Time for the Collection

Posted on February 8, 2018 by jesustrek

G. Brian Manning writes about the time when his five-year-old son had just graduated from wearing bow ties to neck ties. He was so proud to be dressed just like his Dad.

However, one Sunday morning, his son clutched his tie tightly, and asked with a panicked whisper, “Dad, why did the pastor say they’re going to collect the ties and offering?”

You can understand how a five-year-old might become confused about the biblical principle of tithing. However, as we become older we don’t have much of an excuse to remain ignorant on the subject.

“A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord.”—Leviticus 27:30.

 

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You Can’t Compartmentalize Your Faith

Posted on February 7, 2018 by jesustrek

Tony Dungy

Former Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy is now a professional football commentator. Dungy was criticized for his comments about this year’s Super Bowl performance by Eagles’ quarterback Nick Foles. Dungy mentioned that Foles’ faith helped his performance in the big game. Some critics said that football analysis and religion should not be mixed.

The world will never understand that true Christians cannot compartmentalize their faith. We can’t put Jesus in a box and pretend that he does not influence every part of our lives.

Jesus says that we are the “salt of the earth” and the “light of the world” (Matthew 5:13-16). Christians infiltrate society and spread the truth of Jesus in any and every type of situation.

Faith that is not shared is not true faith. That’s true for quarterbacks, announcers and your average Christian who sits in the pew each Sunday.

 

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Inclusive

Posted on February 7, 2018 by jesustrek

Justin Trudeau

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau corrected a woman when she asked a question during a town hall meeting last Friday. The woman, reportedly affiliated with the World Mission Society Church of God, used the word “mankind”.

Apparently, this didn’t sit too well with Trudeau, who responded, “We like to say ‘peoplekind’, not necessarily ‘mankind’, because it’s more inclusive.”

The crowd showed its approval by applauding Trudeau’s politically correct comment.

The Bible says, “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:27).

That’s inclusive enough for me.

 

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Ulterior Motive

Posted on February 6, 2018 by jesustrek

Genia Obal remembers the time when her seven-year-old daughter won $2 for her memory work in Sunday school. After the morning service, the pastor’s wife congratulated her.

The daughter proudly announced, “And I put it all in the morning’s offering!”

“My, how wonderful!” the pastor’s wife exclaimed. “I’m sure God will be pleased.”

“Yes,” the child replied, “Now maybe God will let me do some of the things I want to do!”

We always have to be careful about our motives for giving, don’t we?

“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”—2 Corinthians 9:7.

 

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Breaking Bread Together

Posted on February 2, 2018 by jesustrek

I recently attended a worship service where the person leading the worshipers into communion time said, “Now is your personal time to be alone with God.”

I strongly disagree.

Many Christians have come to the conclusion that communion is just between them and God. I don’t know where they ever got that idea. The church at Corinth was harshly chastised by the apostle Paul for thinking only of themselves at communion time, and not thinking of the other worshipers (1 Corinthians 11:17-23). This isolationist mentality caused a serious division in the church.

So, let’s get away from the idea that communion is our personal, alone time with God. It’s not. Let’s promote unity in the body of Christ by acknowledging that communion is to be practiced as a part of our corporate worship.

“On the first day of the week we came together (my emphasis) to break bread…”—Acts 20:7.

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How She Loves Me!

Posted on January 31, 2018 by jesustrek

According to Jesus, the greatest two commandments are to love God and love people (Matthew 22:34-40). Everything we do should be measured by that standard.

We need to remember that “love” is primarily an action verb. It is not how we feel, it is what we do that shows our love.

Let me tell you how my wife is showing her love for me. She recently read an article that claimed that people who own dogs not only live longer, they also live happier lives. So she has started to look for a dog for me.

The article also supported that old theory that, over time, dogs and their owners tend to start to look like each other. So my wife is not just looking for any dog for me, she is trying to find one that looks like Brad Pitt!

“Above all, love each other deeply…”—1 Peter 4:8.

 

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Self-Denial

Posted on January 30, 2018 by jesustrek

Psalm 132:1 is an interesting verse—“Lord, remember David and all his self-denial.”

The text goes on to recount how David put the Lord’s concerns above his own.

Self-denial is a challenging concept. We are familiar with the teaching of Jesus that in order to be one of his disciples we must deny ourselves and pick up our cross and follow him (Mark 8:34). And we have read that we should properly align our priorities by seeking God’s kingdom first rather than our own selfish desires (Matthew 6:33).

Jesus set the example of self-denial by leaving his position in heaven to come down to earth to live and die for us (Philippians 2:5-8). Jesus describes his own self-denial in Mark 10:45, where he says, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

The Bible continually instructs us to deny ourselves so that we can serve God and bless others. But it is difficult to do. We have this selfish sinful nature that pushes us toward seeking our own wants and desires. Self-denial is one of the most difficult of all disciplines.

I suppose the challenge is to try to live our lives so that someday someone can pray, “Lord, remember ___________________ and all his/her self-denial.”

 

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Off Road

Posted on January 26, 2018 by jesustrek

My car is showing the effects of driving in winter weather. That means it is filthy. I felt better about how my car looked when I pulled up in a parking lot next to a 4-wheel drive vehicle that had obviously been doing some off-road driving. This vehicle was covered with a thick layer of mud. I wondered how the driver was even able to see through the windshield well enough to drive it!

Jesus says we need to keep on the straight and narrow road. If we get off the road, sin muddies up our lives in various ways and makes it difficult for us to see how to navigate our way through life. Off-road adventures may be fun for those who like to drive 4-wheelers. But spiritually, we need to stay on the road.

“But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”—Matthew 7:14.

 

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Poor Excuse

Posted on January 25, 2018 by jesustrek

Did you hear the one about the TV weather reporter who lost her job because her forecasts were never accurate? In an interview for another position, she was asked why she left her last job. She replied, “The climate didn’t agree with me.”

We can invent some very clever excuses, especially when it comes to our reluctance to serve the Lord. Like Moses in Exodus 4, we can find all kinds of reasons to decline the Lord’s call to serve him.

However, the Lord answers our excuses with the promise of his presence and his power. God will never send us out on any mission without coming along with us, giving us his strength every step of the way.

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

 

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The Children Speak

Posted on January 22, 2018 by jesustrek

Today marks the 45th anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade decision in which the U.S. Supreme Court essentially legalized abortion in the United States. Since that tragic decision, nearly 60 million children have been killed in their mother’s womb.

Yesterday many churches in our nation responded to the American holocaust by celebrating the sanctity of life. As I preached a pro-life sermon yesterday, some of the infants and toddlers in the audience were cooing and babbling. Their voices were like beautiful background music to the sermon, affirming and celebrating the truth of God’s Word about the sanctity of life.

“…Choose life…”—Deuteronomy 30:19.

 

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