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What Do I Do In The Trial??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 16 No. 25

14 Sunday Mar 2021

Posted by Blanche in Abiding In Jesus, All About Jesus!, All Sufficient God!, Ask God For Wisdom, By His Grace, Choices And Consequences, Confidence, Consider Your ways, Courage, Dependence, Encouragement, Eyes that SEE HIM, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Fearfulness, Fearlessness, Filled With His Spirit, Follow Jesus, Great is Thy Faithfulness, Harmless As Doves, I Can Do All Things?, I Know Whom I Have Beleived, Iron Sharpening Iron, Keeping our eyes on JESUS!, Knowing GOD, Knowing God's Word, Listening To God, Only Jesus, Perseverance, Power of The Cross, Praise God Today!, Resting In Jesus, Resting Or Wrestling?, Sovereignty, Strong Tower, Suffering With Jesus, That They May Know, The Lord Is My Shepherd, TODAY, Troubles, Trust God, Trusting Jesus, Wait on the Lord, Walk in the Spirit, Walking With Jesus, You can overcome

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1 Corinthians 10:13, 1 Kings 3:9, 1 Peter 2:20-24, Be Still and Know, Confidence, Don't Miss God's Provision, God IS Faithful, Hebrews 4:15-16, Isaiah 41:10, James 1:5, Matthew 10:16, Matthew 6:31-34, Philippians 4:6-7, Philippians 4:8, Proverbs 18:10, Psalm 46:10, Put My Trust In Thee, Romans 8:28-29

Bible Ballistics: Vol. 16 No. 25  What Do I Do In The Trial???

 

I would like to simply share a bit of biblical insight today that I pray will be a useful tool of encouragement that we can all keep around for a boost when we need it.  I’m trying to make it short and in a form that can be copied and kept.

When you don’t know what to do—Ask God—

“If any of you lack wisdom,

 let him ask of God,

that giveth to all men liberally,

and upbraideth not;

and it shall be given him.”  James 1:5

When you don’t know where to go—Run to God—

“The name of the LORD

is a strong tower:

the righteous runneth into it,

and is safe.”  Proverbs 18:10

When you don’t know how you’ll make it—Bow—

“Be careful for nothing;

but in every thing by prayer and supplication

with thanksgiving

let your requests be made known

unto God.”  Philippians 4:6

Where will your confidence settle—in GOD’s peace—

“And the peace of God,

which passeth all understanding,

shall keep your hearts and minds

through Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:7

When your mind seems to be out of control—think praise—

“Finally, brethren,

whatsoever things are true,

whatsoever things are honest,

whatsoever things are just,

whatsoever things are pure,

whatsoever things are lovely,

whatsoever things are of good report;

if there be any virtue,

and if there be any praise,

think on these things.”  Philippians 4:8

When the way is blocked before you– Be still—

“Be still,

and know that I am God:

I will be exalted among the heathen,

I will be exalted in the earth.”  Psalm 46:10

When you’re afraid of what lies ahead—Look up—

“Fear thou not;

for I am with thee:

be not dismayed;

for I am thy God:

I will strengthen thee;

yea, I will help thee;

yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand

of my righteousness.”  Isaiah 41:10

When your flesh is raging with confusion and anger—Come—

“Let us therefore come boldly

unto the throne of grace,

that we may obtain mercy,

and find grace to help

in time of need.”  Hebrews 4:15-16.

When the cupboard/checkbook is empty—seek God’s face—

“Therefore take no thought, saying,

What shall we eat?

or, What shall we drink?

or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32 (For after all these things

do the Gentiles seek:)

for your heavenly Father knoweth

that ye have need of all these things.

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God,

and his righteousness;

and all these things

shall be added unto you.

34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow:

for the morrow shall take thought

for the things of itself.

Sufficient unto the day

is the evil thereof.”  Matthew 6:31-34

God is sufficient to every need, when we will keep our “eyes fixed on Jesus”!

Don’t be like the man in the flood, who prayed for God to save him.  A neighbor came by and offered to take him to safety, and he said, “no thanks, God is going to deliver me”.  The flood waters rose to the second floor and a boat came by to take him to safety and he said, “no thanks, God is going to deliver me”.  He finally climbed up on the roof as the waters rose, and a helicopter came by to rescue him, and you guessed it, he said, “no thanks, God is going to deliver me”. Well, the man died and as he came before The Lord, he asked “why didn’t you deliver me?”  The Lord quickly replied to his question, I sent you a neighbor, a boat and a helicopter—what did you want?

Remember we are God’s— and HE will supply, just not always in the way that we expect!

“Behold, I send you forth as sheep

in the midst of wolves:

be ye therefore wise as serpents,

and harmless as doves.”  Matthew 10:16

As Solomon prayed as King of Israel, may we pray in our individual lives for the same understanding in our lives and trials.

“Give therefore thy servant

an understanding heart

to judge thy people,

that I may discern

between good

and bad:

for who is able to judge this

thy so great a people?”   1 Kings 3:9

And as Paul reminds believers on many occasions, may we remember that God is always at work to lead and deliver us.

“There hath no temptation taken you

but such as is common to man:

but God is faithful,

who will not suffer you to be tempted

above that ye are able;

but will with the temptation

also make a way to escape,

that ye may be able to bear it.”   1 Corinthians 10-:13

“And we know that all things work together

for good

to them that love God,

to them who are the called

according to his purpose.

29 For whom he did foreknow,

he also did predestinate

to be conformed

to the image of his Son,

that he might be the firstborn

among many brethren.”  Romans 8:28-29

And Peter’s great instruction and encouragement to we who follow Jesus.

“For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted

for your faults,

ye shall take it patiently?

but if, when ye do well,

and suffer for it,

ye take it patiently,

this is acceptable with God.

21 For even hereunto were ye called:

because Christ also suffered for us,

leaving us an example,

that ye should follow his steps:

22 Who did no sin,

neither was guile found in his mouth:

23 Who, when he was reviled,

reviled not again;

when he suffered,

he threatened not;

but committed himself to him

that judgeth righteously:

24 Who his own self bare our sins

in his own body on the tree,

that we, being dead to sins,

should live unto righteousness:

by whose stripes

ye were healed.

25 For ye were as sheep

going astray;

but are now returned

unto the Shepherd and Bishop

of your souls.”  1 Peter 2:20-24

Amen and Amen!!!

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Wise And Harmless Or___??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #705

22 Friday Jan 2021

Posted by Blanche in 'Tis The Season?, Harmless As Doves, Life, Love, Love Is Action, Wisdom, Wise As Serpents

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1 Corinthians 15:57-58, Daniel 1:18-20, Matthew 10:16, Wise As Serpents-Harmless as Doves

Bible Ballistics: BBs #705  Wise And Harmless Or___???

 

I have a *comparatively* (ha ha) brief word today as we wrap up Daniel chapter 1; hopefully a reminder for us all that Daniel focused on obedience to his God, and his GOD exalted him in HIS time!  So many today are trying to change, arrange or manipulate the “times” for their own benefit or to prove a point.  Well, contrary to what seems to be popular today—we are called to be like Daniel and humble ourselves before our God—not exalt self.  I had a friend many years ago who had a saying that I often use in jest, but it really seems to reflect the mindset of our day.  She said, “He that ‘tooteth’ not his own horn, hath his horn not ‘tooted’!”  And we know almost everyone today wants their 15 minutes in the spotlight regardless of the cost in dignity, integrity or the feelings of others—and please don’t expect them to regard the truthfulness of their “boasts”!

Daniel chose to behave with integrity, honor and respect to those over him, but he took a stand for God and left the results to GOD!  And because of Daniel’s stand (and that of his three friends) God showed Himself faithful on Daniel’s behalf.

“Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in,

then the prince of the eunuchs

brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.

19 And the king communed with them;

and among them all

was found none like

Daniel,

Hananiah,

Mishael,

and Azariah:

therefore stood they before the king.

20 And in all matters

of wisdom

and understanding,

that the king enquired of them,

he found them ten times better

than all the magicians and astrologers

that were in all his realm.”   Daniel 1:18-20

Jesus gave us some very good advice in this regard as well.  May we take heed in these difficult days and NOT use our difficult circumstances to justify bad behavior.

“Behold,

I send you forth

as sheep

in the midst of wolves:

be ye therefore

wise as serpents,

and harmless as doves.”  Matthew 10:16

We can respond with integrity, honor and truth because our God is always faithful!  We are called to walk in humble dependence upon our Lord Jesus and our Father God, through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, not to depend upon our flesh, popular opinion or the “majority”!  “Our God reigns”!

“For whosoever exalteth himself

shall be abased;

and he that humbleth himself

shall be exalted.”  Luke 14:11

 

“And the publican, standing afar off,

would not lift up so much as his eyes

unto heaven,

but smote upon his breast, saying,

God be merciful

to me

a sinner.

14 I tell you,

this man went down to his house

justified

rather than the other:

for every one that exalteth himself

shall be abased;

and he that humbleth himself

shall be exalted.”   Luke 18:13-14

As Paul told the Galatian believers:

“And let us not be weary

in well doing:

for in due season

we shall reap,

if we faint not.”  Galatians 6:9

And remember, the same God who was faithful to Daniel, is still GOD and HEnever fails.

“Nevertheless

my lovingkindness

will I not utterly

take from him,

nor suffer my faithfulness

to fail.

34 My covenant will I not break,

nor alter the thing

that is gone out of my lips.”   Psalm 89:33-34

Jesus also IS changeless:

“Jesus Christ the same

yesterday,

and to day,

and for ever.”   Hebrews 13:8

Paul gives us the key to successful living with humility, obedience, and confidence in a fallen world!

“Charity never faileth:

but whether there be prophecies,

they shall fail;

whether there be tongues,

they shall cease;

whether there be knowledge,

it shall vanish away….

…13 And now abideth

faith,

hope,

charity,

these three;

but the greatest of these

is charity.”  1 Corinthians 13:8 & 13

Let’s stand like Daniel and trust the results to our faithful Lord!  May God’s love and holiness be seen in me/you in all we do

“But thanks be to God,

which giveth us the victory

through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren,

be ye stedfast,

unmoveable,

always abounding

 in the work of the Lord,

forasmuch as ye know that your labour

is not in vain

in the Lord.”  1 Corinthians 15:57-58

Amen and Amen!!!

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Dents, Dings, And Delicatessens??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 14 No. 05

15 Sunday Sep 2019

Posted by Blanche in Abiding In Jesus, Abundant Life In Jesus, Beauty of Holiness, Bling, Changed Lives, Children, Choices And Consequences, Commitment Or Convenience, Consider Your ways, Encouragement, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Follow Jesus, Harmless As Doves, Holiness, Holy Living, IN Jesus!, It's Your Choice, JESUS, Knowing God's Word, Liars, Lies That Defeat Us, Listening To God, Marriage, Obedience, Power of The Cross, Repentance, Seeing Truth, Take Up YOUR Cross, The Lord Is My Shepherd, The Word Or The World?, Trendy Or Truth, Trusting Jesus, Truth, Victorious Living, Who are YOU following?

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1 Corinthians 15:17-20, 1 John 4:19, 1 Peter 3:1-4, 1 Peter 3:7-12, 1 Timothy 1:1-2, 1 Timothy 2:8-10, Colossians 3:8-17, Compromise, Delicatessens, Dents, Dings, Faithfulness, John 10:10-11, John 1:10-16, Malachi 2:15-17, Marriage, Matthew 16:24-26, Revelation 18:3-22, Truth

Bible Ballistics: Vol.14 No.05 Dents, Dings, And Delicatessens???

 

I know some of you are wondering what this has to do with our Christian life; others of you who know me better, know that I’ll sure try to make it relevant to our daily living; if I don’t, then I’m not really fulfilling my goal and passion of sharing biblical sustenance with hungry people—believers or not–for believers, because many don’t have a steady diet of biblical truth; for unbelievers, praying that they may be drawn to Jesus! For when it is all said and done, without Jesus, the resurrected Lord of glory, there is no hope! Paul said it so clearly and concisely!

“And if Christ be not raised,

your faith is vain;

ye are yet in your sins.

18 Then they also

which are fallen asleep in Christ

are perished.

19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ,

we are of all men most miserable.

20 But now is Christ risen

from the dead,

and become the firstfruits

of them that slept.”    1 Corinthians 15:17-20

Jesus is our hope, our joy, and our rejoicing—for without Him we have no ‘hope of glory’, heaven, or eternal life!

“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ

by the commandment

of God

our Saviour,

and Lord Jesus Christ,

which is our hope;

2 Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith:

Grace,

mercy,

and peace,

from God our Father

and Jesus Christ our Lord.”  1 Timothy 1:1-2

We can have hope when we look to Christ Jesus in all things; He is our hope both past, present and future!  How about you, is HE your hope?  Paul gives us a beautiful picture of living by faith in his letter to the Colossian believers:

“But now ye also

put off all these;

anger,

wrath,

malice,

 blasphemy,

filthy communication out of your mouth.

9 Lie not one to another,

seeing that ye have put off the old man

with his deeds;

10 And have put on the new man,

which is renewed in knowledge

after the image of him

that created him:

11 Where there is neither

Greek nor Jew,

circumcision nor uncircumcision,

Barbarian, Scythian,

bond nor free:

but Christ is all,

and in all.

12 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 (be at home in you!)

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.” Colossians 3:8-17

 

Are we living our lives for Jesus in this manner? Or are we so soft, spiritually speaking, that any little thing can keep us from our Lord, from His Word, from His ways, from His principles and expectations?  It seems that all around us people claim the name of Jesus, but have no regard for who HE IS, what HE says, or what HE has called His followers to be and do (and remember, being always precedes doing!)!  We seem to be more concerned about taking care of our new car, than we are about maintaining our testimony for Jesus.  We’ll park a mile away from the door to keep from having someone ding our car; but we’ll get as close to sin as we can, thinking that we can ‘handle’ it.  All the while, letting our intimacy with Jesus slip away!  We’ll be sure and have any little dent in our car or truck buffed out, painted over, or do whatever it takes to fix it and keep it looking new; but what about our walk with Jesus?  We are often more concerned about the appearance of our vehicle, or our wardrobe than about our appearance and testimony before a word that is in desperate need of real, genuine, holy followers of Jesus, those who are truly taking up their “cross” and following HIM!   Are you taking up the cross or hiding your connection to it?

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples,

If any man will come after me,

let him deny himself,

and take up his cross,

and follow me.

25 For whosoever will save his life

shall lose it:

and whosoever will lose his life

for my sake

shall find it.

26 For what is a man profited,

if he shall gain the whole world,

and lose his own soul?

 or what shall a man give

in exchange for his soul?”   Matthew 16:24-26

It saddens me that sometimes when I go to church, I see the same immodest (to say the least) attire that I see out in the world. I see just as many bosoms, bulges, and bottoms as I see out in the world!  I just can’t believe that it ought to be this way!

“I will therefore that men pray

every where,

lifting up holy hands,

without wrath

and doubting.

9 In like manner also,

that women adorn themselves

in modest apparel,

with shamefacedness

and sobriety;

not with broided hair,

or gold,

or pearls,

or costly array;

10 But (which becometh women professing godliness)

with good works.”   1 Timothy 2:8-10

In other words, God isn’t going to judge our “bling” but our “godliness’!

“Likewise, ye wives,

be in subjection to your own husbands;

 that, if any obey not the word,

they also may

without the word

be won by the conversation

of the wives;

2 While they behold your

chaste conversation

coupled with fear.

3 Whose adorning let it not be

that outward adorning

of plaiting the hair,

and of wearing of gold,

or of putting on of apparel;

4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart,

in that which is not corruptible,

even the ornament

of a meek and quiet spirit,

which is in the sight of God

of great price,”  1 Peter 3:1-4

Why are we more willing to follow the passions, patterns, and popular fashions of the world, than to be godly women, committed to being a reflection of our Lord in all holiness?  I, for one, pray that my heart will be set on the call of God, rather than the call of the world.  Yet, it’s not just women, the men have a calling as well.  And it’s not to be harsh, selfish, and fixed on the biggest ‘toys’ on the lot!  Peter goes on to call men to holiness, reminding us all that we answer to a higher call than that of the world’s fashion, fad or fickle passions.  We are called to godly faithfulness in our marriages, our outside interactions, and our hearts desires—male and female!

“Likewise, ye husbands,

dwell with them according to knowledge,

giving honour unto the wife,

as unto the weaker vessel,

and as being heirs together

of the grace of life;

that your prayers be not hindered.

8 Finally, be ye all

of one mind,

having compassion one of another,

love as brethren,

be pitiful,

be courteous:

9 Not rendering evil for evil,

or railing for railing:

but contrariwise

blessing;

knowing that ye are

thereunto called,

that ye should inherit a blessing.

10 For he that will love life,

and see good days,

let him refrain his tongue

from evil,

and his lips

that they speak no guile:

11 Let him eschew evil,

and do good;

let him seek peace,

and ensue it.

12 For the eyes of the Lord

are over the righteous,

and his ears

are open unto their prayers:

but the face of the Lord

is against them that do evil.”   1 Peter 3:7-12

If I may speak to the men, God called you to be the spiritual leaders of your homes, yet we live in a culture when Satan is wreaking havoc in families all around us.  Men are throwing away their families –and women too—for the pleasures of “sin for a season”!  And then we wonder why our families, our children, our homes are falling apart.  One reason is that we have bought into the popular “ME” culture, and if our marriage has a ‘ding’, or a ‘dent’ we just ‘trade up’ for a newer, better, younger, or more ‘suitable’ (in our eyes) person.  Or even more often, we just “shack up”, as my momma used to call it, rather than pursuing a godly commitment to the covenant of marriage.  Without a strong priority for marriage, our homes will continue to fall apart—scarring our children along the way.  (And please understand that I speak this with a heavy heart, for I bought the lies many years ago and caused harm to so many, including my own children! Choices that I have repented of, sought the forgiveness of others, and tried to make amends where I could.  But like the story goes of the little boy who did hurtful things, and his father gave him a pillow and told him to scatter the feathers all over town.  The next day he gave the boy the pillow cover and told him to go and retrieve the feathers. The boy came home with only a small amount of the feathers in the cover, and told the dad, “I couldn’t find any more feathers.”  To which his father replied, “That’s how it is with our words, and our actions, when we say or do harmful things!  We can never go back and totally erase the damage that we have done?  So, you need to be more careful about your choices!” And that story still teaches an important principle today!). God’s commentary is an oft ignored commentary, but still as true as when He spoke it; and the heart of America is much like the heart of Israel to whom Malachi spoke—and just FYI, putting away is a reference to divorce. (Referring to causeless divorce—there are biblical grounds for divorce, but they are for the protection of the innocent, not for the convenience or whims of greedy, lustful men and women!)

“And did not he make one?

Yet had he the residue of the spirit.

And wherefore one?

That he might seek a godly seed.

Therefore take heed to your spirit,

and let none deal treacherously

against the wife of his youth.

16 For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith

that he hateth putting away:

for one covereth violence

with his garment,

saith the LORD of hosts:

therefore take heed to your spirit,

that ye deal not treacherously.

17 Ye have wearied the LORD

with your words.

Yet ye say,

Wherein have we wearied him?

When ye say,

Every one that doeth evil

is good in the sight of the LORD,

and he delighteth in them;

or, Where is the God of judgment?”    Malachi 2:15-17

Some of you are saying, “Ok, Blanche, we’ve talked about dents and dings, what about the delicatessen?”  Well, it has to do with something I’ve been teaching in my Bible study class on Revelation.  But first I want us to see that we have all in Jesus; we have His provision for our salvation, all because HE loved us first, and calls us to follow His example rather than live delicatessen style.

“We love him,

because he first loved us.”  1 John 4:19

I love delicatessens, we have a new one near our home, and I love to go in and get those ooey, gooey sandwiches and just pick the meat and cheese that I like!  And that’s how many today are claiming to follow Jesus—they pick and choose which parts of His Word they want to accept, follow and yield to!  I pray that we will see the error of our ways, repent of our sin (whether we are believers or unbelievers, for even genuine children of God sin—see 1 John 1:9+), and follow Him faithfully and obediently.

“The thief cometh not,

but for to steal,

and to kill,

and to destroy:

I am come

that they might have life,

and that they might have it

more abundantly.

11 I am

the good shepherd:

the good shepherd

giveth his life

for the sheep.”   John 10:10-11

 

Are you following the ‘thief’ or the “good shepherd”?  He repairs dings, dents and helps us choose wisely in all we do, whereas the thief will lie to you and steal your soul, your life and your loved ones!  Don’t let him—look to Jesus instead!

“He was in the world,

and the world was made by him,

and the world knew him not.

11 He came unto his own,

and his own received him not.

12 But as many as received him,

to them gave he power

to become the sons of God,

 even to them that believe on his name:

13 Which were born,

not of blood,

nor of the will of the flesh,

nor of the will of man,

but of God.

14 And the Word was made flesh,

and dwelt among us,

(and we beheld his glory,

the glory as of the only begotten

of the Father,)

full of grace and truth.

15 John bare witness of him,

and cried, saying,

This was he of whom I spake,

He that cometh after me

is preferred before me:

for he was before me.

16 And of his fulness

have all we received,

and grace for grace.”  John 1:10-16

I would like to bring this to a close with the warning that God gives to the world in the last days—and while we aren’t in ‘the last of the last’ we are closer than we think, in my humble opinion.  It hit me this week as I was studying and working on my lesson, that we live in a world controlled by lusts and passions for the “delicacies” of the world (Babylon being, at the least, a reference to the worldly order).

“For all nations have drunk

of the wine

 of the wrath

of her fornication,

and the kings of the earth

have committed fornication with her,

and the merchants of the earth

are waxed rich

through the abundance of her delicacies.

4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying,

Come out of her,

my people,

that ye be not partakers of her sins,

and that ye receive not

of her plagues. ..

… 14 And the fruits

that thy soul lusted after

are departed from thee,

and all things

which were dainty

and goodly

are departed from thee,

and thou shalt find them

no more at all…

..18 And the fruits

that thy soul lusted after

are departed from thee,

and all things

which were dainty

and goodly

are departed from thee,

and thou shalt find them

no more at all..

….22….for by thy sorceries

were all nations deceived.”    Portions of Revelation 18:3-22

I pray that God speaks to our hearts, opens our eyes to see what HE sees, and leads us to be men and women of godly faithfulness before a lost and dying world, for time is short!  Amen and Amen!

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Compassion Or Cherry Bombs??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #394

15 Friday Sep 2017

Posted by Blanche in Cherry Bombs, Compassion, Confidence, Harmless As Doves, The Word, Wise As Serpents

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Bible Ballistics: BBs  #394 Compassion Or Cherry Bombs???

 

Due to the urgent needs all around us, I’d like to continue today talking about compassion, what it is and what it isn’t (Or rather, what it shouldn’t be!). James talks about one of the things that compassion isn’t; it isn’t just nice words:

“If a brother or sister be naked,

and destitute of daily food,

16 And one of you say unto them,

Depart in peace,

be ye warmed and filled;

notwithstanding ye give them not

those things which are needful

to the body;

what doth it profit?

17 Even so faith,

if it hath not works,

is dead,

being alone.

18 Yea, a man may say,

Thou hast faith,

and I have works:

shew me thy faith without thy works,

and I will shew thee my faith

by my works.” James 2:15-18

Simply put, James is saying that if we have real life-changing faith, it will be seen in our responses to others and their needs. We are not to simply “say” we have compassion, we are to reach out as we talked about last time. Giving ‘Lip-service’ and speak compassionately, isn’t enough; we are to alleviate needs as we are able to. No we can’t meet every need, for everyone, in every way all the time, but God will show us how we can help, if we will but ask for His direction, and listen to His Spirit; sometimes that is just helping someone find the right resources to meet their need.

But there’s something else that compassion isn’t, and that’s ‘grand-standing’! If you’re wondering about our title today, what I want us to consider, is that we ought to have compassion on others and meet needs humbly and generously as we have opportunity, but never for show! Some of us can remember a time when young schoolboys would try sneaking cherry bombs (a small firework that requires no fire, just pop them on the ground and they make a loud bang) into the school. The result was usually loud and mostly comical, but the culprit always made a trip to the principal’s office for appropriate discipline, for they were dangerous to use in enclosed settings like school! But they certainly stole the show, for a few minutes anyway! Some people give just to be seen, or to be noticed or lauded for their deeds. Jesus gives clearly defines appropriate giving and true compassion, as well as the false. Let’s dig in to see what we can learn (‘alms’ is a reference to good works)!

“Take heed that ye do not your alms

before men,

to be seen of them:

otherwise ye have no reward

of your Father which is in heaven.

2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms,

do not sound a trumpet before thee,

as the hypocrites do

in the synagogues

and in the streets,

that they may have glory

of men.

Verily I say unto you,

They have their reward.

3 But when thou doest alms,

let not thy left hand know

what thy right hand doeth:

4 That thine alms may be in secret:

and thy Father which seeth in secret

himself shall reward thee

openly.” Matthew 6:1-4

Jesus calls us to a higher standard, to give selflessly without thought of attention or earthly reward. We are to exercise our compassion before “God” without seeking the praise of others. This doesn’t mean that we have to do everything anonymously, but it does mean we are to do things discreetly, without calling attention to ourselves or the gift given. Sometimes it is appropriate to give anonymously, other times it’s necessary to reveal ourselves, but always with humility, without seeking reward or recognition. We could carry this to great depths, but suffice it to say, we are to have pure hearts before God, remembering as we saw in our last post, people won’t always like those of us who are following Jesus; for we are often marching to the beat of a different drummer; the One which the world rejects.

“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” Matthew 10:16

As the crises seem to multiply exponentially, may our compassion also grow by God’s grace, as we reach out to others humbly, without pride or the desire to be recognized for our deeds? May we be the hands and feet of Jesus to a lost world, as we give, and go and serve in Jesus name!

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”   Matthew 6:19-21

Go—-See—–Serve others humbly in HIS Name!

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Compassionate But Not Blinded!!! Bible Ballistics: BBs #393

13 Wednesday Sep 2017

Posted by Blanche in Confidence, Harmless As Doves, Knowing God's Word, The Word, Wise As Serpents

≈ Leave a comment

Bible Ballistics: BBs  #393 Compassionate But Not Blinded!!!

 

“For the LORD shall be thy confidence,

and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

27 Withhold not good

from them

to whom it is due,

when it is in the power

of thine hand to do it.” Proverbs 3:26-27

We are inundated with requests for ‘money’, ‘aid’, ‘help’, and ‘contributions’ for those in need; so what are we to do? We obviously can’t meet every need, or give to everyone that sends us a request in the mail to donate to their ‘cause’. So what standard of our giving are we to exercise? While we can’t answer that question in depth here today, I’d like to just share a few biblical principles of giving, and some insight that I have gained through the years that has helped me in trying to give wisely.

The verses above compel us first of all to make sure our confidence is in The Lord God Almighty, and His Son Jesus! And as verse 5-6 of this same chapter of Proverbs reminds us He will “direct thy paths” when we trust Him and “acknowledge him” in “all” our ways (including giving) rather than our own human understanding. He has promised to direct our steps, and through His Word to “light” our path, our part is to seek Him through His Word, and then listen to His Spirit’s direction in our daily lives. We are compelled to not “withhold” good to those who truly have needs, “when it is in the power of thine hand to do it”! Simply put God is telling us that we can only give what we have—we can’t give what we don’t have; but we are to care about others and share what we do have as we are given opportunity. But that doesn’t mean we are to give blindly to everyone who asks.

“But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:6-7

All the while remembering what Jesus warned us of:

“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” Matthew 10:16

Jesus warned us that He was sending out as “sheep in the midst of wolves”, and believe me friends; there are many out there ‘asking’ who are simply asking for themselves—their only goal is to ‘fleece the sheep’! It is our job to be wise in our giving—not stingy, or resentful—but wisely generous. That means you need to know who you are giving to—anyone can go online and see the financial structure of most charitable organizations; to see what percentage of the money received actually goes to the intended recipients, and how they compensate their leadership! I do not give to very many “mainstream” national organizations, particularly those most widely promoted in the media, because if you’ll check out their financial structure they have very high-paid upper echelon leadership, and often times they are totally rude and crude to the grass-roots organizations who are actually in the front lines of the battle meeting needs. I’ve seen it and while this isn’t a smear campaign against any organization, you just need to do your “homework” before you give.

What I counsel people who ask me, is to check out your denominational organization to see if they have a “disaster relief” arm that will funnel the contributions directly through local churches to meet the most urgent local needs. The other organization that I recommend most is the Salvation Army, who have done great works of ministry for over 100 years, and even their upper level administrators live on a modest and reasonable salary, not the outrageous and unreal salaries that many of the mainstream organizations try to justify, at the givers expense.

We are to give willingly, as we are able, and with a cheerful heart, not because we “have” more but because we “have” something to give, and because we recognize that we are giving to others “as unto the Lord”! So as you see all the needs around us in this time of crises on every hand, be kind, generous and compassionate—but also be wise and harmless.

And just a side note, as a personal testimony of why I believe “local” is almost always the best way to go, rather than through the ‘national’ level or the ‘government’, I’ll share just a brief account of my experiences in this regard.

I went through Hurricane Camille in 1969 (at the time, the worst storm on record prior to Katrina) on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi. There was horrific devastation all across the coast and for miles inland. There were hundreds of tornados spawned out of the storm, as well as record setting flooding in places never affected by floods before. While that seems like ages ago, in a different time in history, everyone who could help did! And the majority of help came through the local churches that were the distribution points for most of the residents of the area. The major ‘national’ organizations were more concerned with paper work, and judging whom they deemed worthy of their help, while the churches were busy trying to alleviate the needs and shortages of everything from food to clothes, from linens to staples, and everything in between. There weren’t “FEMA” provisions, only low interest loans to those who were wiped out without recourse. I personally have never given one thin dime to the major national relief organizations since that day. I give to grass-roots organizations that use the funds they receive to meet needs, not line their own pockets and increase their public “image”, because if you’ve ever been on the front lines of disasters of these unbelievable proportions, you know who does the work.

And while I didn’t go through Katrina, three of my children did, and once again it was the local churches and grass-roots organizations that met the needs. I can say from personal knowledge that there was hardly a local church that had a useable structure left standing, that didn’t use those buildings to house, feed and coordinate recovery efforts for the people of the Gulf Coast long after the “glory seekers” were gone (some for more than a year!). Many of those churches were staging areas and dormitories for those who came in through individual denominations and organizations to clean up mud, remove debris, minister to those who were hurting, rebuild homes for those who had but lost it all because they had no ‘flood insurance’. I saw people reaching out to people, taking pillows and stuffed animals to schools so the children could have something that was ‘theirs’, when so many of them had nothing! I saw these groups take people to the stores and purchase their appliances, furniture and other basic needs once their dwellings were ready to live in. And not one red government dollar was involved in all of this, but did you hear about it? NO! Because it wasn’t being done for show! You didn’t hear about it unless you were there and saw what went on in those ‘staging areas’ in hundreds of churches across the Gulf Coast of Mississippi and Louisiana. Yes, I’m passionate about helping others, but I’m also passionate about every follower of Jesus Christ who gives being informed in their giving!!!

So my challenge to you today is to give, YES—but be “wise as serpents, and harmless as doves” and know who you’re giving to and what they’re doing with your funds. And pray, pray, pray for those in harms way, and for God to please “deliver us from evil” in this ‘evil day’!

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