Day by Day

[Soldier4Christ]

Rebuilding The Temple

    This is what the Lord Almighty says: "These people say, 'The time has not yet come for the Lord's house to be built.'" The word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: "Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?" Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it" (Haggai 1:2-6).

The people to whom this passage was referring had been directed to rebuild God's temple. But through the course of time they had become sidetracked by many things: the cares of this earth, making a living, and building for themselves a nice comfortable house. Where they had once purposed to give of what they had so that God's house might be established, they had instead used there resources to gather what was pleasing to themselves. They were given a responsibility to care for the temple--the house of God--and so are we.
In 1 Corinthians 3:16, Paul asks, "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" In that we are the dwelling place of God we are the temple of His Spirit. Even as the temple was to be consecrated and kept holy--divided unto God for His purpose--so we are to be kept holy and divided from the godless for the purpose and will of our righteous Father.
And yet, what would God say to us through Haggai today? Would He not say much the same as He did in Haggai's time? For we have been given charge over the temple of God even as we are His Holy Temple. And we (as a people) also have grown slack in our responsibilities to the temple's upkeep. For though we should be making ourselves a Holy dwelling place for the Lord, we are more concerned with filling ourselves with that which pleases us. The temple of the Lord receives a portion of our time, our attention and our wages, when indeed much more is needed to restore it to its proper place. We take what should be used to build God's house and we panel the walls of our lives with comfort and pleasantry.
And to what end? What shall we show for our days when our days come to a close? We will see our days gone by, spent in countless hours of working to provide even more and more comfort to pacify us in this life. We eat, drink, work and spend and are never satisfied. For the labor of our hands seem unable to keep up with what our desires would consume.
Meanwhile, the house of God in each of us goes unattended. We become more and more weakened within our spirits and question God when life gets too difficult. We soon wonder why we cannot seem to stop doing what is wrong and do more of what is right. We wonder why it is so difficult to live as God wants us to. And we feel defeated and unable to stand as a child of God.
We have given much time, energy, attention and thought to pleasing ourselves, having fun and being comfortable. "What do you do for fun?" seems to be one of the primary questions in getting to know someone. Perhaps it is time we begin to turn the tide, and start placing our resources toward the best good. Perhaps it is time we put aside our wants and desires and comforts, and take up the work of rebuilding the temple once more.

[Soldier4Christ]

Holding Hands

    My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand (John 10:29).

The old song tells us, "I don't know about tomorrow, but I know who holds my hand." There are those times, however, when it would seem that we have forgotten that there is indeed someone who holds our hand. He has promised to be with us. He has been and will always remain to be faithful to His Word. And when He says "I will never leave you, nor forsake you," we can be certain that that is exactly what will be.
If you were to draw a picture of God's hand, what would it look like? I remember a picture that I had seen that depicts a girl swinging joyfully in a swing that is suspended by two ropes. The ends of the ropes are draped over the finger of the Hand of God, and held between His finger and His thumb. In that picture, we see the typical illustration of the Hand of God--it is very large and strong, and it is able to easily be the security and safety of one who trusts in Him. Isn't it amazing that even as so many of us would imagine God's Hand to be large, strong and secure, that we can so often become anxious as though our lives could slip through the fingers of His mighty Hand?
There are many surprises in this life--some good, and some not so good. But perhaps some of the most pleasant surprises are those that would seem as though they should not be surprising at all. For we are often pleasantly surprised when God comes to our aid in time of need, or speaks a gentle, healing word when we are in the midst of sorrow. And we behold His timing, His touch and His tenderness and stand in awe. As well we should, but why is it we seemed surprised? For God so loves us dearly, and what He does for us out of His extraordinary love is never surprising, but simply a natural part of who He is.
As you walk your personal road today, take thought of the strong and secure Hand that is holding on to your hand, and holding on to you. His grip is not as such that you will slip through His grasp. His faithfulness is not as such that He will not remain beside you every step of the way. And none of us walk our paths alone, for He will never leave us or forsake us. Anything we face will not take God by surprise, He already knows what tomorrow holds and has already prepared our way through the days to come.

The Mighty Hand of God,
is strong enough to hold,
the worries of our everyday,
the achings of our soul.
The Mighty Hand of God,
is skilled enough to shape,
our worries and our achings,
in to wondrous cause for praise.

[Soldier4Christ]

Balancing Petitions

    Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God
    (Philippians 4:6).

Consider your needs. Consider your wants. Examine and weigh what is needed, against what is desired. With what is true contentment found? How much is enough? What motivates us to make a request of God? To answer these questions we best not leave it entirely up to ourselves or we will most certainly convince ourselves that our motives are noble and pure. And to look for the answers through the eyes of others may leave us in want, if they are like we are and give much advise with regard primarily to how it affects them or their interests. And though that may not even be the case, there is no question that the only one who sees us without bias and predisposition is God Himself. So as we consider our needs and wants and determine to come before God to make petition, we would be wise to first ask God to cut through our selfish motivations and teach us to truly ask according to His will.
"According to His will." Now that's a phrase that often carries a great deal of good intention, but all too often caries little effort. We ask, petition and pray and say, "Thy will be done," yet when it gets right down to it, little effort is expended in truly determining what is what and where to go. Sure, we want to know His way and follow it. But His question to us might be, "How badly do you desire to really know my will?" Do we desire His will and His way badly enough to fast and pray for one day? Or how about doing so until we receive and answer? Do we shun our desires seeking clarity of mind and heart so as not to be led astray by our personal passions? Are we willing to religiously come before God in prayer, and search the scriptures daily and diligently to see what God would say?
Acts 17:11 tells us about a people who wanted to know the truth. And because of their diligent search for the truth, their way was made clear to them. Of them the writer of Acts explains, "These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so." They would not settle for a truth that could not be substantiated by the witness of God's Word, and they would not settle for a truth that would fit their own preconceived notions of what the Word of God stated.
In identifying our needs and desires and taking them before God, we might do well to remember something, that though our faith be strong and our motives pure, God is still the one who has to OK the requests we make. He sees the big picture--we do not. And though something we ask may be in the purest motivation, we must remember that it is something that fits into God's plan not just for our lives personally, but also every life around us. Name it and claim it thinking does not make God do anything. And faith that can move mountains will not move God to act outside of His will. It is not by faith that God moves, but it is by our faith that we see Him move, and by the same faith that our prayers mature and soon line up with His will. Through all we are instructed to let our requests be made known unto God, and to pray believing--but lest we see God as a magical wish granter let's keep in mind that our requests are just that--and God weighs them all in balance with His good and perfect will.

[Soldier4Christ]

Missing Daddy

    As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? (Psalm 42:1-2)

She stands at the kitchen window looking outside. She watches as her daughter, who had been at grandmas for a week, runs outside to greet her daddy as he gets home from work. She sees the two hug before her husband even gets fully out of the car. Her eyes tear up at the sweetness of the scene, and she stops for a moment in the middle of her hurried day, allowing her mind to run with the wonder of such things.
What does she see as she embraces the warmth of this passing moment? It could be many things, or perhaps just one. It could be one in particular that starts as a solid and vivid image, and then ripples into several images that fade and mix together. And what she gleans from this can bring a soft, warm smile to her face--and can touch the deepest reaches of her heart as He who controls all uses the simple things of life to stir the soul.
She watches. And in her mind she finds anew her love for her husband. Not that she had lost it, but that she simply remembered one of the reasons that she cares so deeply for him. She sees her strong and sometimes determined man, and is intrigued by the sensitivity and gentleness that emerges. And she feels once more like the young woman who first fell in love with him.
She watches. And in her mind she sees the picture of herself. As once she was that little girl who ran to her father with love and excitement. She reminisces on the times they shared and her eyes begin to turn toward home--toward a time when she can see him again, and once more feel like that little girl, safe in her daddy's arms.
She watches. And in her mind she imagines another reunion of sorts. More difficult for her to comprehend, but nonetheless the excitement emerges and lights her eyes with anticipation. For she has experienced the warmth and care of her Heavenly Father while here on this earth, but knows that a day is coming when she will be with Him up close--when she will rest in His sheltering and loving arms and live beneath His roof, and dwell with her Heavenly Daddy forever more.
At a glance and through our Father's eyes, we see what is good and the good that is yet to come. Within those times we find the truth of love and anticipate the culmination of that love. And though we are called to a work within this time and place, we long for another time--and our love for Him draws us ever toward Him. But when we are away from Him, for whatever reason, and though our minds be caught up in the hurriedness of our lives, He uses the simplicity of surrounding events to draw our thoughts back toward Him. And our hearts ache for what we have had with Him, and the warmth returns to our souls as in the passing of a quiet moment we discover that we are missing Daddy.

[Soldier4Christ]

The Threshold of Happiness

    Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you (Matthew 7:7).

One definition of "threshold" depicts a threshold as "an entrance or doorway," "the place or point of beginning". It is a word that is used often to describe a starting point. Perhaps it's most familiar use is in relation to an old custom whereby the groom would carry his bride over the threshold (doorway) of the new couples home--signifying a beginning as man and wife. It is perhaps a place as well where there is great anticipation and hope-filled thinking. Certainly that is often the case with newly weds, isn't it? It seems to be a place or situation wherein those who enter believe they will find happiness.
But what is happiness? To look again to the dictionary, we will find several varying definitions of the word. Yet the one which seems to start them off is in relation to happenstance. At the root of both words, "happiness," and "happenstance" we find a commonality within the word "hap," which within its very definition eludes once again to circumstances that are favorable or fortunate, and completely by chance.
So the threshold of happiness is a place wherein there are great expectations for fortunate and favorable chance happenings to occur--providing we play our cards right or hold our heads just right or cross our fingers or. . . Whatever the case may be, it is as though we often see our direction as coincidental and the good things that come our way as mere chance within our situations we face. If you don't think so, consider how we act when things are going really well, and in such a way that it is something that is making us happy, and watch what you do. Such situations often bring with them the anxiety as we begin to think that somehow we won't be able to maintain the circumstances as they are in order to keep ourselves in the current state of happiness. Something comes along (happenstance) that we really like and we begin to worry that it will soon be gone.
As we seek to maintain happiness, we may see that we have one major problem: we believe it to be based on events and circumstances. And so we will work to bring about circumstances that we know will make us feel as though we are happy. The problem is that such happiness is fleeting--it does not last long, and is seldom what we really expect it to be.
But God did not want our joy to be built on happenstance, good fortune or favorable circumstance. And He did not set us on a path wherein we are to be solemnly righteous, only to stumble upon enjoyable circumstances if we are lucky. Instead, God has provided to us a way to find real joy within our lives that is constant regardless of our circumstances--a joy that is not determined by chance happenings. This joy is not found through wishful thinking as we cross thresholds to happiness, but it is found as we seek a definite direction in how we will live and how we will follow the will of God for our lives.
The pursuit of happiness will yield some happiness, but that happiness will be fleeting. The things we think will make us happy are often not what we had expected and often leave us wanting. But as we ask God according to His will, and seek His will to be done, and then knock as to put His will into action, what we will discover is greater than any accidental momentary feel good--it will be a joy that transcends all understanding, as we find the true happiness within God's will--and not blind fate.

[Soldier4Christ]

July 21
Invited

Read Luke 14:15-24

    Jesus replied, "A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.' But they all alike began to make excuses. . ." (Luke 14:16-18).

To read Luke 14:15-24, we might soon discover a strange parallel. For if we were to look closely at our lives in this society as compared to the lives of those in this story, we would probably see that the people in the story that made excuses for why they could not come sound a lot like many of us today. Sure, we think it would be great to go when someone invites us, but we feel that we are just too busy. It seems that no matter what time someone wants to invite us to be with them, that it always lands on a bad time for us--a time when we just cannot get away from the other pressing matters of our lives.
It is true that we are certain to miss some opportunities along the way. After all, we cannot take advantage of every invitation extended to us. There is no way that we can have a job, family, church-life and sleep, and still squeeze in everything and everyone that demands our time and attention--can we? So we are often faced with a decision, and that decision is the product of the placement of our priorities. And what should be the priority? What should get the attention while some other things are pushed to the side?
It would be interesting to see how many mundane things we focus on throughout our day, and how many things we do that seem so important but really won't matter tomorrow. It seems that so many things that require our immediate attention would really not hurt anything to be pushed aside for a day or two. But isn't that procrastination? Is it, when why we put something off is because there is a live and breathing soul who would like to fellowship with us? Perhaps we should consider for a moment how many times we tell someone, "I can't right now, I really have to do this," and compare that to the number of times we say, "Everything else can wait. You are more important."
If Christ were to hide who He is from us, and come to each of us with an invitation to come and have dinner with Him this Friday or Saturday night, I wonder how many of us would accept His invitation. And yet He tells us that even as we "have done unto the least of these, my brethren, you have done it unto me." Sure, we cannot be there for everyone, but will we be there for anyone? And will we make time for another who would be with us when we have no other plans?
A man went to a deacon in the church and told him that he needed to talk. The deacon kindly replied, "Yes, we'll have to get together." Days went by and the man did not hear from the deacon. Finally, Sunday came again and the man, who had been having doubts about his salvation, went forward after the service and gave his life to Christ. The deacon quickly approached him after the service and excitedly he asked him, "Is that what you wanted to talk about?" The man nodded and said, "yes." The deacon replied, "If only I would have known," he continued, "I'm sorry," and he walked away.
The opportunities we have to make a difference in this life come and go. They approach us in the form of a person in need, and sometimes they go with someone who walks away because their need is not being met. As we are busy with so many "important" things in our lives, perhaps we should consider what else is slipping through our fingers--it could be the soul of one who needs a hand to hold onto and lead them to Christ.

[Soldier4Christ]

What Love Is Not

Read 1 Corinthians 13

    Love is patient, love is kind, It does not envy , it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth (1Cor.13:4-6).

It seems that we have great difficulty describing what love is. It is a vague idea that, brought to mind in the form of the question, "What is love?" it might produce as many different answers as the number of people asked. When thinking of love as it is seen by our world today, most of us might first think of romantic love. This should not be surprising. When one examines our culture at just a glance it is easy to quickly pick up our society's viewpoints of love and what it means to be "in love." Love generally has much to do with what a person treasures because it is pleasing to him or her, rather than being something that spurs a person to be willing to give up being pleased. It is what someone can do "for me" that makes me love them--if they have little to offer, I will probably not take too much interest in them. That is, if I love in a manner that is like the love within our society.
To put it simply, our society today has taught us more ways to love one's self than it has taught us how to love others. For in loving others, most people are actually demonstrating love for self by surrounding self with that which is in some way pleasing to the self. Selfish love is demonstrated, promoted and flaunted by the people of our nation. We attribute more time to showing self a "good time" than we ever do to making a difference in someone else's life. We want to draw near to those who are "fun" to be with; while we often "duck" those who "bring us down." There is little that we can do without ever wondering "what's in it for me?" Even if that is just a passing thought, it is often a first thought for most of us. Sure, it may not come in the form of that question--after all, we don't want to think of ourselves as selfish. More often than not, our selfishness is hidden behind subtleties, buried in rationalizations and excuses--all of which provide us justification for our uncaring attitudes and unwillingness to help someone in need. We may tell ourselves that we have no time, only to list a days events that we are already "committed" to. And we know that keeping a commitment is the right thing to do. If lack of time cannot excuse us, we look elsewhere for some way to withdraw into a place of comfort--one that only requires commitment to self.
Defining love in a godless society puts self on a pedestal, and everyone else around us to meet our needs and wishes. Because, within a godless society we become our own gods, filled with our own concerns, busy surrounding the self with that which is pleasing to the self--busy demonstrating what love is not.
How each of us defines love is not the 50 point essay question for extra credit in life. It is not something we answer with a few well worded thoughts or by reciting a dictionary definition. Instead, we each define love through action. What love is to us is demonstrated within the intricacies of our lives. When we are willing to give up everything to take up our cross and follow Christ--abandoning any desire to please one's self in this life--therein we demonstrate love for God. When we are willing to spend time with another, having a genuine desire to see their needs met and their spirits lifted, therein we demonstrate love for others. And when we are willing to withdraw into the comfort of our homes and surround ourselves with that which pleases us, and spend our time making money so we can spend our money making ourselves happy, therein we demonstrate love for self.
We are selfish by nature, and we will most certainly find it easier to demonstrate love for self than for others and God. Yet we do not have to settle for that and throw up our hands as if to say, "I can't help it. It's just the way I am." It is the love of God in us that will work its way to the surface of our lives in order to define what true love is. And as we surrender more to Him and become more willing to give up personal wants or rights for the good of others, it is then that God's love can shine through us as a light in the darkness--and it is then the world will begin to learn what love is not.

[Soldier4Christ]

May 2
A Multitude Of Words

    Then Naomi said, "Wait my daughter, until you find out what happens. For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today" (Ruth 3:18).

There was a time when a man's word was his bond. If a word so much as came out of a person's mouth, it was as good as a signed contract--perhaps better. To break one's word was one time a mark of poor character. To say one thing and do another would raise suspicion in the minds of many, and distrust in the hearts of all.
There was a time when if a person said he would do something that he "would not rest until the matter" was settled. The accomplishment of the word was not enough, it also required diligence in the accomplishment of it. You would dare not tell someone you would do this or that only to let days and weeks go by before doing so. The task still needing done might be keeping the one you would do it for in need, and in an awkward position. They would want to give you the chance to make your word good, at the same time they would feel like they must look elsewhere for help--to someone who would "not rest until the matter" was settled--to someone who meant what he said.
Our society today is full of people who cannot remember half of what they say, and perhaps only accomplish half (if that) of what they do remember saying they would do. It has become common place for promises and appointments to be broken, and for people to say they will do something and never get around to it. It has not only become common but expected and almost even acceptable. If someone doesn't keep their word, we may even make excuses for them so as not to think badly of them. And if we don't make excuses for them, they more than likely will--just as we all may be inclined to do..
It seems we find it easier to excuse ourselves than to keep tight control of our tongues. For if we learned how to speak less, saying only what needs to be said and careful not speak an "idle word," we might find it easier to remember what we have told one person or another. We might find that we would learn not to promise things we cannot accomplish because of tight schedules and the overextending of one's abilities or resources. We might find that it would be much easier to be a person of integrity than we might think.
It is in the multitude of our words that we forget what we say or promise that which we cannot fulfill. And just as one lie leads to another, so our many broken words lead to even more in the form of excuses.

    When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise (Prov.10:19).
    But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment (Matthew 12:36).

[Soldier4Christ]

The Essence of Love

    The disciple is not above [his] master, nor the servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. (Mt.10:24-25).

Consider Christ. The essence of love. The epitome of compassion. The embodiment of God's grace and mercy. He came to this earth to draw people to God and restore relationship between a fallen mankind and a Holy God. It meant for Him the giving up of anything He could get out of this life for Himself. It meant for Him the abandoning of thoughts and ideas that most of us hold dear. The thoughts that we should have opportunity to make a life for ourselves. The ideas that we have the right to happiness and the right to sculpt out for ourselves a life that will be pleasant and satisfying.
The road Christ walked was not a glamorous one. It promised nothing of worldly goods or gain. It was not a road that led to satisfaction and financial comfort while on this earth. It was a road of self-denial, self-sacrifice--self-death. It was a road that led to a cross on a hill of death, appropriately named Golgotha, "the place of the skull."
If to follow Christ means to walk the road He walked, does it not also mean to die, truly die, to self? If to follow Christ means to call Him Master, does it not also mean that it is enough for us to be like our Master? Can we call Him Master and follow Him without walking the road that He walked?
Look around and consider Christ. Consider His road that He walked, and then consider how many people you see on the same road. How many of those who claim to be His followers are walking a road that is like His: a road holding no glamour, not promising worldly goods, satisfaction or financial comfort while on this earth? How many of us have fought to stay on the path that Jesus walked, have fought to deny self, and have fought to be holy at the risk of being uncomfortable? The writer of Hebrews would tell us, "In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood" (12:4).
Consider Christ. The essence of love. The epitome of compassion. The embodiment of God's grace and mercy. He came to this earth to draw people to God and restore relationship between a fallen mankind and a Holy God. It meant for Him the giving up of anything He could get out of this life for Himself. It meant for Him the abandoning of thoughts and ideas that most of us hold dear. The thoughts that we should have opportunity to make a life for ourselves. The ideas that we have the right to happiness and the right to sculpt out for ourselves a life that will be pleasant and satisfying.
Isn't it enough for us that we be like Christ? If we can find the strength to stay on the road He walked, we too will find that the road does not end at the Cross--it only begins there. for within the accomplished work of the cross, you and I enjoy the knowledge that we will be resurrected into the Glory of God. In the accomplished work of the cross we too know that we will have life beyond this life, and this life more abundant.
We look at the condition of the world today and shake our heads in disappointment. We try to do right and wish we could do more to impact the lost world around us, yet many of us have already given up. Within all our plans, programs and evangelical efforts, what we may be forgetting is the simple yet profound power of the cross. Jesus took a road that led to death, so that through His death, many might find life. Our greatest evangelical effort involves no revival meetings, Bible schools or other organized events; but our greatest evangelical effort will be one whereby we allow the power of the cross to do the work through us. As we take the road that Jesus took--we too will find that to die to self, is to bring life to many.

[Soldier4Christ]

Mission Minded

    These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of [them], and embraced [them], and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth (Heb.11:13).

Many of us can recall a time when a missionary came to our church to speak to us about what they had witnessed God doing. They have told us about wonderful happenings that could hold no earthly explanation--the only explanation was that God had intervened in a way that was uncommon to what we had ever seen. The missionaries' stories were perhaps very intriguing to us as they seemed more like stories right out of the Old Testament, yet set in modern times.
There is a wonder within the words of the missionary. And there is often amazement on the part of those who hear of tales of God's work in some strange and distant place. The question might then be raised, "Why do we not experience such occurrences here?" "Why don't we see God doing miracles, saving thousands and using a whole church within a small community to accomplish something similar to what He can do with one man within a country?" Perhaps if we were to look at some of the characteristics of the missionary, we might find the answers to such questions. For our purposes here, let's confine our discussion to foreign missionaries.
Consider, first of all, the life of a missionary. He has committed himself to a "new" life in a place that he does not really consider his home. He has willingly left behind the life and lifestyle that he has always known, to proceed by the Grace of God into the unknown, He realizes that where he is going is a place where he will most probably not have all the "things" and "creature comforts" that have made life easier, and he is willing to relinquish any rights to have those things in the future.
Consider the person of the missionary as seen within his new surroundings. He is the stranger, the outsider and person who generally stands out. The difference between his own customs and those of the culture he has committed himself to live within are as different as day and night. He couldn't "fit in" if he wanted to, for no matter how hard he tried to be like them, the truth of who he is would still shine through.
Consider the relationships of the missionary. He is often placed in difficult circumstances far away from friends and family. He is not only a person who has given up a known way of life, or someone who has placed himself in a strange world; he is also someone who undergoes these circumstances without the comfort of having friends or loved ones close by. He may have his immediate family with him, yet where he and his family were once surrounded by people they knew, or at least ones that spoke the same language, they are now isolated from that familiarity.
Consider the faith of the missionary. Whereas once he could find security in material goods, familiar surroundings or a network of church, friends and family; he now must place more and more faith in God to meet all of his needs.
Now consider this: we too can see God do mighty works through us and the local church with the likeness that He does through His missionaries. If we would first realize that this earth is not our home, but that we are strangers in Christ--as different from this world as day is to night. If we would be willing not to call this place home but to live here so that Christ might be witnessed in our lives and lifestyles by those who have never seen Christ. If we could abandon our claims to the right to have a life filled with the "creature comforts," and be willing to place ourselves in an uncomfortable environment for the sake of others. If we could be willing to be influenced by God more than the thoughts and opinions of peers, friends and loved-ones. If we could take our faith out of the security of material goods, jobs, familiar surroundings, and our network of church, family and friends. If we could we could live this life as a missionary in a foreign land, then we might get to see the magnificent tales of God's work come to life, first hand.
The power of God will move through hearts that are sold out to Him--hearts that have abandoned everything familiar and trusted God for their security so that He might accomplish His work through them. God will use us to change the world once we stop looking like the world, and start resembling the Christ who came to free it.

    Dearly beloved, I beseech [you] as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul (1 Peter 2:11).

    These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of [them], and embraced [them], and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth (Heb.11:13).

[Soldier4Christ]

Blessed Assurance

    And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever (Isaiah 32:17).

    Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine. Oh what a foretaste, of glory divine!
    Heir of salvation, purchase of God, Born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.
    . . .Perfect submission, all is at rest, I in my Savior am happy and blessed:
    Watching and waiting, looking above, Filled with his goodness, lost in his love ("Blessed Assurance", Fanny J. Crosby, 1873).

As you read the words of Fanny Crosby above, do you get the impression that she understood the peace, quietness and assurance that Isaiah spoke of in the verse above her words? There is a blessed assurance to everyone who trusts in Christ. Regardless of our sin and shame, Christ gave His life to take our blame! Sins past, present and future are no longer remembered. God provided a way for all of us to approach Him with a clear conscience so that we might come to Him without hindrance, anxiety or guilt. In and of ourselves we are guilty, yet as we truly trust in Jesus our guilt is removed! Believe it!
In Hebrews 10:19-23, the writer tells us this:

    Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess for he who promised is faithful.

The writer tells us that SINCE we have confidence, and we have a great priest, THEN "let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith." and "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess for he who promised is faithful." We are therefore shown that we do not enter into God's presence because we are worthy to do so, and we are shown that we do not have to fear coming into His presence because of our sin and shame. We do not come to God taking account of our rights and wrongs, hoping that we are good enough to be near Him. Instead we enter into the presence of God by trusting that Christ has given us access to God through His righteousness--so we do not regard our righteousness at all, but fully trust in Him.
Why does God tell us these things? Because He wants you to be able to approach Him without fear of retribution, without fear that you have failed to live up to His expectations, and without fear that we may have some overlooked imperfection that will keep us from approaching God, regardless of our efforts to do what is right.
He wants a relationship with you as a child, not as a subject in His court; and He wants you to "have confidence" when you approach Him. He wants you to enter into fellowship with Him without fear, anxiety or hindrance, so that you may come to know Him for who He really is, in His fullness.
Do not believe that you cannot approach God. If you have trusted in Christ, you are given free passage to come into the presence of the Father. Then, if there is unconfessed sin in your life, the Father will help you to deal with it as necessary. The point is, we should never let our sin keep us from coming to God to get things right. God is wanting to help us overcome sin, not destroy us for it. And He certainly does not want us to destroy ourselves over it either. It is a lie from the devil that tells you that God is no longer approachable because of your sin, or that God does not love you anymore. God wants to restore you, and that requires you coming to Him and letting Him help you deal with your sin. Running away from God will solve nothing. It is because of Christ's work that we can approach God regardless of our deeds. This is the blessed assurance, the "full assurance of faith" that enables us to "hold unswervingly to the hope we profess for he who promised is faithful."
May God grant you the ability to come to know fully, His full and blessed assurance.

[Soldier4Christ]

Good Stewards

    As every man hath received the gift, [even so] minister the same [gift] one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God
    (1 Pt.4:10,KJV).
    Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administrating God's grace in its various forms (1 Pt.4:10,NIV).

Wouldn't it be a twist at Christmas time to give gifts with the intent that those gifts, once received, are to be given away. Or perhaps it would be that they are not actually given away, but that the only use that there would be for a particular item is in a fashion that it is used to do something for someone else. Imagine receiving a gift that is not just for your benefit. Imagine it is something like a free pass to work in a soup kitchen for one year. Imagine the look on someone's face when they open their present to find a basin, towel and soap, and a note attached that says, "May you find great joy and fulfillment as you use these items to wash the feet of strangers."
Most of us would probably not be to pleased with such a gift. Our ideas of a Christmas present are usually material in nature and have little to do with serving someone else. Yet, in the scripture we find that we have been given gifts, "different gifts, according to the grace given us" (Rom.12:6). But to further examine the scriptures, we will find that these gifts are not given to us just to benefit self, but that they are given to us to benefit many. They are the "Christmas Gifts" with strings attached. That is not a bad thing, for anything worth having often carries a degree of responsibility on the part of one who possesses it. Jesus tells us in Luke 12:48, "For unto whomsoever much is give, of him shall much be required." And in Matthew 10:8 He says, "freely ye have received, freely give."
The gifts of God far exceed our vision and version of annually distributed Christmas gifts. Our gifts are often designed to end at the receiver; while God's gifts just begin with the receiver--flowing outward from the receiver to the many he or she would share them with. While we may give something to wear, or hang on the wall, or something given just for our immediate gratification; God gives that which brings deeper and lasting satisfaction to our souls as we truly learn the meaning of the old expression, "It is far better to give than to receive."
"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows" (James 1:17). As good stewards of God's manifold grace, we should be able to see that nothing we have belongs to us--it is all His, and we are responsible for what we do with it. Whether spiritual gifts, or earthly endowment, all is given with strings attached--strings that should not end with us, but stretch out into the lives of so many around us--creating a beautifully designed web made up of the service and the giving to others of what we have received. It is not our right to store up for ourselves treasures on this earth, that God has given us. Instead we have been given the right to be a channel of giving--a conduit of love in service to those around us. If we are good stewards of all we have, we will be God's open channel to the world; but if we hoard that which has been given to us, we become an impasse, clogged by concerns for self, and self-gain.
Do you feel that your "giving" channel has been clogged by self-concern and self-gain? If so, you will be happy to know that there is a kind of spiritual "draino"--it's simply called "service." The practice of service to others will eat at the clog of self-centeredness until God can freely use you as a spiritual conduit of His grace.

    Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful
    (1 Corinthians 4:2).

[Soldier4Christ]

All Things Common

    All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need
    (Acts 2:44-45).
    All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had
    (Acts 4:32).

Many wonderful things were the result of the coming of the Holy Spirit. The believers of the early church saw the power of God manifested in signs, wonders, healings, the salvation of thousands at one time, disciples speaking in foreign tongues so that others might hear the Gospel in their own language. . .the list goes on. There is one more incredible happening that has perhaps been overlooked--the miracle of giving.
It seems that one of the evidences that God was moving in the people of the early church is that they had an overwhelming desire to give up everything. "No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had." There was a desire to see that each person's basic needs were met. And that desire was so strong that believers were willing to give up their personal possessions to see that those needs were met. They did not consider their desire for "creature comforts" something to be reasoned within themselves as something they needed. They were of one heart. And rather than feeling compelled to cling to earthly possessions, the basic needs of their brothers and sisters in Christ became as their own, and compelled them to give to them as though they were giving to themselves.
To read through the book of Acts and see the demonstration of selfless giving can be quite convicting. It is hard to read the many accounts laid out in scripture and not feel a sense of inadequacy in personal giving. Many of our homes are filled with material goods, and items we do not need to live or bring some sort of spiritual or relationship building benefit. Our houses hold many things until our houses become to small to hold all of our things, then we have to find a bigger (and more expensive) house.
Our houses of worship are similar. The lavish decorations and beautiful landscaping of our churches are a reflection of our individual homes--they too are adorned with that which is pleasing to the eye and soothing to the flesh. We like our homes to be a place where we feel comfortable and we like our churches to be the same.
Where the right and wrong of all this is, may be hard to define. Yet if we enjoy the creature comforts at home, while a neighbor goes without food, we must be moved to some sort of discomfort within the zone of our comfort. Certainly we have not grown so comfortable within our surroundings that we have grown numb to the genuine needs right outside our front door--have we? And if we enjoy the comforts of a beautifully designed and maintained place of worship, while some members of the congregation are doing without some of the basic needs, certainly we will be moved to forego the building programs for a time until the real needs of people are met--won't we?
We live in a time where appearance is more important (or so it would seem) than reality. We preoccupy ourselves with aesthetic quality of life while real needs go unattended. And while we find ourselves able to gather in beautifully adorned sanctuaries and find pleasure in what our tithes hath wrought; we can do nothing short of lower our heads in shame to look on surrounding communities full of homeless and starving souls.

[Soldier4Christ]

The Fruit Of Repentance

    Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord (Acts 3:19).

The power of forgiveness in an awesome thing. It is the device that tares down the barriers that stand between people and people, and people and God. Where forgiveness is provided, there is no fear of retaliation. There is no concern that the one who truly forgives will exact revenge at a later date--at "the perfect moment." There is no anxiety or tension any longer, as two who were at odds come together, having reconciled and renewed fellowship.
We are assured time and again in the Scriptures, that "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1Jn.1:9). We are assured that, "As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us" (Ps.103:12). We are encouraged to "draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience" (Heb.10:22). The Lord assures us over and over, that He has established forgiveness for us, and that, in the offering up of His only Son. Therefore, we have nothing to fear in seeking Him, for in seeking Him we shall find Him (Dt.4:29). Through the work of Christ (nothing of ourselves), we are able to approach God and embrace Him fully. There is no reason for apprehensiveness on our part, as the work of reconciliation has already been fulfilled.
We have forgiveness, and we have freedom to approach God without fear, so what else is there that might keep us from coming to Him in repentance so "that times of refreshing may come from the Lord?" Perhaps it not a fear of God's wrath, but a fear of change that compels us to keep God at arm's length. To repent means to turn completely away from one thing (that which is our selfish purpose that is not within the will of God), and to turn toward another (that which is of God and within His will). That is a very scary thought. It means to us that we might have to give up some things that we might hold dear. We do not dare hold those treasured things up before God to ask what He desires, because we fear that He may not want us to have them and that He might make us give them up. Instead, we continue to hold onto our things, habits and wants, like a child huddling over something enclosed in his hands--taking a peak at it every so often, and hoping no one will notice what he has so they don't take it away.
But rest assured that God will not leave you empty handed. As you let go your grasp on your treasures that are not of God, God will replace what you gave up, with eternal treasures that will mean so much more to you than anything you held previously. What He has to offer is so much better than anything we hold for ourselves. It is a "refreshing"--a breath of fresh air--like wearing a wool hood for years because you thought it was best, and then pulling it off. What you may think is what you want cannot compare to the "refreshing" movement of God in your life.
Repent. Turn away from "everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles" (Heb.12:1), so that you may discover true and lasting freedom. Repent. Do not fear God's wrath but confess your sin and embrace His love. Repent. Learn the riches of His glory through the sacrifice of your wants. Repent and be refreshed and renewed--there is so much wonderful fresh air to breath if we would only stop smothering ourselves with our ways and wants we think are best.

[Soldier4Christ]

Raising Hands

    And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with [their] faces to the ground (Nehemiah 8:6).

In some churches, raising hands in worship is a controversial topic. Some see it as a demonstration of "attention getting" more than an act of worship; and for some people it is. Some see it as wrong because it is not the traditional approach to worship, while others see nothing wrong with it because, for them, it is the traditional approach. No matter the reasoning, there are sure to be a great number of people to raise hands for wrong reasons as there are people who don't. For while some would look down on someone for raising hands, they may within themselves quench the Spirit that guides them to lift their own hands. Not that they might lift hands as some sort of demonstration of religious freedom, or because it is based in some sort of traditional "properness"--but simply because they are so focused on God, that they are led to respond by "lifting up their hands."

            I raise my hands to God,
            to some it may seem odd,
            But do they know the reasons why I do?
            It is not done for show,
            but for simply letting go,
            of the things my hands have tried to hang on to.
            I lift my arms up high,
            though some people wonder why,
            It's clear to see they do not understand.
            I am not some "Charismatic,"
            with cobwebs in my attic,
            I just want to grab onto my Father's hand.
            Maybe if they knew,
            the reason that I do,
            is not for some fanatical display.
            Instead it is a plea,
            for God to comfort me,
            and hold me as I go from day to day.

Jesus said it well when he described a group of people as those, "which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel" (Mt.23:24). We can so easily get caught up in nit-picky, outward particulars, that we lose sight of deeper, more purposeful intentions. Raising hands should not be an issue. Unfortunately, those who argue for it often do so with an attitude of "I have a right. . ." while those who argue against it often do so with expressions like, "I just don't like it." All the while, hearts are more focused on appearance than worship.
A congregation who raises hands, and one that does not, they can both be spiritually dead.
The psalmist writes, "Let my prayer be set forth before thee [as] incense; [and] the lifting up of my hands [as] the evening sacrifice" (Psalms 141:2). A greater sacrifice is to put aside petty differences and lines of contentions, and find it within our hearts to remember that their are people beneath the hands that are lifted.
Paul writes, "I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting" (1 Timothy 2:. "Without wrath," he says. Oh that we could stop using our hands as issues of disagreement, using them to hold each other down--and begin using them as true instruments of worship by raising them (in spirit, if not physically), to lift one another up.
You do not have to lift your hands to worship God, but you do not have to keep them down either.
I personally have lifted my hands in a congregation only a couple of times. I have lifted them often in the privacy of my home as I have worshipped and loved on my Lord. Some may yet wonder why. For me, it has been a response to God as Father. A small child that wants to be picked up by a parent comes to that parent with arms lifted and hands high. "Pick me up daddy," they might say. I too, have come to my Heavenly Father and raised my arms to Him to say, "Pick me up Daddy." I want to be lifted. I want to be loved. And I want to be held in the safe and secure arms of my Lord.