RIBS

           Some actions have simple results. My parents would tell me to take out the trash. At that time, we lived on an acre and a half and the trash heap was an old abandoned basement hole that was about 75 feet from our small house in the country. In the winter months, it was always dark and it seemed as if the wind was always blowing causing the three apple trees and a row of Lombardi Poplars to be continually moving their branches. In the darkness, I could just get enough of a glimpse of movement to cause chills to run up my back. I would run out there, heave the garbage and hope it landed somewhere in the large hole and immediately run back to the only light available, that of the door from which I had just come. It was a simple act but one that made me fearful of things lurking in the dark. Simple acts have simple results. Other acts have greater results that have many other things along with them. Such is the act of believing in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Jesus Told Nicodemus that he must be born again. It is a simple act yet has compound results. First Corinthians 6:19-20 says, “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.” 

          Many, but not all people, can recount the day and perhaps even the hour, when they believed in the Lord Jesus Christ. In that precious moment many things took place which remain with the individual. Some of those things are connected with what takes place through the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. There are four acts that take place which I like to refer to as RIBS. It is easy to remember. In an instant, you are regenerated, indwelt, baptized and sealed with the Holy Spirit. It all took place as sparks of smitten steel as mentioned in the hymn, “And Can it Be?” At the moment of salvation, we are made new in regeneration. We are also indwelt with the Holy Spirit as today's passage describes our current condition. We are baptized into the Body of Christ and we are sealed with the Holy Spirit as the earnest of our inheritance. We should be about ready to jump up and shout, “Hallelujah!” This goes on throughout the life of the believer. Where you and I go and what we do is always accompanied by the presence of the Holy Spirit in us. We are exhorted to neither grieve nor quench the Holy Spirit in our lives and yet we do it all the time. There are many times when our conversation, our expressions and our deeds to not match the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. The non believer is left to the product of his or her circumstance but the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ is filled with the power of the Holy Spirit and therefore dwells in victory in this life over those circumstances. No matter what is going on around me today, I can rest in the good news that the Holy Spirit has indwelt me and every believer around the world. Where we go He goes and what we do, He is right there with us. Praise God today for His presence in the life of every believer through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Viral

            I recall that there were two words to describe the spreading of disease. One was “bacterial” and the other one was “viral.” The terms denoted if a disease was caused by a bacteria or a virus. The two “germs” were different and different medicine had to be used in order to combat either one of them. The term “viral” has taken on a new meaning in the present culture. It can now refer to a large number of people who view and respond to a certain piece of information such as a picture, an article, a song, or any other type of information. We often hear of admonitions from someone to help make this go “viral.” The action can take place in both good and bad situations and the result can either be good or bad. Social media has become the platform for making things go “viral.” What a shame that it has been so. Acts 17:6 says, “And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;” 

            There was this situation back in the early days of the church when the gospel began to be spread throughout the civilized world. The Apostle Paul and his team had been quite successful in planting and nurturing churches in Asia Minor and now heading into Europe. The accusers at this setting in Acts 17 called them “...These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also.” Being “viral” would not have been known in those days and so the common term for something that was spreading was “turning the world upside down.” The power of the Holy Spirit was quite evident among the disciples in those days. Jerusalem was estimated by two historians as being between 600,000 and 1,100,000 people. In Peter's first sermon, three thousand souls were added to the church and his second sermon resulted in five thousand souls being added. From then on, they didn't count the number but said it was a great amount. Yes, the gospel was being spread in a remarkable manner. It was supernatural. It was under the power of the Holy Spirit. If we were then, we could say that that the Gospel message had gone “viral.” Most of that which is going viral these days is spreading hatred and violence Photos and videos can skillfully be manipulated to show something other than that which really happened. Years ago, we saw an example of this in the movie “Forest Gump” where he is present in a variety of settings and with many famous people, none of which were true. What is true and trustworthy today? What is it that should be going “viral?” The power of the church has faded over the years and is almost non existent in today's culture. The Holy Spirit has not left us. The same power is available today as it was in the days of the early church. One of the greatest messages that should be going viral is the “empty tomb.” The message, “He is not here. He has risen as He said.” should be the one that is really going viral. We have new life because of the resurrection. We have a message to tell because of the resurrection. We have churches, hymn books, joyous music and a message to proclaim to the world because of the resurrection. The message of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation has continuity and purpose because of the proof of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Believers today have forgotten the power of the resurrection and the power of the Holy Spirit. The church today is not even turning its own neighborhood upside down or its own city upside down let alone the world itself. How about you and me? Are we part of turning the world upside down for Christ or are we making a ten pound zucchini more important than the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ? Praise God today for the empty tomb.

Kicking Tires

         Purchasing a car is a big investment and you want to be as sure as you can that you are making a wise choice. In the old days, I recall people "kicking tires." I once heard one of our relatives speaking to my Dad about going out and kicking a few tires. That meant he was looking for a new car. There was something going on as the salesman would speak about the prospective purchase as the buyer would look down at the ground and begin kicking the tire. I never knew what this actually proved but have witnessed many people kicking tires to get their own opinion of the vehicle. These days, we don't necessarily kick the tires but we take the car out on a test drive. Why even prospective buyers of fighter aircraft witness what a plane can do before signing on the dotted line to purchase any number of them. It is always good to see how it works before you make it your own. Acts 1:1-2 says, " The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:” 

         The Book of Acts is the only “historical” book in the New Testament. It shows the life of the early church from the ascension of Christ. Some refer to the book as “The Acts of the Apostles” and others “The Acts of the Holy Spirit.” In either case, we see the formation and beginning years of the “church” or the “body” of believers that first met after the ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ. The opening chapters show the difference between apostles lives after the events of Pentecost. Peter, who had denied Christ three times, now preaches one of the most dynamic messages where thousands are professing Christ as their Lord and savior. Philip becomes an evangelist in Samaria having a successful work there and then is ushered down to speak to the Ethiopian Eunuch and to lead him to salvation in Christ. Then, of course, we learn of the exploits of the soon to be apostle Paul and how his conversion changed his life. We able to witness the growth of the church from Jerusalem to Rome. The book of Acts is unique in that there is no ending to it. Being a historical book, it is still being written so to speak even today as the Gospel message still goes out to unreached people in the world. For us, today, it is like kicking a few tires or taking it out on a test drive because we can see by the history of the church what it can do and how it should operate. We can learn about obeying the leading of the Holy Spirit as we see Paul and Silas finally stopping in Troas in order to determine the leading of the Holy Spirit as to where they should go next and there they received the Macedonian call. We learn that persecution drove the church out of Jerusalem unto the far corners of the civilized world. Most of all, we learn the answer to the most important question, “What must I do to be saved?” Paul answered, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ...” Just think about it. The Book of Acts is the church in action and shows us the mighty power of God. Praise God today that we still have His Body of Believers, the church, present as a testimony of God in this world.

What Things Are Valuable?

           Of all of your possessions, what is the most valuable one of all? My Father influenced me into becoming a "coin collector" years ago and so I would start looking at the dates and mint marks of every coin that passed through my fingers. After the buffalo nickeles, there came the series that featured Thomas Jefferson. I found most of the coins in that set at that time, in circulatin except for two of them. I could never find a 1939 "S" nor a 1050 "D" nickel. In order to complete the set, years ago, I purchased one of each of those two coins. The coins that I purchased were not in "mint" condition nor where they "proof" coins so were more affordable. The mint numbers for the 50 "D" were very low causing them to be more valuable as the years went by. The less there are of a certain year, the more valuable they become. Somethings can be one of a kind, but are only valuable to one or maybe two people, such as the used bowling pin that stands in the corner of my home office. Who would want a used bowling pin? My wife won it at an all night Word of Life youth function while bowling at 2:00 AM in West Virginia. There is however, one thing that surpasses the value of anything here on earth and it is the human soul. Matthew 16:26 says, "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" 

           The Lord Jesus Christ showed us just how valuable the soul is. The statement in the verse reminds us that all of the things of this world would not be able to compensate for the loss of only one item and it is the human soul. We realize what it means to "lose one's own soul." This is what takes place when a person come to the end of life and decideds that the pursuit of riches is more valuable than anything else. In their pursuit, they seek the gain all of the wealth and power that they can thinking that somehow this is going to be important in the end. However, when the final day comes and one is ushered into eternity, there is no trade in value for ones earthly possessions. You may have heard the expression, "You can't take it with you." Your earthly possessions will probably be auctioned off to the highest bidder as someone else seeks to profit by your "things." Your fancy house, new car, retstored classic vehicles, your coin collection, your collection of firearms, your basement filled with antiques your restored Texaco gas pump and all other items will mean absolutely nothing as you stand before The One and Only Wise God of the universe. It would have been a simple task to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, but you probably put it off until you had a more convenient time. You may have thought you cold sneak in under the wire as one slides into third base but God required your presence before you had time to do it. The Lord Jesus Christ posed the question in Matthew and the answer is a rhetorical, "nothing." What is a man profited that loses his own soul? Nothing! The world seems to say that since they don't believe in God anyway, that it won't matte to them. For these people, we recognize the words in Psalm 14:1 "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good." Some may say, "If I had only known...?" That's where you and I come into the scope of things. It is our privilege to proclaim the message of hope to a lost and dying people who do not know Him. Praise God today for His desire for us to be saved.

On Knowing One's Thoughts

          While in college, immediately after high school, I was required to take a piano proficiency class.  I just had to learn some simple things on the piano.  Our classroom had about 15 small pianos in it that were electronic and wired to a master control board.  There were speakers and usually the instructor, Montana Grinstead, would play the song and all you had to do was to follow along on your own keyboard.  All we heard was what she was playing.  However, she also had the capability to tune in any one of the 15 keyboards.  Then, what you were playing would be coming across on the speakers.  There were times when the correct sounds were replaced by some person who was bumbling along on the keyboard, not sounding too good.  There were also some times when a person would be sitting there playing what they wanted to instead of the required piece in front of them.  This, too, became an embarrassment to them when their"music" came across the speakers.  For the most part, the fear of being exposed as one who was not following the prescribed music, kept people playing the right notes.   We never knew when Montana would turn on our piano. While man can only look at the outward things in our lives, God looks at everything that is on the inside.   We are fortunate these days to not have our "thoughts" portrayed on a large screen in the same fashion as those electronic pianos.  There probably would be many more people who would be embarrassed by what flashed up on the screen.  Psalm 94:11 says, "The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity." 

         While we can rejoice that our thoughts are not broadcasted to the world, we should be alarmed that God is able to know them at all.  Psalm 139 does remind us that God does know all of our thoughts every day and every minute and fully knows every word that is on our tongues.  He knows our minds.  The problem comes to us that we don't concerned about it because we have not reaped anything as the result of our thoughts.  We have become complacent in our thinking because nothing has happened yet and it is something that appears to be in the future for us.  Paul knew about the problem when he advocated through the leading of the Holy Spirit that our minds should be renewed.  Make sure that you focus your attention upon the things of God and not the things of this world.  Get in the habit of incorporating Philippians 4:8 into your life.  Praise God today that He knows all there is to know about each and every one of us, even our deepest most intimate thoughts.

Social Chain Letters

          I recall that in the 1940's and 1950's we had a thing called a “chain letter.” My Mother received one and after she read the letter, she began making copies of it. We didn't have a copy machine in those days, so she would write it out by hand making sure that each one was as exact as possible to the one that she had received. Postage back in those days was 3 cents for a first class letter. The letter would promise good fortune in one way or another to you if you followed the directions and sent it to ten other people. If you failed to send the letter, you would be the recipient of misfortune, or plain bad luck. Since postage these days is close or exceeding fifty cents for first class, you don't see as many chain letters as you used to see. The promise of good fortune has moved from the physical mail box to the pages of social media. Many of my friends send me videos or tear jerking stories that if I pass them on then I will receive good luck or some special blessing, If, however, I fail to send them on, then I am a jerk or a person who does not believe in the power of God. People are just as superstitious today as they were in days of the chain letter. Everyone desires good luck and everyone wants to avoid bad luck. The thing that many ignore is that there is no such thing as “luck.” Some define luck as “success or failure apparently brought by chance rather than through one's own actions.” Philippians 4:19 says, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” 

          To believe in luck is to not believe in God's providence or His sovereignty. Nothing happens by chance either good or bad. There is a purpose to each and everything. “The Preacher” in Ecclesiastes has already pointed this out. God had everything in His control and in His hand. The Philippians had found themselves in a time of “need” due to their faithful giving to the work of the Apostle Paul. They couldn't go to the lottery as there was no lottery at that time. They couldn't look for four leaf clovers or rabbits feet in order to make ends meet but the Apostle Paul gave them assurance that God would provide all of their needs. God would not supply just some of their needs, but that God would supply ALL of their needs. We always point out the difference at this point between “needs” and “wants.” It has never said that God will supply all of our “wants.” The Philippians made it through their time of needs and so will we. It will not depend on passing on a cute story or a pithy saying. Please take no offense but social media chain letters stop at my inbox. I don't say, “amen” if I believe it and I don't pass it on nor do I give it a “like” or a “share,” and God has still blessed me beyond measure. Do I still have needs? It seems like I have needs everyday and I may not know how God is going to work in each and everyone of them, nor do I know when it is going to take place but I can rest in the assurance that it is always in God's hands and not my own and that sometime, some how, God will take care of it Why, even my final needs have already been met in my Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul said, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Praise God today that He does supply each and every need that we have in His timing.

The Foot Locker

          Years ago, before our house fire, my father had a foot locker in the attic. It contained most of his possessions that he had while serving in the CCC during the depression. There was the jar of “California” bugs which included one tarantula and assorted other once living, mean looking creatures. There was one item in a box about the size of a shoe brush. The item was hard, probably made of hard rubber and had wavy lines on it. The outside of the box listed a number of physical ailments that this device would be able to cure. It was good for arthritis, neuralgia, a lot of other aches and pains and finally, dandruff. All you had to do was move the device over the infected area and “voila” you would be cured. At ten years old, I didn't have many of the aches and pains that were mentioned and so I never knew if it would work. It was destroyed in the fire anyway and so never got to be properly tested. My computer these days is filled with advertisements for the famous CBD oil. I guess I am immune to its affects as it has done nothing so far after about a month of “four drops AM and PM.” As is quite often the case, only the Word of God has the solution of man's problems, both large and small. Psalm 70:5 says, “But I am poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God: thou art my help and my deliverer; O LORD, make no tarrying.” 

           There was a book published around the 70's titled, “None of These Diseases.” The book pointed out that the Israelites did not have many of the diseases that had plagued most of the world and it was because of many of the simple laws of the Old Testament. We might look at some of those requirements today as simple common sense but it also does show that God has it all taken care of in His Word. When we think of passages such as the one for today, we assume that it is referring to dangers during the times of physical conflict. David, in his continual fleeing from King Saul, often called out to the Lord for protection. It is an example for us also.  There are many days of trouble and anguish that appear in the life of the believer and while someone may not be trying to pin us to the wall with a spear, they are nonetheless real and result in us calling out to God for deliverance. It is in these times that we can rely on God's protection. God is indeed our help in the day of trouble whether it be from an enemy who is chasing us or from the daily pressures of life. We can all proclaim with the Psalmist, that God is our help. We know that we can lift up our voices and cry out to God and that He will answer in each and every case. It makes no difference in what language we call our, God will hear our cry and He will respond with His help. You may be going through some deep water with grief, pain, suffering, depression and discouragement, but God is indeed our help. First Peter 5:7 reminds us that God cares for us and so we can indeed bring each and every thing before Him and leave it there. The difference between God and a “miracle brush” is that God is real and He really does help. Praise God today for His working in our lives each and every day.

The Dead Horse

   You may have heard the expression, “You can't beat a dead horse.” The expression is, “is an idiom that means a particular effort is a waste of time as there will be no outcome, such as in the example of flogging a dead horse, which will not cause it to do any useful work.” The idea is pretty clear. I was at a funeral and standing near the open casket at the close of the service when the son came by to express his feelings. He was talking to his deceased father in a rather loud voice and was shaking the casket so hard that I thought the lid was going to come down on his fingers. He expressed his feelings during that time but his father made no reply. No matter how hard you try, you can't get a dead man to rise up out of the coffin. We sometimes also have expressions or comments or even preaching that seems to be like a proverbial dead horse. We go on however, and give the message one more time. Perhaps someone will listen and be saved. For the believer, the preaching of the Gospel is not a dead horse. First Corinthians 15:1-4 says, “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”

          There were perhaps thirteen years that I had heard the message of the gospel. Every service I had attended during those thirteen years in the church, was ended with an invitation to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior, but I refused to answer in the affirmative but instead rejected it by saying it applied to everyone else, but not to me. I recall one preacher coming down from the pulpit and looking people in the eye and asking them if they were saved. He did it for 5 rows and then stopped and resumed his spot behind the pulpit. I was in the sixth row and felt relieved that he had not confronted me with that question. During those thirteen years, I had been a church member and held many offices and positions in the church and I knew the words to say such as redeemed, justified by the blood of the Lamb, saved, baptized, sanctified and a lot of other “Christian expressions.” After a while, you just look at all of the expressions as someone beating a dead horse. This case, however, is different because the Lord Jesus Christ did raise from the dead. That is the main point of the Gospel. Every man, woman, boy and girl have a soul and are going to spend eternity in one of two places. There are no more choices than that. It will either be heaven or hell. It will either be with God or without God. There is no third choice. It will make no difference if a person is an atheist or a religious person. It amount to the fact that each person is either Christian or pagan. A non believer may look art this devotion and say, “Well, there he goes again, beating that dead horse.” In John, chapter three, Nicodemus was a religious person and the teacher of such things in Israel yet Jesus said to him, “Ye must be born again.” Praise God for the message of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now we can have life also.

Preach the Word

              Every verse of the Bible is important, but there are some verses that have been very popular and so are placed on walls in homes and  offices around the world. While working in a Christian Book Store in Bailey's Crossroads, Virginia, I was surrounded by many passages of Scripture that a person could purchase in a frame and hang on their wall. John 3:16 and Proverbs 3:5-6 along with Philippians 4:13 were perhaps some of the more popular verses along with Joshua 24:15. After arriving at our position in a church, the pianist did a cross stitch of a passage of Scripture which had the words, “Preach the Word.” That little plaques has been with me ever from 1979 until now. It hangs on my office wall just above my computer. Second Timothy 4;2 says, Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” 

       The passage has been used in many a “charge” to men who have been commended to the ministry. It is a reminder and an exhortation to keep on proclaiming the Word of God, basically, all of the time. One may think that such an exhortation should not be necessary for a preacher but that is not the case. It is not the case, because many preachers have become intimidated by the things of the world in such a way, that they don't want to lose their popularity and prestige, so they begin to preach something else other than the Word of God. Paul said in Acts 20:27, “ For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.” Paul was getting ready to leave the young local church at Ephesus and he was reminding them of his time spent in the proclamation of the Word of God. It is true that the preacher in a local church has the opportunity to address the majority of the people present during that time of the worship service where the message is presented to the people. Through looking at the examples in the New Testament, we soon find that the message does not have to be a long dissertation but can get the point across in a small amount of words. Peter's first and second sermons were not long but rather short and to the point. The difference is that they were preached in the power of the Holy Spirit and contained the gospel of the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. You and I, as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, also have the responsibility to share the same message. One thing that is absent from my wall is my “ordination” certificate, signed by seven pastors, “ordaining” or commending if you will, my life to the ministry. It is simply a piece of paper that looks good in a frame, but the message of the cross stitch piece that hangs on the wall in front of me is far more important. It simply says, “Preach the Word.” It says nothing else, other than that. First Corinthians 15:1-4 remind us of Paul's definition of the Gospel. That was what he preached and as we have often stated, everything hangs on the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. We have hope in the validity of the message of the Word of God because of the empty tomb. What is your message to those who around you? Praise God today for His exhortation to us to keep on preaching the word of God and you as a believer are a living example of what that message is to those who are lost.

Emoji's for Christ

            If you are getting this devotion on the internet, via email or Facebook or from my blog, then you are perhaps familiar with how to “approve” of what you have just read. On Facebook, we click on the “like” button or can send some “emoji” to indicate our thoughts on the subject. The Apostle Paul didn't have “emojis” or “like buttons” in his life so he depended upon receiving word via some other person on how people were doing and in particular, how they are doing in their Christian life. Philippians 1:27 says, “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,” 

          In the past 21 years, there have been only two people that I can think of who had an unfavorable reaction to some of the devotional reading. It is true that there are a large group of people that I never hear from and who may not be checking their “old” email address. What is thrilling is when someone replies back, “I needed to hear that” or some other phrase of approval. Paul seems to be excited at this point in this epistle because he has heard of how they are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind, striving side by side for the faith of the gospel.” That is enough to excite any believer. Among other things, the Bible contains philosophy, history, poetry, prophecy, teachings and probably a host of other subjects. I may like to read Walt Whitman or Elizabeth Barrett Browning but they don't affect my life as does the teachings of the Word of God. World history and American history are good topics but “His Story, the message of the Bible, is far superior and far more valuable. When I had my heart attack in 1990, I read the book of Philippians everyday. It is the Book of Joy and it became my comfort during those days in the CICU at the hospital. What had excited Paul was exiting to me and it is equally exciting to every believer. While living in a society that is darkened with the problems and results of sin, we find hope and comfort in the message of the Gospel. Paul has already stated that for him to live is Christ. Everything in Paul's life was focused around One Person, the Lord Jesus Christ. We might have the desire to say to Paul, “Preach it brother!” or to give him a “thumbs up” or a special heart or some other emoji. We had an expression in Bible College, that saying “amen” to a preacher as he was preaching was like saying “siccum” to a dog. When the amens start being heard, the preaching will get faster until it seems the preacher can go no further! Paul was delighted to hear how the saints were doing and especially those that were following the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. In today's scene, we could see Paul pumping his fist and saying loudly, “Yes!!” What excites you?  Are you excited by the evident progress of the believers in your circle or are you hanging on every word of gossip about some believer who has fallen into sin? Praise God for the “good reports” we hear of how other saints are progressing in their own growth in the gospel. May it be said of us also.

To Live is Christ.

           My foot issue at present  causes me a lot of pain and is on the part of the heel that if you were driving a car, would be resting right on the aggravated area. I don't need to drive much these days as our children take us to most of our medical appointments and see that our grocery supplies are deposited in the house as needed. Church attendance is one of the problem areas at present, but through technology, my wife and I are able to watch some of our favorite churches via the computer. I sing along when I know the song. I know most of the hymns, but some of the newer praise songs keep me wondering which way to go with the musical line. One of the two messages that we heard on Sunday challenged us to reflect on who we are to other people. What do people who know us, describe our person? How are we known by others? Philippians 1:21 says, “ For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” 

           Most of us know the life of the apostle Paul and how in his zeal he was on the road to Damascus to cause havoc in the church but God met him on the way and changed his life. From that moment on, the Apostle Paul was on fire for the Lord Jesus Christ. After getting his sight restored, one of the first things he did was get baptized and then started out by telling others about the Lord Jesus Christ at the next sabbath day. He had time for reflection before his sight came back and now his zeal was turned towards the spreading of the Gospel message. The above passage refers to two big parts of life. It speaks about living and it speaks about dying. It is easy for the believer to describe what it is going to be like in heaven and all of the benefits there are in going to heaven. It is the day to day living that sometimes gets us down. We know what we want to be and we know what we want to do but sometimes it doesn't happen that way. We are able to classify people after we have observed them for a time. It's easy to do and we seem to do it naturally. If a person is always working at something, we may say that they are industrious. If they are always picking up things, we might say that they are neat in all areas of life. If they don't say too much, we say that they are a quiet person. The Apostle Paul was about the Lord Jesus Christ in all that he did. Wherever he went, he was involved in the spreading of the gospel message. It would seem that if wasn't talking he was praying. His life was about the Lord Jesus Christ. That is our example and brings up the question, “What do people think about us?” What do people think about you and me. Paul said, “For to me to live is Christ...” Is that your thought today? Is that your goal in life? May we all be able to say, “for to me to live is Christ.” Praise God today that He is the Center of all life including, perhaps, yours and mine.

Why is Death Gain to the Believer?

 

During the summer months, We are involved in a study group, a house group, which discusses the sermon. We go to one “virtually via Zoom.” We do this on each Sunday evening, after we have heard the morning sermon. One of the questions for this house group meeting for this week, is the following question:

So, why is death gain for the believer? It is going to take me too long a time to say this in the house group. So as to not dominate the time, I have decided to put the answer here on Facebook. Anyone can read it at their own leisure.

In the first place, I, Daniel C. Freeland, will be face to face with my Savior, Who died for me on the cross at Calvary. I probably won't be able to take my eyes off of Him for a long, long time, because it will be He, Who died for me. You see, I won't be concerned about my foot hurting with the heel pain due to an infection. I will also be able to see all of the 32 million colors that my computer says that there are in existence. I will also be able to then hear all of the sounds and not just only 300 to 3000 cycles, more or less. I will have perfect eyes and perfect ears which means perfect sight and perfect hearing. I probably will have perfect pitch. I will be able to move about the universe, should I desire to do so. I will have a dwelling place in one of the most elaborate cities ever imagined. I won't have to worry about the stairs or and elevator. I will have perfect breathing, should I need it. I won't have to be concerned about the moles or liver dots on my skin or the thinning of my skin or the blood problems or the sugar levels or the cholesterol or cancer or being in afib not caused by a heart valve problems. I won't have to be concerned about death or taxes. I will have victory over death and the grave because Christ has already won the fight for it. I won't have to be concerned about a charge account as everything has been charged to the account of the Lord Jesus Christ. Death is merely a ticket to glory so everything will be gain. I won't have to be concerned about Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians, Patriots or any other group as I will be under the sovereignty of the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. To me, this is why death is gain for me as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Words

             One man has done a lot of research and come up with the following statement: “There are 788,258 words in the King James Bible. Of these, 14,565 are unique.” Words are those things by which we convey meaning to what we want to communicate to others. Most people in the world today have a vocabulary of different words in order to speak to someone else of their own experiences. As a youngster, I went to school to learn “words.” That is, teachers sought to expand our vocabulary from the words, “yes, no, mine” etc. I remember my first reading book in first grade where I met Dick, Jane, Spot and a few other characters. At that age, I was captured by reading. At one point, my teacher taped my book shut so I could not peak ahead to find out what was going on with my new fictional characters. I also learned that some words were not acceptable, one of which was the word, “ain't.” It was one of the worst things ever, if you used the word “ain't” anywhere on school property. I do find now that it is in the dictionary and while it's use is being classed as uneducated, it is a term that has been used in many English speaking cultures since the 1700's. God has spoken to us by using the very words that we have learned over our formative years in school. Even if you had no formal education, you could learn about God by the same list of words by which you spoke to other human beings. Jonah 1:1-2 says, “Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 'Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.'”

          The words, “Lord” and “God” are used some 11,000 times in the Bible. Of course, the Bible is the Book about God and so you would expect Him to be the main character of His Book. God chose ordinary men to convey His message to us. In so doing, we now have in our possession the Book which gives us hope and peace and love in the midst of a wicked world. It has always been that way as we can see by the account of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. It is not new to just our generation. The result of sin and degradation was always present and we should learn by the examples that we find in the Scriptures. God used a simple “fisherman” named “John” to convey to us the way of salvation. John, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, simply wrote, “Ye must be born again.” Paul, in answering the question of salvation to the Philippian Jailer, simply said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ....” Simple men through simple words have given us hope for eternal life. It is not that we don't understand the message. The problem is that we reject the message that God has given to us. Are we excited enough about God's Word to be reading His message to us? Praise God today that we can read His Bible and have hope for all of the tomorrows.

The Mocker

             There are certain people under certain conditions that I do not feel confident standing next to at any given point in time. My uncle Harry was in bomb disposal during World War II and I would want to accompany him on his job during the war. I wouldn't feel comfortable going with a man to change a light bulb on a wind turbine nor would I feel comfortable standing next to a window washer on a platform outside a building ninety stories up. I recently read where some people have made some comments about God which make me want to add them to my list of places I wouldn't like to be. One, a supposedly news caster, says that American doesn't need God. I would not like to accompany that person anywhere because I don't know when God will take vengeance on that man's proclamation. Galatians 6:7-8 says, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” 

          I do believe that God can and often does “surgical” strikes where things or even people can be removed from the scene in ways that are above our imagination and understanding. We can be thankful that God is merciful and even to the vilest of individuals on this earth, He is still desiring that they come to Him for salvation. God's ultimate desire is for all men to be saved but we know that is not going to be the case. Second Peter 3:9-10 reminds us, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” In First Corinthians 9:26-27, Paul reminded us of his own walk in this life. “I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” A person who makes a claim that we don't need God or that God does not exist seems to be tempting fate bu such proclamations. Paul was a man who thought he was doing God a service by killing believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. Then, God met him on the road to Damascus and his life changed. The life of the mocker can one of two ways. Either their mouth will be stopped or they will become a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. Enemies can become friends when both are united in the Lord Jesus Christ. While we may not wish to stand to near a blasphemer of God, our prayer them is that they will know Who God is and to meet Him in a personal and living way. Praise God today that He changes the hearts of men and women around the world.

I'm in a race?

          I know a lady who sends me emails quite often and they always contain some spiritual thought which is an encouragement to me. She recently wrote that she had been drawn to a specific passage of Scripture and it is one of the pillars of Scripture if there be any such thing. While every verse is profitable, some have great messages of hope for the reader. Hebrews 12:1-2 says, “ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” 

         Chapter eleven of the Book of Hebrews listed a number of famous Biblical people who were examples of people who were faithful to God. It doesn't say that they were all perfect in their actions but the final evaluation of each person serves us to be an example of what it is to be standing firm in your faith. Hebrews 12 begins with that word, “Wherefore.” The Apostle Paul did the same thing in Romans 12 when he wrote, “I beseech you 'therefore.'” It always refers back to something before it. The passage for today refers back to those “witnesses” from chapter eleven. Then, we are reminded of “The Author.” This refers to the “Author and finisher of our faith.” There is no doubt as to Who that is as it refers specifically to the event on Calvary's cross were the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins. He paid the price. It was an event that was more shameful than we can ever imagine. I recall when I inadvertently used swear word in front of my parents and one of the phrases that I heard back was, “Shame on you!” Yes, I was shamed by what I had done but my shame can never come close to the shame that the Lord Jesus Christ suffered in the arrest, trials and crucifixion. The King of Kings was shamed. The Lord of Lords was shamed yet He endured the cross for all the sins of the world. This includes yours and mine. When we feel just a tad down in life or under a lot of pressure to perform before others, let us remember the Author and Finisher of our faith, the Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, He is the Author and He is also the Finisher. We are further reminded of this fact in Philippians 1:6. We are reminded in this verse that God will “perform” the work and it means to finish, or to accomplish, or to do. Yes, He will complete each and every project that is underway in all of our lives. We are a part of that work. Now, the first verse of today's passage gives us our orders. Because of these witnesses, we are to put aside every weight and the sin which hinders us. Our lives are part of the biggest race in which we will ever run. You can't opt out of this race and you can't stop and be a spectator. Your last breath will be your last lap in this race. Then, you will be ushered into the presence of the Lord for all eternity. What a joy that will be when My Savior's face I shall see. Praise God for His Son, the Author and the Finisher of our faith.

Changes

             A couple of years ago, we purchased our last piece of land on this earth in a local cemetery.  Our family has been involved with the U. S. Navy, American Telephone and Telegraph Co., and the ministry and now, retirement.  In all of those jobs you soon find yourself moving from one community to another.  We were talking with our daughter recently and counted up ten different moves before she reached her 16^th birthday. That's a lot of moving. In every case, there has always been something to get used to.  One of the most traumatic moves was from the country house in Orange County Virginia to the busy city street in Alexandria, Virginia.  The Country house had no traffic, no airplanes, no trains, no sirens and no outside lights.  About the only thing you heard at night was the sound of the whippoorwills.  At first, they were annoying and one time I counted a particular bird who made that sound seventeen times before it paused, but we soon became accustomed to them.  After moving to the big city, we were encountered the first night to the flight plans of National Airport, the shifting of train cars at the Potomac Railroad Yard, the city busses that came by almost every 20 minutes, the sirens of the police and fire department plus all of the street lights.  It was a great change to say the least.  After some time, we became used to the noise and then it was almost silent again even though the noise continued.  What had changed?  We had become accustomed to the sounds of the city.  What was drastic at first, became commonplace to all of us.   There is a strong lesson for us.  We can become accustomed to certain things in our life that were once forbidden but have now become accepted.  We get used to it and so therefore don't realize that we are becoming desensitized by what is going on around us. Second Timothy 2:22 says, "Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart."   

        Paul had a warning to Timothy and in that warning, he admonished young Timothy for flee youthful lusts.  Not only that, he also have him a different route to travel.  Not only was he to flee that which was evil, but he was to pursue after those things that were good.  It is a two way street.  The problem comes when we decide to mix the "sights and sounds" of the world into our Spiritual life.  The sins begin to creep into our lives just like the sounds of the street and the city life.  Soon, we don't realize that they are there.  Oh, they haven't been removed.  They still are present in our lives but the problem lies in that we are now accustomed to them and therefore not aware of what is happening.  So, don't become used to the evil things of life but keep your course true and straight.  Pursue after righteousness, faith, charity and peace.  Praise God for His working in our lives each and every day.

Tue Words

          Not so long ago, I wrote a devotion which used the word “road” in it quite often. It was okay except one time it came out “toad.” “Toad” is a real word and so the “spell checker” didn't pick up any irregularity. As I proof read it after the actual writing, I didn't pick it up. It was easy to spot by many of you. Many times, you are called upon to correct what I say when there is an obvious mistake. I have learned that the “spell checker” of this particular program must not be the best as it misses a lot of words that I do correct and probably hundreds of words that sneak by. There are those times when in the heat of excitement we say something close to what we meant to say, but it didn't come out right. Someone may ask, “What did you just say?” Our reply may be, “Oh, you know what I meant.” One professor once said,”If God didn't mean what He said by what He said, then why didn't He say what He meant?” Obviously, God means every word of what He says. Luke 4:4 says, "And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God." 

          This passage is also repeated in Mathew 4 where it describes the same scenario of the temptation in the wilderness. In this particular passage, The Lord Jesus Christ, quotes a passage from Deuteronomy 8:3. In each of the three temptations, Christ quoted the Word of God. The other two temptations are responded to with passages from Deuteronomy chapter six. The Lord Jesus Christ used the Word of God to answer the temptations that were confronting Him. One of the most amazing things to me is the fact that we can look to the Bible, the Word of God, to answer every question that is placed before us. The Word of God has the answer for each and every situation. Every trouble and every hardship and every temptation can be answered through the Word of God. There are, according to some, 783,137 words in the King James Bible. God says, that we can have faith in everyone of them. God has used those words to be combined into His thoughts in order that we might know the way of salvation and how to live this life in this world of sin. The Lord Jesus Christ had faith in His Father's Words and used them in His time of temptation. We can do the same. Through the Bible, we can find God's will for our lives, we can find the way of salvation and we can find how to victorious in this life. God has already said what He meant to say and it is in His word. Mankind can not come along and say, "but..." The Word of God is settled and we can put our trust in all that it says. Praise God today for the Message the God the Father has given to us through His Word.

Body Pains

         I don't know how it happened, but something has been irritating the heel of my right foot. It is rather sore which results in limping a little as I walk, which then produces pain in my hips and legs and goes up into my back. At first, it just seemed to be some irritation but has not gone away and will probably send me to a doctor in the near future. The pain in the heel has involved almost all other parts of my body. The apostle Paul had a word for this in the following passage. First Corinthians 12:26-27 says, "And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular." 

         Paul had used the physical body to describe the church, the Body of Christ. The statement, "whether on member suffer, all the members suffer with it" is certainly true in the spiritual realm as well as in the physical realm. We can readily associate a pain in a toe or a finger as causing other parts of the body to suffer along with it to the point of becoming more or less unoperational. Once the problems is observed, we usually take some steps to correct it. We can take a few pain pills, see a doctor, soak the area with the appropriate cloths of either cold or hot compresses, get out the epsom salts or whatever else might be prescribed to alleviate the problem. Since we are all a part of the Body of Christ, we can likewise feel the pain of another member as it affects all of us. Our "hearts go out" to people when we hear of attrocities being committed whether in foreign lands or here in our own country. The "one another" commands encourage us, even exhort us to pray for one another and to bear one another's burdens. Sometimes, the problems that cause the pain are visible to others. We shouldn't need to be told to pray for someone who has recently lost a loved one, became sick themselves, have physical and financial problems or those who produce signs of difficulty in their lives. I used to sing a song entitled, "The Grass is growing." The song was about a village in Uganda and each believer in the village, would go out into the jungle to a private place to pray. As they would go out each day, a path began to appear and soon all of the vegetation was gone. If perchance, grass began to grow in the path it wold be a sign that the believer had stopped going out to pray. In the song, the observer approaches the individual and reminds him that he is sinning by not going to to pray and that this is observable by the grass growing on his path. The song can be about us or about a fellow believer. Is grass growing on your path because you have stopped praying? Whatever the issue may be in the lives of each and every believer, we can readily conclude that the body suffers when just one small part is in pain. May we all be praying one for another. Praise God that He heals the wounds of His children.

Change

          Some things can change quickly while others take a long time in order to change. There were those times when my Father would raise the hood on the car and notice that the battery terminals were getting corroded. He would reach for a 7 ounce bottle of Coca Cola and then pour it on the top of the battery. All of the corrosion would fizzle for a moment and he would then pour a little water on it to remove the fizz. The battery terminals were like new. They had been changed by the ingredients of the Coca Cola. That was an example of a quick change to something. A rose can be changed by grafting in different rose. The result would be a combination of the two but it takes months for it to happen. Other examples of change may even occur over many years. Second Corinthians 3:18 says, "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." 

       Paul reminds the believers at Corinth that they are all in the process of being changed and many of them don't even know it is happening. I am particularly excited about the word that is defined as "changed" in this passage. The word is used several other times in the bible and you would recognize it as the word "transfigured" that is used of the Lord Jesus Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration. The only other time it is used is here in Second Corinthians and also in Romans 12:2 where it is translated as "transformed." This is a gradual process that begins the moment you become a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ and continues until you either die or meet the Lord in the air at the rapture, whichever comes first. Some look at this gradual process and describe it as our "sanctification." It doesn't happen like pouring a coke on corroded battery terminals. It takes a lifetime to accomplish. Paul described the process here as going from glory to glory, one after the other, until we stand before the Lord Jesus Christ. In our modern day life, we can also associate this change as that which occurs when a worm goes into a cacoon and comes out a butterfly. It is a metamorphosis. That is what is happening in each of our lives from day to day and from glory to glory. It is interesting to note that the dictionary describes the definition as "a change of the form or nature of a thing or person into a completely different one, by natural or supernatural means." In the case of believers, it is indeed through supernatural means, in other words, by God Himself. When you feel as thought you are going one step forward in your spiritual life and then two steps backward, remember that God is working in you and in the end, you will be His completed work. Praise God today for His work in each of our lives. As Paul told the Philippians, God will complete each and every work in us. Philippians 1:6

God's Ways

            Sometimes it is said that a person has a "bee in their bonnet."  I guess the expression would be referring to a woman who had a bonnet on with a bumble-bee underneath.  Obviously, there would be much commotion if such were the case.  I remember back as a young boy, I was walking along the back road of our house toward my friends house and had just a t-shirt on that hot summer day.  A bumble-bee flew up the short sleeve and began flopping all over the place.  I did some fancy jumping that day trying to get the bee out of my shirt.  I finally got it out after it had stung me three times.  I could see the three welts as they quickly shot up.  Now, everyone had said that the bee can only sting once and would then lose it's stinger.  I guess this was the wrong kind of bee.  Needless to say, he caused me much commotion that day.  Just imagine what a swarm of bees would do to an advancing army.  Joshua 24:12 says, " And I sent the hornet before you, which drave them out from before you, even the two kings of the Amorites; but not with thy sword, nor with thy bow." 

         I always like to reflect how God has His ways in to meet His plans at any given time.  The army of the Amorites probably had weapons of some sort and were prepared to attack the Israelites but God simply sent the hornets in to take care of them.  Now, that's going to mess up an army.  This reminds us that God can use all kinds of things in our lives and in fact can even use us as we become available to Him.  Who would ever have thought that a simple bee would be able to bring defeat upon an army? We have recently seen how God can use something even smaller to accomplish things that might be thought of as being impossible. The world has been put on hold by the presence of a “virus.” Things thought to be impossible have taken place. Million dollar sports professionals are now playing their games to a crowd of cardboard people. The stands are like a desert. Almost all kinds of entertainment has been put on hold while people stand in the grip of an invisible opponent. The hornet stopped an army, and the virus stopped the world's activities. In all of this, we can realize that God can even use you and I to accomplish His purposes.  We are all familiar with the words that say that with God all things are possible.  That is very true.  So, even though you may not be able to figure out how He is going to get things done, just be available.  You might be surprised as to what God does in your life.  Praise God for His methods. He has a plan for all of us.

True Excitement

          I have heard it said that if anything is good, it is either illegal, immoral or fattening. Mankind seems to have an attraction to those things that please the flesh. In the more recent list of closures and openings, we find that most governors feel that it is permissible to close the churches while certain other groups remain open such as liquor stores and abortion clinics. I recently observed a local liquor store in our state, which are now called “ABC Stores” which was open during the time when many businesses were ordered to be closed. It was raining a little and people were lined up, standing six feet apart in the rain, waiting for their turn to go into the store to purchase a bottle of anything that would send them to la la land for just a brief moment. The store, willing to accommodate such a group of people, then installed a large umbrella to keep their future clients dry. Men and women seek to find something that will appease their fleshly desires if only for a moment. The easiest thing to acquire is any type of substance that would dull the feelings of any human being. Men and women seem to have a desire to be free from pain and any anxiety that might be “out there” so they seek to get into a state of euphoria with the most available substance. Ephesians 3:20*21 says, “ Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”

            In people's search for euphoria they have failed to grab on to the One True Source, God Himself. I thought of Jeremiah 33:3 which reminds us to call unto God and He will show us might things that we don't know about. Perhaps another doxology such as the closing verses of the Book of Jude. If you really want some excitement, look at Revelation 19 to the end of that book. Maybe a glimpse of the exciting events on Mount Carmel with Elijah would blow your mind or the crossing of the Red Sea by a couple million people on dry ground would make you say, “I wish I had been there to see that.” I am often reminded of the verses for today because we have our small basket ready for God's blessings while we should have brought a dump truck. Notice those words, “unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think....” Our prayer might be for daily bread when we forget that God supplied “manna” for forty years. We know that the people then didn't figure it was going to last so they tried to “hoard” a little more only to find that it spoiled all except on Friday. They got a double portion and it didn't spoil. How amazing is that? For the believer, the ultimate blessing is to someday be ushered into His presence for all eternity. The wonders of the universe will pale in comparison. It will be beyond our wildest thoughts or dreams. In the meantime, we are here, on this earth, dealing with earthly issues with countless men and women heading for an eternity without the blessings that we, as believers, possess. Our goal then is to reach someone else who doesn't know and to share with the the excitement and blessings that far outweigh the temporary “fixes” of the world. If you want the greatest of all blessings, then turn to Him Who can and does provide. Praise God today for all of the blessings that He provides, yes, even more than those for which we have asked.

Plans that Change

 

          Robert Burns said in a poem, “The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.” The line from the poem is perhaps one of the more remembered lines from a poem entitled, “To a Mouse.” We don't need to much imagination to adapt the line to our present lives. We make our plans for the next day and often find them changed ever so slightly by one incident often times quite small at the time. We can often begin our day the night before as we lay out our clothes all perfectly matched, either browns, or blacks, or navy blue. Then, in the morning the shoe lace breaks on the pair of black shoes that go with the day's planned apparel. You have no other black shoe laces but you do have a good pair of brown shoes. Now, the temptation is to completely change the color scheme from the ground up or do you wear your brown shoes with good laces in an outfit brought together with black shoes. Yes, our plans often go awry for even the simplest of accidents such as the cup of coffee that I just spilled on my desk. James 4:13-14 says, “Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” 

          God has much to say about our plants and quickly points out that we are not guaranteed a tomorrow or that it may go in another direction than that which we had planned. Romans 8 makes a good contrast between living after the guidance of the flesh or living rightly after the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is not that we don't plan but we seek to plan things in light of the Word of God rather in light of our own desires. Jonah is a good example of doing exactly the opposite thing from what God had commanded. God told him to go to Nineveh and He went in the opposite direction, seeking to book passage on a ship heading to Tarshish Jonah was hoping to flee from the presence of the Lord but he didn't know the impossibility of such an endeavor. It is impossible for us to flee from God's presence and Psalm 139 gives evidence of that impossibility. As Robert Burns said, our plans often go awry. It doesn't seem to stop us from making plans but we are not as surprised when they hit a bump in the road. The Apostle Paul is another example of having great plans as he and his team started out on the second missionary journey. Twice the Holy Spirit stopped his course of direction until he just decided to stop over in Troas and wait for God to give him direction. God did in the Macedonian call and the next day they all set sail to Greece to preach the gospel to a group of people who were hungry for the Word of God. Maybe God has changed your plans today. Perhaps He has a new course in which you are to go. While the plans of mice and men may go awry, remember that God always has the right plan for your life each and everyday. Praise God today for His leading in all of our lives.

Ancestry

        People in these days must really be interested in the family tree. There are several groups on the internet that strive to help you find out where are your “roots.” Many people hope to find out that they are the descendant of some royalty or some famous person in the history of our country or even in the world. We had a man in our family that had gone to a lot of time and energy to reproduce the family tree of the “Vermilyer” family. It was placed on a long window shade and unrolled at every family reunion and space was even allotted for those family members who were supposedly going to have children in future years. My name was there and my wife's name was added and then four slots were given to us but we only filled two of them. After filling up a small bottle with spit, it was sent off to a company who later supplied us with our ancestry. We did find an unknown cousin and that is quite another story but there were no princes or high ranking royalty in our family. Spiritually speaking we do have some interesting relatives. Ephesians 2:1-2 says, “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:” 

           Everyone was related to this “prince” but no one really wants to claim any connection to this one. You see, the Prince of the Power of the air is Satan. It used to be that no one would want to be connected to him. In our society today, however, there are those who enjoy such a connection but it will be short lived so to speak as they will soon leave this world and find themselves in eternity and suffering because of misguided allegiance. It is easy to follow after this prince. All you have to do is “nothing.” Because of the sin issue, the sinner will not allowed to be in heaven. God however, made sure that a way was and is possible through the suffering of His Son on the cross for our sins. The price was paid in full and all we have to do is to believe in Him. Satan's window shade is full of names and every person who has not confessed the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord will find their names in the “books” of the works of the lost. In believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, your name is placed in the “Lamb's Book of Life.” The space is there for you and for me. You can't change from where you came but you can change where you are headed. Oh, and you do have some royalty after all. You, who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, are now a child of the KING. What could possible be greater than that. Praise God that provided a Way of Salvation.