Bible Ballistics: BBs #177 Today—Again???

We shared last time that ‘This is the day that the Lord has made’, but I’d like us to tweak our thoughts a bit, because ‘today’ keeps happening and sometimes we are so distracted by the “todays” that we forget that it is truly all we have.

We must not waste life waiting for tomorrows that may never come. By the same token we must not waste life on the yesterdays that were not what we wanted them to be. The older I get the more I am learning that God IS faithful and my job is simply to:

“….love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” Matthew 22:37

And to: “…..Love thy neighbour as thyself.” Matthew 22:39

In other words, I am to love God and then let HIS love spill over onto all those around me (and in Luke 10 Jesus tells us who our neighbor is). Sometimes we just need a reminder to hear and obey:

“16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh……25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” Galatians 5:16, 25

How do we ‘Walk in the Spirit”? Only by having the Spirit, by being born again of God at which time we are given His Spirit to teach us, to lead us and bring us into all truth. And only God-redeemed, transformed, born again persons have His indwelling Holy Spirit. (See John 14:26)

Romans 8:9b, “….Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” NO Jesus—NO Spirit!

But when we are His, we do have His Spirit and we can be a reflection of Jesus to the world, by ordering our steps according to His Word and His Spirit within us. And remember Jesus is the WORD!

“Therefore being justified by faith,

we have peace with God

through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 By whom also we have access by faith

into this grace

wherein we stand,  

and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

3 And not only so,

but we glory in tribulations also:

knowing that tribulation worketh patience;                       

4 And patience, experience;

and experience, hope:

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.       

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.” Romans 5:1-8

So??? Take that truth and love to the world TODAY!!!

Again TODAY!!!

Bible Ballistics: BBs #176 This Is The Day–Today!!!

“This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24

A simple and familiar verse from the Psalms, which I would like us to ponder today. We live in such a ‘high-speed’ culture; its rush here, rush there, and plan for the future do everything in ‘fast-forward’. Yet God calls us to a different focus. To live for ‘Today’!!!

“This is the day” we are to live in—yesterday is gone forever, and tomorrow may never come. If we fail to live in today, today, when will we live it? Our call is to live for our Lord Jesus today—“This is the day which the Lord hath made”! I am to rejoice in ‘Today’—not tomorrow. I am to rejoice in ‘Today’—not yesterday—although we are to take comfort and understanding from the things we learned yesterday!

What else does God have to say about today?

“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 24:15

We choose each ‘today’ whom we will serve—it’s a choice we make each day—‘today’, and ‘today’ and ‘today’!! The choice is ours even when we think we’re not choosing we choose to serve our fleshly passions, our anger our resentment? Will we serve money, power or fame? Or will we serve God and then in serving God, serve others, or do we use God and others to serve ourselves?

Jesus gave us some clear instructions about living in ‘today’—not the past or the future—and trusting our God for His faithful provision in the ‘here and now’, as well as the then and there!

“Give us this day our daily bread.” Matthew 6:11

We are to trust in God’s provision for ‘TODAY’. Now don’t misunderstand, scripture also teaches us that we are to work diligently and exercise good stewardship with our finances by wise planning, and we are not to be negligent in financial responsibility, or meeting our obligations, but our focus is to be on God—living for Him today and trusting yesterday and tomorrow to HIM!

“For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. 11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. 12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.” 1 Thessalonians 3:10-12

“But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.” 1 Timothy 5:8

Therefore, we should to be diligent to carry out our personal responsibility, and provide for those under our care, but by the same token we are to be focused on our Lord and trust to His direction and provision for our lives ‘today’.

“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

So??? Here’s our shot for today. Live today to the fullest in the power of our Lord. Trust to His care and provision and don’t fret over tomorrow, or drown in regrets over yesterday!!!

“Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” Proverbs 27:1

“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 6:33-34

Bible Ballistics: You Can’t Do That In My House!!! Vol. 6#09

I want us to consider a rather lengthy passage today, as we contemplate who we are in Jesus Christ. Whose house are you? We who are followers of Jesus, who have been born again, are the “temple” of God—what are we doing in and with God’s dwelling? We must understand that we are the temple or house of God. “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” 1 Cor. 3:16

With all the confusion going on in our world, many Christians seem to be forgetting that we are called to “march to a different drummer”. Yet many are getting caught up in the contentions and callousness of the world’s arguments. I believe we are called to be salt and light in our world of corruption and darkness, but we are to do it with integrity and conformity to the Word of God. We are compelled to be good citizens, and as such we are to speak and participate in the American democratic processes, but never with means that disagree with our calling as children of God, or His Word.

Let’s look at 1 Peter 2:1-17 and use our diagraming format to understand and take to heart what Peter has to tell us about living for Jesus.

“Wherefore laying aside

all malice,

and all guile,

and hypocrisies,

and envies,

and all evil speakings,”

We are to put aside the mean spirit and tongue of the world.

“2 As newborn babes,

desire the sincere milk of the word,

that ye may grow thereby:”

Coming to Jesus, we come as “babes” in Christ, and then are to grow by feasting on God’s Word—the “milk of the word” going on to maturity, “For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” Hebrews 5:13-14 

“3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.” 

“If” we are truly ‘born again’, God has “begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…” (Chapter 1:3), we have new life In Jesus and are called and enabled to live as HIS own.

“4 To whom coming,

as unto a living stone,

disallowed indeed of men,

but chosen of God,

and precious,”

We have life through the redeeming blood of Jesus—rejected by the world, but precious to God and to we who are His! His call to us:

“5 Ye also, as lively stones,

are built up a spiritual house,

an holy priesthood,

to offer up spiritual sacrifices,

acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.”

We are called by God, through the atonement of Jesus, to extend the hope of Jesus’ atoning death on the cross to the world, because HE is the only way.

“6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture,

Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone,

elect,

precious:

and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.”

Jesus is our ‘corner stone’, and we can rest in Him—on a foundation sure and reliable.

“7 Unto you therefore which believe

he is precious:

but unto them which be disobedient,

the stone which the builders disallowed,

the same is made the head of the corner,

8 And a stone of stumbling,

and a rock of offence,

even to them which stumble at the word,

being disobedient:

whereunto also they were appointed.”

There is a choice—everyone will make a choice to believe and know Jesus, or to disobey God and reject Him. Those who disobey will find the ‘rock of salvation’ to be a horrible offence. We need to realize that if men will reject the Lord Jesus Himself, they will reject those who follow Him. 

“9 But ye are

a chosen generation,

a royal priesthood,

an holy nation,

a peculiar people;

that ye should shew forth

the praises of him who hath called you

out of darkness

into his marvellous light;

       10 Which in time past were not a people,

but are now the people of God:

which had not obtained mercy,

but now have obtained mercy.”

We are His to show forth God’s work to the world, a world that is continually denying HIM. Because we were not a people, but are now the ‘people of God’! But there is more.

“11 Dearly beloved,

I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims,

abstain from fleshly lusts,

which war against the soul;”

We are to live—walk and talk– as strangers and pilgrims in this world, and not get caught up in the entanglements and lusts of the flesh. As Paul called Timothy to remember: “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” 2 Timothy 2:4

“12 Having your conversation honest

among the Gentiles:

that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers,

they may by your good works,

which they shall behold,

glorify God in the day of visitation.” 

Our ‘conversation’, or lifestyle, is to be honest, so honest that the world who accuses and mistreats us for doing right and serving our Lord, will see and give glory to our God, even if it’s only in the day of His return, because there is a day coming— “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” A day of judgment is coming—have you bowed? You will bow—to Him as Savior and Lord now, and receive His Salvation, or then before HIM who will be your judge. So if we are His, we are called to live for Jesus in all things: 

“13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man

for the Lord’s sake:

whether it be to the king,

as supreme;

14 Or unto governors,

as unto them that are sent by him

for the punishment of evildoers,

and for the praise of them that do well.”

We are to be obedient citizens, submitting to the authorities over us, unless we are directly commanded to disobey God. As Peter and the other disciples declared to the religious leaders in Acts 5:29, “Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.”   They didn’t disobey to be rebellious or in retribution for their own mistreatment, but because they had been commanded NOT do what Jesus had commanded them to do (or vice versa) — share the truth of the Gospel of Jesus everywhere! What are we doing for Jesus? Are we standing fast? In the right?

“15 For so is the will of God,

that with well doing

ye may put to silence

the ignorance of foolish men:

16 As free,

and not using your liberty

for a cloke of maliciousness,

but as the servants of God.

17 Honour all men.

Love the brotherhood.

Fear God.

Honour the king.” 1 Peter 2:1-17

I know some will disagree, and are asking how can we “honor” those who are doing such wicked things, but this is exactly what God calls us to do. We are not to honor or support the wrong but we are to give honor to the office as sent by God, who is the establisher of all government. We are to obey God and acknowledge Him and His Word. We can do what He calls us to do, because God empowers us.

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me…….. But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:17 & 19

“Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.” Psalm 127:1

Who is building your house? Has the Lord built your house? If He has, then you can do all through Him. We can do all things in a way that honors the Lord who dwells within us. You can do that in HIS house? That’s the question we all need to ask, and our lives will display the answer!  Remember, if you belong to Jesus, then you are HIS house!!!

“And they shall be my people, and I will be their God…” Jeremiah 32:38a

Bible Ballistics: BBs #175 Guided By His Eye???

Sorry to be late posting, but yesterday we were traveling, and believe me, I was in no mental condition to write anything!!! But as we were traveling, I was reminded once again that our God REIGNS!!!

When there is ‘no room’ in the inn—He is working!

When the place you expected to find—

is not in the place you expected—He is working!

       When things go awry—

and you don’t know why—He is working!

Our God is working in, around, through, with and for us in all things. Sometimes there are appointments that HE has for us, which we know nothing about until we find ourselves in unexpected ‘places’! But HE is still at work, and we can trust Him to do that which pleases Him, glorifies Him, and works His glory in and through us. He is growing us continually into the “image of His Son” (Ro. 8:29)! Let’s peruse a few scriptures to remind ourselves of the surety of our God.

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12

God’s Word is the standard to which we all answer, so we must make our choices according to HIS WORD! HE knows—remember Jesus is “The Word”, and He will guide!!

“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. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.” John 16:13-14

Rest assured that if we will open the Word to dig in, His Spirit will “guide you into all truth”—but YOU must do the digging in. Putting the Bible under your pillow won’t get it done. If we will ‘dig it out’, He will “plant it deep within”!

“And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers: 21 And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.” Isaiah 30:20-21

Just like we mothers tune our ears to hear (or not hear) our children, we must educate our hearts with the Word and tune our ears and our heart to know the voice of the Lord, and be ready to yield to and obey it.

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:” John 10:27

So??? Here’s our shot for today. Are you HIS sheep? Are you hearing His voice and allowing His Spirit to direct your steps? We follow the shepherd to whom we belong. When we belong to Jesus, He has promised that His Spirit will lead us; we must listen for His voice, and be ready to follow.

Psalm 32:8, “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.”

Let’s follow our leader, our Lord, our Shepherd and King! His eye is upon us—He loves YOU and Me! Praise His name!

Bible Ballistics: BBs #174 I’ll Take Care Of Myself???

As we look at all the social, political, and “religious” hoopla going on around us, I’d like to get a little personal with you this morning. We can talk about “marriage” and what it is, what it means, and what it should be, but we need more than talk. We can talk about the ‘government’ and what it is, what it means, and what it should be, but we need more than talk. We can talk about ‘religion-faith-spirituality’ or whatever we may call it and what it is, what it means, or what it should be, but we need more than talk!!!

We need action!   Now don’t get all excited, I’m not calling for social, political or spiritual revolt, as such, but I am talking about putting our “living” where our mouth is, so to speak.  I see and hear so many things that people are saying about the issues, whether it be marriage, the Ten Commandments, the law or the political system; talk about bullying, or abuse or neglect, the list could go on forever, BUT there is only one answer to all of these issues, and that is Jesus.

But not the name that people use for slang or swearing, but the one who came to deliver us from our sins.

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12

“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21

The God/Man—the one who came to “save his people from their sins”!!! It doesn’t say that He came to save us “IN” our sins but ‘FROM’ them. Yes He calls us right where we are but HE NEVER LEAVES US THERE! And He had to come because ‘sins’ are the issue. Yes ‘sin’ in general, but also ‘sins’ specific—the ‘sins’ that I have committed, the sins that you have committed, the sins that are being committed right now by every living person on this earth—the lying, the stealing, the profaning of God’s name, the pride, the adultery, the rebellion and failure of parents and children, and this list could also go on forever. But the bottom line is that the issue is SIN, mine and yours. It’s our sin that nailed Jesus to the cross, yet it was HIS love for us that took Him there and held Him there. The nails didn’t hold the creator of the universe—the metal that He created, the wood that He created, the dirt that He created-the humans that did the literal ‘nailing’ of those spikes, were created by HIM!!! None of those things could have held the creator of all things to that cross—only His love for us held Him there. God loved us enough to send Jesus:

“Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: 24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.” Acts 2:23-24

Why did God do this? Because sin had come in by our invitation and brought our certain and totally deserved death (see Genesis 2 & 3):

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Romans 3:23

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23

Eternal living not eternal dying!!! But how are we living? We should be living unto the one who gave us ‘eternal life through Jesus’.

“But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.” Romans 6:22

We are to be living for Jesus not ourselves or for “SIN”—but look about us, even more importantly look within yourself. What are we allowing to run our lives? Our pocketbook? Our passions? Our hormones? Our fears? Our lusts for money, power, control? Our greed? Our vanity? Hello!!! If we belong to Jesus we’ve been given the power to live victorious lives in the Spirit.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21

We have been made the “righteousness of God in him”, given the power to be a new creature in Christ Jesus. We would think it abominable if someone buried their loved one and then dug up their body and carried it with them everywhere they went. Besides the physical unpleasant odors that would accompany such a person, we would think them unbalanced or unstable, yet many genuine Christians have been deceived by the enemy, and have fallen prey to this very kind of thing. They are succumbing every day to the sins of their flesh that Christ has empowered them to overcome. STOP IT! Just stop it. Run to the one who redeemed you and seek HIS forgiveness, cleansing and restoration:

“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. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” 1 John 1:7-10

We all have sin—today, but Jesus is there waiting for us to hear His Spirit convicting and calling us to repent and be cleansed and fit for His service. This is totally NOT where I had planned for this post to go, but it’s where I believe God lead me with it.

So??? Here’s the shot for today! Stop it. If you are going to claim the name, and saving work of Jesus in your life then STOP living like the world. Stop the ‘shacking-up’! Stop the lying! Stop the lustful indulgences that you have allowed to direct your life! Stop the stealing—both from others and from God! God is watching—He knows—He sees—He will hold us accountable. So live like it! Please, the time is short. And if you don’t know HIM call on HIM today, please?

“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

If we want to have the right to speak to the issues of our day, we need to be living lives that honor God before the world, not lives that bring shame to HIM and HIS Word.