Tag Archives: 1 John 1:9

YOU DO Make A Difference??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 19 No. 15

12 Monday Sep 2022

Posted by in Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Follow Jesus, Following Jesus, For Such A Time As This, Making a difference, My Grace Is Sufficient, Stand Fast!, YOU Can do ALL things through Jesus

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 19 No. 15   YOU DO Make A Difference???

I was thinking about how often we let circumstances get us discouraged, yet God has promised that HE is our sufficiency and strength no matter our circumstance.

“I can do all things

through Christ

which strengtheneth me.”  Philippians 4:13

On the opposite side is the truth that Jesus made clear to His disciples just before He was crucified; without JESUS we can do nothing of eternal spiritual value, but when we are walking with Him, through HIS power we can do anything that HE asks us to do.  We are going to make a difference in one way or another—we will be an influence for good, for GOD, or we will be an influence for the enemy of our souls, and the souls of our children and grandchildren, a difference with eternal consequences.

“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.”  John 15:5

So, not to be overly simplistic, we can choose to walk with Jesus in faith, grace, and power, or we can be discouraged, distracted, and disappointed by the influence of the world, which we are called to recognize and reject, by renewing our minds in God’s Word, HIS ways, and HIS supply.  When I know what God has said, I am empowered to walk in victory.  But I must, absolutely must, be grounded in HIS Word to walk in that victory, by walking in the ways of my LORD!  Peter gives us an amazing example of godly behavior patterned after our Lord and Savior!

“For this is thankworthy,

if a man for conscience toward God

endure grief,

suffering wrongfully.

20 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 2:29-25

If we look at the last verse here, verse 25, we are taken back to Isaiah 53, which is one of the ultimate descriptive passages of the “suffering servant”, Jesus, the Shepherd of our souls, by the sacrifice of Himself, the Lamb of God, who heals us from our “sin sickness”, which was and is a fatal disease if we reject the “blood of Jesus” which can cleanse us from all sin; the disease from which we all suffer, and for which Jesus IS the only cure! (I think you would find it most enlightening to read all of Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22—Jesus paid the price for our sin!)

“He is despised and rejected of men;

a man of sorrows,

and acquainted with grief:

and we hid as it were our faces

from him;

he was despised,

and we esteemed him not.

4 Surely he hath borne our griefs,

and carried our sorrows:

yet we did esteem him stricken,

smitten of God,

and afflicted.

5 But he was wounded

for our transgressions,

he was bruised

for our iniquities:

the chastisement of our peace

was upon him;

and with his stripes

we are healed.

6 All we like sheep

have gone astray;

we have turned every one

to his own way;

and the LORD hath laid on him

the iniquity of us all.

7 He was oppressed,

and he was afflicted,

yet he opened not his mouth:

he is brought as a lamb

to the slaughter,

and as a sheep

before her shearers is dumb,

so he openeth not his mouth.”  Isaiah 53:3-7

This suffering servant, Jesus, gave His all so that we can become new creatures and fulfill HIS purposes for our lives.  And oh, how grateful I am for God’s grace and mercy that not only cleanses us from sin but makes us clean and fresh for HIS service.

“If we confess our sins,

he is faithful and just

to forgive us

our sins,

and to cleanse us

from all unrighteousness.”  1 John 1:9

All because of HIS blood—there truly is power IN HIS blood.

“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

THIS is how we are able to do “all things through Christ”!  It is how we are equipped to bear that abundant fruit that Jesus spoke of in John 15!  So, what are you doing with that which you have been given?  Will we be examples of faith or reveal a vain faith, as James describes.  And I’ll simply close with two passages from James, and pray that you and I will ponder what God has said, and either get right with God and go forth—whether in being born again by repentance and faith or simply confessing our sin and shortcomings as a child of God and receiving HIS forgiveness and cleansing “from all sin”? Salvation and restoration available!

“Wherefore, my beloved brethren,

let every man be swift to hear,

slow to speak,

slow to wrath:

20 For the wrath of man worketh not

the righteousness of God.

21 Wherefore lay apart

all filthiness

and superfluity of naughtiness,

and receive with meekness

the engrafted word,

dwhich is able to save your souls.

22 But be ye doers

 of the word,

and not

hearers only,

deceiving your own selves.

23 For if any be a hearer of the word,

and not a doer,

he is like unto a man

beholding his natural face in a glass:

 24 For he beholdeth himself,

and goeth his way,

and straightway forgetteth

what manner of man he was.

25 But whoso looketh

into the perfect law of liberty,

and continueth therein,

he being not a forgetful hearer,

but a doer of the work,

this man shall be blessed

in his deed.”  James 1:19-25

And the second important passage from James:

“What doth it profit, my brethren,

though a man say he hath faith,

and have not works?

can faith save him?

15 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.

19 Thou believest that there is one God;

thou doest well:

the devils also believe,

and tremble.

20 But wilt thou know,

O vain man,

that faith without works

is dead?”  James 2:14-19

May God grant us wisdom to receive HIS truth and assessment of our lives and make the appropriate corrections! (See 2 Timothy 2:15 and 3:16-17).  Let’s make a difference FOR Jesus!!!J

Amen and Amen!!!

How About YOU??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #20

13 Wednesday Jul 2022

Posted by in Are you ready?, Cleansed from all sin, Confessing Sin, Confidence, How much goodness is enough?, Humility, No Sin No Need?, SIN, Sin IS the issue, Trust God, Trusting Jesus?, Tuned In, Turn to God's Word

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How About YOU???  A Word from THE WORD!!!  #20

Some food for thought this morning.  May we each examine ourselves and check our “if” quotient.  Nuff’ said!

“If

my people,

which are called by my name,

shall

humble

themselves,

and

pray,

and

seek my face,

and

turn from their wicked ways;

then

will I hear

from heaven,

and will forgive

their sin,

and will

heal their land.”  2 Chronicles 7:14

As John put it:

“If we

confess our sins,

he is faithful

and just

to forgive us our sins,

and to cleanse us

from all unrighteousness.”  1 John 1:9.

Amen and Amen!!!

Who Are You Running With??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 19 No. 07

10 Sunday Jul 2022

Posted by in All About Jesus!, All Sufficient God!, Almost But Lost, Amazing Grace, Forgetting or Remembering?, Forgiveness, Prodigal Son, Staying Son, The pig pen?, The prodigal or the Stayer

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 19 No. 07 Who Are You Running With???

I’m sure most of us are familiar with the parable of the “Prodigal Son”; which could also be called the parable of the son who never left; but our focus today will be on the “Prodigal” and hopefully we’ll address the other at a later time.  Yet the thing I’d like to do today, is a bit of an overview of the main points in the passage I have posted below.  The main point being your choices will determine your results, and Jesus Himself gave us such a poignant and powerful portrait of the choices of this life.  And contrary to popular opinion those you choose as companions will make a difference in your life.

“Be not deceived:

evil communications corrupt good manners.”                                         1 Corinthians 15:33 KJV

Or as the New American Standard Bible says it:

“Do not be deceived:

‘Bad company corrupts good morals.’”

So, Luke records this picture that Jesus painted so beautifully:

“Likewise, I say unto you,

there is joy in the presence

of the angels of God

over one sinner that repenteth.

 

11 And he said,

A certain man had two sons:

12 And the younger of them said to his father,

Father, give me the portion of goods

that falleth to me.

And he divided unto them his living.

13 And not many days after

the younger son gathered all together,

and took his journey into a far country,

and there wasted his substance

with riotous living.

14 And when he had spent all,

there arose a mighty famine in that land;

and he began to be in want.

15 And he went and joined himself

to a citizen of that country;

and he sent him into his fields

to feed swine.

16 And he would fain have filled his belly

with the husks that the swine did eat:

and no man

gave unto him.

17 And when he came to himself, he said,

How many hired servants of my father’s

have bread enough and to spare,

and I perish with hunger!

18 I will arise and go to my father,

and will say unto him,

Father, I have sinned

against heaven,

and before thee,

19 And am no more worthy

to be called thy son:

make me

as one of thy hired servants.

20 And he arose,

and came to his father.

But when he was yet a great way off,

his father saw him,

and had compassion,

and ran and fell on his neck,

and kissed him.

21 And the son said unto him,

Father, I have sinned

against heaven,

and in thy sight,

and am no more worthy

to be called thy son.

22 But the father said to his servants,

Bring forth the best robe,

and put it on him;

and put a ring on his hand,

and shoes on his feet:

23 And bring hither the fatted calf,

and kill it;

and let us eat,

and be merry:

24 For this my son was dead,

and is alive again;

he was lost,

and is found.

And they began to be merry.”  Luke 15:10-24

Jesus begins this chapter by describing the urgency with which people look for those things which are lost: the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son.  Painting a beautiful picture of the “joy in heaven” over “one sinner that repenteth”!  The importance of the comparison seeming to be that only when something is lost do we look for it; and until we, as sinners, see our lost condition and repent of our sins, and are ready to trust in/to the substitutionary, atoning, sacrifice that Jesus was about to provide for “the world” on Calvary!  The issue is our choices and those we allow to influence us.

In this parable we see the father (a picture of God The Father) and the two sons—one who openly wanted to go his own way, the other who stayed, but was angry and bitter when his “brother” returned with a repentant heart and a desire to “serve” his father willingly.  Who are you/I wanting to serve?  Self or God/our Father God?  Do we want only His blessings (our inheritance) with no compunction to obey or follow Jesus, or have we seen our sin, and come to God as the prodigal did—in recognition of our sin and a desire for restoration and the opportunity to serve, rather than demanding our own way, indulgence, or greed?

In verse 13 we see the father grant the son’s request and give him a portion of his wealth; then the son departs and goes off to do “his own thing”, with the implication that he squandered his resources with riotous living, also implying that he was probably surrounded by ‘friends’ so long as his generosity lasted, but when his resources had come to an end, he began to “be in want”.  And it comes to mind that his want must have been because all of his ‘temporary friends’ were no longer interested in his “welfare”!  He was alone, destitute and without food because of a famine in the land.  How interesting that we are often persuaded by those ‘friends’ who are looking for ‘something’, usually ‘for nothing’, but leave when it’s no longer convenient or profitable!

Then as we go on, it’s my favorite part, the “pig pen”!  Here is a fine young Jewish man—a wealthy one, and remember to the religious leaders of Jesus’ day, wealth meant “God’s favor”—who had chosen foolishly, demanded “his portion” of his father’s wealth, took it, left town, found new friends, spent the wealth foolishly, if not in immorality, indulgently, and in self-importance until the money ran out—the friends ran out—the food ran out—but his belly was now hungry! So, where did he wind up?  In the pig pen! This fine, formerly upstanding, Jewish young man has now been reduced to the “pig pen”, not only feeding the pigs, but being so hungry, he was fain to eat from the very “pig trough”!  But here we have the whole point of the parable—until we see our circumstances in reality—a pig pen of our own making—we have no hope of restoration.

In verses 17-20 we see the key to salvation—recognition of sin—a willingness to see our own sin and be willing to repent (turn from our sin to God), and come to God with no conditions, no demands for blessings or provision of anything but salvation in Jesus!  Oh, what a different message than we often hear around us today!

But then, the most beautiful part of this story, when the son was on his way home, the Father (implying that HE has been looking for his son for all this time) seeing the son, a long way off, ran to greet him, and welcome him home; even before the son made his declaration of repentance—the Father knew!  God knows, when you take that first step.  Don’ let the enemy of your soul prevent you from taking that first step!

I invite you to recognize your pig pen, recognize those people who are holding you in the pig pen, recognize that sin is contagious, and there are those who are willingly sinning and want you to join them in that pig pen, and the judgment it brings.

Paul describes it in a different way, those who are pleased to be in sin, want company.

“And even as they did not like to retain God

in their knowledge,

God gave them over to a reprobate mind,

to do those things which are not convenient;

29 Being filled with all

unrighteousness, fornication,

wickedness,         covetousness,

maliciousness;     full of envy,

murder,                debate,

deceit,                  malignity;

whisperers,         30 Backbiters,

haters of God,      despiteful,

proud,                  boasters,

inventors of evil things,   disobedient to parents,

31 Without understanding,   covenantbreakers,

without natural affection,

implacable,        unmerciful:

32 Who knowing the judgment of God,

that they which commit such things

are worthy of death,

not only do the same,

but have pleasure in them

that do them.”  Romans 1:28-32

Who are you running with?  Are you caught in a pig pen that you think you can’t get out of?  Remember that Jesus is greater than anyone or anything that may be holding you.  If you don’t know Jesus, you can call on HIM today.  If you do know Him and belong to Him but have let the enemy have a stronghold in your life—you can repent and call on Jesus who will forgive, deliver, and cleanse your sin!  It’s your choice but choose wisely there is a test.  Come to the Father while there is time.

“If we confess our sins,

he is faithful and just

to forgive us our sins,

and to cleanse us

from all unrighteousness.”  1 John 1:9

“Seek ye the LORD

while he may be found,

call ye upon him

while he is near:

7 Let the wicked forsake his way,

and the unrighteous man his thoughts:

and let him return

unto the LORD,

and he will have mercy upon him;

and to our God,

for he will abundantly pardon.

8 For my thoughts

are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways,

saith the LORD.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways,

and my thoughts

than your thoughts.”  Isaiah 55:6-9

Don’t run with the pigs—The Father is waiting for you!

Amen and Amen!!!

Brighten Your Own Corner??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #17

29 Wednesday Jun 2022

Posted by in Brighten Your Corner!

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Brighten Your Own Corner???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #17

There’s an old song that we used to sing all the time, and it still rings through my heart and mind oft-times when I’m down over some lost opportunity, or uncertainty!  Jesus has called us to be faithful where we are not to keep trying to change our place, opportunities, or circumstances; if we really trust to HIS care, we can trust Him to lead, guide and provide “in His time” and in HIS way.  Job is such an inspiration to me, and while it is a most difficult book to read (the first time through), but as we read it again and again, we find the faith, courage, and strength that Job possessed and that his friends wrestled so inadequately to see!

“Though he slay me,

yet will I trust in him:

but I will maintain mine own ways

before him.”  Job 13:15

When I’m confused, frustrated or just plain old tired, I rehearse this precious declaration from Job!  It’s all about Jesus!  Do I trust HIM or do I NOT?  Job knew that The Lord would come—sooner—or later—Jesus would come!  Is that amazing or what?

“For I know that my redeemer liveth,

and that he shall stand at the latter day

upon the earth:

26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body,

yet in my flesh shall I see God:

27 Whom I shall see for myself,

and mine eyes shall behold,

and not another;

though my reins be consumed

within me.”  Job 19:25-27

Job didn’t run, he didn’t hide, he stayed right where he was when tragedy struck in ways beyond our comprehension; he sat faithful before his God and stood fast in truth before his ‘so-called’ friends who had no clue of what God was doing.  Even Job didn’t know what God was doing, but he KNEW his God was still the faithful ruler of all.

Where are you?  Are you shining or pouting?  Has God asked something of you that you don’t want to do or deal with?  Are there difficult people around you; and while the world says, “you don’t have to put up with that”, God has called you to stand fast and speak the “truth in love” as you have opportunity.

Are we shining our little light?  Or are we hiding it under a bushel while we run, hide, seek our own way, or are we just sit and pout?  Jesus calls us to “be” salt and light, not “do” salt or light!  We are to BE and then shining will come!  And then sinners will be drawn to the “life-giving” cross and the Lord Jesus Christ who shed His “life-changing” blood for you and me—for all who will repent and believe in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sin!

“Ye are the salt of the earth:

but if the salt have lost his savour,

wherewith shall it be salted?

it is thenceforth good for nothing,

but to be cast out,

and to be trodden under foot of men.

14 Ye are the light of the world.

A city that is set on an hill

cannot be hid.

15 Neither do men light a candle,

and put it under a bushel,

but on a candlestick;

and it giveth light

unto all that are in the house.

16 Let your light so shine

 before men,

that they may see your good works,

and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”  Matthew 5:13-16

David also demonstrates faith and ‘shining’ in his cry before God in humble repentance for his failure, knowing that only God could restore and do mighty things with a humble, and contrite heart!  God could brighten his corner!  How about you and me?  Have we let Satan dim our light with our failures!  Stop it!  Take David’s example and the instructions we have in 1 John 1:9:

“If we confess our sins,

he is faithful and just

to forgive us our sins,

and to cleanse us

from all unrighteousness.” 

God is great at cleaning lamps!

“Hide thy face from my sins,

and blot out all mine iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean heart,

O God;

and renew a right spirit

within me.

11 Cast me not away from thy presence;

and take not thy holy spirit from me.  

12 Restore unto me

the joy of thy salvation;

and uphold me

with thy free spirit.

13 Then will I teach transgressors

thy ways;

and sinners shall be converted

unto thee.

14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness,

O God,

 thou God of my salvation:

and my tongue shall sing aloud

of thy righteousness.”  Psalm 51:10-14

Being one who has known and experienced the forgiveness and restoration of The Lord Jesus, I can assure you that HE does good work!  So, I encourage you to meet Jesus at whatever place you are and let HIM light your lamp–either in salvation through faith in His sacrifice for you—or in restoration, having HIM refresh your flame.  Turn up that light and shine on that corner where HE has placed you—where HE has placed me!  Let’s stand fast in this “evil day”!  Our Lord is coming soon; oh, that HE will find us faithful and that we might hear “well done, thou good and faithful servant….”!  Here are the lyrics of the song I mentioned, and I pray they will encourage you today as they have me so often.

Brighten The Corner Where You Are! By Ina D Ogden

Do not wait until some deed of greatness you may do,
Do not wait to shed your light afar;
To the many duties ever near you now be true,
Brighten the corner where you are.

Refrain:
Brighten the corner where you are!
Brighten the corner where you are!
Someone far from harbor you may guide across the bar;
Brighten the corner where you are!

Just above are clouded skies that you may help to clear,
Let not narrow self your way debar;
Though into one heart alone may fall your song of cheer,
Brighten the corner where you are.

Here for all your talent you may surely find a need,
Here reflect the bright and Morning Star;
Even from your humble hand the Bread of Life may feed,
Brighten the corner where you are.

Go shine!

“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

Shine!  Shine!!  Shine!!!

Brighten YOUR corner!!!

Amen and Amen!!!

Call It “Rock-It” Science??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 19 No.05

26 Sunday Jun 2022

Posted by in Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Ripples, Rock-It Science, Still Will I Trust HIM, Take Up YOUR Cross, Teach The Children, Teachers, Teaching Always, Teaching Children, Witness, Words Can Help or Harm?

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 19 No. 05. Call It “Rock-It” Science???

I never could skip rocks like a lot of kids could, but I remember the effort and more than that I remember the effects of the action.  No matter how or what you threw into the water, the ripples were evident and on-going!  And I have learned, mostly the hard way, that no matter how good we “want” things to turn out, our choice of stones will reveal themselves in time, be it for the good or worse.  Paul said it best!

“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.

9 And let us not be weary

in well doing:

for in due season we shall reap,

if we faint not.”   Galatians 6:7-9

Don’t miss Paul’s warning!  “Be not deceived”!  Oh, what a liar the enemy is; Satan is an expert liar, and his only desire is to “steal…to kill….and to destroy”; and he is most expert at it, and we poor gullible humans are so very susceptible to his deceit.  Jesus had so much to say about this reality, and we so foolishly forget, or just plain fail to heed HIS warnings.  And I want to share truth with you, that I pray will help you to heed that truth which the enemy wants you to ignore!

“Ye are of your father the devil,

and the lusts of your father ye will do.

He was a murderer from the beginning,

and abode not in the truth,

because there is no truth in him.

When he speaketh a lie,

he speaketh of his own:

for he is a liar,

and the father of it.

45 And because I tell you the truth,

ye believe me not.”  John 8:44-45

Jesus also warned us of his true character:

“I am the door:

by me if any man enter in,

he shall be saved,

and shall go in and out,

and find pasture.

10 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 10:9-11

 We must consider truth—for Jesus IS truth—and yet we live amidst a world that is giving it’s all to convince us that truth is no longer true!

“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!”  Isaiah 5:20-21

Even as Joshua made his conviction clear to a nation unsure of where they wanted to go!  A nation who came to live by a very similar standard as our nation does today!  Where do you stand?

“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

“In those days there was no king in Israel,

but every man did that which was right

in his own eyes.”  Joshua 17:6

“In those days there was no king in Israel:

every man did that which was right

in his own eyes.”  Joshua 21:25

Israel came to this state because they had chosen to stand with Joshua before his death in his clear declaration to serve God; but it seems that they didn’t share that faith and truth with the next generation, and they floundered right into the devil’s hands.  It seems to me that we are in the very same straights—and I think, for the very same reasons.  We have compromised on God’s truth and accepted the lies of the enemy and we have passed this air of compromise onto our children and grandchildren.  What God said was wrong 50 years ago is now accepted as common place, and we watch our children and grandchildren live in sin with no compunction, and very little attempted correction on our part.

I don’t mean to be harsh, but why do our children and grandchildren think it is ok to live in immorality, to drink, to swear, to lie, cheat and stand for the lies of the enemy?  I think perhaps because we have remained silent when we should have been declaring the truth of The Word of God AS truth.  And if we truly accept God’s truth AS truth, why are we not calling the next generation to identify with the truth, accept it, adhere to it as those who claim the name of Jesus Christ AS Lord?  I think one of two things; either we don’t really believe it ourselves, or we say we believe it, yet don’t care to hold our children to the truth of God’s Word!

There was a time when churches called their people to holy living, and we held our ground when the world encroached; there was a time when schools didn’t play ball on Wednesday nights, because the church kids were just that—at church—and they didn’t play ball on Sundays—yet those are sensibilities gone by!  It makes me sad.  I remember a certain school where they wanted some church kids to play on their ball team, and they intended to practice on Wednesday nights, and the father said if they wanted his kids to play, they would not practice on church nights.  He prevailed—why aren’t parents willing to take a stand today?  I can’t answer that question!  Can you?

I don’t mean to carry this on and on, but I would like to close with a couple of simple scriptures for our consideration:

“There is a way that seemeth right

unto a man,

but the end thereof

are the ways of death.”  Proverbs 16:25

Saying so…doesn’t make it so!  Doing so can! Are we being a doer or deceived “hearers only”?

“But be ye doers of the word,

and not hearers only,

deceiving your own selves.

23 For if any be a hearer of the word,

and not a doer,

he is like unto a man beholding

his natural face in a glass:

24 For he beholdeth himself,

and goeth his way,

and straightway forgetteth

what manner of man he was.

25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty,

and continueth therein,

he being not a forgetful hearer,

but a doer of the work,

this man shall be blessed

 in his deed.

26 If any man among you seem to be religious,

 and bridleth not his tongue,

but deceiveth his own heart,

this man’s religion is vain.

27 Pure religion

and undefiled

before God and the Father

is this,

To visit the fatherless

and widows

in their affliction,

and to keep himself unspotted

 from the world.”  James 1:22-27

Really loving Jesus will reveal itself in our actions, like the ripples in a pond, obeying God and living out our faith like those very ripples—visiting those in need, meeting the needs of the afflicted, and keeping ourselves “unspotted from the world”.  Our choices will show up in our actions; and that my friends will be noticed by others—good, bad, or indifferent.  As I’ve often said—YOU/I are a witness, albeit a good one or a bad one—we are witnesses in all we do!  Someone is watching whether you know it or not!  Jesus makes it clear that it’s not just ‘words’!

“Even so every good tree

bringeth forth good fruit;

but a corrupt tree

bringeth forth evil fruit.

18 A good tree

cannot bring forth evil fruit,

neither can a corrupt tree

bring forth good fruit.

19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit

is hewn down,

and cast into the fire.

20 Wherefore by their fruits

ye shall know them.

21 Not every one that saith unto me,

Lord, Lord,

shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;

but he that doeth the will of my Father

which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me in that day,

Lord, Lord,

have we not prophesied in thy name?

and in thy name have cast out devils?

and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them,

I never knew you:

depart from me,

ye that work iniquity.”  Matthew 7:17-23

Maybe you’re like me, and you’ve thrown some rocks that made harmful ripples, and by God’s grace and forgiveness you have been restored to usefulness in HIS kingdom.  Just take stock of yourself, your heart, your life-choices, and your influence on others; if need be, seek God’s forgiveness, receive it and be cleansed and restored to HIS service.  Or if you’ve never come to Jesus in repentance and faith, please call on HIM today; HE is waiting for you.

“If we confess our sins,

he is faithful and just

to forgive us our sins,

and to cleanse us

from all unrighteousness.”  1 John 1:9

“Behold,

I stand at the door,

and knock:

if any man hear my voice,

and open the door,

I will come in to him,

and will sup with him,

and he with me.”  Revelation 3:20

He’s waiting for YOU!

Amen and Amen!!!