Paying Attention

Posted on November 20, 2017 by jesustrek

Ruth and Nolan Ryan

Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan always took a moment during his games to pop his head out of the dugout and scan the stands, looking for his wife, Ruth. When he saw her, he would grin or nod to acknowledge her presence. Then he would turn his attention back to the game once again.

It was a simple moment, but one that was very important for Ruth. She appreciated this gesture that was repeated countless times over a span of some thirty years, dating back to high school. His consistent attention spoke volumes of his love for her.

Let us be consistent in how we acknowledge those we love. It is not always the big, memorable moments that are the most important, but the continual attention we direct their way.

“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.”—Romans 13:8.

 

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Choose Wisely!

Posted on November 17, 2017 by jesustrek

Monte Hall died of heart failure on September 30, 2017 at the age of 96. Hall will be most remembered as the creator and host of the long-running popular television game show “Let’s Make a Deal”. The congenial Hall was universally well-liked and will be fondly remembered for his philanthropy as well as his contributions to the entertainment industry.

Contestants on “Let’s Make a Deal” would have the opportunity to trade what they had already won on the show for an unknown item. They would often have to choose between one of three different doors. They could end up with a prize worth thousands of dollars, or a gag gift that was practically worthless. The result of their choices could be very exhilarating or quite disappointing.

When it comes to eternity, we don’t have to choose blindly. Jesus tells us that we should trust him, and him alone, for our salvation. Please choose wisely!

“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’”—John 14:6.

 

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In Control

Posted on November 16, 2017 by jesustrek

Laura Smith writes: “Our young daughter was learning the fruit of the Spirit, so I asked her to recite them to me. ‘Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and remote control!’”

You have to appreciate the young girl’s effort, but perhaps her misquote points out a weakness that many of us have—we watch too much television. There is nothing wrong with watching an occasional program. TV offers us a chance to escape from the grind of everyday life and unwind for a while. It also provides us with news and information that may help us to live better lives. Television can encourage and inspire.

However, perhaps we need to exhibit the self-control that allows us to use the remote control to turn off the TV set and do something more constructive.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is…self-control…”—Galatians 5:22-23.

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Stay Focused!

Posted on November 15, 2017 by jesustrek

There is always a lot of commotion going on in Washington, D.C. Many groups and individuals are constantly striving to make sure that their interests and special causes are in the national debate. It can become difficult to sort through all the noise and focus on what is important. One politician calls this chaos “weapons of mass distraction.” I think his point was that all of this commotion makes it much more difficult to get anything done in Washington.

We have to stay focused on getting things done for God’s kingdom. Satan has many “weapons of mass distraction” that he uses in an effort to get us sidetracked. We have to be diligent in staying on course, focusing on what is truly important.

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”—Matthew 6:33.

 

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Take a Stand

Posted on November 14, 2017 by jesustrek

In the passage of Scripture where the apostle Paul says that we need to put on the full armor of God (Eph.6:10-20), he urges us several times to take a stand. He wants God’s people to use the power God gives us to resist evil and stand firmly in favor of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Many professional football players have chosen to kneel or sit during the playing of the National Anthem before NFL games this season. Their decision has been met with disapproval from the great majority of fans and other members of our society. Tone deaf to public opinion, many players continued their unpopular protests. The sound of booing that cascades down from the partially filled stadiums across the nation seems to be saying loudly and clearly—“We want you to stand!”

Throughout the Bible God says to us loudly and clearly that he wants us to take a stand. He wants us to stand against evil. He wants us to stand for what is right and good. With all the evil going on in the world around us, it truly is time to take a stand!

“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”—Ephesians 6:11.

 

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Giving Thanks

Posted on November 10, 2017 by jesustrek

It has been said that Thanksgiving is a very confusing holiday for atheists. They have all these feelings of gratitude, but no one to whom they can give thanks!

Most of us know that there is a God who pours out countless blessings into our lives. James 1:17 reminds us, “Every good and perfect gift is from above…”

We also know that God expects us to express our thanks to him in meaningful ways. The words “thank”, “thankful” and “thanksgiving” appear in the Bible in various forms 150 times. Let’s look at a few of the ways we can give thanks to God.

First, we can give an offering. Psalm 50:14 says, “Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High.” Beyond the tithe that belongs to God, you can give extra offerings to mission work or benevolent efforts that are made for the cause of Christ. There are many ways you can show your gratitude with your giving.

Second, we can appreciate our healing. Only one of the ten men healed of leprosy took time to thank Jesus (Luke 17:11-19). Perhaps God has brought healing to you or a loved one. Have you properly thanked him?

Next, we could pray. Colossians 4:2 reminds us, “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” Too often when we pray we go straight to our “wish list” instead of taking time to count our blessings and thank God for them. I suspect that many of us need to add more thanksgiving to our prayers.

Another way to show God the gratitude he deserves is by singing to him. The Bible has a lot of singing in it—a whole book of Psalms for example. Ezra 3:11 says, “With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the Lord: ‘He is good; his love toward Israel endures forever.’” A thankful heart will occasionally burst into a song of praise and thanksgiving.

Finally, we can exhibit thanks by worshiping God. Hebrews 12:28 urges us, “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.” Hearts that are truly thankful make an effort to be in the assembly on Sunday morning.

These are just some of the many ways we can show our gratitude to God.

For Christians, thanksgiving should be much more than a holiday—it should be a lifestyle!

 

 

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The Lord’s Army

Posted on November 9, 2017 by jesustrek

This Saturday is Veterans’ Day in the U.S. It is a time when we remember those who served in the military in the past and those who currently serve. We thank them for their sacrifices that attained and preserved the freedom that we enjoy in this great nation.

We also must remember that we Christians are in the Lord’s army. We enlisted when we chose to follow Jesus. Our battle is of a spiritual nature, but that does not mean that it is less real.

In his book Let’s Get Moving, Stuart Briscoe shares the following: “From my experience in the armed forces I have learned that the soldier needs to be thoroughly aware of three things. He needs to know who his enemy is, he must be fully conversant with his own equipment and be clear about his own area of responsibility. Should the occasion ever arise where a soldier in battle cannot identify his enemy, doesn’t know how to operate his equipment and has no idea what he is expected to do, it is highly unlikely that he will survive, much less triumph!”

Our enemy is the devil, our equipment is the armor of God (Eph.6:10-18) and what we are expected to do is to follow the orders of our commander, Jesus Christ. If we don’t understand this, we cannot hope to be victorious.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”—Ephesians 6:10-11.

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He Who Hesitates

Posted on November 8, 2017 by jesustrek

An overly cautious driver hesitated as he attempted to merge with traffic on a busy freeway, finally coming to a complete stop on the ramp. The traffic thinned out a bit, but the driver still waited, hoping for a better opportunity to make his way onto the highway. The driver in the car behind him finally let his frustration be known, shouting furiously, “The sign says to yield, not give up!”

Sometimes we are hesitant to witness about our faith in Jesus Christ. We don’t recognize opportunities to share our faith as they materialize. We think that perhaps the situation will get better if we wait a while longer. Then maybe the conditions will be more suitable for evangelism to take place.

If we wait too long, we might lose the opportunity to witness altogether.

“Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.”—Colossians 4:5.

 

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What’s On the Inside?

Posted on November 4, 2017 by jesustrek

A couple paid $2 million for a luxury condominium in Weehawken, New Jersey and decided to do some renovations on the unit. What was discovered hidden in the dwelling shocked them. Behind the walls they found bottles of urine, rodents and rotten food! The couple is suing a construction company for leaving behind such a hidden mess.

Jesus chastised the Pharisees for appearing to be clean on the outside, while harboring inner sins (Mark 7:1-23). He taught his disciples that it is what’s on the inside that matters most.

We can often hide our sins from others, but we can never hide them from God. Let’s be careful not to put up a facade that makes us look good on the outside. This calls for self-examination and honest repentance.

“For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”—Mark 7:21-23.

 

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What’s The Purpose for That?

Posted on November 3, 2017 by jesustrek

A church decided that they needed to upgrade their sound system, so they had a professional come and evaluate their needs. As the technician studied the layout of the sanctuary, he noticed a huge opening in the wall behind the stage. He approached the opening and leaned way over to check it out. From this position, his question echoed from the baptistery, “What’s a bathtub doing in a church?”

It’s a shame that so many non-Christians have no clue about the significance of baptism. It’s a greater shame when those who claim that Christ is their savior do not understand the meaning of this important Christian ceremony.

“And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.”—Acts 22:16.

 

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