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2 Corinthians 3:4-6; 4:7 As we work our way through the Bible, one particular theme appears in the story time and again - people are sinners. Even the “super heroes” of the Bible are not super. Their weaknesses are on display in the pages of holy scripture. Right out of the gate, Adam stumbled and set the tone for the whole race. Cain is angered at his brother’s good deed and wastes him. Soon after, a guy named Lamech helps himself to two wives and then boasts about killing a young man for striking him. Things degenerate until Noah’s day when God is ready to destroy everyone because of their continual wickedness. Noah and his family are saved in the ark, but then Noah unwinds on too much wine, and his son Canaan gets himself in trouble. Enter Abraham. The great man of faith endangered his own wife twice to save his own skin and even laughed at God’s promise to give him a son in his old age. Jacob was a scoundrel who ripped off his brother twice. When Moses was called by God, he hemmed and hawed until the Lord virtually had to drag him by the collar of his robe. Israel stumbled at Sinai, and Aaron made the golden calf. Gideon was fearful, Samson a playboy, and David (the man after God’s own heart) looked too long at the wrong woman, and the rest is a tragedy. Paul was amazed at God’s calling to preach the gospel to the Gentiles. He was keenly aware of his own sins, especially his persecution of Christians ( 1 Timothy 1:12-17 ). But now he was entrusted with the word of truth, the gospel which alone has the power to save mankind. How could God entrust such a glorious, life and death message to weak mortals? Paul is quite clear about it. We are not adequate in ourselves, but “our adequacy is from God.” God has even placed this “treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves.” So we see that serving God isn’t about us - not our righteousness, nor our abilities. It’s about God - the power of God, the grace of God. Always was; always will be. Jeff

John 12:37-43             There are some questions in life for which it is difficult to find satisfactory answers.  Though this may be true, it is still worth our while to search for answers to such questions for in our search we always learn something and may even begin to find an adequate answer.  Our question in this piece is one such: Why is it that some people believe in Jesus but others do not?  Our text should lead us a little closer to a good answer for this question.  Please read it now.             We begin with John’s observation that Jesus had performed “so many signs” in front of the people.  His point is that there were more than enough miracles done to convince them that He was the Messiah.  John then quotes Isaiah to say that this was fulfillment of prophecy that people would not believe in Jesus.  He doesn’t say why that was the case, but indicates that their continual rejection of the obvious (that Jesus was from God) only served to blind their eyes and harden their hearts, thus making it even more difficult to believe!             Our question remains, however: Why weren’t these people brought to believe by seeing all of these signs?  Some of the people were, but, obviously, many of them were not.             A further help to getting at an adequate answer lies in verses 42 and 43.  Here John notes that despite this overall disbelief among the crowds, “many even of the rulers believed in Him.”  Well, that’s a good thing.  However, it goes no further with them.  John says they refused to confess their belief in Jesus for fear of being thrown out of the synagogue because “they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God.”  (Instead of approval  one translation has praise and one has glory .)  So here could be some help in answering our question.             To believe in Jesus, to believe He is the Christ of God is to start down a path of change.  This requires that I give up any number of things.  It could be certain beliefs that I’ve held dear all my life.  It could be a position, as with the rulers here.  It could be family.  It could be a lifestyle.  It could be anything “under the sun” that a person holds near and dear.  And they just won’t part with it.             This is likely a worrisome thought for all of us.

Ephesians 6:18             It is my belief that we shall not fully realize how much we needed God until we reach our eternal home.  Despite such plain words of the Lord as “apart from Me you can do nothing” ( John 15:5 ), we still tend to think that we somehow accomplish at least some  things for God on our own.  Let’s not take this discussion too far the other way, however, and say that we have no part in what we do or say.  This is erroneous thinking, also.  We are submitters and cooperators, not initiators and forces of causation.  God calls, God equips, God empowers.  We are vessels of clay given life and spiritual strength by the Life-Giver to accomplish His work and will.             Thus, amid the daily struggle against evil in all of its overt and covert forms there is a supreme necessity, an absolute must to call upon the Master Outfitter of spiritual armor to equip us thoroughly and even stand beside us in the battle.  It is little wonder that Paul writes “With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit...”  To stop praying is to quit asking for the divine help which alone can help us conquer.  To stop praying is to stand “against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” with only human strength.  To stop praying is to stand alone against Satan and all of his evil forces.  To stop praying is to cut our life line and power cord with God!             E. M. Bounds noted, “Your estimation of prayer is your estimation of God.”  Hmmm?  What a thought.  Prayer is my direct connection with the Almighty.  If I do not pray, then I become disconnected from my Creator and the God who empowers me.  If I am disconnected from God, then I am standing alone without His help.  Does it not follow, then, that if I do not pray then I am of the opinion that I can do this thing called life by myself?!  Now we might never say  that in those words, but our failure to ask the Father for help would be a sure give away of what we really thought in our hearts.             What, then, is your estimation of God?  How much do you need the Lord Jesus?  Do you “pray at all times in the Spirit”?  Are you staying connected with your heavenly Father?                                                             ><>  Jeff

Romans 12:3-21             The scriptures use several figures to explain God’s design for His people.  There is the husband and wife relationship, the family, a kingdom, an assembly, a body, the shepherd and the sheep, an army, a priesthood, etc.             Although these are different in many respects, a common and most important theme is present in each figure given by the Holy Spirit.  And that element is fellowship or joint participation.  The church is a group of individual Christians living in community.  The church is a fellowship of believers.  Now, hardly anyone would disagree with this concept, but few people seem to grasp what this looks like as it is worked out on a day to day and week to week basis.             Some believe that fellowship is nothing more than having the same beliefs, wearing the same name and attending a church service once a week with the same people.  Granted these are foundational elements of fellowship, but the scriptures plainly teach that the community of the church is much more than that.             In our text, Paul is using the figure of the body (vv 4-5).  Let’s do some logical examining of what he is teaching.  If some have been given the gift of teaching (v 7), whom would they teach if not others in the church?  If someone has the gift of leadership (v 8), whom would he lead if not those in the church?  To whom would this genuine love (v 9) first be shown if not to the others in the church?  And how would you do that except through some deed of kindness?  Who is the “one another” to whom we are all to be devoted (v 10) if not other church members?  And how would that be accomplished except by some kind of personal interaction?  To whom would a Christian “give preference” (v 10) except to another church member?             As you can see, the church is a love-bound community who live out their lives in close harmony, supporting each other, serving one another, and sharing their God-given gifts for the benefit of everyone.  There is a give-and-take in which the various members look out for each other as they travel the road of life.             Fellowship - what a beautiful thing!

Ecclesiastes 12:11             Here is another selection of the sayings and quotes which I’ve assembled over the years.  Read, consider, enjoy and be blessed!   >                    Nobody is as blind as a person who refuses to see.   >                    Never judge a person by their worst day.   >                    Worship: God deserves it - We need it.   >                    We are always complaining that our days are few, and at the same time, acting as if they would never end.                                                             – Seneca   >                    When you do well, give God the glory.  When you do badly, take the blame.   >                    You can protest against the evil in the world only if you believe in a good God.  Otherwise the protest doesn’t make sense.                                          – Miroslav Volf   >                    What your heart possesses, your life expresses.   >                    God sometimes removes people from your life to protect you.  Don’t run after them.   >                    Worldly peace is based on fixing our troubles, and Jesus’ peace is based on trusting Him when our troubles can’t be fixed.                                          – John Smith   >                    One of the world’s greatest deceptions is to convince a man that he has truly achieved something when he gets to do nothing.                                                             ><>  Jeff

Matthew 28:5-6             Our scripture here is one of the most powerful in the Bible. When the women came to Jesus’ tomb, they were fully expecting to find His body because they had purchased spices for anointing Him ( Mark 16:1 ).  Scriptures tell us that they were amazed and even frightened to find an angel there.  More than likely, they were more surprised to learn that Jesus’ body was not in the tomb.  And they were probably even more amazed to hear that He had risen from the dead!  As we would say today, it was too much information to process!             However, they processed what information they could in the moment and ran to tell the disciples what they had found and what they had been told.  It seems that before they got very far, Jesus met them and talked with them.  When they finally told everything to the disciples, they did not believe them.  Would you?             We have the benefit of the entire New Testament now, and a legacy of almost 2000 years of people believing in the resurrection of Jesus.  We can now “process” what happened that day and learn many valuable “take-aways” to strengthen our faith.   >                    Jesus kept His word.  He said He would be crucified but be raised back to life, and He was.  Jesus can be trusted. >                    Death can be beaten. >                    Believing in the resurrection of the dead is not an easy thing. >                    There must be “another world” besides this one. >                    God is not to be trifled with.  He has the power. >                    There is real hope for people to live on the other side of the grave.  This hope is in Jesus Christ. >                    This good news is something that people would want to hear.               In about thirty-three years, Jesus conquered sin in the flesh, offered Himself as a sacrifice for sin, disarmed the power of heavenly forces ( Colossians 2:15 ), took control of the keys of death and Hades, was resurrected to life, and now rules in His kingdom.             “He is not here.”  What incredibly powerful words!                                                             ><>  Jeff

Psalm 23   The Lord is my real Boss, and I shall not want. He gives me peace when chaos is all around me. He gently reminds me to pray before I speak and to do all things without murmuring and complaining. He reminds me that He is my Source and not my job. He restores my sanity every day and guides my decisions that I might honor Him in everything I do.   Even though I face absurd amounts of emails, system crashes, unrealistic deadlines, budget checks, gossiping co-workers, discriminating supervisors, and an aging body that doesn’t cooperate every morning, I will not stop – for He is with me!   His presence, His peace and His power will see me through. He raises me up, even when they fail to promote me. He claims me as His own, even when the company threatens to let me go.   His faithfulness and love are better than any bonus check. His retirement plan beats every 401K there is. When it’s all said and done, I’ll be working for Him a whole lot longer and for that, I bless His Name.                                                 –  via mikeysfunnies.com               Indeed, the Lord is our Shepherd where ever we go and in whatever we are engaged.  Many of us have experienced the work place situations presented in this “psalm.”  Others have found such circumstances on athletic teams, in classrooms, in public service, etc.  The world is often a difficult, demanding and unforgiving place, but the Lord has promised to help us cope with what the world throws at us and bring us through to a peaceful place.             He will indeed overflow our cup if we just hold it out for Him.                                                             ><>  Jeff

1 Timothy 2:5-6             Following the death of a loved one, you have probably heard someone make a statement similar to this: “Well, I know she’s up there right now and is going to do all she can to help us out down here.  She’ll be looking out for us.”  Heard something like that?  Have you ever said anything like that?  Hmmm?             Where people get such notions I personally do not know.  Wishful thinking?  Unbearable grief?  Religious beliefs not found in the Bible?  Tradition?  There is nothing in God’s holy book which even remotely supports such an idea.  The body of the deceased goes into the ground, and the spirit of the deceased returns to God to Hades, the place for the spirits of the dead.  It is worthy to note that when Saul had the medium at En-dor “bring up” Samuel his response was “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” (1 Samuel 28:15).             Some religions hold that after certain pious persons die they can be given some special status whereby they can intercede with God and affect events on earth.  Mary, Jesus’ mother, is also seen by some to be able to do this.  Again, we find nothing in God’s word to support such beliefs.             The scripture is plain.  “...there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”  He has mediated a new and better covenant between man and God by means of His blood.  Jesus has been designated as High Priest, and He is the One who continually makes intercession for His people (Hebrews 7:23-25).  Jesus is also our Advocate with the Father whenever we sin (1 John 2:1-2).  He lived a life without sin and overcame death through His resurrection.  Jesus, and only Jesus, has “earned the right” to be designated by God as mediator, intercessor and advocate for humanity.             Just before the cross, Jesus said this to His disciples: “...if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you.  Until now you have asked for nothing in My name...” (John 16:23-24).  He was anticipating His place as mediator and intercessor between God and mankind.  We come to the Father through the Son, and through the Son only.  He is the only One qualified for the job.                                                             ><>  Jeff

Deuteronomy 6:1-12             Before Israel crossed into the promised land, they were warned about the dangers they would encounter among the Canaanite nations and also the dangers that would arise due to the Lord’s abundant blessing.  Moses instructed them to teach all his words “diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.”  God was to be spoken in the home.  In doing this, two things would result (at least).  First, the Lord God would receive the glory due Him.  Secondly, not only the children but the entire family would continually keep God before them as the One who protects and sustains them.             Moses’ instruction is sound and wise, even for today.  How many Christian parents actually speak “God” in their homes?             When the day is beautiful, the sun is warm, and a nice breeze meanders its way through your neighborhood, who gets the credit?  Is it simply a lovely day which the meteorologist on TV happened to forecast correctly?  Is Mother Nature the one who is thanked?  Or do you acknowledge that God has blessed you with a glorious day?             When someone in the family has been ill, and they have made full recovery, who is praised in your home?  Is it the doctor?  The medication?  All well and good, but does God receive any credit for a healing or for making such medical marvels possible?             When one of the children needs corrected, how is it done?  Is it strictly your rules that were broken and your heart which was grieved?  Or was God brought into the conversation as Someone who also had a vital interest in what happened?             When one of the kids wins a competition or gets an award, who is credited?  Is it only because of the child’s hard work and talent, or is the Creator of us all also acknowledged for His gracious gifts?             If we walk with God, we also live with God.  When the storm comes or the rainbow graces the sky; when there is plenty or when there is just enough; when the birds sing or when the wolves howl - is God spoken?  Is He praised and thanked for the blessing?  Is He looked to and called upon for relief?  Is God spoken in your home?                                                             ><>  Jeff

Matthew 5:17-18             For various reasons, many people continue to question whether some of the events recorded in the Old Testament really happened.  They believe that some are legends which have grown out of real events but over time have been embellished to supernatural proportions.  Others are believed to be pure myths which were fabrications of men’s imaginations to explain various phenomena and happenings in life.             Did God really create everything from nothing?  Did God create the world in six days?  Was there only one man and one woman in the beginning from whom all people descended?  Was there a great global flood which destroyed all living except one family and all the animals aboard a large boat?  Were Sodom and Gomorrah destroyed by fire and brimstone?  Did the Red Sea really part for the Israelite nation to cross on dry ground and escape the Egyptian army?  Did David kill a giant with a single stone from a sling?  Was Jonah in the belly of a great fish for three days and three nights?             Although we could present numerous arguments to support the veracity of the Hebrew scriptures (as they are often called), we want to put forward this one.  There is one individual who would have known whether or not the things recorded in the Old Testament were true.  He was Jesus of Nazareth.  Here’s the thought.  Jesus was the word of God become flesh (John 1:1-3, 14).  He was truth embodied (John 14:6).  He came to testify to the truth (John 18:37).  If any person would have known that what was written in those scrolls was not true, it would have been Jesus!             In the gospel of Matthew alone, we find Jesus quoting from Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, 1 Samuel, Psalms, Isaiah, Daniel, Hosea, Jonah, Zechariah and Malachi - all Old Testament.  If He had known any of them to contain error, would He not have told the scribes?  Since truth was so central to Him and His mission, would He not have corrected the mistakes?  Yet, He let every book and every word stand, and affirmed that everything in them would be accomplished.  Do you stand with Jesus?                                                             ><>  Jeff

Mark 12:28-34             People have different views of God.  These views are taken from bits and pieces of thought drawn from a conglomeration of sources: mythology, old wives’ tales, speculations of religious thinkers, catechisms and creed books, your parents’ teaching, one’s own musings, etc.  The picture which many people have of God is a patchwork of ideas and concepts, many of which are contradictory and unsupported by the Bible.             Who is God to you?  Is He like the ER doctor?  Whenever you get into trouble you come running to Him to fix it - illness, financial difficulty, family problems, etc?  You don’t pay much attention to God unless you get into a panic mode - then it’s time to look Him up!             Who is God to you?  Is He a being to be worshiped in a building?  You “go to church” once or twice a week to stay in His good graces.  You pay your respects, sit through the service and leave Him within those four walls until next time.             Who is God to you?  Is He like a genie in a bottle?  Whenever you want something, then you put on your best prayer face (maybe a rug, shawl, rosary, prayer book, etc.) and ask God real nice.  Maybe you even make some promises to Him if He will give you what you want.  But otherwise, God is not part of your daily living.             Who is God to you?  A harsh taskmaster who doesn’t want you to be happy?  A judge who keeps track of all you do wrong?  A Santa Claus who just passes out gifts and laughs off everything bad?             Who is God to you?  It truly matters that we have the correct view of God, the one presented in His book.  Otherwise, we cannot have the right relationship with Him.  The scriptures confirm that God is the Life-Giver and Creator of all things, even ourselves.  He is spirit and exists outside of creation.  He is all-powerful and all-knowing.  He is love.  He is holy.  He is good.  In the person of Jesus, God entered His creation to save us and to draw us into a covenant relationship by His blood - to offer eternal life to every person.  God loved us to the death in order to give us life.  He calls us in turn to love Him with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength.  Who is God to you?                                                             ><>  Jeff

Ecclesiastes 12:11             Here we go with another serving of the sayings and quotes I’ve collected over the years.  Read, ponder, enjoy and be blessed!   >                    When an honest man discovers he is mistaken, he will either cease to be mistaken or cease to be honest.   >                    Beware.  Nothing breeds trouble like success.   >                    We’ve drifted away from being fishers of men to being keepers of the aquarium.                                                 – Paul Harvey   >                    Everybody has their weaknesses.  Perhaps the worst weakness is being unable to see one’s own weaknesses.   >                    The heavens declare the glory of God, but the streets declare the sinfulness of man.                                                 – Marvin Olasky   >                    Two things in life I have learned: 1) There is a God;                                      2) I’m not Him.   >                    Blessed are those who can give without remembering and receive without forgetting.   >                    Helping the thinker believe.  Helping the believer think.                                                 – Ravi Zacharias   >                    You are not finished when you lose.             You are finished when you quit.   >                    God is in the restoration business, not the replacement business.  Thank God!                                                             ><>  Jeff