Bible Ballistics: BBs #165 Less Or More Than These???

We’ve talked recently about being parents who walk with the Lord and share what Jesus has done, is doing and will do for us with our loved ones. We’ve also considered the truth that we don’t have to do all this alone. We know that Jesus gave His life for us, and it was HIS love that sent Him to Calvary—not obligation—but love, and He has called us to ‘love’.

“This is my commandment, 

That ye love one another, 

as I have loved you.

13 Greater love hath no man than this,

that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

John 15:12-13

And while “lay down HIS life for his friends”, is what Jesus did for us, it doesn’t stop there! When we receive His love and salvation through repentance and faith, we also receive HIS love in our hearts, and we are called to lay down our lives for others! But how are we to do that? Only by the power and love of God within us.

“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.”  Romans 5:5

So what are we to do with this love? Let’s see what Peter learned from Jesus. Let’s see if this love of Jesus, which we receive, should make a difference within us and toward others. Let’s examine John 21:15-17:

“So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?

He saith unto him, Yea, Lord;

thou knowest that I love thee.

He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.

16 He saith to him again the second time,

Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?

He saith unto him, Yea, Lord;

thou knowest that I love thee.

He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

17 He saith unto him the third time,

Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?

Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me?

And he said unto him, Lord,

thou knowest all things;

thou knowest that I love thee.

Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.”

This interesting encounter took place after the resurrection–

After Peter’s denial of Jesus three times–

After the three days of grueling torment and struggle that the followers of Jesus went through before the resurrection brought them eternal hope and assurance of the deity and Lordship of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for them and for us.

Now, here in this intimate setting of breakfast on the seashore, Jesus takes Peter down a road of restoration. Three times Jesus asked Peter to confirm his love for his Lord, and three times Peter responded in the affirmative. And the last of these three responses indicates Peter’s recognition and acknowledgment of the sovereign omniscience of his Lord and ours.

Our Lord Jesus does know exactly where we are. He knows where I am! He knows where you are! And even more importantly for many of us, HE knows where we have been! He knows what we have done! And yet He comes to us and restores his own sheep to a place of intimate fellowship and usability!!! “Amazing grace—how sweet the sound“!!! Oh my what a Savior we serve—what a lover of our souls, hearts and minds we belong to. How grateful I am for His faithfulness.

“If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.” 2 Timothy 2:13

I’d like us to conclude this time together with the question that Jesus asked Peter, “lovest thou me more than these?” I have no need to enter the debate over what the “these” was, that Jesus spoke to Peter of. My question is simply for us: “lovest thou me more than these?” I don’t have to tell you. You know what the “these” is in your life. The question remains for us to answer, “lovest thou me more than these?” What is between Jesus and me today? Is it time, food, habits, desires, greed, fame, fortune or the lack there of? You can fill in the blank.

So??? Here’s our shot for today.

Do I love Jesus more or less than “these”?

Do you love Jesus more or less than “these”?

What is keeping us from feeding and tending to Jesus’ lambs and sheep?

What is keeping us from loving others with the love of God that is within?

Food for thought for this busy week, won’t you spend some time with your Lord! Ask and you will receive!!!

“Be still, and know that I am God:” Psalm 46:10a

Bible Ballistics: Who IS The Parent??? Vol. 6#03

This may seem like a strange question, but one that I think demands at least a modicum of attention, if not a major focus for people of the Word!!! People often ask “what’s wrong with kids today”? Well, simply put, the problem with ‘kids today’ is ‘parents’. Many parents have abdicated their position, role and responsibilities of ‘parenthood’ to various and sundry entities, organizations and/or influences on their offspring.

I know this is a tough subject and one that we couldn’t cover if we discussed it every week for the next year, but I would like to at least give us some food for thought, and challenge us to examine our attitudes and actions toward ‘parenthood’. Do we value the family and the order and structure that God Himself gave us to guide our parenting. While many think God’s Word is outdated and obsolete, I believe we would be well served to return to the principles that brought up centuries of children in Judeo-Christian homes dependent on the Word of God for direction. Let’s set the tenor of this article with that very Word of God. First and foremost let’s see what God expects:

Mark 12:30-31, “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. 31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.”

We must ‘love’ God with all our heart, in other words, we must have a relationship with God ourselves before we can impart a love of, and respect toward God, to our offspring. We can only share that which we possess and have experienced ourselves. We cannot teach and instruct our children in that which we do not really know. The second passage that I would like us to consider is a familiar one:

“The Lord is my shepherd;

I shall not want.

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:

he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3 He restoreth my soul:

he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness

for his name’s sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley

of the shadow of death,

      I will fear no evil:

for thou art with me;

thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

5 Thou preparest a table before me

in the presence of mine enemies:

thou anointest my head with oil;

my cup runneth over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

all the days of my life:

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.”

Psalm 23

Notice all the personal pronouns here. We must know the “MY shepherd”, and have a relationship with Jesus before we can share it with others, especially our children and grandchildren. I cannot share a Lord/Shepherd I do not know!!! Who are you sharing with your children? God gives us a pattern, which I believe to be the best in all of scripture, it’s found in Deuteronomy 6. Let’s examine portions of this great chapter, and sub-divide it into sections of order for clarity of the process I believe God is revealing to us:

Deuteronomy 6:1-6, The Instructions to Parents–

“Now these are the commandments,

the statutes,

and the judgments,

which the Lord your God commanded

to teach you,

that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it:

2 That thou mightest fear the Lord thy God,

to keep all his statutes and his commandments,

which I command thee,

thou,

and thy son,

and thy son’s son,

all the days of thy life;

and that thy days may be prolonged.

3 Hear therefore, O Israel,

and observe to do it;

that it may be well with thee,

and that ye may increase mightily,

as the Lord God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey.

4 Hear, O Israel:

The Lord our God is one Lord:

5 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God

with all thine heart,

and with all thy soul,

and with all thy might.

6 And these words,

which I command thee this day,

shall be in thine heart:”

Ring any bells? Isn’t that what Jesus said above? I believe it is! This greatest command deals with our relationship to God, because without a relationship with God we cannot be of real service to God or mankind. God instructs the parents—parents who are to be in right relationship with HIM, and focused on God and by that relationship are enabled– to pass the torch to the next generation!!! Praise God—it depends on His work in me, not just on me!!!

So the first call is for parents to be right with God, what’s next?

Deuteronomy 6:7-9, The Method for Parents–

“And thou shalt teach them diligently

unto thy children,

and shalt talk of them

when thou sittest in thine house,

and when thou walkest by the way,

and when thou liest down,

and when thou risest up.

8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand,

and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.

9 And thou shalt write them

upon the posts of thy house,

and on thy gates.”

God is very clear here about who is responsible for the instructing of children. It isn’t the government! It isn’t the TV! It isn’t the school! It’s not the day care! It’s certainly not the ‘village’. And it isn’t even the church!! “Wait a minute, did I say it’s NOT the church?” Yes, that is what I said! The church is to encourage, teach and instruct its members according to what is written in the New Testament scriptures, but all scripture teaches us that the primary responsibility for the instruction of children is THE PARENTS!!! Who said so? God said so!

How are we to accomplish that? First of all we are to live it! Then we are to focus on the things that God shows us:

Teach our children diligently—

We are to converse with our children of spiritual things—when?

When we sit together

When we walk around (drive for most of us)–

When we prepare for bed (nighttime truths)–

When we get up (breakfast truths)—

We are to bind them about us–

(My personal paraphrase, we are to be so controlled by God’s Spirit, that our children see Jesus in all that we do, everywhere we go)

              What do our children see in our lives?

We are to have a Biblical Worldview—

(My paraphrase again, we are to see all things through Biblical truths, and respond in Biblical ways before our family and the world.)

What do our children hear from our mouths?

       We are to decorate our homes in godly fashion—

What do our children see in our homes?

Do my walls project my love for Jesus?

Does my television project my love for Him?

Does my speech project my love for Him?

Do people feel Jesus’ presence in my home?

                      Do I exercise godly hospitality?

And finally in this chapter, God gives us the result of living this way, and it’s an amazing principle. Let’s examine it.

Deuteronomy 6:20-25, The Results For The Children–

“And when thy son asketh thee in time to come,

saying, What mean the testimonies,

and the statutes, and the judgments,

which the Lord our God hath commanded you?

21 Then thou shalt say unto thy son,

We were Pharaoh’s bondmen in Egypt;

and the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand: 22 And the Lord shewed signs and wonders, great and sore, upon Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his household, before our eyes: 23 And he brought us out from thence, that he might bring us in, to give us the land which he sware unto our fathers. 24 And the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as it is at this day. 25 And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the Lord our God, as he hath commanded us.”

Simply put, God says if we will be faithful to live in a relationship with Him, if we will be faithful to live it before our children and grandchildren, then God will bring them to a place where they will ask us “WHY” we do the things we do. And when they ask, God says we are to share with them our personal testimony of His faithfulness to us. Not just the testimony of God’s faithfulness in general, but the testimony of God’s faithfulness to “ME”!!! It may not be today, or even tomorrow but the questions will come!

How about you? Are you willing to step up to the bat and measure your life by God’s call, or are you settling for the ways of the world? Only you can decide. I’d like to share a couple of passages for us to consider in closing.

Proverbs 22:6 (this is a principle NOT a promise)  “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

Ephesians 6:4, “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”

Psalm 127:3-5, “Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. 4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. 5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.”

So? Who’s the parent at your house? God’s kind of parent or the world’s? Are you willing to speak, walk, live and share Jesus in all you are and all you are doing? The ball is in your court!!!

 

 

 

Bible Ballistics: BBs #164 Don’t Walk Through Alone!!!

We talked last time about remembering those who have paid the ultimate price, and because Jesus paid the debt due for ‘Sin’, we can have confidence that we are not walking alone. No matter the trial going on around us we can rest assured that Jesus is with us. What HE promises, HE delivers!!! I’d like to simply share a few words of encouragement for those walking through the waters of difficulty, or the fires of grief or even persecution for God. We can be encouraged because He has promised that we ‘never’ walk alone.

“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Hebrews 13:5

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Matthew 28:18-20

“But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. 2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.” Isaiah 43:1-2

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 11 For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.” 2 Corinthians 4:7-11

And how can we know His presence? Because Jesus promised to send HIS Holy Spirit to His won. When we are saved, we receive the Holy Spirit, the evidence of the New Covenant—God’s Spirit within us. We never have to walk alone.

“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” John 14:16-18

And His ultimate purpose:

“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

So??? Here’s our shot for today. Simply put—look up, trust Jesus, follow Him and press on. You NEVER walk alone!!! Praying that you will hear HIS voice and rest in HIS promises to YOU!!! Remember, rest in Jesus, He’s got YOU!

Bible Ballistics: BBs #163 Remember Those Who Gave!!!

“This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. 13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:12-13

Jesus laid down His life for us!!! That is an historical fact, and I praise God for the salvation He has given to us through the willing offering of the blood of His Lamb on the cross at Calvary. Why would Jesus do that for sinners like us? HE gave because HE loves us. HE loved us then, HE loves us now, and HE also calls us to love one another.

How? By the truth and power of God’s love which is given to us at salvation—not  the world’s ‘love’—but the “love of God”.

That ‘agape’ love: unconditional love, that which always does what is the best for the recipient. And we can only do that when the “love OF God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost”!!!

Romans 5:5-8, “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. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

And we are compelled to share what we have received—the gospel of Jesus Christ– with those around us. But remember, we can only share that which we possess:

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” 1 Corinthians 15:1-4

As the popular proverb says: “all gave some, some gave all”, we know that Jesus gave all for us. And when we receive the saving power of the Lord Jesus Christ into our hearts and lives, we are then compelled to “give all” for Him by serving others.

“For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 6:20 (purchased with the blood of the Lamb!!!)

It’s not always easy,

in fact, it’s seldom easy.

It’s not always convenient,

in fact, it’s seldom convenient.

It’s not always without cost,

in fact, it almost always costs us something

to ‘give all’ to Jesus

through service to others.

I am so grateful for the men and women who have given themselves to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ, and that it reached me!!! I am also grateful for those men and women who have given all to purchase our American liberties and the liberties of millions around the world. May we ever carry the torch of truth—God’s truth?

“For the love of Christ constraineth us;

because we thus judge,

that if one died for all, 

then were all dead:

15 And that he died for all,

that they which live

should not henceforth live unto themselves,

but unto him which died for them,

and rose again.”

2 Corinthians 5:14-15

So??? Here’s our shot for today. Simply put,

“And as ye would that men should do to you,

do ye also to them likewise.” Luke 6:31

May we remember the sacrifice of others and:

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:1-2

 

Bible Ballistics: What Crop Are You Expecting??? Vol. 6#02

Many in our area of the country are connected with agriculture in one way or another. There are farmers who plant crops-corn, wheat, sorghum, and other grains for human and animal consumption, as well as those who raise livestock of varying kinds. There are also some who plant produce for direct human consumption—tomatoes, beans, squash and other fruits and vegetables. Agriculture has a simple principle that every farmer or rancher follows, and that is simply, ‘what you put in, you get out’. Or in Biblical terms:

“But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.” 2 Corinthians 9:6

Sow a lot and you generally reap an abundant crop. If you are stingy with the seed, then you’ll receive a much smaller harvest. This is a true spiritual principle as well. Our choices can be the seeds we sow, yet God’s principles of the harvest hold true:

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”  Galatians 6:7-8

In other words, ‘junk in, junk out’. You only get out of something what is in it. Sometimes it’s what we’ve put into something that we get out, and sometimes what is already within something will naturally come out. If you squeeze a lemon you expect to get ‘lemon’ juice out of it, but if the lemon has dried up or is bad you won’t get anything of value out of it. Scripture teaches us that what is ‘inside’ will come out. This is an oft-ignored principle and idea within our culture, even in Christian circles. We want to go our own way and yet retain the blessings of God. We want to ‘claim the name of Jesus’, while we ‘live like the devil’!!!

“Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? 18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: 20 These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.” Matthew 15:17-20

Our words and our actions reveal what is in our heart. What do my actions say to the world about me? About You? Are we choosing wrong and still expecting ‘right’ results? It will never work out that way!!! Let’s look a little closer at the message from Galatians 6:7-8:

 “Be not deceived;

God is not mocked:

for whatsoever a man soweth,

 that shall he also reap.

8 For he that soweth to his flesh

shall of the flesh reap corruption;

but he that soweth to the Spirit

shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”

We have the God-given right to choose in this life, but we cannot separate our choices from the consequences that will be produced. Scripture makes clear that we cannot circumvent God and His sovereign rule over this world. God has established His principle of ‘choices and consequences’, which simply put, says that we are free to choose but we are NOT free to set or choose our own consequences. Scripture is replete with references to choosing well, with the consequences in mind:

“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:” Deuteronomy 30:19

And my favorite of all, from Joshua, as he gave his people a powerful challenge, and the call is as profound to us today as it was those thousands of years ago. Let’s consider the verses as we did above:

“ Now therefore fear the Lord,

  and serve him

in sincerity

and in truth:

and put away the gods which your fathers served

on the other side of the flood,

and in Egypt;

and serve ye the Lord.

15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord,

choose you this day whom ye will serve;

whether the gods which your fathers served

that were on the other side of the flood,

or the gods of the Amorites,

in whose land ye dwell:

but as for me and my house,

we will serve the Lord.”

Joshua 24:14-15

Joshua made it clear that we have a choice, just as we saw in Galatians 6:7-8. We are free to choose but choices bring consequences.

So to make a long story short (which I seldom do!!!) we must choose wisely. What choices are you making today? Are you thinking ahead to the consequences? Are you trusting God to lead and direct your steps? He will!!! What do your actions reveal about your heart? What are you trusting in? Who or what are you following? Let’s look at Proverbs 3:5-8, as we sum up our time together.

“Trust in the Lord (how)

with all thine heart;

and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him,

(and the consequences???)

and he shall direct thy paths.

7 Be not wise in thine own eyes:

fear the Lord,

and depart from evil.

(and the consequences???)

8 It shall be health to thy navel,

and marrow to thy bones.”  (God’s direction & supply in our lives!)

Who are you choosing to serve? Your actions will reveal your choices. “Choose you this day whom ye will serve”! With Joshua, I’ll trust my ‘consequences’ to the Lord God Almighty and His Son Jesus Christ as I serve and obey HIM!!!

“as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord”!