Monday Thought -- September 30, 2013

Good Morning Friends,

“Then they said, ‘Let's call the girl and ask her about it.’ So they called Rebekah and asked her, ‘Will you go with this man?’ ‘I will go,’ she said. So they sent their sister Rebekah on her way, along with her nurse and Abraham’s servant and his men. And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, ‘Our sister, may you increase to thousands upon thousands; may your offspring possess the gates of their enemies.’ Then Rebekah and her maids got ready and mounted their camels and went back with the man. So the servant took Rebekah and left.” (Genesis 24:57-61)

We speak often of the great men of faith from the pages of the Bible – and there are many to choose from. Men like Abraham, Noah, Moses, David, Paul, Peter and the list goes on and on. But men are not the only people of faith of which the Bible speaks. The Bible also speaks of a great many women of great faith. Rebekah certainly stands among the list of women of great faith.

Rebekah was a young woman – as yet unmarried. She was happily living with her parents and serving as a caregiver of her father’s sheep. And then – out of the blue – a man comes from a great distance and he tells her that God has chosen her to return with him to the far country and become the wife of his master’s son. Abraham had sent his servant to his ancestral land and to his own family to find a wife for his son, Isaac. The servant had followed Abraham’s instructions and had chosen Rebekah as the woman of God’s choosing.

How would the young woman react? She could have recoiled at the word of the servant and refused to go with him. Genesis 24 seems to say it is likely that her family would have supported her decision to turn the servant down or at least delay her departure from her home. But Rebekah didn’t refuse. Rebekah didn’t even delay. As soon as she got her things ready for the trip, Rebekah willing traveled with the servant a great distance from her home and family and became the wife of a man she did not know and had never seen.

That’s faith. Rebekah trusted that the word of the servant and the clarity with which the servant believed he had heard from God was really God’s will for her and – in faith – she set out for a new life.

And God blessed Rebekah’s decision. God blessed Rebekah’s faith. She stands in the long line of ancestors to the people of Israel – to Moses – and David – and Jesus.

She stands as one of the many examples of women who have shown great faith.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Friday Thought -- September 27, 2013

Good Morning Friends,

“Abraham agreed to Ephron’s terms and weighed out for him the price he had named in the hearing of the Hittites: four hundred shekels of silver, according to the weight current among the merchants. So Ephron’s field in Machpelah near Mamre — both the field and the cave in it, and all the trees within the borders of the field — was deeded to Abraham as his property in the presence of all the Hittites who had come to the gate of the city. Afterward Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave in the field of Machpelah near Mamre (which is at Hebron) in the land of Canaan. So the field and the cave in it were deeded to Abraham by the Hittites as a burial site.” (Genesis 23:16-20)

What is striking to me about the passage above is that the cave and the field near Mamre were the first parcel of land that was owned by Abraham in the land of Canaan. It was purchased by him as a tomb for his beloved wife, Sarah. Abraham, too, was growing old – he was already over 130 years old. He would follow Sarah in death in not too long a time.

God had promised the whole land of Canaan to Abraham and his descendants as an eternal inheritance, but now Abraham is very near the end of his life and he only owns a burial plot and a small field around it. Where is the fulfillment of God’s promise?

The truth is that Abraham would never see the fulfillment of God’s promise. It would not come in his lifetime. Oh, it would come. God would keep His promise, but not while Abraham lived. It would be hundreds of years later – after a 400 year period of oppression in Egypt and 40 years of wandering in the desert – but finally the promise of God would come true.

Can you imagine hanging on to a promise from God for your entire lifetime – not seeing it fulfilled even as you approached death – yet still believing it? That’s what Abraham did. He believed a promise he never saw fulfilled. But God was faithful – and somehow Abraham knew he would be, even though he could not see it and never would.

That’s faith – to cling to a promise that you don’t see fulfilled for an entire lifetime. And God calls us to that same kind of faith. The promise of heaven – an eternity in God’s presence – has been given to us by God. We won’t see it in our lifetimes – we can’t see it from earth. But we cling to it – that is what God asks. And the reward for clinging to the promise that cannot be seen on earth is that we will see it fulfilled in eternity.

God keeps His promises – He always does.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Thursday Thought -- September 26, 2013

Good Morning Friends,

Genesis 22 contains a story that is unbelievably difficult for me to comprehend. God asked something of Abraham that goes against everything I believe about God. He said to Abraham, “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.” (Genesis 22:2)

Abraham trusted God so much that he did not hesitate to do what God asked. There seems to be no argument from Abraham, no stalling, no wavering about whether he would obey or not. Early the next morning he just did what God asked him to do. He took Isaac to the region of Moriah with the intent of sacrificing him to the Lord.

Notice Abraham’s absolute trust in God’s love and faithfulness when Isaac asked where the lamb for the sacrifice was. “Abraham answered, ‘God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.’” (Genesis 22:8)

Even at the mount of sacrifice, Abraham did not waver. He built the altar, arranged the wood, tied up Isaac and placed him on the altar, and reached out his hand to kill his own son. (Genesis 22:9-10) It was then that God intervened to stop Abraham’s hand and to provide the ram to replace the boy. (Genesis 22:12-13)

Why would Abraham be willing to do something so repulsive for the Lord. I can think of only one reason: he trusted God absolutely. Even if he had killed Isaac, Abraham trusted God to bring him back to life.

What trust! What absolute trust! How far I have to go to have trust anywhere near Abraham’s!

His, by Grace,

Steve

Wednesday Thought -- September 25, 2013

Good Morning Friends,

“Now the LORD was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what he had promised. Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him. Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore him.” (Genesis 21:1-3)

This is one of the most startling miracles in the entire Bible. Abraham and Sarah were well past the age of child-bearing. Sarah wasn’t just past the age of child-bearing, she was into the age when child-bearing is impossible! But God caused what was impossible in order to demonstrate His power and His faithfulness.

The promise had been made to Abraham years before. Abraham and Sarah had already grown tired of waiting for God to fulfill the promise, so they had taken matters into their own hands and Abraham had fathered a child through a younger woman, a handmaiden of Sarah.

But God didn’t need Abraham and Sarah's scheming to make His promise come true. In His own time, God fulfilled His promise.

God always does. God always fulfills His promises. And God always fulfills His promises in His own time and in His own way.

There are many promises of God for which we grow weary as we wait. Remember Isaac, the clear demonstration that God does fulfill His promises – in His time – even when it takes a miracle!!

His, by Grace,

Steve

Tuesday Thought -- September 24, 2013

Good Morning Friends,

Abraham interceded on behalf of Sodom and Gomorrah and God agreed to exercise mercy toward those cities and not destroy them as had been His plan – if just ten righteous people could be found in the cities. Unfortunately, Abraham’s prayers made no difference in the final outcome for Sodom and Gomorrah – not even ten righteous people could be found in the cities and God carried through with His plan to destroy them.

The wickedness of the city of Sodom was made clear in their response to the angelic visitors as they arrived in the city. What followed was the dramatic and complete destruction of both Sodom and Gomorrah.

“The LORD rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah — from the LORD out of the heavens. Thus he overthrew those cities and the entire plain, including all those living in the cities — and also the vegetation in the land.” (Genesis 19:24-25)

The cities, their inhabitants, the area around the cities, and even the vegetation were all destroyed. In fact, archeologists believe the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were located underneath what is now the Dead Sea. Those areas have never been inhabited since God destroyed them thousands of years ago – that’s how complete God’s punishment was.

It was punishment that was deserved. God had already exercised patience with Sodom and Gomorrah despite their wickedness and their unwillingness to listen to His voice. God’s patience ran out and judgment came without warning and with great force.

Jude wrote in the New Testament, “Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.” (Jude 1:7) The same kind of sudden, forceful and complete judgment will come upon the world one day. It’s not that God hasn’t been patient – His patience is measured in thousands of years. Rather, it is that God’s patience has a limit and one day it will run out.

There is another side to the story, however. Before judgment literally rained down on Sodom and Gomorrah, God warned Abraham’s nephew, Lot, and his family. They were given an opportunity to flee and were saved from the destruction.

Peter reminded us, “God condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men.” (2 Peter 2:6-7) And so the lesson is, “The Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment.” (2 Peter 2:9)

Punishment – sudden, severe and complete – will come upon those who continue in their unrighteousness. Rescue from that punishment will come for God’s people. That is God’s warning and God’s promise.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Monday Thought -- September 23, 2013

Good Morning Friends,

In Genesis 18 Abraham provides a powerful example of intercession. Abraham is visited by the Lord with news about what He was about to do to Sodom and Gomorrah.

“Then the LORD said, ‘The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know.’” (Genesis 18:20-21)

Abraham must have known the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah were great, because in response to the Lord’s message, Abraham asked, “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked?” (Genesis 18:23) And then Abraham began to intercede for the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham had a special concern for the people of those cities because the inhabitants of Sodom included Abraham’s nephew, Lot, and his family. Abraham pressed the Lord on behalf of Sodom and Gomorrah and continued to press the Lord as far as he could.

First Abraham inquired of the Lord if He would destroy Sodom and Gomorrah if just 50 righteous people could be found living there. The Lord listened to Abraham’s intercession and agreed that He would spare the cities if 50 righteous people were found there. So Abraham pressed further – asking about 45 and then 40 and then 30 and then 20 and then just 10. And to each request of Abraham, God answered in the affirmative. If just 10 righteous people were found, God promised Abraham that He would not destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Of course, not even ten righteous people could be found in Sodom and Gomorrah and God did move to destroy those cities with His judgment. But the example I want us to see is the example of Abraham’s intercession – even his persistent intercession. Abraham had nothing to gain from any decision of God to spare Sodom and Gomorrah. There was nothing selfish in Abraham’s prayer – just a concern for his nephew and family and a concern for the people of the cities. Yet, Abraham pressed God for an answer and God answered.

God has not visited us with the news of the approaching destruction of cities near us – or has He? Isn’t that the message of the Bible – that judgment is coming with terrible destruction. I wonder, are we as concerned for the people who live around us as Abraham was concerned about the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. Those people were wicked and deserved the punishment that was coming to them – still Abraham appealed to God for mercy. Many of those around us are just as deserving of judgment as those who lived in Sodom and Gomorrah – do we appeal to God for His mercy for them?

Abraham provides a powerful example of intercession for us to imitate.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Friday Thought -- September 20, 2013

Good Morning Friends,

God offered a marvelous gift to Abraham – an everlasting covenant that would impact not just Abraham, but all of his descendants. In addition to the everlasting covenant, God gave also offered Abraham and his descendants an everlasting possession – the land of Canaan.

“God said to him, ‘As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. The whole land of Canaan, where you are now an alien, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.’” (Genesis 17:3-8)

God asked Abraham and his household and his descendants to enter into a sign of the everlasting covenant. God asked Abraham to be circumcised and all the males in his house to be circumcised and all the male descendants from then on to enter into the same sign of the covenant.

“This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you. For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner — those who are not your offspring. Whether born in your household or bought with your money, they must be circumcised. My covenant in your flesh is to be an everlasting covenant. Any uncircumcised male, who has not been circumcised in the flesh, will be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.” (Genesis 17:10-14)

Have you ever wondered why God asked for circumcision as the sign of His covenant with Abraham and his descendants? It is hard to see a connection between a relationship with God and circumcision. Yet, that is what God asked.

And that’s the point – it is what God asked. Circumcision had no meaning in itself that made it such a significant religious sign. It was a matter of obedience to God – a matter of Abraham’s willingness to listen to God and do whatever God asked him to do. It was about faith – trusting God enough to follow Him.

And that is still the essence of a relationship with God – not circumcision – but trusting God enough to follow Him – faith!

His, by Grace,

Steve

Thursday Thought -- September 19, 2013

Good Morning Friends,

“Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar; so she said to Abram, ‘The LORD has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family through her.’ Abram agreed to what Sarai said. So after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years, Sarai his wife took her Egyptian maidservant Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife. He slept with Hagar, and she conceived.” (Genesis 16:1-4)

Sometimes people — including you and me – get the idea that our plans are better than God’s plan. Disastrous things can happen when we pursue our way of doing things instead of the Lord’s way!

God had promised Abraham descendants who would form a great nation – so many descendants that they would be as many as the stars of the heavens or the sands of the desert. But Abraham and Sarah didn’t even have a single child to begin that line of descent. Abraham and Sarah were getting old -- very old -- well past the normal child-bearing years for a woman.

Sarah got an idea. She had a plan for bringing God’s promise to reality. She gave Abraham her servant, Hagar, and Abraham fathered a child with Hagar. It seemed like a good plan to Sarah – and Abraham agreed to it.

The results of Sarah’s plan were disastrous. And they weren’t just disastrous for Sarah and Abraham. They were disastrous for Abraham’s promised descendants and ultimately disastrous for the whole world.

It was disastrous for Sarah and Abraham because this decision brought discord into their house. Hagar and Sarah didn’t get along. Sarah was disrespected and Hagar was abused. And Abraham was caught in the middle.

It was disastrous for Hagar and her son, because eventually they were cast out of Abraham’s household.

It was disastrous for the descendants of Abraham and Sarah because the son of Hagar and the eventual son of Sarah and their descendants would war with each other for generations to come.

It was disastrous for the whole world because the child that was born to Abraham and Hagar was Ishmael – who would become the father of Islam. The son of Abraham and Sarah was Isaac – who would become the father of the Jewish people. And the war between Islam and Jew continues today and disrupts the peace of the whole world.

It was a simple plan. It was Sarah’s attempt to bring God’s promise to reality. And it backfired and caused – and continues to cause -- huge problems.

Perhaps the problems that are caused by the pursuit of our own plans instead of waiting on God’s plans aren’t as disastrous for the world as Sarah’s was – but they are just as disastrous for us!

His, by Grace,

Steve

Wednesday Thought -- September 18, 2013

Good Morning Friends,

Abraham was a great man. He was prosperous, with many possessions and servants. He was unselfish, demonstrated in giving Lot the first choice of places to live in the land and in rescuing Lot from those who had taken him captive. He was righteous, known for doing what God asked him to do. But if you want to sum up the one thing about Abraham that made him great you can do it by quoting one verse.

“Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.” (Genesis 15:6)

Abraham believed the Lord! In fact, Abraham is known as the father of faith.

The Jews trace their spiritual heritage to Abraham because of his faith. Christians trace our spiritual heritage to him for the same reason. It was Abraham’s faith that made him great and that pleased God.

God told Abraham to leave his home and family -- and Abraham believed God and did what He asked.

God told Abraham he was going to have a son in his old age -- and Abraham believed God.

God told Abraham to sacrifice his son -- and Abraham believed God and made ready to sacrifice Isaac until God stopped him.

Abraham believed God when it was easy and God was asking for things that made sense. Abraham believed God when it was difficult and He was asking for things that made no sense. Abraham just believed God. He trusted God’s wisdom more than he trusted his own.

Do you believe God? When it’s easy and makes sense to do it? When it’s tough and goes against what seems logical and wise?

Do you believe God?

His, by Grace,

Steve

Tuesday Thought -- September 17, 2013

Good Morning Friends,

Lot had chosen to live in the lush valley of the Jordan and had settled in the city of Sodom. What looked like a good choice turned out to be a very bad choice. War broke out between the king of Sodom and his allies against another king and his allies. Sodom was defeated and all the valuable possessions of the city were carried away and Lot and his belongings were carried away with them.

“The four kings seized all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food; then they went away. They also carried off Abram’s nephew Lot and his possessions, since he was living in Sodom.” (Genesis 14:11-12)

Lot suffered for his bad choice. You could say that he got what he deserved for casting his lot with a warring people. But Abraham reflected the grace and mercy of God and came to Lot’s rescue.

“One who had escaped came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew. Now Abram was living near the great trees of Mamre the Amorite, a brother of Eshcol and Aner, all of whom were allied with Abram. When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit as far as Dan. During the night Abram divided his men to attack them and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. He recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people.” (Genesis 14:13-16)

Abraham put himself, his servants, and his own possessions at risk by coming to Lot’s aid. The enemies had just defeated the king of Sodom and four other kings. Yet Abraham, with only his own men, was willing to go up against this powerful foe because he was that committed to his nephew, Lot. And God delivered the enemy into Abraham’s hand and Lot was rescued, along with those who were captured with him.

There is an example of God’s power in this picture. The might of the human armies was not enough to defeat the kings who took Sodom and Gomorrah captive. Yet, the servants of only one man, with God behind them, could defeat those enemies

There is a picture of love in this story. Abraham put himself and his people and possessions at risk for Lot. Abraham did not do that for what he would get out of it. He did it because he loved his nephew.

There is a picture of God’s grace and mercy in this story. Lot was rescued when he didn’t deserve it. Abraham pulled him out of the consequences of his own mistakes. How many times has God done the same for us!

His, by Grace,

Steve

Monday Thought -- September 16, 2013

Good Morning Friends,

Abraham and Lot had left their homes together and settled in the land of Canaan. And God blessed them both, and there came a time when they became so prosperous that the land could not support both of them. In order to avoid quarreling over the land, Abraham suggested that they part company, with Lot taking one area and Abraham another. Abraham gave Lot the first choice and the Bible records,

“Lot looked up and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan was well watered, like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, toward Zoar. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east. The two men parted company.” (Genesis 13:10-11)

Lot chose what looked like the best part of the land. Abraham got the leftovers.

Did Lot’s choice prove best in the long run? NO! War broke out in the area Lot chose and Lot and his possessions and the others in his area were carried away and Abraham had to come to their rescue. (Genesis 14) And the spiritual climate in the area Lot chose was horrible, eventually leading to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, and Lot lost his possessions, and lost his wife, too. (Genesis 19)

Abraham, on the other hand, stayed in the less desirable land and God blessed Abraham so that he became prosperous and respected and grew in faith.

The point is: there are other considerations in decision-making than just what looks best materially.

Material wealth and comfort was Lot’s primary consideration and it turned out to be the worst criteria on which he could have based his decision.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Friday Thought -- September 13, 2013

Good Morning Friends,

“Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe. As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, ‘I know what a beautiful woman you are. When the Egyptians see you, they will say, “This is his wife.” Then they will kill me but will let you live. Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you.’ When Abram came to Egypt, the Egyptians saw that she was a very beautiful woman. And when Pharaoh's officials saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh, and she was taken into his palace.” (Genesis 12:10-15)

Abraham provides an interesting case study in humanity. He was a great man of faith. He exercised greater faith than I ever have in leaving his home when God asked him to, not knowing where he was going. His faith would be tested even more later when he gave Lot the choice land and accepted the worst for himself and the ultimate test of his faith was in his willingness to obey God in sacrificing Isaac. Abraham was a great man of faith.

Yet, the story in Genesis 12 demonstrates a lack of faith. Abraham didn’t believe he could be honest and live. He didn’t trust God to take care of him.

Because of his lack of faith in this situation, he jeopardized his wife and his marriage and he brought great trouble to the house of Pharaoh.

A man brought his demon-possessed son to Jesus. He cried out for help, asking Jesus to heal him. Jesus said it was possible, if he believed. The man responded, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24)

Abraham could have said the same thing to God, “I do believe, help me overcome my unbelief.” I could say the same thing, too.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Thursday Thought -- September 12, 2013

Good Morning Friends,

“The LORD had said to Abram, ‘Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.’ So Abram left, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran.” (Genesis 12:1-4)

What would have happened if Abraham had refused to leave his homeland and travel to a new land? Of course, in the foreknowledge of God, He knew what Abraham’s response would be, but just follow the conjecture. If Abraham had refused, God’s plan would not have been thwarted. Another person willing to respond in faith would have been found and God’s plan would have gone forward to create a people through whom He would bless the world.

But Abraham would have missed the blessing that was offered him. To receive the blessing required risk-taking by Abraham. The path set before him was not easy and it was not clear what it would be like. Abraham had to give up a life that he knew for the unknown.

Often, God’s blessings require risk. They often require leaving the unknown and comfortable for something of uncertainty. But always, God’s directions include the certainty that He will go with us and fulfill every promise He makes.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Wednesday Thought -- September 11, 2013

Good Morning Friends,

The question is: whose glory are you seeking? Whose name do you want to see remembered?

“As men moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there. They said to each other, ‘Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.’ They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. Then they said, ‘Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth.’” (Genesis 11:2-4)

The people of Babel were not interested in bringing glory to God, they wanted glory for themselves. They were not interested in serving God or in helping other people. Their goal in life was their own glory. They wanted to be remembered. They wanted to make their mark in history so they would not be forgotten.

Ambition is not inherently evil, but selfish ambition is. Paul was ambitious. His ambition was to preach the gospel in places where it had never been preached before. He wanted to spread the gospel to the furthest corners of the world, even setting Europe as his goal. He had ambitious plans. But his ambition was not for himself. With all of his energy and resources he sought to bring glory to God and spread the name of God. When people wanted to make a big deal out of him, it offended him and he put a stop to it.

Not so in Babel. Their goal was their own glory and their ambition was selfish. And God punished the people of Babel. The very thing they sought to avoid, being scattered over the world, is the punishment God put upon them. They did make a name for themselves, Babel, which means confused. They left a legacy that would be laughed at and pitied for generations to come.

When we seek our own glory, the pursuit ends in ruin and confusion. When we seek God’s glory, that’s when we’re on the right path!

His, by Grace,

Steve

Tuesday Thought -- September 10, 2013

Good Morning Friends,

The movie “Armageddon” came out a number of years ago and told the story of a giant meteorite hurtling toward earth. When it hit, it would be a global killer. All life on earth would perish.

Another movie came out a few years ago that told the story of a great ice age that blanketed the earth and wiped out most of mankind.

“I Am Legend” came out a few years ago and its story was of a deadly virus that nearly decimated mankind.

Since the nuclear age began during World War II there has been the threat of nuclear holocaust. In a battle between superpowers that escalated beyond control it was possible that the entire world would be destroyed by a nuclear blast and its residual effects.

How will the world end? Will it end by man’s destructive power? Will end by a natural disaster that we cannot stop? Will a virus kill all mankind?

We can answer that question definitively. After God destroyed the world by the flood, Noah came out of the ark and built an altar to worship God and to thank Him for preserving him and his family.

“Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and taking some of all the clean animals and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it. The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart, ‘Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from childhood.  And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done. As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.’” (Genesis 8:20-22)

That is a promise from God. Life on earth will never again be destroyed like it was in the flood. That’s a promise you can count on. Nuclear holocaust will not destroy man. A meteor will never hit the earth as a global killer. A virus will not wipe out mankind. An ice age will not blanket the earth. Life will go on until God brings it to an end with Jesus’ Second Coming.

That’s the promise of God. It is not that mankind will never again deserve to be wiped from the face of the earth. Rather, it is the promise of God’s grace. God will be patient toward mankind until He is ready to usher in the eternal age.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Monday Thought -- September 9, 2013

Good Morning Friends,

God told Noah to build an ark and Noah did as God told him to do. It took a long time to construct the ark that God had commanded to be built. Noah worked on it for 120 years. During those years Noah preached to the people around him, urging them to repent. But no one, except Noah’s own family, listened to Noah’s preaching. Then Genesis records:

“Then the LORD shut him in.” (Genesis 7:16)

All during the days of building the ark the opportunity to repent and be in the ark when the flood came was available to the people of the world. That entire period of 120 years was a period of grace. God was offering the chance for anyone to be saved.

But the period of grace ended and the day came when it was no longer possible to enter the ark. When the rains started, God shut the door of the ark. His patience with the world had run out and judgment came upon them. It was too late for repentance, too late to get into the ark.

Jesus says, ‘Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all.” (Luke 17:26-27)

The days in which we live are days of grace. God offers the opportunity for anyone to be saved. The door into the ark is open! But judgment will come upon the earth again. God is patiently waiting now for people to repent. The opportunity is available for anyone to be saved from the coming destruction. God wants the people to repent. But the day will come when repentance will no longer be possible. The days of grace will end and judgment will come. The chance for repentance will be over.

That is the urgency in the preaching of the Gospel.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Friday Thought -- September 6, 2013

Good Morning Friends,

“Noah did everything just as God commanded him. The LORD then said to Noah, ‘Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in this generation. Take with you seven of every kind of clean animal, a male and its mate, and two of every kind of unclean animal, a male and its mate, and also seven of every kind of bird, male and female, to keep their various kinds alive throughout the earth. Seven days from now I will send rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights, and I will wipe from the face of the earth every living creature I have made.’ And Noah did all that the LORD commanded him.” (Genesis 6:22-7:5)

“Noah did everything just as God commanded him.” That’s the phrase that begins and ends this passage from Genesis. What a marvelous statement of Noah’s faithfulness to the Lord. He trusted God, enough to do what God asked him to do.

What God asked of Noah, the building of the ark and stocking it with the animals, was difficult, strange, and hard to understand. But Noah didn’t argue. He didn’t require God to explain it all. He didn’t see if he could come up with a better idea. He just listened to God, trusted what God said, and obeyed what God asked.

Samuel said, “To obey is better than sacrifice.” (1 Samuel 15:22) Our trust in God is shown best, not by our worship, but by our willingness to do what God asks of us. No arguments, no explanations, no better ideas required – just listening, trusting, and obeying.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Thursday Thought -- September 5, 2013

Good Morning Friends,

“Then the LORD said, ‘My Spirit will not contend with man forever, for he is mortal; his days will be a hundred and twenty years.’ The Nephilim were on the earth in those days -- and also afterward -- when the sons of God went to the daughters of men and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown. The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain. So the LORD said, ‘I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth – men and animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the air -- for I am grieved that I have made them.’ But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.” (Genesis 6:3-8)

In the days of Noah, man’s wickedness got out of hand. The wickedness of mankind tested the limits of the Lord’s patience. It brought on the wrath of God in the flood.

Yet, Noah was different from the world. While the world was going wild in wickedness, Noah remained righteous and devoted to the Lord.

We live in a world that isn’t much different from the world of Noah’s day. I can’t imagine that the wickedness of that day was worse than the wickedness of ours. The Lord’s patience must be growing thin today, too.

Yet, while the world is going wild in wickedness, there are those who remain righteous and devoted to the Lord. That is what the Lord is calling us to. “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Romans 12:2)

So, is your life more characterized by the way the world around you is living, or is your life more characterized by righteousness and devotion to the Lord?

His, by Grace,

Steve

Wednesday Thought -- September 4, 2013

Good Morning Friends,

“In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. Then the LORD said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.’ Now Cain said to his brother Abel, ‘Let’s go out to the field.’ And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.” (Genesis 4:3-8)

Cain’s gift to God had a problem.

The problem is in the phrase “some of.” Abel brought the fat portions from his flock, but Cain just brought some of his crop. He wasn’t concerned about whether it was the best portion. He just went into his storehouse and brought out whatever was easiest to get to. Abel made the effort to look through his flock and choose the best for God. “Some of” says a great deal about Cain’s heart.

When King David wanted to make an offering to the Lord, Araunah wanted to give the place where the offering would be made to David. David refused to take it as a gift from Araunah. He said, “No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” (2 Samuel 24:24)

David refused to give God something that did not cost him. What Cain gave cost him very little. What Abel gave cost him a great deal.

Do you give God what is easy to give, what costs you little? Or are your gifts to God costly for you to give?

His, by Grace,

Steve

Tuesday Thought -- September 3, 2013

Good Morning Friends,

“To the woman God said, ‘I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.’ To Adam he said, ‘Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, “You must not eat of it,” Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.’” (Genesis 3:16-19)

Adam and Eve gave in to the temptation Satan put before them. They didn’t get away with it! No matter how secret our sins, we never get away with ours, either. As a result of their sin, God pronounced curses upon them that would affect them and all other human beings.

To Eve, God pronounced pain upon childbirth and that human relationships would never be the same again. Because of Eve’s sin there is a natural tension between men and women. Woman can’t live without man, she “desires” him, yet the relationship isn’t what it was before, as submission enters the picture instead of partnership.

To Adam, God pronounced toil and adversity. Adam and Eve had been living in a place of perfect provision. All of their needs were met and life was easy. That would no longer be true. Toil replaced ease and life took on a difficulty they had never known before. From that point on, life would be tough for men and women. And death would overtake them, bringing great pain to their lives.

All of these curses came into their lives and ours because they rejected God’s leadership and direction and chose to follow their own! They did so to their own peril and distress. And each time we choose to reject God’s leadership and direction in order to follow our own, we find the same results. Seeking freedom, we find bondage instead. Seeking pleasure, we find pain at the end of the path instead.

When will we ever learn that God’s way is always best?

His, by Grace,

Steve

Monday Thought -- September 2, 2013

Good Morning Friends,

“God said, ‘Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?’ The man said, ‘The woman you put here with me – she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.’ Then the Lord God said to the woman, ‘What is this you have done?’ The woman said, ‘The serpent deceived me, and I ate.’” (Genesis 3:11-13)

The blame game is as old as mankind and still as prevalent today as it has ever been.

Adam and Eve faced the first sin that they brought into the world by turning to the blame game. Adam blamed Eve – “she gave me some fruit.” Adam blamed God – “The woman you put here with me.” Eve blamed the serpent – “The serpent deceived me.” Everyone found someone else to blame.

I’ve played the blame game as long as I can remember and there have always been others on whom to the lay the blame for my sins. Early in life I had my sisters to blame. Later there were classmates and friends. When I married Claudia I found someone new to blame for the problems that were in me. Bringing children into the world brought new culprits to name. Today there are co-workers, friends, parents, government, bosses, financial advisors, and so many others from which to choose. I can blame all of them at one point or another. As long as the blame doesn’t point back toward me I can justify what I’ve done.

I know I’m not alone in playing the blame game. You play it, too. We all do. We always have. And yet, the blame game never works. It is never the solution to our problems. In fact, it heads us in the opposite direction from the help we need. The Apostle John reminded us, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

When we choose to play the blame game, we move further and further away from the cleansing that we need. It’s only when we choose to step up to the plate and accept responsibility for the wrong for which we are guilty that God pours out His cleansing.

His, by Grace,

Steve