son what they did. It was a painful—but necessary—ordeal.

“…without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” (Heb.9:22).

“Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” (Heb.9:27-28).

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Obvious Growth

Posted on February 1, 2011 by jesustrek
Sara Hammond

She sure has grown a lot.

Sara is the daughter of some friends of mine. The last memory I had of Sara was when she was hanging out at church camp. She was about nine years old–too young to be part of the group that was there that week–so she went off by herself to play. She was very content to be a normal little girl, and this is how she became frozen in my mind.

I moved away, and had little contact with Sara’s family for about nine years. In the meantime, she grew up.

Shortly after I moved back to Kentucky a few months ago, I read about Sara in the sports section of the newspaper. It seems that she turned out to be quite a basketball player. She is now over six feet tall, and is one of the best high school players in the state. She has been recruited to play for the University of Louisville.

As soon as I learned this, I knew that I had to make a road trip. I needed to see with my own eyes how Sara had grown up and become the young lady that she is today.

Last night I made the 3-hour drive to watch her play. In my own unbiased opinion, Sara is magnificent! She possesses the skills of a guard, but she is most effective under the basket—rebounding, scoring and blocking shots. She handles herself with grace and self-control, exuding confidence without coming across as being arrogant. Although she is the best player on her team, she is a good passer who looks to get the ball to her teammates whenever she can.

After the game I got a chance to speak to Sara. I didn’t expect her to remember me, but she was genuinely appreciative of the fact that I had driven so far to see her play. Her social skills seem to be on par with her basketball skills, and her parents told me that she is doing well with her spiritual growth also.

I sure was proud to see how much Sara has grown in every way.

The Bible says, “Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.” (1 Tim.4:15).

Does God expect us to grow? Obviously! Here is the key question—If someone saw you for the first time in nine years, could he or she tell that you have grown in Christ?

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Teach Your Children Well

Posted on January 31, 2011 by jesustrek

A family was driving home from church, where they had just participated in a baby dedication service for their newest addition. Suddenly, the baby’s older brother started sobbing loudly.

“What’s the matter?” asked his parents.

“The preacher said he wanted us to grow up in a Christian home, but I want to stay with you guys!”

Are your children and grandchildren learning what Christian life is all about? It’s nice to have children’s ministers and volunteers at church to help teach our young ones about the Lord. However, it’s the parents’ responsibility to see that such spiritual training occurs.

“Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land that the Lord swore to give your forefathers, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.” (Deut.11:18-21).

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