Everything New

Posted on January 12, 2018 by jesustrek

A church once hosted a birthday party for one of their members, a gentleman who had just turned 100 years old. One of the newer members of the church commented to the guest of honor, “In your lifetime you must have experienced a lot of changes in the church.”

“Yes,” the old fellow replied, “And I was against every one of them!”

We are often resistant to change, but God says, “…I am making everything new!…” (Revelation 21:5). Someday there will be a new heaven and a new earth. In the meantime, God is continually shaking things up. The Lord wants to bring change to our lives so that we will become more like Jesus. 1 Peter 2:21 says, “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.”

Be honest. Is there an area of your life that God wants to change?

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”—Romans 12:2.

 

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New Name

Posted on January 11, 2018 by jesustrek

Five-year-old B.J. was looking forward to his first day of school, but he didn’t enjoy himself as much as he imagined he would. As a matter of fact, he came home in a very bad mood. His trouble began when the teacher took attendance and he never heard his name called.

“Why didn’t anyone tell me my name was William!?” he complained.

I suppose it could take some time to get used to a new name.

Isaiah 62:2 says, “The nations will see your vindication, and all kings your glory; you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will bestow.”

Some people think that this prophecy was fulfilled in the early days of the church, when “…The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.” (Acts 11:26).

In any case, it is such a privilege to be able to wear the name “Christian”. Let us never take that privilege lightly!

 

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Opinionated

Posted on January 10, 2018 by jesustrek

A few of us were sitting in a classroom at church, waiting for someone else to join us for an early morning prayer meeting. There was a lull in the conversation, and in the quietness of the moment, someone noticed how loud the clock on the wall was ticking. Then we all noticed that the time on the clock was incorrect. I remarked, “That’s just how a lot of people are when it comes to their politics—loud and wrong!”

We live in an age when public discourse is often loud, rude and uncivil. I think we would be much better off if we would speak less, listen more and try to understand one another better.

“Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions.”—Proverbs 18:2.

 

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Poor Imagination

Posted on January 9, 2018 by jesustrek

John Lennon

I recently heard a recording of John Lennon singing his hit song Imagine in front of a live audience. When Lennon sang the first line, “Imagine there’s no heaven…” the audience burst into applause. It seems to me the notion that there is no heaven is a terrible thing to celebrate!

It is a sad worldview that leaves no room for an eternity in heaven with a loving heavenly Father. The hope of heaven gives many people the encouragement they need to persevere on earth. We Christians know that we are destined for better things than this temporal life with all of its troubles and sorrows. We have something wonderful to look forward to—eternal life in heaven!

“If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.”—1 Corinthians 15:19.

 

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Questionable Gift

Posted on January 8, 2018 by jesustrek

Would you eat this soup?

Last year someone brought an unusual donation to a food bank in Wales. It was a can of soup. “What is so unusual about that?” you might ask. This particular can of soup was at least 46 years old!

The price was still visibly stamped on the can, so someone did the research and found that the soup had been produced nearly a half century ago.

I am not sure what was done with the can of soup, but, needless to say, it is not the kind of gift that the food bank expects.

We need to be careful about what we bring to God. He is not pleased with substandard offerings of our time, talent and treasure. He wants our best, and we should always strive to give him good gifts.

“Bring the best of the firstfruits of your soil to the house of the Lord your God…”—Exodus 23:19.

 

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Simply Foolish

Posted on January 5, 2018 by jesustrek

A man was seen walking down the sidewalk, tossing his car keys up in the air and catching them. After one too many tosses, he dropped the keys and watched in horror as they disappeared through a grate and into the sewer that ran beneath the street.

Those who saw what had happened felt sorry for the man. That is, they felt sorry for him until they heard him exclaim, “Oh, no! Not again!”

It’s not smart to make the same mistakes over and over again. It’s foolish to commit the same sins time after time, hoping that somehow the results will be different this time and that there will be no price to pay.

We need to learn from our mistakes and repent of our sins.

“The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.”—Proverbs 14:18.

 

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Today Is Sunday

Posted on January 4, 2018 by jesustrek

A man who had retired a few months previously was asked if he had trouble keeping up with what day it was since he no longer had to go to work. “Oh, I don’t even try to remember what day it is.” he replied. “I just know that the day the big newspaper comes is the day I get dressed and go to church!”

Retired or not, we all need to know when Sunday arrives!

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”—Hebrews 10:24-25.

 

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Truth

Posted on January 3, 2018 by jesustrek

“The truth needs so little rehearsal.”—Barbara Kingsolver.

Years ago I had a friend who liked to entertain people with the stories of his exploits. The trouble was, much of what he told was made up, and he didn’t keep good track of what he had said previously. Many of his stories sharply contradicted the version that he had told earlier.

How much easier it is to always be truthful. Then you don’t have to worry about getting caught up in the web of your own deceit.

“Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.”—Ephesians 4:25.

 

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Valuable Find

Posted on January 2, 2018 by jesustrek

A teenager lost a contact lens while playing basketball in his driveway. After a brief search, he gave up looking for it and told his mother what had happened. She immediately started searching for it and within a few minutes she found the lens.

“How did you find it so quickly when I couldn’t do it?” her son asked.

“It’s really quite simple,” she answered. “We weren’t looking for the same thing. You were looking for a small piece of plastic. I was looking for $150!”

Many people underestimate the value of God’s kingdom, therefore they don’t seek it diligently.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.”—Matthew 13:45-46.

 

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How Do You See Yourself?

Posted on December 29, 2017 by jesustrek

A toddler once found a dark red lipstick and proceeded to apply it to herself the way she had seen her mother do. By the time her mother discovered what she had done, the little girl had lipstick all over her face and was beaming with pride, thinking that she had made herself beautiful.

As soon as her mother allowed her to see in the mirror what she really looked like, the little girl started crying. When faced with the reality of what she actually looked like, she was not pleased at all with what she saw.

Sometimes we tend to think that we look better than we really do. A good, honest assessment is a difficult, but necessary thing to do.

“…Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.”—Romans 12:3.

 

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