Livin’ La Vida Local

Posted on November 30, 2010 by jesustrek

 

At the beginning of Mark 5, we read that Jesus healed a man who was demon-possessed. Then in verses 18-20, it says—“As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.”

If you want to do some amazing things for the Lord, you don’t have to go to a mission field on the other side of the world. God doesn’t call everyone into foreign missions. The majority of people who follow Jesus seem to be called to witness to people locally.

Jesus knew that the man who wanted to travel with him could have a greater influence on people if he witnessed to people in his home town. So the man simply told the local people how much the Lord had done for him and about the mercy that he had received. Isn’t that something that we all could do?

We all should be very supportive of foreign missions. However, let’s not underestimate the impact we can have for God’s kingdom by witnessing for Jesus locally. 

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This Little Light of Mine

Posted on November 27, 2010 by jesustrek

A small light bulb in the dashboard of our car apparently burned out a few years ago. I never bothered to get it replaced because its only function was to light up the digital clock so you could see what time it was while you were driving after dark.

Then a few months ago I noticed that the bulb was shining again. No one had even looked at the problem, let alone tried to fix anything. It was a mystery why the bulb had stopped burning, and why it suddenly began to shine again.

A few days after that, the bulb went dark once more. Then a couple of nights ago, it was shining again. Last night, the clock was dark. You just never know if that little light is going to shine or not.

Jesus said, “You are the light of the world…let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”—Matt.5:14-16.

You are far more important than any light bulb in the world. Don’t be inconsistent. Let your light shine for God all the time.

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Holiday Advice

Posted on November 26, 2010 by jesustrek

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving feast with your loved ones yesterday. I also want to encourage you not to overdo it at the dinner table. I have a friend who ate way too much last holiday season. He realized that he had over-indulged when he cut himself shaving and gravy trickled down his chin!

I have decided to make a diligent attempt to cut down on my food intake. Therefore, I am not eating any leftovers from holiday meals. You heard right—I’m quitting cold turkey!

OK, I hear you groaning out there.

Try to find a reason to smile today, and keep on having a Happy Thanksgiving, even on the day after!

Prov.17:22—“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”

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What Are You Supposed to Say?

Posted on November 25, 2010 by jesustrek

A few years ago, a friend of ours brought her young boys to our house, all dressed up for Halloween. After we gave them some candy, their mother asked them, “What are you supposed to say?” The 3-year-old responded with a loud “Boo!”

Of course she was trying to get him to say, “Thank you.”

Even when we are older, we sometimes struggle to express our gratitude when someone gives us something. We may even forget to thank God, who gives us every good thing that we have.

1 Thess.5:16-18—“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Happy Thanksgiving!

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Assignment from God

Posted on November 24, 2010 by jesustrek

God told Noah to build an ark about the size of a football field. He had Abraham move without giving him a forwarding address. The Lord gave Moses the thankless 40-year job of leading the unappreciative Israelites to the Promised Land. Hosea’s assignment was to marry a woman who was known to be very promiscuous. Ezekiel was told not to mourn when his wife died. Esther’s task was to risk her life by going to the king to plead for the Jewish people to be spared. God gave Daniel the chore of spending a night in a den of hungry lions. Nehemiah’s duty was to rebuild a huge wall out of rubble. The Lord told Isaiah to preach to people who were too stubborn to listen. Jonah’s God-given task was to take the “Big Fish Luxury Cruise” to Nineveh. Mary accepted her assignment to bear a child that was conceived out of wedlock, even though she was a virgin. Paul’s work for the Lord was primarily to suffer for the name of Jesus. And Jesus, well, his work wasn’t finished until he was hanging on a cross.

Now I don’t feel so overwhelmed by what God has given me to do today. How about you?

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Remember Your Baptism

Posted on November 23, 2010 by jesustrek

I think that it is much more than a fortunate coincidence that I am now preaching in my hometown. Surely the hand of God had to be in this opportunity to preach here. I have the amazing privilege of preaching the Word of God just a few feet away from where I was baptized into Christ about 40 years ago. Every time I stand up to preach, I can think back to my baptism, and it gives me strength and inspiration.

There must be times when you also could benefit from remembering your baptism. When Satan points an accusing finger at you because of past sins and failures, remember your baptism. When you feel so tired and weary that you are tempted to give up, remember your baptism. When the world around you seems so determined to continue down the path toward destruction, remember your baptism. When doubts and fears threaten to overwhelm you, remember your baptism. When life’s unfortunate circumstances stare you in the face, remember your baptism.

 Rom.6:3-4—“Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”

Live a powerful life, today and every day! Remember your baptism!

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Get Excited!

Posted on November 22, 2010 by jesustrek

Some friends of ours have a granddaughter who is excited that she is learning to read. She loves to show off her newly acquired skill by reading for the adults in her family. This little girl has learned that when you see an exclamation point, you are supposed to read that line with special enthusiasm. If she doesn’t say it just right, she will go back and read it again with more zeal and excitement.

Sometimes we forget to notice the exclamation points in Scripture. There are many episodes that we read without the enthusiasm they deserve. Perhaps we have heard the stories so many times that it takes a bit of the edge and excitement off of our reading.

It shouldn’t be that way. It doesn’t have to be that way. Let’s start looking at the Scriptures through the eyes of a child and get excited about the amazing things that our God has done. After all, he still is all-powerful, and he promises to continue to do mighty wonders as he interacts with mankind. Isn’t that something to get excited about!?

Let’s make a mental list today of some of the events in the Bible that deserve an exclamation point.

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Hallowed Ground

Posted on November 20, 2010 by jesustrek

My wife and I just spent a few days on hallowed ground. We worshiped in a place where thousands before us have lifted up their voices in praise, chanting such phrases as “C-A-T-S” and “Go Big Blue”.

The “hallowed ground” I’m referring to is Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky, home of the University of Kentucky Wildcats basketball team. But we weren’t attending a home game. We were worshiping with a different group of true believers at the National Missionary Convention.

Many people go to extremes when rooting for their favorite team. I hope we can get as excited about our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ as we do about sports.

Jesus says that God is looking for people who will worship him in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24). The purpose of our missionary efforts is to get as many people as we can to accept Jesus as their savior. Our goal is to see more and more of this planet turn into hallowed ground as people all over the earth come to worship God through his son Jesus.

How are you and your church involved in this effort?

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Killing the Rat

Posted on November 19, 2010 by jesustrek

“Dave” was working out of town. Arrangements had been made for him to stay at the house of a family who was away from home for a couple of days. He was given a key and told to make himself at home.

As he was working on his computer late that night, Dave was startled by a rat. With a rush of adrenaline, he killed the pesky vermin with his shoe. Only later did he notice the empty gerbil cage with its door open.

What Dave did turned out to be a mistake, but his instincts were good, and I agree with his philosophy—“If it looks like a rat, kill it!”

The Bible says that we should avoid even the appearance of evil (Eph. 5:3). We should eliminate any relationship, speech pattern or behavioral tendencies that can be harmful to our walk with Christ and our witness to the world.

What “rat” do you need to kill?

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Right from Left

Posted on November 18, 2010 by jesustrek

Our new house has a sink with the hot and cold water faucets reversed. Normally, the hot water is on the left and the cold on the right, so this abnormality has me a bit confused. Now, I can go to a sink that functions in the traditional way, and I have to stand there and think for a couple of seconds before I turn on the water.

Our society has become more than a bit confused about matters that we didn’t used to even have to think about—matters that had long ago been set in order by God. To name a few examples: people are confused about vulgar language, sexual behavior, treating others with respect, having an honest work ethic, the role of government, personal responsibility, raising children, succeeding in marriage…

Okay, I didn’t mean to get on a roll like that, but I do have one question. Who changed the water faucets? Why are we so confused about matters that we once had no problem understanding?

The answer of course, is that many people have stopped listening to God. Our culture has forgotten our biblical roots that have allowed this nation to become great. Even Christian people have ignored foundational truths, and they are paying the price with their confusion.

However, God still loves confused people. He was concerned about the people of Nineveh, a group that he describes as “people who cannot tell their right hand from their left…” (Jonah 4:11). But God didn’t want these people to stay confused. He sent Jonah to preach the word of God to them so they could understand the truth.

God doesn’t want us to stay confused either. Even though he loves us regardless, he wants us to get it right.

Speaking of right, is that the hot or the cold?!

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