Walking With Jesus

Punching Holes in the Darkness

“You are the light of the world – like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” (Matthew 5:14-16 NLT)

Anne Graham Lotz tells of a night in Robert Louis Stevenson’s boyhood when his nanny just couldn’t get him to bed. Young Robert just kept staring out the window, oblivious to her talking to him. Finally, she said, “Robert, what in the world are you looking at out there?” As she pulled back the curtain, she realized he was watching the lamplighter making his way down the street, lighting one streetlamp after another. Young Robert Louis Stevenson saw something more. He said, “Look at that man! He’s punching holes in the darkness!”

That thought grabbed my attention as I consider what Jesus said: “YOU (WE) ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD!” We, you and I as followers of the Most High God, are bearers of God’s eternal light to the people in our spheres of influence. Every second of every day we bear witness to His light or fail to do so. “Yeh, but what about the time I’m alone?” Perhaps the most important time to allow His light to shine!

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The older I get the more aware I become of the need of those whose lives our light shines upon to see and feel the effects of His Holy presence. What is His light, but evidence of His presence? As I spend time sitting in waiting rooms in doctor’s offices I’m struck by the sadness, loneliness, and lostness of many of those I see. That’s why at every opportunity we should engage them with words of encouragement and even offer to pray with them, but unless His light fills us by His Spirit it cannot flow out of us to brighten someone else.

Darkness prevails in our world today and God’s express purpose for us is to punch holes in it with our life, our kind, encouraging words, and our witness for our Risen Savior. Who will spread the light if not us? You and me, filled with His Spirit, activated by His love, motivated by all He’s done and is doing in our own lives? We ARE His lights, we don’t have to muster anything to become light, all we have to do is allow Him to shine through us to those in our spheres of influence.

What are some ways we can punch holes in the darkness? These are a few that come to my mind first: kindness, thoughtfulness, love, generosity, prayerfulness, openness to the Lord’s Spirit, and sensitivity to His leadership. Often the first step in getting someone to see their need of Jesus is to help them see their need of friendship…with us, as children of God.

Do you realize how inviting kindness is? I can’t count the number of conversations I’ve had because of some kindness I’ve extended without giving it a thought. Opening the door for someone, complimenting their smile or clothing; offering to help them in some way, paying for their meal, buying them gas, giving them a hug.

People are starving for kindness, to be noticed, to understand that their life counts for something more than the mundane existence they’re experiencing. Light drives out darkness and kindness can help drive out pain and heartache. Kindness isn’t the only way to let the Lord’s light shine, but it’s certainly a great opening to sharing His love and life with those who are hurting. People are much more open to listen to someone they like than someone they don’t. And, of course, light shines much more brightly through a clean vessel.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

When Character Is Formed

“Then He sent someone to Egypt ahead of them – Joseph, who was sold as a slave. They bruised his feet with fetters and placed his neck in an iron collar. Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph’s character.” (Psalm 105:17-19 NLT)

According to The Merriam-Webster Dictionary character is defined as “the complex of mental and ethical traits marking a person or a group; moral excellence.” How does that translate? What makes you “tick”? What motivates you to do what you do, say what you say, work as you work, love as you love, live as you live? How would the ten people who know you best describe you?

Think of Joseph in Genesis 37 when he has a dream, which is fine, but then he shares it with his brothers, not so fine. What was his dream? Joseph speaking: “We were out in the field, tying up bundles of grain. Suddenly my bundle stood up, and your bundles all gathered around and bowed low before mine!” What was he thinking? My sense is he was just attributing his vision to the Lord and expected his brothers to understand. Perhaps not the wisest interpretation.

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It may seem very strange, inappropriate, or just plain dumb to say that kind of thing to our siblings, but it illustrates the kind of innocence and purity of heart Joseph had. He didn’t intend it to be offensive, just informative. It was a vision from God that he had no clue what it meant, but God would reveal its beauty in the years to come. I’m convinced that was the foundation of Joseph’s character upon which God built to make him the great man of God that he became.

According to Scripture Joseph was his father’s favorite child and, as such, was the recipient of “a coat of many colors,” which was a beautiful, colorful, majestic robe designed for someone very special. Joseph no doubt knew of his father’s affection but didn’t translate that into how it might make his brothers feel. They were older and did the lion’s share of the work, but their work seemed to go unnoticed in comparison to their father’s affection for his son born in his old age.

What’s the lesson for us? Character is forged and formed not through a life of ease and luxury, but hardship, pain, suffering, and disappointment. Joseph didn’t really rise to the heights of recognition until he’d served his time as a slave. The Bible tells us (Genesis 39:2) that the Lord was with Joseph and allowed him to prosper in all he did. While it’s not explicitly recorded, Joseph must have been a student of God’s Word. Somewhere he learned to love and trust God.

There’s no indication in his story that he ever questioned or suffered setbacks in his love for and trust in the Lord due to his mistreatment. Rather, in every instance he chose the highroad, putting his efforts into doing the best he could given his circumstances and the Lord did the rest.

We would likely never have heard of Joseph and his triumphs for the Lord were it not for God’s Word, the Bible. My sense is our character, who we are, who we will become, if formed, will be in and through our love for and devotion to the Bible. God’s words shape us, mold us if you will, into the person He has designed and desires for us to be.

Paul David Tripp showed great insight when he wrote: “Your Bible is unlike anything else in your life. Your Bible has been put together and preserved for you as an irreplaceable tool of God’s grace in your life…You will not be spiritually healthy if you aren’t being shaped by God’s Word. The Bible is the soil in which your Christian life is rooted and grows.” If we want godly character, we’ll be students of God’s Word.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

The Value of Pain

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” (Revelation 21:4 NLT)

Why do you think God allows things on earth that will not be allowed in Heaven? Sin certainly will be exempted from heaven and it’s easy to understand why it cannot be allowed there, but other things like those mentioned in the verse above, have significant value for us who are alive on earth. But how?

There are many aspects of the value of pain, but none so dramatic as its redemptive value seen in the lives of the many who have been transformed by the renewing of their minds and hearts in Christ Jesus. We can stub a toe, cut our finger, have an automobile accident or experience a painful injury or disease and if we’re open to the Lord’s life in us, we can see the ways those things enhance our walk with Him and our ministry to others.

In many ways pain alerts us to make changes that prevent those painful things from happening again. But the greatest lesson, the one that illustrates most vividly the value of pain is the Cross of our Lord Jesus. While He experienced unimaginable agony, torment, and pain we don’t have the capacity to understand, its value is heightened as we realize it wasn’t for anything He had done wrong.

Jesus is the only human being who ever lived who got it all right – from birth to death, from start to finish. Why is that important to understand? Because if the only perfect human being who ever lived suffered pain and heartache, why should any of us believe we should be exempt? His suffering was completely for others, not for anything He’d done wrong.

So, what should that tell us? Pain and suffering aren’t punishment for our wrongdoing, but because we’re part of the human family. Pain and suffering are common to all of God’s creation due to the ravaging effects of sin. One of the values of pain is to heighten our awareness of and attentiveness to our affinity to sin. As a rule, pain is a signal for us to steer clear of whatever the source of our pain; however, while relationships can be a source of much pain, they can also be a source of much delight and pleasure.

Often pain in a relationship isn’t a sign to give up or quit, but to dig in and make it better. Especially in marriage, our commitment to one another and to God must outweigh the pain of any given moment’s disagreement or uncertainties about our future together. Pain’s value is derived from the result of a better, more enjoyable and satisfying life together, the kind of life we can have with the Lord when we learn to deal with the pain of our development as a child of God.

Perhaps this is a season of pain for you, and you’ve not yet weathered the storm and derived the value. Especially in the loss of a loved one, valued relationship, or job, it takes time, but much can be gained, even in the midst of our pain, by spending extended time with the Lord and His Holy Word. Many of the Psalms were written in the midst of painful and hard circumstances.

Seek the Lord’s presence, not just with words, but with YOUR presence. Sit with your open hands, palms up, out in front of you. Why? Two things are accomplished when we do this: first, we offer Him all we have that is weighing us down, troubling us, holding us back (especially our sin), but, secondly, we’re in a position to receive His presence, which is what gives the most value to our pain.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

When Human Help Isn’t the Answer

‘So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” (Hebrews 4:16 NLT)

There are times in our life when human effort is not enough, when human resources fall short. Even when others are willing to help us, all our resources combined aren’t equal to the task at hand. There comes a point in each of our lives when no one can help but Jesus. Yes, of course, that’s true in salvation, but the closer we get to the Lord, the more intimate our fellowship, the more we must rely on His holy counsel above all others.

There are obstacles that Satan puts in our path to our purity that are so personal, on many levels, so holy, that no other person but Jesus can understand, not only what we’re dealing with in our spirit, but in our mind and body. Yes, of course, another person can understand the dynamics of temptation and its very personal effect on each of us as human beings, but only the Lord knows us in the intricacies of who we are and how we’re made, thus, only He can help us tailor a plan to overcome the evil one and gain victory to His glory.

I’m reminded of the hymn by Elisha A. Hoffman “I Must Tell Jesus,” the chorus of which says: “I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus! I cannot bear my burdens alone; I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus! Jesus can help me, Jesus alone.” Have you ever felt that way? The longer I walk with the Lord and the more time we spend together, the more my conviction is deepened that I don’t want to make ANY decisions about ANYTHING without His input.

And it’s not even that it’s so personal or private. It’s just that over time we learn to trust the Lord’s input and accuracy, so we don’t need to depend on human wisdom or resources. Does that mean we never share what’s going on in our lives with our friends? Not at all, but just as I consult the Lord and the leadership of His Spirit first before consulting commentaries and other resources when I’m studying Scripture, I must get the Lord’s insights first in personal situations.

The students of God’s Word across the ages have shared much wisdom and insight that I respect, but even their opinions vary depending on the Scripture and their frames of reference. We must not depend solely on the opinions of others, even very scholarly “others” when it comes to what the Bible teaches. There are things the Lord wants to show us and teach us that others haven’t yet learned or understood, but must, of course, coincide and agree with the other teachings of Scripture.

And that’s true in personal matters as well. Wisdom related to marriage, having and raising children, sex, family, friendships, work, and many other social topics have changed over the years, but the steady, wise counsel of Scripture has maintained it’s wisdom and practicality even to this day and beyond.

So, with what are you dealing in this season of your life? Have you read all the books and listened to all the gurus and still find it hard to make a decision? Why not consult the Author of the Universe, the Inventor of all Wisdom, The Lord Jesus! If you already know Him, grow in your intimacy with Him and learn to trust Him without question.

But if you don’t yet know Him, please click on the highlighted link and allow Ron Hutchcraft to walk you through a simple, straightforward way to open your heart and life to Jesus and walk with Him through whatever you’re having to deal in this season. He’s with you and for you. He loves you and will embrace you with open arms. You can trust Him because He never lies.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

What Is Jesus Worth to You?

“After some discussion they finally decided to buy the potter’s field, and they made it into a cemetery for foreigners. That is why the field is still called the Field of Blood. This fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah that says, ‘They took the thirty pieces of silver – the price at which He was valued by the people of Israel, and purchased the potter’s field, as the Lord directed.’” (Matthew 27:7-10 NLT)

Worth is largely determined by the eye of the beholder. Sports memorabilia can go for millions of dollars. Babe Ruth’s 1932 “Called Shot” Jersey sold for $24.1 million. 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card – $12.6 million.

Yet, we sometimes think we’re being generous when we toss a $20 bill in the offering basket when it’s passed, and, honestly, for some that’s a very generous offering. I’ve seen times I didn’t have $20 to give. It’s not necessarily and only what we give, it’s why we give and what we value. When we value things more than we value our relationship with Jesus, we’ve lost perspective as His child.

George Whitfield’s conviction was that Jesus is worth everything or He’s worth nothing. What does that mean? It means to me that Jesus gets first priority in everything – time, energy, money, thought, every avenue and aspect of my life. That’s why prayer is my first priority in the morning and the last thing on my mind when I go to bed.

It’s why we see every person as a person of value, created in the image of God, regardless of how obnoxious and vile they may be. “There but for the grace of God go I without Jesus” must be our attitude. None of us, regardless of how long we’ve walked with the Lord, is any better than anyone who may have just begun their journey with Him.

We add no value to our relationship with Jesus regardless of how long we’ve journeyed with Him. HE IS the VALUE! He paid the cost of our redemption and no amount of sacrifice we make will add anything to that. His priceless blood paid it all, that’s why He said from the Cross: “Tetelestai!” “It is finished!” Which literally means: “The debt is paid in full!”

What debt? Our sin debt, the cost of our sin that separated us from God. We treat our sin so lightly, but when we begin to grasp what our unfaithfulness and disregard to the desires of God cost our Savior, it should cause us to see our sin in a new light. It’s like stepping on the arm or leg of our infant child, then laughing about it as they scream in pain. It’s insensitive, cruel, uncaring, and inappropriate.

Satan’s goal is to keep us so focused on ourselves we ignore or disregard anyone else’s feelings, even God’s, but when we begin to value the cost of our salvation and see the worth of our Savior in it’s proper light, it should humble and convict us. Sin – every sin – is serious in the sight of God, that’s why sin separates us from God.

Sin caused the chasm between us and the Lord that the Cross bridged, but to pray a prayer and believe we can still continue to live in sin is to spit in Jesus’ face and laugh as we walk away. It’s not only hypocritical, it’s blasphemous. Repentance and confession should lead to a holy life that is built on the sacrifice of our Savior but evidenced by the quality of our lives as we live in appreciation of the tremendous cost of that sacrifice.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

The Unknown Way

“Since you have never traveled this way before, they will guide you. Stay about a half mile behind them, keeping a clear distance between you and the Ark. Make sure you don’t come any closer.” (Joshua 3:4 NLT)

These instructions of Joshua, passed on to the people through the Israelite officers, remind me of the precarious venture we’re engaged in as people of God. Unlike the children of Israel, we’re very likely familiar with our surroundings, but we often don’t have a clue what each new day holds or in which direction the Spirit will lead us.

Too often we want to mimic the sentiment of Benedict de Spinoza who wanted to be the master of his own destiny. We want to do things our way, but we’re rarely prepared for the consequences. Joshua knew that he was leading God’s people into what to them was a foreign, treacherous land and he didn’t want to risk taking one step without God’s guidance and provision.

There are many ways to celebrate and view a new year, but the reality is, we’ve “traveled this way before.” Yes, of course, if you’re more than one year old you’ve experienced the passing of a year, and, in reality, all we’re really doing is passing from the last day of one year into the first day of another year. What’s different is how we view a new year.

In many people’s minds it’s the door of opportunity for new beginnings, new resolutions, new attempts to get right what we perceived we’ve been doing wrong. But here’s the truth, regardless of how we view this new year, we’re clueless as to what it holds. How do I know that? Because the Author of creation has ordered our days.

The Psalmist records in Psalm 37:23: “The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.” The writer of the Hebrew letter (9:27) reminds us that “…each person is destined to die,” but here’s the kicker – we don’t know when that will be! That’s why Jesus warns us to seek His Kingdom above all else now, not wait until we have time or for a convenient season.

That’s what the rich man tried to do in Luke 18: “He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops’ Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. And I’ll sit back and say to myself, ‘My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!’ But God said to him, “You fool! You will die this very night.”

If we don’t prioritize our walk with God today, then when? We have no assurance except the breath we are taking in this instant. The only minute we have to make any decision is this one. If you’re coasting in your relationship with the Lord, put your life in gear and begin living as the Lord has asked you to live. Submit to His authority, obey His directives, follow His leading and walk humbly by His Spirit in whatever time you have left.

If you don’t know how to do that the first step is to confess your sin and ask for forgiveness. Click on this highlighted link and let Ron Hutchcraft walk you through a simple and straightforward plan to get your relationship with the Lord started. Then you need to find like-minded believers who will walk with you and hold you accountable. That often begins by finding a Christ-centered church. Go online and look for evangelical churches in your area. If I can be of help, please respond to this blog.

He will make your way known!

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

When Words Aren’t Needed

“So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Mount Carmel. And he bowed himself down on the earth and put his face between his knees.” (1 Kings 18:42 ESV)

The context of the above verse suggests Elijah was praying as he “put his face between his knees,” and that’s very likely exactly what he did, but my curiosity is heightened because no other place in Scripture does it say Elijah prayed in that position. Just prior to this in verse 36, after the prophets of Baal made complete fools of themselves begging their lifeless idol to send fire to burn up their sacrifice, the Bible says that “Elijah the prophet walked up to the altar and prayed.”

In verse 41, just before he bowed and put his face between his knees, he told Ahab, the wicked king, “Go get something to eat and drink, for I hear a mighty rainstorm coming!” Remember, in 1 Kings 17:1 Elijah had told Ahab that it wouldn’t rain “…until I give the word.” Now he’s telling him the long, costly drought is about to end.

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Is Elijah begging God to send rain? I don’t think so. The Lord has already given him assurance that rain is on the way. So, why the unusual posture? Because there are times and seasons when words can’t convey what’s on our heart. There are times the longing of our soul places us in a posture of prayer that gives illustration to the posture of our heart.

Elijah’s soul is celebrating! He’s so relieved because of God’s faithful victory over the prophets of Baal, there aren’t words to convey his gratitude. Couple that with God’s faithfulness in sending rain at exactly the right time and we have the recipe for inexpressible joy. So, why did Elijah keep asking his servant to check the sky? My sense is it was a matter of timing. Elijah just wanted to know when he should leave. He wanted to drain every ounce of joy and celebration from those moments. And, as the next verses described, he left right on God’s schedule.

How does all of this relate to us? Have you ever been on a spiritual mountain top? I have. Your heart is so full, your gratitude so heightened you don’t have words to express how you feel. All you know is that God has done something extraordinary, something you’d never experienced or felt before. His nearness is so real it’s like you could literally touch Him.

In my mind’s eye I see Elijah praying with his whole being and so forcefully aligned against the forces of evil he had no shadow of doubt the Lord would bring rain. It wasn’t a question of “if,” only a question of “how soon.” Is that your attitude when you pray? Are you so focused on the trustworthiness of God’s word to answer you pray with full expectation? Why would we pray any other way? To pray without expectation is to waste our breath.

What if instead we chose a position of worship that expressed to the Lord our complete confidence in Him without uttering a word? What if our very being reached out in awe and exaltation of our Savior, not asking for anything, but offering everything we have, are, or ever hope to be? What if instead of whining about what He hasn’t done, we worshiped Him with praise, honor, and offered Him thanksgiving for all He’s going to do for which we haven’t even thought to ask?

Might it move the heart of our Heavenly Father and put a smile on His holy face if we prayed in line with Paul’s words in Ephesians 3:20: “Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think” without uttering a word!

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Atonement

“So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.” (Romans 5:11 NLT)

When I think of atonement what immediately comes to mind is: “at-one-ment” because that’s exactly what atonement does, it makes us one with our Savior. In 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 Paul elaborates on exactly what this means when he writes: “So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know Him now! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to Himself through Christ.”

Being made right with God is an act of God received by faith by anyone willing to admit they can’t possibly save themselves, in the sense, they cannot EVER earn their right standing with God, thus never enter heaven. Rob Turner gives us insight when he writes: “Trying to atone for your sin is like scooping out the ocean with a teaspoon. Which do you want to hear? ‘Get to work’ or ‘it’s already done’?”

The same word that is translated “atonement,” can also be translated “reconciliation”, and means: “adjustment of a difference, reconciliation, restoration to favor,” which in the New Testament means “restoration of the favor of God to sinners that repent and put their trust in the expiatory death of Christ.” “Expiatory” means to do something on someone else’s behalf, as Jesus died, not for His own sins, but for the sins of all those who would repent and turn to Him for eternal life.

Atonement results when we admit we don’t have it all together, will never get it all together and must depend on the completed work of our Savior on Calvary’s Cross in our place and on our behalf. When that happens, the Lord extends His hand and offers us a forgiveness we haven’t earned or deserved on the sheer basis of His grace – His free, unmerited, and underserved favor.

Have you taken that step? Have you accepted the Lord’s offer of atonement, and found new life in Christ alone by faith alone? It’s literally transformational! It will change your life in positive ways you never dreamed possible. The beautiful words of Helen H. Lemmel come to mind when she penned the words of the hymn “Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus.” “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace.”

Having a right relationship with Jesus is more than a proposition, it’s an eternal friendship that results in our world being turned right-side-up. We can finally see ourselves and everything else in their proper perspective. Giving the Lord Jesus first place in our lives gives us guidance in ordering every other area of our lives. Family, work, play, church, friendships and everything else takes their proper place in light of our love for and devotion to the Lord Jesus.

If you’ve never made that decision or believe you’ve wandered too far, please tap on this highlighted link and allow Ron Hutchcraft to walk you through a very understandable explanation of why we need a Savior and how to begin a relationship with Him. You’ll be eternally grateful that you did.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

When Religion Becomes Dangerous

“On judgment day many will say to Me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in Your name and cast out demons in Your name and performed many miracles in Your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from Me, you who break God’s laws.’” (Matthew 7:22-23 NLT)

It’s very easy to get caught up in our own goodness. Aside from following non-Christian religions that teach another way to a heaven (there’s only One way to the heaven of the Bible) through various human disciplines. Even within the Christian Faith it can be a small step to seeing ourselves as much better than we actually are.

We tend to think we’ve cleaned up our proverbial “act,” when we stop smoking, drinking, drugging, using profanity, or we turn from pornography, immorality, homosexuality, gossiping or whatever other form our transformation may take, and we start to feel really good about ourselves. And that’s not all bad, we should be happy with ourselves, but ultimately all glory, honor, and praise belong to our powerful God who made those changes possible.

Religion becomes dangerous when we take credit for what only God can do. Salvation from sin is wholly God. Our only contribution is our confession, repentance, and voluntary submission to His Lordship. Jesus did all the work for our salvation on the Cross and it’s only activated by faith in Him, never by our good works or our own efforts.

Ron Hutchcraft says it well when he writes: “Somehow, in the middle of lots of Christianity, it is possible to miss Christ. It’s possible to be very religious, very involved with Christian things, and to miss Jesus and to miss heaven! How does this happen? Jesus said that what these people missed was ‘doing the will of my Father in heaven.’ Well, in John 6:40, Jesus tells us exactly what that is. ‘My Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life.’ That’s what God the Father wants. That’s what He demands as the only way to get into heaven. It’s not doing Christian things or believing Christian beliefs or observing Christian rituals. It’s putting your total trust in His Son as your only hope of having eternal life.”

Have you made that decision? Have you yielded your life and allegiance to Jesus alone by faith alone? You may have attended church your whole life, live a very moral life, serve and are active in a great church, but if you’ve never opened your heart and life to the Lordship of Jesus, you won’t be going to heaven (see verse at top of the page).

We can do a lot of very impressive things, miraculous things, but with the wrong motive, and we gain nothing. Do you know that Satan can also perform miracles? In 2 Corinthians 11:12ff Paul speaks of false apostles who are “deceitful workers who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ.” Their deliberate aim is deception and there are many who fill the pulpits of the world who fit this description. Then Paul shares this insightful statement: “But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.”

And that’s another very real danger when we shift from simple faith in the completed work of Christ on the Cross and start keeping score of all the ways we’re contributing to our own goodness. It’s a short step to seeing ourselves as our own “savior,” and allowing Satan to deceive us into believing we’re truly born again when in reality we’re frauds, fakes, and pretenders. Please don’t let that happen to you.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Have You Made the List?

“A group of Jews was traveling from town to town casting out evil spirits. They tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus in their incantation, saying, ‘I command you in the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, to come out!’ Seven sons of Sceva, a leading priest, were doing this. But one time when they tried it, the evil spirit replied, ‘I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?’ Then the man with the evil spirit leaped on them, overpowered them, and attacked them with such violence that they fled from the house, naked and battered.” (Acts 19:13-16 NLT)

If you’re a follower of Jesus, does anyone know? And if not, why not? What’s the point of being a “closet Christian”, if there is such a thing? Do we not understand that choosing Christ is choosing death to ourselves and life to those to whom the Lord sends us? Is this not the pattern of Paul’s Missionary journeys?

Paul explained to his friends from Ephesus, in Acts 20:18-24: “You know that from the day I set foot in the province of Asia until now I have done the Lord’s work humbly and with many tears. I have endured the trials that came to me from the plots of the Jews. I never shrank back from telling you what you needed to hear, either publicly or in your homes. I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike – the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus.

And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me, except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus – the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.”

We exist to invest ourselves in the pursuit of Christlikeness, resulting in the selfless pursuit of sharing God’s love and life with others. When we do that our name lands on at least two lists – God’s list in the Lamb’s Book of Life and the devil’s list, marking us for Satanic attack seeking to stop us from our efforts to win others from the life he has planned for them.

You see, God isn’t the only one who has plans for us and just as our efforts for the Lord disrupt Satan’s plans, our lack of effort on the Lord’s behalf forwards the devil’s plans. Hell’s highest compliment is when the enemy chooses to attack us to keep us from spreading God’s Word with those headed to a Christless eternity. If the enemy isn’t bothering us, perhaps it’s because we’re not bothering him.

It’s interesting to me that the demons in the verses above knew Paul. Jesus is a no-brainer, but if they knew Paul’s name, my sense is they know the names of many others. I’m reminded of the effective men of God who have fallen because they yielded to temptation from which they never recovered. Pride is a terrible enemy with whom to do battle, but is the logical result of an effective satanic attack.

When we put more confidence in our own ability to live the Christian life than we do in the power of the Holy Spirit, we’re destined for failure. It’s never a question of “if”, only a question of “when” we’re going to fall prey to the enemy’s attacks. To believe we are invincible in our own strength and “spirituality” is to lay down the banner of Christ and succumb to the enemy’s advances.

Have you made God’s list? My prayer is we’ve got targets on our backs the size of China that are identifying us as agents of the Holy God who are major threats to Satan and his devilish emissaries.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊