Powerful!

Posted on April 9, 2018 by jesustrek

Giancarlo Stanton

This past offseason the New York Yankees acquired power hitter Giancarlo Stanton in a trade. Stanton led the major leagues last season when he blasted 59 home runs for the Florida Marlins. Stanton will beef up an already powerful Yankee lineup that includes last year’s rookie sensation Aaron Judge, who hit 52 homers last season.

Someone pointed out that the Yankees have a long-standing tradition of having power hitters on their team. Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, Reggie Jackson and Alex Rodriguez are some of the famous sluggers who played for the Yankees. It seems that the Yankee organization has power in their DNA.

Let us remember that the church has power in our DNA also. We have the Holy Spirit living in us to give us strength and power to accomplish great things for the Lord. Let’s use that power to do mighty things for God!

“To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.”—Colossians 1:29.

 

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Get Rid of that Spare Tire

Posted on April 4, 2018 by jesustrek

Many people are dismayed because they have picked up a few pounds over the years. They are right to be concerned. There are many health issues that are complicated by carrying around excess weight.

There is also a spiritual dimension associated with our striving to remain fit. The Bible warns against gluttony (Prov.23:2) and encourages exercise (1 Tim.4:8). Also, there is the danger that giving in to our physical desires can dull our senses spiritually. Perhaps that is why there is so much in the Bible about fasting. Proverbs 23:19-21 says, “Listen, my son, and be wise, and set your heart on the right path: Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags.”

Let us not fall into the trap of giving in to our physical desires to the point that it makes us spiritually drowsy.

 

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Death Brings Reconciliation

Posted on April 3, 2018 by jesustrek

Have you ever noticed that death often brings about a reconciliation? Sometimes a family comes back together after the passing of a loved one. Friends may put aside their differences after they have lost someone they both loved. Sometimes an entire congregation can see reconciliation occur because of a death. Death often brings about a reconciliation.

The death of Jesus Christ brings about the most important reconciliation of all. God has reconciled us to himself by the death of his Son Jesus on the cross. Because of his great sacrifice, we can have fellowship with God.

“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.”—2 Corinthians 5:18-19.

 

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Death Is Serious Business!

Posted on April 2, 2018 by jesustrek

Rodney Dangerfield

Sometimes we joke about death. Woody Allen said that he wasn’t afraid to die, he just didn’t want to be there when it happened. Rodney Dangerfield, before undergoing a risky surgery, said that if the operation went well, he would be in the hospital about two weeks. If it did not go well, he would be in the hospital for about an hour-and-a-half!

Death is really not a joking matter. The Bible takes death very seriously, calling death our enemy. The Bible does not minimize death, but it maximizes Christ’s victory over death.

“…Death has been swallowed up in victory.”—1 Corinthians 15:54.

 

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Big, Big Cross

Posted on March 30, 2018 by jesustrek

Bald Knob Cross

One of the largest crosses in the world is located on Bald Knob in southern Illinois. It towers 111 feet high and can be seen for miles in every direction.

However, the cross of Jesus towers even higher. It towers over our vain ambitions. It towers above our petty concerns. It towers over everything that is worldly and unspiritual. It towers above life itself.

Let’s lift up the crucified Jesus so that all the world can see the huge impact of the cross.

“And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”—John 12:32.

 

 

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Obedience

Posted on March 29, 2018 by jesustrek

James Isenberg remembers teaching a lesson to a group of Boy Scouts one evening. The topic was the Ten Commandments. James asked the scouts if they could name any of them. They began to call out answers—some right, some wrong. One kid shouted out, “Don’t drink and drive!”

OK, that is some very good advice, but it didn’t make the Top 10!

That’s just a reminder that there are a lot of important instructions in the Bible. The list of things to do and not to do numbers far more than ten. While this fact might seem overwhelming at times, we need to remember that following Jesus is a lifelong process. We are continually learning how we can do a better job of obeying our Lord and Savior, Jesus.

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”—Matthew 28:19-20.

 

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The Surprise of Easter

Posted on March 28, 2018 by jesustrek

It just so happens that Easter falls on April 1 this year—April Fools’ Day. This has led some pranksters to consider the humor in staging a fake Easter egg hunt—allowing children to believe that there were eggs hidden for them to find when in fact that was not the case. It seems to me to be just a little bit cruel to even consider such an unpleasant surprise.

Many people must have been unpleasantly surprised when Jesus rose from the tomb on resurrection Sunday: the religious leaders who had worked so hard to get Jesus out of the way, the crowds who had mocked him as he hung on the cross, the Roman soldiers who executed him, and the devil, who probably thought that he had won when Jesus died.

The fact that Jesus was raised from the dead may have been an unpleasant surprise for some, but it was the best thing that could have happened for the human race. The crucified, yet resurrected, Jesus gives hope to all humanity. Lost in our sins, we now have the way to be reconciled to God, who in his mercy sent his one and only Son to die to pay for our sins. This crucified Jesus was raised from the dead, giving assurance of life after death, not only for Jesus, but for all who would place their complete trust in him.

For those who believe, Easter is the best surprise ever!

“…He has risen!…”—Mark 16:6.

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Very Tempting

Posted on March 27, 2018 by jesustrek

Lewis Grizzard

The late humorist Lewis Grizzard once said, “I am by no means trying to condone adultery, but the fact is, it’s one of the most popular of the Ten Commandments to break. Who goes around making graven images today?”

Some sins do indeed seem to be more popular than others. It has always been that way. From ancient times, we see in the Bible that people gave in to the same temptations that plague mankind today. Sinful behaviors that we see today are certainly nothing new.

The fact that sinful temptations are an on-going occurrence means that we must be ever diligent to resist them. Don’t ever let down your guard!

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”—James 4:7.

 

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Too Many Voices

Posted on March 26, 2018 by jesustrek

Years ago I was playing slow pitch softball, and a player on the opposing team hit a scorching line drive up the middle. The ball was hit so hard that our pitcher wasn’t able to field it cleanly, but he did get his glove on it and knocked it down. However, he couldn’t locate the ball, even though we were all shouting at him, telling him where the ball was. He looked to his left, then to his right. Finally, he saw that the ball was directly behind him, but by then it was too late. The runner had safely reached first base.

Later we asked our pitcher why it took so long for him to find the ball, especially with all of us telling him where it was. He answered, “All I heard was noise that sounded like a bunch of dogs barking!” What he needed was not several people shouting at him. What he needed was one clear voice telling him what to do.

In this world there are many voices coming at us all at once. It can be quite confusing. What we need to do is to concentrate on one clear voice—the voice of Jesus!

“…This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”—Matthew 17:5.

 

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Standing for the Truth

Posted on March 21, 2018 by jesustrek

We live in an age where many consider truth to be relative. To insist that there is such a thing as absolute truth offends a lot of people. However, Jesus says that the truth not only exists, but that it is crucially important—“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”—John 8:32.

Don’t live in a self-constructed prison of falsehood. Be aware of the schemes of the devil, the father of lies (John 8:44). Always be ready to take a bold stand for the truth!

The late Wayne Smith said, “It is better to be divided by truth than united in error. It is better to speak the truth that hurts than falsehoods that comfort. It is better to be hated for telling the truth than liked for telling a lie. It is better to stand alone with truth than be wrong with a multitude.”

Are you ready to stand for the truth?

 

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