Bible Ballistics: A Heritage of Kindness??? Vol. 5 #13

I spent most of this week on the road, traveling over 2,000 miles since last Sunday. Our trip started off as a pleasure trip to see family and friends, but then on our way home we received word of the death of my dad’s only remaining sibling, my Uncle Stuart. While it meant some long hours of driving, we wouldn’t have been anywhere else but there for this special man and his family, who are so dear to my family and me.

While my body was (and still is) tired, it was a blessing beyond measure to see a good and godly man honored for a life well lived. One of those who spoke at the service said something that has been resonant in my heart and mind ever since, and I’d like to share a few thoughts with you about “heritage”. While describing the kindness of my dear uncle, John (a grandson-in-law) stated that being with and around this precious man, had brought him to realize that kindness was a ‘heritable’ thing.

Heritable-able to be inherited.

I have turned this over and over in my mind, and would like to spend our time today considering ‘heritage’. While most people think of material possessions as their ‘heritage’, I want to consider another arena of heritage.

Psalm 16:5-9 says, “The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot. 6 The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage. 7 I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons. 8 I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. 9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.”

God calls us to Himself and when we accept Him, He is the “portion of our inheritance”—we become ‘children of God’! Children who are to reflect the character of our God! We are made ‘joint heirs’ with our Lord Jesus; we receive a “heritage” of God, as well as from God. And it is something we are to pass on to our own and the world.

Romans 8:16-18, “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

Is the power of God at work in me? in you? God’s Spirit, the Holy Spirit, within us, is the evidence that I belong to Jesus. An evidence within us that is to be displayed to the world by our character. As D. L. Moody once said, “Character is what you are in the dark.” In other words, what you do when no one is looking. And a ‘character’ of kindness and integrity was the heritage that my uncle left to all who knew him. I was abundantly blessed to share in the kindness of this precious man, of his sister and his brothers (one of whom was my father). They were all abundantly endowed with kindness, which they each expressed to their own, and others.

How can we do this? Let’s look at scripture to find out how it should look to those around us:

Luke 6:35-36, “ But love ye your enemies,

 and do good,

and lend,

hoping for nothing again;

and your reward shall be great,

and ye shall be the children of the Highest:

for he is kind unto the unthankful

and to the evil.

36 Be ye therefore merciful,

as your Father also is merciful.“

Our kindness is to be expressed to all—

the good,

the not-so-good;

to those who like us

as well as those who don’t.

We are called to extend goodness to others because God extended kindness to us when we were in our sin. This attitude kind of flies in the face of what goes on around us doesn’t it? (Especially on social media??)

Ephesians 4:31-32,

“Let all bitterness,

and wrath,

and anger,

and clamour,

and evil speaking,

be put away from you, with all malice:

32 And be ye kind one to another,

tenderhearted,

forgiving one another,

even as God

for Christ’s sake

hath forgiven you.”

Kindness forgives—because I am forgiven. I don’t need to hold on to bitterness, anger, fussing and cussing—I am to be kind instead!!! To be a reflection of God’s character in me. Not always easy, but by God’s grace, do-able!!!

Ephesians 5:9-10, “(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth; ) 10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.”

Our behavior is to be evidence to the world of what God has done in our hearts. My dear uncle was an example to everyone of what the fruit of the Spirit of God looks like.

Colossians 3:12-17, “ Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved,

bowels of mercies,

kindness,

humbleness of mind,

meekness,

longsuffering;

13 Forbearing one another,

and forgiving one another,

if any man have a quarrel against any:

 even as Christ forgave you,

so also do ye.

14 And above all these things put on charity,

which is the bond of perfectness.

15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts,

to the which also ye are called in one body;

and be ye thankful.

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom;

 teaching and admonishing one another

in psalms

and hymns

and spiritual songs,

singing with grace

in your hearts to the Lord

17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed,

do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,

giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”

Putting off the unkindness of the world, and putting on what God has put in us—His character by His Spirit.

Romans 5:5, “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”

God’s love in me and you, being seen by the world. And we can only do that as we trust in Jesus, depend on Him and do things His way. The only way:

John 15:5, “I am the vine, ye are the branches:

He that abideth in me,

and I in him,

the same bringeth forth much fruit:

for without me ye can do nothing.”

What heritage am I leaving to those around me? What heritage are you leaving to those around you? Will we live a ‘heritable’ kindness that others will desire to emulate? Or something less?  Thank you Uncle Stuart for the heritage of kindness that you lived before everyone. I’ll miss that wonderful smile and my hugs!!!

Will we live and ‘do all things through Christ’? Or will we go our own way and find that “without me ye can do nothing”?

It’s your choice—today is all we have, and the choice is always yours to make.

 

Bible Ballistics: BBs #132   Keep ON Keeping ON???? How do we keep on keeping on when we just get so tired of it? Only one way!!! In learning to trust our God in all things–not easy but do!!! How? We’re enabled by His Spirit. Philippians 4:10-13, “But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly,

that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak in respect of want:

for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am,

therewith to be content.

12 I know both how to be abased,

and I know how to abound:

every where and in all things I am instructed

both to be full

and to be hungry,

both to abound

and to suffer need.

13 I can do all things

through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

How? “through Christ which strengtheneth me.” I must keep my trust and confidence in the one who sustains me. It’s not always easy, it’s not always painless—it’s often severe and even chronic. But I have to remember:

“For I reckon that

the sufferings of this present time

are not worthy to be compared

with the glory

which shall be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18,

We keep our eyes on the eternal not the temporary. Keeping our eyes on Jesus not the world or the suffering. He has made us worthy—and royalty:

“And they sung a new song, saying,

Thou art worthy to take the book,

and to open the seals thereof:

for thou wast slain,

and hast redeemed us to God

by thy blood

out of every kindred,

and tongue,

and people,

and nation;

10 And hast made us unto our God

kings and priests:

and we shall reign on the earth.”

Revelation 5:9-10

Bible Ballistics: Who’s Values Do We Hold??? Vol. 5 #12

What do we treasure in life today? The draw of the world is strong and often it is a real struggle to keep our focus where it ought to be. The thing I’d like us to consider today is how to keep a right focus in a crooked world.

Philippians 2:12-16, “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. 14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings: 15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; 16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.”

Working out our own salvation as we go from day to day, simply means letting God work out what HE has put within us—His Spirit in our hearts. Jesus Himself, promised that HIS Spirit would lead us into all truth; that He would teach and reveal truth and righteousness unto our hearts so that our lives would be a glory to God and a testimony to the world!!! But we must listen and yield!!!

John 16:13, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”

And Peter reminds us that we are empowered to obey through the “Spirit”:

1 Peter 1:22-23, “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: 23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.”

“Being born again” by the power of the Spirit of God, then we can also overcome sin and the world the same way—by the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. That Spirit of the ‘promise’, the “new covenant”, enables my obedience.

Acts 1:4-5, “And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. 5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.”

The New Covenant is the ‘Promise’:

Jeremiah 31:31-33, “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: 32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord: 33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.” That very ‘Holy Spirit’ writes the ‘law’ of God in our hearts.

And Ezekiel 36:26-27, “ A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.” The ‘promise’ of the ‘Spirit’ which would guide us into ‘all truth’. (See John 16:13 above)

As God is doing HIS Work within us, we are enabled to do His Work before the world. (See John 4:34) To be a reflection of His “Word” and His ‘Work” before this “crooked and perverse nation”. To be right and light in the darkness of the world.   We must learn contentment with Jesus—to let Him satisfy the longing of our soul. As the Psalmist says,

“O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. 15 Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil. 16 Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children. 17 And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.” Psalm 90:14-17

Real heart-felt satisfaction comes from God, not things or circumstances—God will establish our ways, if we but keep our eyes on HIM. We must exercise contentment in Jesus, to resist the spinning vortex of the world–the rush, the hustle and bustle, the pull of the world. It is not easy to stand fast, but we must, and by God’s power, provision, grace and strength we can.

1 Timothy 6:6-11, “But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.”

We are to treasure the things of God, to trust in His Word, and rely upon His Spirit: to love and depend on God and not things!!! We are also called to love people and use things for God’s glory and purpose: not to love money and use people for our own ends!!! It is a difficult culture that we live in, and it is a constant challenge to resist the pressure of ‘things’ and remember that God has a better way. Paul warned us that in these last days the world would forsake God and right to pursue self.

2 Timothy 3:1-5, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”

And in closing, Isaiah reminds us of the same things as he cautions us to keep our standard aligned with God not the world:

Isaiah 5:20-21, “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! 21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!”

May we stand fast in these days of calling “evil good” and “good evil”? It’s going on all around us. What are you valuing? What are you willing to compromise to get along? It’s your choice! But remember—consequences come from the choices we make!!! We are free to choose—we aren’t free to set our own consequences!

Bible Ballistics: BBs #131   When Is The Light On?

We talked the last time out about letting “your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven….”, that’s a lofty goal for our lives each day, and as I was sitting here this morning I thought about Tom Bodette, (the Motel 6 guy) and his commercials which promised to “leave a light on for you!” What about us? Do we ‘leave the light on’ of Jesus’ love and power in our hearts and lives? Or is ours a blinking light? A caution light? Or an emergency vehicle flashing light—only turned on in emergencies?

This thought takes my mind to Job, as we think about letting our light shine consistently and continually.

Job 1:8-11, “And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? 9 Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? 10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. 11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.”

Of course we know that God allowed Satan to afflict Job on this occasion when he took all of his possessions, slew his children and left him with virtually nothing. Yet, Job said:

“….. Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. 22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.” Job 1:21-22

While Job didn’t jump for joy at the calamities that were befalling him, he did acknowledge God as the ‘sovereign Lord’ over all of his possessions. He “sinned not, nor charged God foolishly”. Job stood his ground and maintained his ‘light’ before God and before his world. But Satan comes again before the Lord and requests permission to afflict Job even more:

Job 2:4-5, “And Satan answered the Lord, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. 5 But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.”

Satan requests that the restriction regarding Job’s ‘body’ be removed, and God allowed it. We can’t reason in our ‘finite’ minds why God would allow Job to suffer so, but suffice it to say, He did. God is always at work to accomplish His purpose in and through our lives and our testimony, which proceeds most often, and most powerfully from our circumstances. Yet what do we complain about most? Our circumstances!!!

While Satan had no confidence in Job, God had absolute confidence in His “servant, Job”!!! God knew the outcome for Job and He knows ours. Will we let our light shine before the world, our family, our neighbors, our co-workers, and our enemies??? Even when Job’s wife implored him to ‘curse God, and die’, Job maintained his relationship with and his integrity before God (And we can note here that Job’s wife and friends weren’t his greatest gifts from God):

Job 2:9-10, “Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. 10 But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.”

So??? Here’s our shot for today. We need to check our ‘light’! Are we fully connected to our Lord? Are we maintaining the current of power through His Word and prayer? Are our time and our choices diminishing our power with God? Or are we willing to stay in HIS light and be a reflection of HIS glory to our world?

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7

We can maintain our ‘integrity’ with God by walking in the light and allowing the current of God’s power to flow through us. Have a great day shining!!! Wherever you are, NOW!!!

Bible Ballistics: BBs #130   What Do They See???

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16.

What kind of light am I being today? A dim light? A burned out bulb? A light on a dimmer switch gone wild? A fluorescent light with a bad ballast (we all hate those)? Or am I being the reflection of the one I claim to love and serve?

How can we be light? Only when we belong to “the light of the world”! And as the old song says, ‘The Light of the World is Jesus”, and I’m so glad He is and that He has saved me and promised:

“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John 8:12

Jesus is the light, we are to be the ‘mirrors’ of His light. What are you reflecting today? Jesus, or something dark? How can we reflect the light of Jesus? Only by having HIM within us! And when He is in us, then His Spirit is working His work—His light—in us, by the love of God.

Romans 5:5-6, “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. 6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.”

Because Jesus paid the price for my sin and yours, we can have the indwelling Holy Spirit who shines HIS love in our hearts, so that we can reflect and share it with and before the world.

So??? Here’s our shot for today. Check your light source! Are we reflecting the ‘love of God’ to those around us? Or do they see our hormones, our bad memories, bad attitudes, or the wickedness of our culture? Much like our ‘computers’, what goes in will come out!!! What are we putting in our hearts? God’s Word? The World’s influence? You can choose, but let’s strive today to shine for Jesus like Paul desired for the believers in Philippians 2:15,

“That ye may be

blameless

and harmless,

the sons of God,

without rebuke,

in the midst of a crooked

and perverse nation,

among whom

ye shine as lights in the world;“

Won’t you “Let your light

so shine before men,

that they may see your good works,

and glorify your Father

which is in heaven.”???