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nChrist
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« Reply #225 on: February 23, 2006, 04:27:26 AM »

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living From Jeremiah
Scripture: Jeremiah 29:13

Seek and Find

Jeremiah 29:13

And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

Seek and Find

A 911 operator received a call one evening but heard nothing on the line. Fearing the worst, she called back. A little boy answered the phone in a barely audibly voice. She said, "Hello. Did you just call 911?" The boy replied in a hushed tone, "No!" "Okay, is your mommy home?" "Yes," the boy whispered, "but she's busy talking to the police." "Oh, so the police are there? May I speak to one of them?" the operator asked. "No, they're all busy." "All right," she responded, "then is your daddy home?" "Yes, but he's busy talking to the firemen." "Well, could I speak to one of the firemen then, please?" "No," the lad said softly, "they're really busy too." "Goodness," the operator said, "what are all these people busy doing?" "Looking for me," the boy whispered back.

Jeremiah assured the people that God was not playing this kind of hide-and-seek with them. A day was coming, the prophet said, in which those who sincerely seek God would find Him. No longer would they have to go through intermediaries like Levitical priests or perform repetitive rituals. God would make Himself personally and directly available.

This happened when Christ died on Calvary's cross. The heavy veil that separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the temple was split in two. The Holy of Holies was the most sacred part of the temple. It was here that the Ark of the Covenant, the symbol of God's presence, was kept. Yet this place, where previously only the high priest could enter, became open to anyone's view. The barrier between God and man was removed.

Take advantage of your opportunity to come directly into God's presence. He wants to have fellowship with you personally. Approach God with a sincere heart and hands washed clean from sin. You will find Him delighted to have your company.

When we hide ourselves in Christ, God never hides Himself from us.

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« Reply #226 on: February 23, 2006, 04:28:36 AM »

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living From Jeremiah
Scripture: Jeremiah 30:7

Jacob's Trouble

Jeremiah 30:7

Alas! For that day is great, so that none is like it; and it is the time of Jacob's trouble, but he shall be saved out of it.

Jacob's Trouble

Society is filled with offers for deliverance. If you have a toothache, a dentist can take care of it. If you have money problems, you can get help from a financial planner. If you have a headache, most stores carry a variety of medications designed to relieve your pain. But some troubles are so great that only God can bring deliverance.

It was this latter kind of deliverance that Jeremiah foresaw in the future for Israel. The Jewish people would go through many trials. In Jeremiah's day, the temple would be destroyed and the people would be taken to Babylon for a 70-year exile. Shortly after the time of Christ, Jerusalem was destroyed again (A.D. 70) and the Jews were scattered to the four corners of the earth. In the 20th century, these much-maligned people were decimated by the Nazi Holocaust. Jeremiah warned that a future time of trouble would distress Jacob, a symbol for Israel, much worse than anything they had experienced thus far. Yet the prophet concluded this fearsome prediction with a promise: "But he shall be saved out of it."

This is the promise that every believer can hold to as well. Even though the "time of Jacob's trouble" specifically refers to Israel, we all face our own troubles. And sometimes these difficulties become more severe than we can handle. Perhaps cancer strikes, or a loved one dies, or we lose our job and can't find another. In the midst of these tribulations, God assures us we shall be saved out of them.

If you are going through a trial that seems more severe than what you've ever faced before, look to God for deliverance. Take confidence in the promise that, at the right time, God will save you out of it. That's His word to you.

Keep looking up. Your redemption is drawing near.

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« Reply #227 on: February 24, 2006, 04:38:40 PM »

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living From Jeremiah
Scripture: Jeremiah 31:3

An Everlasting Love

Jeremiah 31:3

The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: "Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you."

An Everlasting Love

In his book Make Your Life Worthwhile, Richard Armstrong shares the story of a man in Wales who sought to win the affection of a certain woman for 42 years before she finally said yes. Year after year the persistent but rather shy man slipped a weekly love letter under his neighbor's door. But she continually refused to speak and mend the spat that had parted them decades before. After writing 2,184 love letters without ever getting a spoken or written answer, the single-hearted old man eventually summoned up enough courage to present himself in person. He knocked on the door of the reluctant lady and asked for her hand. To his delight and surprise, she accepted.

One has to wonder at God's attitude toward Israel. Over the centuries, He has pursued this obstinate group of people with very little encouragement. Certainly there have been individuals like Abraham, Moses and David who walked with Him, but for the most part His efforts have been rebuffed. Hardly would one generation wake up to their need for the Lord before the next would thumb their noses at Him again. Why would God persist in this lopsided relationship? Jeremiah says it's because of God's everlasting love.

Even today, Christians often fall far short of the righteousness that ought to characterize our lives. We become entangled with the things of the world; we fall into immorality; we bicker and fight among ourselves. Yet when we repent and seek God, He always receives us back. Why? Because He loves us with an everlasting love.

If you feel you've failed God once too often, if you're ready to toss in the towel, remember God's everlasting love. It's not a love just for the days you do everything right. It's not a love only for those people who have it all together. It's an everlasting love—and it's for you.

Never give up on God because He never gives up on you.

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« Reply #228 on: February 24, 2006, 04:40:02 PM »

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living From Jeremiah
Scripture: Jeremiah 31:34 John 19:30

Blessed Amnesia

Jeremiah 31:34

"No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them," says the Lord. "For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more."

Blessed Amnesia

In February 1978, Steven Kubacki was cross-country skiing on the ice of Lake Michigan. He stopped for a moment, pausing to enjoy the winter solitude. As he stood there, he realized it was colder than he thought. Turning around, he started back, but came to realize he was lost. Wandering on the ice, he grew numb and very tired. The next thing he remembered was waking up in a field warmed by the touch of the springtime sun. The clothing he wore, the items in the backpack beside him, were all unfamiliar. It was 14 months later and he had no recollection of what had transpired during the intervening time. He lost more than a year of his life to total amnesia.

Jeremiah promised that God would one day have this same forgetfulness toward Israel's sin. While they would have to experience the consequences of their sin, the prophet indicated that something in the future would remove the guilt of sin forever. A day was coming when sin would be remembered no more.

When Christ died on the cross, this promise became a reality. With His last breath, Jesus proclaimed, "It is finished" (John 19:30). In the New Testament era, merchants would use these same words to indicate that a bill had been paid. The Father is able to put behind Him forever our sins because Jesus, His Son, paid the penalty for those sins. The Father was released to forget because Jesus paid the price.

If you are struggling with guilt over your sins, confess them and put them under the blood of Christ. Ask God to forgive you and, having done that, do what the Father does—forget them. Move on with your life and leave your sins in the past.

God forgets your confessed sins; so should you.

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« Reply #229 on: February 25, 2006, 07:41:14 AM »

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living From Jeremiah
Scripture: Jeremiah 32:27

Nothing Too Hard

Jeremiah 32:27

"Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?"

Nothing Too Hard

A rather sickly woman had been deserted by her husband. He left her with three preschool children, a mangy dog, a broken-down, second-floor flat and many bills. One morning she discovered that the mutt had chosen her only good pair of shoes as a chew stick. The youngest baby had cried the night through with colic. As she was preparing breakfast, the power went off because the bill hadn't been paid. Then the dog decided to play tug of war with the tablecloth, pulling all the dishes and food onto the floor. Just then she heard a commotion out in the street. Running to the kitchen, she opened the window and a man below yelled out, "Garbage man." Her only reply was, "Okay, send it up."

Times were like that for Jerusalem too. The Chaldeans had raised siege mounds around the city. Famine and pestilence stalked the streets. Jeremiah was on the verge of losing all hope for survival. His whole life seemed like a garbage heap—and each day only added a little more to the pile. But in the midst of this doom and gloom, God said to him, "Is there anything too hard for Me?" Even preserving the prophet's life in the midst of disaster was not an impossible task for God.

Life gets rough sometimes. Illness strikes, financial troubles threaten us, family problems dog our steps. At best, most people just hope they can scramble to the top as each new load of garbage gets dumped on them. But you don't have to live like that. God says, "Things can be better for you because I am with you—and nothing is too difficult for Me." Even your most troublesome circumstances simply become a stage on which God demonstrates that nothing is hopeless with Him.

If your situation is causing you to despair, listen to what the Lord has to say to you: "Is anything too hard for Me?" Take confidence in the fact that the omnipotent God is on your side.

When God says "nothing is too hard," He means "nothing"!

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« Reply #230 on: March 01, 2006, 10:48:16 AM »

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living From Jeremiah
Scripture: Jeremiah 33:3 James 4:2

Simply Call

Jeremiah 33:3

"Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know."

Simply Call

Years ago there was a great drought in Connecticut. The water disappeared from the hills, and the farmers drove their cattle into the valleys. Streams there began to fail, and the neighbors said to a certain godly man, "You must not send your flocks down here anymore." The old man gathered his family around the kitchen table and, kneeling by their chairs, they cried with tears and supplications for water that the flocks and herds might not perish. Afterward he went out into the hills, and in a place where he had walked many times before, he saw that the ground was dark and moist. When he dug up the soil, water started to bubble to the surface. The family came with pails and watered the stock; then they made troughs reaching to the house. Water was plentiful. God's people called, and He answered.

The prophet Jeremiah was also in distressing circumstances. He was in a city under siege. To make matters worse, he had been put in prison because of his counsel to surrender to the Chaldeans. Everywhere he turned there was danger and opposition. But God assured him, "Call to Me and I will answer." And God did. He delivered the prophet both from prison and from the hands of his enemies.

Far too many Christians fail to take God up on His promise. Prayerlessness is a common problem in the church today. God, however, will not do His part until we do ours. We do not call; therefore, God does not answer (James 4:2). As a result, we do not see the wonderful things God wants to show us.

Commit yourself to call on God in prayer. Be consistent. Be courageous. Be confident. Then when you pray, God will show you "great and mighty things."

There cannot be an answer until there is a prayer.

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« Reply #231 on: March 01, 2006, 10:49:46 AM »

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living From Jeremiah
Scripture: Jeremiah 36:4 2 Timothy 3:16

The Inspired Word of God

Jeremiah 36:4

Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah; and Baruch wrote on a scroll of a book, at the instruction of Jeremiah, all the words of the Lord which He had spoken to him.

The Inspired Word of God

A first-grade girl was sitting next to her grandmother during the morning worship service. Curious, she looked down at her grandmother's open Bible. In a low whisper, she asked, "Did God really write that?" "Yes," her grandmother whispered back. Looking down at the pages of the Bible again, the little girl said in amazement, "Wow! He really has neat handwriting!"

That's obviously not what we mean when we say that the Bible was written by God. Instead, Jeremiah more accurately demonstrates the process of inspiration. The words written down were spoken by Jeremiah, but they didn't originate with him. Everything that the prophet instructed the scribe Baruch to write were words that the Lord had given to Jeremiah. God chose the content; Jeremiah was simply the instrument by which that message was recorded.

When you open God's Word, remember that what you read is not the opinions or thoughts of those who penned them. Second Timothy 3:16 says that all Scripture is given by "inspiration of God." Literally, this phrase means "God-breathed." Nothing comes more deeply from within us than our breath. Therefore, the Bible has as its source the innermost depths of God Himself. While the Scriptures pass through the intellect and personality of the writer, they have their origin in God. If you disagree with the Bible, you're not disagreeing with the likes of David and Paul and Jeremiah. You're disagreeing with God.

As you read your Bible, never forget how special that book you hold really is. The Bible is God's personal, intimate Word to you. When you read it, you are touched by the breath of God.

The Word of God is the breath of God.

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« Reply #232 on: March 01, 2006, 10:51:21 AM »

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living From Jeremiah
Scripture: Jeremiah 37:16-17 Jeremiah 37:11-15

A Word From the Lord

Jeremiah 37:16-17

When Jeremiah entered the dungeon and the cells, and Jeremiah had remained there many days, then Zedekiah the king sent and took him out. The king asked him secretly in his house, and said, "Is there any word from the Lord?" And Jeremiah said, "There is." Then he said, "You shall be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon!"

A Word From the Lord

Someone once said the trouble with most of us is that we would rather be ruined by praise than saved by criticism. It is far more comfortable to hear what we want to hear than to be told what we sometimes need to hear.

Jeremiah was faced with this dilemma when called before King Zedekiah. The prophet already had been beaten and placed for many days in a dungeon for speaking the truth (Jer. 37:11-15). No one could blame him if he weren't eager to return there. So when the king wanted to know if the Lord had given any word, it must have been very tempting for Jeremiah to say only what he knew Zedekiah wanted to hear. But faithful preachers and prophets can't do that. Jeremiah spoke the truth instead. He wasn't willing to sugarcoat God's Word in order to make his life temporarily more comfortable.

God never promised we would always make friends or be popular when we share His Word. In fact, often the opposite occurs. The world would much rather have their beliefs confirmed than challenged. It should come as no surprise, then, that people sometimes respond very negatively. Unfortunately, too often God's servants choose to avoid the truth or make it more palatable to the world. Either leads to tragedy.

Commit yourself to speaking the truth, even if it means going against popular opinion. Be willing to say what the world needs to hear, even when it doesn't want to hear it.

Truth can't be judged on the basis of popularity.

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« Reply #233 on: March 01, 2006, 10:54:13 AM »

Title: On Ravens' Wings
Devotion: Lessons On Living
Scripture References:
1 Kings 17:2-5
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Title: On Ravens' Wings

Author: Woodrow Kroll
1 Kings 17:2-5

Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, "Get away from here and turn eastward, and hide by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. And it will be that you shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there." So he went and did according to the word of the Lord, for he went and stayed by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan.

On Ravens' Wings

A man wanted to buy a Rolls Royce. After thinking about it for several months, he contacted the automobile dealership to gather the pertinent facts about the model he was considering buying. He found out the price and then proceeded with some thorough questions about the automobile. Finally, only one question remained unanswered:

"What is the horsepower of this engine?" The salesman couldn't find that information in the brochures. Not knowing where else to look, he appealed to his sales manager, and the manager cabled the home office in England. The answer came back with just one word: "Adequate." After Elijah confronted King Ahab, God ordered him to go into hiding. The place chosen, the Brook Cherith, was a great place to hide. Ahab would never think of looking in such a forsaken area, but it was a challenge to survive there. Yet God proved Himself adequate. There was a brook for water, and at His command even the ravens helped provide for Elijah's needs. No situation or circumstance is too difficult for God. When the world withholds its provision, He is adequate. What God uses to provide for you may seem strange, but with all of creation willing to do His bidding, He will find a way. Take heart. Those dark shadows on the horizon may well be God's ravens. Be assured that God will never forsake you nor fail you. Whatever your circumstances, you will always find Him adequate.

Others may fail you, but God never will.

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« Reply #234 on: March 02, 2006, 09:22:01 PM »

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living from Elijah
Scripture: 1 Kings 17:6-7

When the Creek Dries Up

1 Kings 17:6-7

The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the brook. And it happened after a while that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.

When the Creek Dries Up

John Brenz, a friend of Martin Luther, was hated by Emperor Charles V. He often tried to kill Brenz and on one occasion sent a troop of cavalrymen to arrest him. Hearing about the plot, Brenz took a loaf of bread and went to a nearby town, where he hid in a hayloft. He was there for 14 days. Obviously one loaf of bread was not enough for two weeks. But each day a hen came into the loft and laid an egg without cackling. In this way the Lord kept John Brenz alive. On the 15th day the hen did not show up. It seemed like the one lifeline he had clung to had been severed. As he was wondering what he would do without food, John heard the people in the streets below say, "The cavalrymen are gone at last!"

Elijah also experienced what appeared to be the loss of an essential lifeline. God had sent him out into the wilderness and provided food through the ministry of ravens and water from a small creek. But then a difficult situation became worse. As the drought continued, the brook dried up. At first glance, it might seem that God no longer cared about what happened to His prophet. Instead, God chose to provide in a different way and graciously directed him to the home of a widow in the city of Zarephath (v. 9).

Perhaps you feel that your creek also has dried up. The friend who has been your source of refreshment in a spiritual desert has moved away. The person who has been your lifeline at work has taken a new job. Whatever the case, trust God to provide through another source. It may be far different from what met your need before, but remember, God will not fail you.

When God closes a door, He always opens a window.

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« Reply #235 on: March 04, 2006, 10:37:55 PM »

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living from Elijah
Scripture: 1 Kings 17:13-15

Me First?

1 Kings 17:13-15

And Elijah said to her, "Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son. For thus says the Lord God of Israel: 'The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the Lord sends rain on the earth.'" So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days.

Me First?

Our actions say a lot about our priorities. A woman married to a baseball coach for 34 years began to suspect that perhaps baseball meant more to him than she did. One particularly frustrating day, she decided to test his priorities and see if her suspicions were true. She asked, "Frank, would you miss my funeral to go to a ball game?" Calmly, her husband replied, "Roberta, what makes you think I'd schedule your funeral on the day of a game?"

Elijah was sent to stay with a widow in Zarephath. But before he entrusted himself to her, he wanted to know her priorities. The test was very simple. In the midst of dire need, he instructed her to make a small cake from her meager supplies and bring it to him first. By her actions she would reveal her priorities; by her priorities she would reveal her trust in God. Based on her gracious response, it's obvious that she passed with flying colors.

It's easy to do the right thing when there is enough for all. But that is not a good test of our priorities. Our true priorities become apparent when we're forced to make a sacrificial choice. No matter what we profess, our actions will confirm or deny whether we're able to trust the Lord in the face of need.

What do your actions say about your priorities? What do your priorities say about your trust in God? Are you able to trust the Lord and put others first? When you have your priorities straight, God takes care of the rest.

Actions are based on priorities and priorities are based on faith.

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« Reply #236 on: March 04, 2006, 10:39:16 PM »

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living from Elijah
Scripture: 1 Kings 17:20-22 James 5:16-17

Fervent Prayer

1 Kings 17:20-22

Then he cried out to the Lord and said, "O Lord my God, have You also brought tragedy on the widow with whom I lodge, by killing her son?" And he stretched himself out on the child three times, and cried out to the Lord and said, "O Lord my God, I pray, let this child's soul come back to him." Then the Lord heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came back to him, and he revived.

Fervent Prayer

E. M. Bounds wrote, "What the Church needs today is not more machinery or better, not new organizations or more novel methods, but men whom the Holy Spirit can use—men of prayer, men mighty in prayer."

Elijah was such a man. When faced with a major crisis—the death of a young boy, the only child of a widow who had shown him much kindness—he immediately resorted to the most potent power he knew: prayer. Without hesitation, he cast himself upon the mercy of God and cried out for His grace to be extended to this young man and his widowed mother. With passion Elijah entreated the Lord, and He answered. It is no surprise, then, that when the apostle James looked for an example of fervent prayer, he chose Elijah (James 5:16-17). The prophet was a man mighty in prayer because he was fervent in prayer.

Too often Christians petition God with room-temperature prayers. They convey the facts, but they lack the fervor. They are sincere, but they don't sizzle. The same men and women who yell themselves hoarse at a sporting event become reluctant to raise their voice when speaking to God. Yet they expect an enthusiastic response from God to their halfhearted requests.

Find a time and place today where you can pour out your heart to God. Don't fake your emotions, but pray for those needs that have a strong grip on your spirit. If you have none, ask God to give you some. Let your approach to God reflect the urgency and the ardor of your concerns.

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« Reply #237 on: March 05, 2006, 05:56:32 PM »

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living from Elijah
Scripture: 1 Kings 18:7-8 Matthew 28:19-20

Go and Tell!

1 Kings 18:7-8

Now as Obadiah was on his way, suddenly Elijah met him; and he recognized him, and fell on his face, and said, "Is that you, my lord Elijah?" And he answered him, "It is I. Go, tell your master, 'Elijah is here.'"

Go and Tell!

Many years ago there was a great missionary rally held in the Royal Albert Hall in London, England. The Duke of Wellington was there, the man who had defeated the armies of Napoleon Bonaparte. A clergyman turned to him and asked, "My Lord Duke, do you believe in missions?" The duke replied, "What are your marching orders?" The man responded, "Well, of course, the Bible says we're to go into all the world." "Then," said the duke, "you have nothing to say about it. As a soldier, you're simply to obey orders."

When Obadiah met Elijah, he, too, received marching orders. Elijah spoke as from the Lord when he said, "Go and tell." "Go to your master, Ahab, one of the most godless kings who ever ruled Israel, and tell him that the spokesman for God is back in the land." This was not a suggestion; it was not a recommendation; it was a command. Obadiah was afraid. He said, "Are you sending me to my death? If I go and tell Ahab you're here and you disappear on me, Ahab will kill me." But in spite of his fears, Obadiah obeyed.

When Christ met His disciples after the resurrection, He gave the same orders. Go! "Go therefore and make disciples" (Matt. 28:19). Tell! "Teaching them to observe all things" (v. 20). These, too, are not open for discussion. We may have our fears, but Christ's commands are our marching orders.

Are you willing to "go and tell"? Perhaps it's "go and tell" your next-door neighbor, or someone at work or maybe even someone who lives halfway around the world. Whatever the case, obedience to the Lord is the only way to handle your fears. When we trust and obey, God has a way of taking care of our fears. Our orders are clear: Go and tell!

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« Reply #238 on: March 09, 2006, 12:46:14 PM »

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living from Elijah
Scripture: 1 Kings 18:17-18

Is That You, O Troubler?

1 Kings 18:17-18

Then it happened, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said to him, "Is that you, O troubler of Israel?" And he answered, "I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father's house have, in that you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord and you have followed the Baals."

Is That You, O Troubler?

A well-known professional golfer was playing in a tournament with then-president Gerald Ford, fellow pro Jack Nicklaus and Billy Graham. After the round was over, one of the other pros on the tour asked, "Hey, what was it like playing with the president and Billy Graham?" The pro said with disgust, "I don't need Billy Graham stuffing religion down my throat!" With that he headed for the practice tee. His friend followed, and after the golfer had pounded out his fury on a bucket of golf balls, he asked, "Was Billy a little rough on you out there?" The pro sighed and said with embarrassment, "No, he didn't even mention religion."

Elijah found himself in the same situation. Without even opening his mouth, the prophet found himself accused by Ahab as a "troubler." The accusation was obviously false. It was Ahab who was Israel's true troubler. His sin and the sin of those who had gone before him were the cause of God's judgment on Israel. But it was easier for Ahab to place the blame for his uneasy conscience on someone else than to face the truth about himself.

The world is always looking for someone to blame, isn't it? And Christians are a convenient target. We Christians are different (which make us suspect to start with), and the witness of our lives can be very convicting even when we say nothing. No wonder Christians have borne the brunt of persecution from the time of Nero to the present.

Don't be surprised or dismayed if you are being persecuted, in whatever form it may take. Consider it a confirmation that Christ is obviously within you and radiating from you.

Jesus Christ is both a comfort for Christians and an irritation for the world.

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« Reply #239 on: March 09, 2006, 12:48:13 PM »

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living from Elijah
Scripture: 1 Kings 18:21

Faltering Between

1 Kings 18:21

And Elijah came to all the people, and said, "How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, then follow him." But the people answered him not a word.

Faltering Between

A few years ago, USA Today carried the news that the Procrastinators Club was planning to form a political party, possibly in time for the November elections. "Our party will be the most harmonious of all the political parties," said club president Les Waas. "If we ever disagree on an issue, we'll never get around to discussing it." Waas, an expert at public speaking, said with tongue in cheek that the Procrastinator Party would like to hold its nominating convention by the first week in November. "If we don't get it done until the second week, we might ask the authorities to move the election back a couple of weeks to accommodate us."

The people of Elijah's day were procrastinators as well. The prophet confronted them with an important decision. Would they follow the Lord, or would they follow Baal? Their response to such an ultimatum, however, was to stall. They refused to answer.

Some things can be put off with no ultimate harm. If we don't get our strawberries planted this year, there's always next year. If we fail to get around to reading this year's best-sellers, a new list of them will be available in the future. But the same can't be said for our spiritual lives. The spiritual choices we fail to make will haunt us for eternity.

Are you procrastinating when it comes to reading your Bible? Have you put off spending time in prayer? Is it possible you have never gotten around to trusting Jesus Christ as your personal Savior? If so, stop "faltering" and start making the spiritual decisions that will make a difference for eternity. No one else can make these decisions for you. Make them today!

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