Some of the
greatest theology we learn comes from some of the simplest songs we sing.
Perhaps the most well-known children’s song of all-time is “Jesus Loves Me.”
It’s an easy tune with few words, but packs a powerful theological punch.
Jesus
loves me! This I know
For the Bible tells me so
Little ones to Him belong
They are weak, but He is strong
We sang this at the nursing home last Sunday.
Don’t you know that every one there knew it and sang along? Several even did
the actions.
I’m telling
you, if you ever feel unloved, ever feel lonely, ever feel like the whole
world’s against you and nobody cares a thing for you, sing this little song.
And believe it! Jesus does love you! You are loved with a love beyond measure,
a love no words can express. The love of Christ is unfailing and unfathomable,
sacrificial and supernatural.
How do we
know this love? This Bible tells me so! Contrary to much current opinion, the
Bible is the very God-breathed word that gives us knowledge and wisdom and
salvation. The Bible is perfectly true and trustworthy. It instructs us in the
way we should live and warns us of the consequences of sinful living. The Bible
is a lamp for our feet and a light for our path. It’s living and active and
endures forever.
Most of
all, the Bible reveals Jesus as the Savior of the world. From beginning to end,
the Scriptures proclaim Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God, who came from
heaven to earth to save mankind from sin and death and give abundant and
eternal life to all who believe in Him. That’s love! “For God so loved the
world He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not
perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16). That’s how I know Jesus loves me –
the Bible tells me so!
This past
Sunday at church we sang another simple song with some great theology. I think
most knew it, but a few learned a new old song. It goes like this:
My God is
so big, so strong and so mighty
There’s nothing my God cannot do
My God is so
big, so strong and so mighty
There’s nothing my God cannot do
The mountains
are His, the rivers are His
The stars are His handiwork, too
My God is so
big, so strong and so mighty
There’s nothing my God cannot do (for you!)
And, of
course, we learned the actions for this as well. Let me add that just about
everybody was stretching out their arms and raising their hands to this song,
which is not an easy feat for many Baptists! Maybe we’re on to something here!
Think about
the truths in these lyrics for a moment. God is big. God is strong. God is
mighty. There’s nothing that He cannot do. The mountains belong to Him. The
rivers are His. The stars are the work of His hands.
If you’re
facing an impossible situation with no hope in sight, look to the One who is
big enough and strong enough and mighty enough to come to your rescue. He is
the One who spoke this universe into existence, the Creator of all things, the
Maker of heaven and earth and all that is in it. He is the One who sustains all
things by the word of His power. He is the One to whom none can compare. To Him
there is no equal.
What kind
of situation is impossible for Him to handle? What problem is too big for Him
to solve? What issue is too difficult for Him to deal with? You may be weak,
but He is strong! The Lord is the everlasting God. His understanding is
limitless. Why do we worry and fret and stress over such small trials in life
when our God is so big, so strong and so mighty? There’s nothing my God cannot
do!
That’s the
simple, yet powerful, theology we aim to teach at VBS next week. It’s at the
First Baptist Church, Sun., July 22 through Thurs., July 26, from 6-9 each
night. Why not bring your children to come and learn about our amazing and
awesome God?!
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
We Can Do This, Men!
Father’s
Day is this coming Sunday. I’m throwing this out there especially for those of
you in my immediate family in case this special day may be sneaking up on you,
escaping your notice. And I wouldn’t want you to miss it. I’m thoughtful that
way.
Actually, I’m really looking forward to this weekend even if I don’t get any Father’s Day gifts at all, such as a new motorcycle helmet. I’m planning to head down to Lake Sallateeska this Friday and Saturday for a Father/Son Camp. Not only am I going with my two boys, but we’re meeting my Dad there as well for a cook out, some fishing, and just plain hang time with the guys. Talk about a treat!
Listening to the radio this morning I heard the hosts talking about quantity time versus quality time. Which is better? Is it better to spend a greater amount of time with your children, or to make the shorter amount of time you have with them count? I think the answer is “both.”
Before I say anything I need to issue this disclaimer: I am not “The World’s Greatest Dad,” even though I still have the license plate frame one of my boys gave me that says otherwise. I don’t have all the answers, and I don’t even do some things right that I know I should. Okay, I don’t do a lot of things right that I know I should.
Men, we have so few years to invest in the lives of our children. It doesn’t always seem that way, for sure. There are times you think these kids will never grow up. But ask any parent whose children are now adults and they’ll tell you they wonder where the time went. And many who’d give anything to have back some of those years for a do-over.
You know how children spell love? It’s T-I-M-E. Dad, your children need you! They need you to be there. They need your quantity of time and they need that time to be quality. They need to know they can count on you. They need you to be engaged in their lives. They need to know that you care about them. They need you to show attention and affection. They need you to look them in the eyes and listen to their stories. They need you to answer their questions. They need your encouragement and affirmation.
They need you to discipline them appropriately when they get out of line. They need boundaries. They need you to tell them what’s right and what’s wrong. They need to know where you stand on issues. They need to know that you say what you mean and you mean what you say. They need you to teach them to respect authority and to respect others. They need you to teach them honor and commitment and love.
They need to see your life as an example of honesty, integrity, hard-work, faithfulness, gentleness, humility, courage, patience, forgiveness, compassion, kindness, gratitude and love. Tell them that you love them and show them love. Tell them you are proud of them, even if they’re not the star athlete or in the top of their class academically. Brag on their accomplishments to others. Help them develop in their areas of interest.
Let them see you loving their mother. It’s been said the best thing a father can do for his children is to truly love his wife. They’re watching you, Dad! They’re learning from your example in everything you do. What kind of men and women do you want them to be when they grow up? Then start building them up to reach that goal.
Give them your time, and make the most of every minute you have. They’ll be out of the house before you know it. Don’t live with regret. Give them your best now.
And most of all, pray constantly for them. Entrust them into the hands of our heavenly Father, who very capable raises them up in spite of our own failures and weaknesses. Lead them to Jesus, and the wisdom of their lives will be the greatest Father’s Day gift they could possibly give. With God’s help, we can do this, men!
Actually, I’m really looking forward to this weekend even if I don’t get any Father’s Day gifts at all, such as a new motorcycle helmet. I’m planning to head down to Lake Sallateeska this Friday and Saturday for a Father/Son Camp. Not only am I going with my two boys, but we’re meeting my Dad there as well for a cook out, some fishing, and just plain hang time with the guys. Talk about a treat!
Listening to the radio this morning I heard the hosts talking about quantity time versus quality time. Which is better? Is it better to spend a greater amount of time with your children, or to make the shorter amount of time you have with them count? I think the answer is “both.”
Before I say anything I need to issue this disclaimer: I am not “The World’s Greatest Dad,” even though I still have the license plate frame one of my boys gave me that says otherwise. I don’t have all the answers, and I don’t even do some things right that I know I should. Okay, I don’t do a lot of things right that I know I should.
Men, we have so few years to invest in the lives of our children. It doesn’t always seem that way, for sure. There are times you think these kids will never grow up. But ask any parent whose children are now adults and they’ll tell you they wonder where the time went. And many who’d give anything to have back some of those years for a do-over.
You know how children spell love? It’s T-I-M-E. Dad, your children need you! They need you to be there. They need your quantity of time and they need that time to be quality. They need to know they can count on you. They need you to be engaged in their lives. They need to know that you care about them. They need you to show attention and affection. They need you to look them in the eyes and listen to their stories. They need you to answer their questions. They need your encouragement and affirmation.
They need you to discipline them appropriately when they get out of line. They need boundaries. They need you to tell them what’s right and what’s wrong. They need to know where you stand on issues. They need to know that you say what you mean and you mean what you say. They need you to teach them to respect authority and to respect others. They need you to teach them honor and commitment and love.
They need to see your life as an example of honesty, integrity, hard-work, faithfulness, gentleness, humility, courage, patience, forgiveness, compassion, kindness, gratitude and love. Tell them that you love them and show them love. Tell them you are proud of them, even if they’re not the star athlete or in the top of their class academically. Brag on their accomplishments to others. Help them develop in their areas of interest.
Let them see you loving their mother. It’s been said the best thing a father can do for his children is to truly love his wife. They’re watching you, Dad! They’re learning from your example in everything you do. What kind of men and women do you want them to be when they grow up? Then start building them up to reach that goal.
Give them your time, and make the most of every minute you have. They’ll be out of the house before you know it. Don’t live with regret. Give them your best now.
And most of all, pray constantly for them. Entrust them into the hands of our heavenly Father, who very capable raises them up in spite of our own failures and weaknesses. Lead them to Jesus, and the wisdom of their lives will be the greatest Father’s Day gift they could possibly give. With God’s help, we can do this, men!
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Now Batting...
Ever been in a hopeless situation? Facing
insurmountable odds, having exhausted all your resources and didn’t know where
to turn for help? Welcome to the world.
Our summer has been jam packed so far with quite
a few activities. Mostly baseball. I know it has for many families. We only
have two boys playing. If you have more than that, you’re probably more ready
for July to get here than we are.
Not that I don’t enjoy the game. I do. And
I love seeing my boys having fun, making friends and learning to play ball. I
don’t even mind sitting in a lawn chair swatting gnats for a couple hours in
the evening watching them play. It’s a full schedule when they’re each playing
two or more games a week, but it’s all good.
Let me send a special shout out to the
coaches of the boys of summer (and to the girls’ softball coaches, too). Bill
Peterson and B.J. Sutton are coaching Tyler’s team, who, much to Bill’s
disappointment are not called the Razorbacks. Jason Dick, Loren Porter and Wes
Boensel are coaching Toby’s team, the Comets. Thank you, guys, for investing in
these young men and giving your time to making this a good season.
In a recent Bombers game on the road against
a villainous foe, the bad guys seized a sizeable lead against our team. The attitude
in the visitor’s dugout turned somber. Heads hung down, shoulders slumped and
comments such as, “We’re gonna lose” were voiced out loud. The boys didn’t see
any way they could win. The game wasn’t over, but they sensed the doom of
defeat.
In this world we often find ourselves in
similar seemingly hopeless situations. The bills pile up and there’s not a dime
left in the piggy bank. Your husband says he doesn’t love you anymore and wants
out of the marriage. Your doctor calls with the test results and says he needs
to see you right away. The child you raised to honor and respect authority has
been arrested, again, and you’ve already done all you can do to help.
Welcome to the world. Troubles, trials and
tribulations abound. Discouragements, frustrations and disappointments knock
you down. Pain, suffering and sorrow grip you with fear and anguish. Whoever
said life was a bed of roses?
Jesus certainly never did. In fact, what He
did say is this: “In this world you will have tribulation” (John 16:33). No
promise of perfect weather, picnics in the park, or trouble-free living. He
never said if you just had enough faith that your car would start every
morning, that your job would always be safe or that your children would be free
from disease. He never said that you’d have enough money to afford college, that
everybody would like you or that you’d be living out the American Dream.
But here’s the deal. Jesus says in the very
next breath, “But take heart; I have overcome the world.” Yes, you’re going to
face hardship, but Jesus has already won the victory. You don’t have to live in
defeat despite the overwhelming odds against you. The enemies of fear and doubt
and sorrow may have you surrounded, you’ve exhausted all your resources and
don’t know where to turn, but the game’s not over.
Dear friend, hear Jesus calling your name
saying, “Turn to Me! My power and strength are so much greater than anything
you’ll face in this world. My mercy and grace will be more than enough to help
you in your weakness. My steadfast love will never disappoint, never put you to
shame and never fail. Turn to Me, child. Turn to Me!”
The Bombers may have lost their baseball
game. But just when the foe we face in this world seems to gain a huge lead, our
ultimate Clean-up Hitter steps into the batter’s box, and victory already belongs
to Jesus. I’m glad I’m on His team! Are you?
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Free Gifts Are Awesome: Motorcycles and Salvation
So in case
you haven’t yet heard, last week I won a Harley Davidson motorcycle in a raffle
drawing. Read that again: I won a Harley Davidson motorcycle! On a ticket that
I didn’t even buy. Talk about some unbelievable news! This sounds too good to
be true. And if it turns out I’m dreaming, don’t wake me up.
When Bo Collins called from Tallula and told me I had won, my first reaction was to think this was some kind of prank. I’ve often joked around with others about wanting to have a Harley, and the conversation has even made its way into Sunday morning sermon material occasionally. But never did I actually plan on getting a motorcycle. At least not anytime soon. I thought somebody was pulling a good one on me.
But when he invited me to come on over and see for myself, well, it was worth the effort even if I was being set up. Then when I got there the crew insisted I go ahead and sit on it, start it up and take it for a spin. Nobody in their right mind would let me ride their bike if this were not for real. Although, it wasn’t until Bo handed me the title that it truly sank in that I was now the owner of a Harley Davidson motorcycle.
It’s not a brand new Harley, and it’s not a Super Glide Custom or a Heritage Softail Classic. Maybe some day. It’s a used 1988 Sportster 883. But, man, if somebody’s going to give you a bike, believe me, you take it and you’re thrilled!
But there’s better news than that! I didn’t deserve the gift of a motorcycle, and somebody else paid the price for it. Nor do I deserve the gift of eternal life, and somebody else paid the price for that, too. Only the gift of eternal life is one that will last forever and ever. Someday that bike is going to quit working, rust out, get stolen or crashed. But the gift of salvation will never quit, never fail, never disappear and never disappoint. There’s no greater gift than the salvation God offers in Christ Jesus the Lord.
See, I was a sinner, by nature and by choice, like everyone else. I don’t deserve heaven, and neither do you. We’ve all sinned against the holiness of God, whether a little or a lot. There is no one righteous, not even one! And the Bible clearly says that “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23a). That’s what we all really deserve: death!
But thank God that He made a way for us to be saved from death, and saved to everlasting life! He displayed the greatness of His love for us in that “even while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Jesus lived the perfect, sinless life that we never could, and His blood shed on the cross became the only way in which our sins could be forgiven and our hearts made perfectly clean. He paid the price for us.
Yes, the wages of sin is death, “but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23b). Talk about unbelievable news! Maybe you think that’s too good to be true, but isn’t it worth finding out? If I had not believed Bo when he called, I would not be the owner of a Harley today. And, friend, if you don’t believe in Jesus as the Son of God, then you’re not the owner of eternal life, either.
The gift is offered freely, “for everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13). Jesus is handing you the title to eternal life! The question is: will you believe Him and receive Him as Savior and Lord? Will you call upon Jesus today and be saved from death to life? Not even the thrill of riding a motorcycle holds a candle to the thrill of living everyday in the power and strength of Christ Jesus.
On a final note, I’m looking forward to seeing you at the First Baptist Church’s block party this Friday evening from 5-8. Let me personally invite you to come and bring the whole family for free food and games, fun activities, live music, a cakewalk and a whole lot more. Should be a great night for a community get-together!
When Bo Collins called from Tallula and told me I had won, my first reaction was to think this was some kind of prank. I’ve often joked around with others about wanting to have a Harley, and the conversation has even made its way into Sunday morning sermon material occasionally. But never did I actually plan on getting a motorcycle. At least not anytime soon. I thought somebody was pulling a good one on me.
But when he invited me to come on over and see for myself, well, it was worth the effort even if I was being set up. Then when I got there the crew insisted I go ahead and sit on it, start it up and take it for a spin. Nobody in their right mind would let me ride their bike if this were not for real. Although, it wasn’t until Bo handed me the title that it truly sank in that I was now the owner of a Harley Davidson motorcycle.
It’s not a brand new Harley, and it’s not a Super Glide Custom or a Heritage Softail Classic. Maybe some day. It’s a used 1988 Sportster 883. But, man, if somebody’s going to give you a bike, believe me, you take it and you’re thrilled!
But there’s better news than that! I didn’t deserve the gift of a motorcycle, and somebody else paid the price for it. Nor do I deserve the gift of eternal life, and somebody else paid the price for that, too. Only the gift of eternal life is one that will last forever and ever. Someday that bike is going to quit working, rust out, get stolen or crashed. But the gift of salvation will never quit, never fail, never disappear and never disappoint. There’s no greater gift than the salvation God offers in Christ Jesus the Lord.
See, I was a sinner, by nature and by choice, like everyone else. I don’t deserve heaven, and neither do you. We’ve all sinned against the holiness of God, whether a little or a lot. There is no one righteous, not even one! And the Bible clearly says that “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23a). That’s what we all really deserve: death!
But thank God that He made a way for us to be saved from death, and saved to everlasting life! He displayed the greatness of His love for us in that “even while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Jesus lived the perfect, sinless life that we never could, and His blood shed on the cross became the only way in which our sins could be forgiven and our hearts made perfectly clean. He paid the price for us.
Yes, the wages of sin is death, “but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23b). Talk about unbelievable news! Maybe you think that’s too good to be true, but isn’t it worth finding out? If I had not believed Bo when he called, I would not be the owner of a Harley today. And, friend, if you don’t believe in Jesus as the Son of God, then you’re not the owner of eternal life, either.
The gift is offered freely, “for everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13). Jesus is handing you the title to eternal life! The question is: will you believe Him and receive Him as Savior and Lord? Will you call upon Jesus today and be saved from death to life? Not even the thrill of riding a motorcycle holds a candle to the thrill of living everyday in the power and strength of Christ Jesus.
On a final note, I’m looking forward to seeing you at the First Baptist Church’s block party this Friday evening from 5-8. Let me personally invite you to come and bring the whole family for free food and games, fun activities, live music, a cakewalk and a whole lot more. Should be a great night for a community get-together!
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Delighting in the God of the Word
The end of May is an exciting time
in life. The weather’s warm, the days are long and there are so many great
outdoor activities to enjoy. The school year is ending, the kids are all abuzz
about summer, and vacations plans are being drawn up. Man, sometimes it just
feels good to be alive!
I’m getting excited about our church’s block party coming up on Friday night, June 1, from 5-8. That’s next Friday! This will be my first taste of what I’m told is quite a community event. Let me just say, you’re invited to come and enjoy the fun. We’ll have free food, live music, children’s games and activities, the big inflatable bounce house and games, a cake walk and much more. Bring the whole family and let’s have a party!
And speaking of end of school stuff, let me again say congratulations to the Class of 2012! I had the honor of speaking at this year’s Baccalaureate service at PORTA High School last Sunday night. What an outstanding group of young men and women representing the school and the community. It was humbling to be able to address them and pray for them, and I’m grateful for the experience.
The message the Lord gave me for the students came from Psalm 1. This psalm highlights the blessings God pours out upon the one who follows His ways, while warning the wicked of the disastrous outcome of their way. And when it comes down to it, there’s really only two ways to live: the way of the righteous or the way of the wicked.
Verse 6 of Psalm 1 says this: “For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.” Friend, let me assure you that the Lord indeed watches over the way of the righteous. He’s got His eyes on them, guarding their way and guiding their steps. He never leaves them nor forsakes them. He provides for their needs, comforts them, cares for them, protects them and satisfies the longings of their souls.
God is not stingy in His blessings toward His people, but generously showers them with mercy and grace all the days of their lives, while assuring them of His promise that they will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
And let me add that these “righteous” are only made righteous through Jesus. The Bible clearly says that there is no one righteous, not even one (apart from Christ). You can’t be nice enough to be righteous. You can’t give enough money to the church or charity. You can’t volunteer at the food pantry or teach Sunday School or do anything else to become righteous. That’s why we need a Savior!
Jesus did what we are incapable of doing – living a perfect life. That’s why His atoning death on the cross and His triumphant resurrection from the grave provide the only means of our salvation. “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God” (1 Peter 3:18).
The question is this: Whom will you follow?
The one the Lord blesses is the one who does not follow the ways of the ungodly world. He does not follow the foolish advice of godless people. He does not follow the rebellious road of those who reject God’s commands. Why would he? The way of the wicked will perish. It is a useless path that leads only to destruction and death.
Rather, the one who receives the blessings of the Lord finds his delight in the Word of God! He can’t get enough of it! To him the words of Scripture are treasures far more valuable than silver or gold. Because that’s where we encounter the Holy One of God, whose word brings abundant, victorious and eternal life.
God’s richest blessings await those who delight themselves in the Word of God and in the God of the Word. May those blessings be yours as you follow Christ Jesus!
I’m getting excited about our church’s block party coming up on Friday night, June 1, from 5-8. That’s next Friday! This will be my first taste of what I’m told is quite a community event. Let me just say, you’re invited to come and enjoy the fun. We’ll have free food, live music, children’s games and activities, the big inflatable bounce house and games, a cake walk and much more. Bring the whole family and let’s have a party!
And speaking of end of school stuff, let me again say congratulations to the Class of 2012! I had the honor of speaking at this year’s Baccalaureate service at PORTA High School last Sunday night. What an outstanding group of young men and women representing the school and the community. It was humbling to be able to address them and pray for them, and I’m grateful for the experience.
The message the Lord gave me for the students came from Psalm 1. This psalm highlights the blessings God pours out upon the one who follows His ways, while warning the wicked of the disastrous outcome of their way. And when it comes down to it, there’s really only two ways to live: the way of the righteous or the way of the wicked.
Verse 6 of Psalm 1 says this: “For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.” Friend, let me assure you that the Lord indeed watches over the way of the righteous. He’s got His eyes on them, guarding their way and guiding their steps. He never leaves them nor forsakes them. He provides for their needs, comforts them, cares for them, protects them and satisfies the longings of their souls.
God is not stingy in His blessings toward His people, but generously showers them with mercy and grace all the days of their lives, while assuring them of His promise that they will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
And let me add that these “righteous” are only made righteous through Jesus. The Bible clearly says that there is no one righteous, not even one (apart from Christ). You can’t be nice enough to be righteous. You can’t give enough money to the church or charity. You can’t volunteer at the food pantry or teach Sunday School or do anything else to become righteous. That’s why we need a Savior!
Jesus did what we are incapable of doing – living a perfect life. That’s why His atoning death on the cross and His triumphant resurrection from the grave provide the only means of our salvation. “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God” (1 Peter 3:18).
The question is this: Whom will you follow?
The one the Lord blesses is the one who does not follow the ways of the ungodly world. He does not follow the foolish advice of godless people. He does not follow the rebellious road of those who reject God’s commands. Why would he? The way of the wicked will perish. It is a useless path that leads only to destruction and death.
Rather, the one who receives the blessings of the Lord finds his delight in the Word of God! He can’t get enough of it! To him the words of Scripture are treasures far more valuable than silver or gold. Because that’s where we encounter the Holy One of God, whose word brings abundant, victorious and eternal life.
God’s richest blessings await those who delight themselves in the Word of God and in the God of the Word. May those blessings be yours as you follow Christ Jesus!
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
What's America Asking For?
“God bless
America.” What do we really mean when we say that? Does this phrase mean
anything at all? Are we truly addressing God as Lord and asking for His
blessing, and are we willing to be the kind of people that God would indeed
bless?
Even last week while North Carolina became the 30th state to vote to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman, President Obama publicly expressed his disappointment at the result. His evolution on this matter comes as no surprise.
I want to go on record to publicly express my disappointment in a leader who claims to be a Christian but seems to have no regard for the Word of the Lord. How can our nation expect God to bless us when we spurn Him at every turn? How can we continue to reject His instructions and then call on Him to bless America? How can we say we want His blessing but refuse to do things His way?
God has clearly spelled out His design for marriage. Jesus responded to critics in His day concerning divorce by saying, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate” (Matthew 19:4-6). Wouldn’t the same answer apply to critics today who want to redefine what God has intended from the beginning?
In the book of Judges, a telling rebuke on the sinful, rebellious attitude of Israel in that day reads, “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25). Couldn’t that be said of us today in America?
And in Romans 1:17, the Bible says, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.” That passage goes on to talk about how men who claimed to be wise became fools, because although they “knew” God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks to Him, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
Specifically, it mentions how “God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity…and dishonorable passions…, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error” (Romans 1:24, 26-27).
And we have now a President who, as a professing Christian, ought to know God’s Word about such things, but gives approval to those who practice them. If we follow this course we are asking not for God’s blessing on America, but His wrath.
“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people” (Proverbs 14:34). If we really want God to bless America, let the people of God humble themselves and pray and seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways. God will hear from heaven, will forgive our sins and heal our land (2 Chronicles 7:14).
You may
know that last week President Obama came out in an interview with Robin Roberts
of ABC News that he now favors same-sex marriage. He had been waffling on this
issue for some time, having supported it while running for state office in
Illinois in 1996, but in campaigning for Senate in 2004 and then President in
2008 saying that he believed marriage is the union between a man and a woman.
He has more
recently said that his feelings about this issue are constantly “evolving.” Of
course, his actions as President have displayed his real stance on the subject.
While saying he opposed same-sex marriage, he has done just about everything in
his power to promote the social causes of homosexuals and undermine the
traditional view of marriage.
Even last week while North Carolina became the 30th state to vote to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman, President Obama publicly expressed his disappointment at the result. His evolution on this matter comes as no surprise.
I want to go on record to publicly express my disappointment in a leader who claims to be a Christian but seems to have no regard for the Word of the Lord. How can our nation expect God to bless us when we spurn Him at every turn? How can we continue to reject His instructions and then call on Him to bless America? How can we say we want His blessing but refuse to do things His way?
God has clearly spelled out His design for marriage. Jesus responded to critics in His day concerning divorce by saying, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate” (Matthew 19:4-6). Wouldn’t the same answer apply to critics today who want to redefine what God has intended from the beginning?
In the book of Judges, a telling rebuke on the sinful, rebellious attitude of Israel in that day reads, “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25). Couldn’t that be said of us today in America?
And in Romans 1:17, the Bible says, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.” That passage goes on to talk about how men who claimed to be wise became fools, because although they “knew” God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks to Him, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
Specifically, it mentions how “God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity…and dishonorable passions…, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error” (Romans 1:24, 26-27).
And we have now a President who, as a professing Christian, ought to know God’s Word about such things, but gives approval to those who practice them. If we follow this course we are asking not for God’s blessing on America, but His wrath.
“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people” (Proverbs 14:34). If we really want God to bless America, let the people of God humble themselves and pray and seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways. God will hear from heaven, will forgive our sins and heal our land (2 Chronicles 7:14).
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Relating to One Another in the Church
Lord, give your church your heart for loving one another.
"Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" Matthew 22:37-39
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34-35
"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." John 15:12-13
"This is my command: Love each other." John 15:17
"Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves." Romans 12:10
"Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited." Romans 12:16
"Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law." Romans 13:8
"Love does no harm to its neighbor." Romans 13:10a
"Therefore, let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put a stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way." Romans 14:13
"Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God." Romans 15:7
"I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no division among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought." 1 Corinthians 1:10
"But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other." 1 Corinthians 12:24b-25
"You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other." Galatians 5:13-15
"Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other." Galatians 5:26
"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." Ephesians 4:2
"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." Ephesians 4:29
"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Ephesians 4:32
"Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." Ephesians 5:1-2
"Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs..." Ephesians 5:19
"Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." Ephesians 5:21
"...being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." Philippians 4:2b-4
"Do not lie to each other..." Colossians 3:9a
"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which bind them all together in perfect unity." Colossians 3:12-14
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God." Colossians 3:16
"May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you." 1 Thessalonians 3:12
"Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other...Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more." 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10
"Therefore encourage each other with these words." 1 Thessalonians 4:18
"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idel, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else." 1 Thessalonians 5:11-15
"But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness." Hebrews 3:13
"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the day approaching." Hebrews 10:24-25
"Keep on loving each other as brothers." Hebrews 13:1
"Brothers, do not slander one another." James 4:11a
"Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!" James 5:9
"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed..." James 5:16a
"Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart." 1 Peter 1:22
"Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble." 1 Peter 3:8
"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others..." 1 Peter 4:8-10a
"All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.'" 1 Peter 5:5
"But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin." 1 John 1:7
"This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another." 1 John 3:11
"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers." 1 John 3:16
"And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us." 1 John 3:23
"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God." 1 John 4:7a
"Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God, but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us." 1 John 4:11-12
"Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" Matthew 22:37-39
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34-35
"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." John 15:12-13
"This is my command: Love each other." John 15:17
"Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves." Romans 12:10
"Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited." Romans 12:16
"Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law." Romans 13:8
"Love does no harm to its neighbor." Romans 13:10a
"Therefore, let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put a stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way." Romans 14:13
"Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God." Romans 15:7
"I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no division among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought." 1 Corinthians 1:10
"But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other." 1 Corinthians 12:24b-25
"You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other." Galatians 5:13-15
"Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other." Galatians 5:26
"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." Ephesians 4:2
"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." Ephesians 4:29
"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Ephesians 4:32
"Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." Ephesians 5:1-2
"Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs..." Ephesians 5:19
"Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." Ephesians 5:21
"...being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." Philippians 4:2b-4
"Do not lie to each other..." Colossians 3:9a
"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which bind them all together in perfect unity." Colossians 3:12-14
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God." Colossians 3:16
"May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you." 1 Thessalonians 3:12
"Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other...Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more." 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10
"Therefore encourage each other with these words." 1 Thessalonians 4:18
"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idel, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else." 1 Thessalonians 5:11-15
"But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness." Hebrews 3:13
"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the day approaching." Hebrews 10:24-25
"Keep on loving each other as brothers." Hebrews 13:1
"Brothers, do not slander one another." James 4:11a
"Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!" James 5:9
"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed..." James 5:16a
"Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart." 1 Peter 1:22
"Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble." 1 Peter 3:8
"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others..." 1 Peter 4:8-10a
"All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.'" 1 Peter 5:5
"But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin." 1 John 1:7
"This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another." 1 John 3:11
"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers." 1 John 3:16
"And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us." 1 John 3:23
"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God." 1 John 4:7a
"Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God, but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us." 1 John 4:11-12
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Happy Mother's Day
Let me be
the first to send out a Happy Mother’s Day greeting to all the wonderful
mothers in Petersburg - and from wherever you've logged in throughout the world wide web.
I see you rocking
your baby to sleep at three in the morning. I see your tender touch as you hold
her in your arms. I see you beam as you describe the way you’re sure she said,
“Momma,” even though to everyone else it sounded more like, “hmbmh.” I see you
making the choo-choo train sounds as you vainly attempt to slide a spoonful of
mashed carrots into her mouth. You may feel like nothing more than a diaper
changing machine sometimes, but you do it all in love for your baby.
I see you, young mother, getting
your children up and fixing breakfast, helping them get dressed and off to school.
I see you staying up late to help them with their homework. I see you getting
them involved in baseball and softball and swimming and soccer and karate and
gymnastics and cheerleading and dance and music and art and Boys Scouts and 4-H
and all that stuff. You may feel like a taxi service many days, but you want
the best for your children, and you’re there for them in love.
I see you,
mother of teenagers, struggling to figure out who this person is in your home,
and what he did with your son. I see you praying for her late at night when nothing
you say seems to get through to her. I see you giving them more
responsibilities and freedoms, yet still guarding and protecting their precious
and pliable hearts. You may feel sometimes like you’re beating your head
against a brick wall, but you’re not about to give up on them, you’re not going
to lose them, and you’re never going to stop loving them.
I see you,
military mom, unable to hold back the tears as you watch your son or your
daughter march off to the unknown. I see you raising your flag and proudly
standing by his side from across the ocean. I see you nervously watching the
news and waiting for the phone to ring and breathing a prayer of relief when
you hear her voice again. You may feel like you’re living in a surreal world,
but you’re hanging in there and your love has never been stronger.
I see you,
precious grandmother, raising up your grandchildren just when you thought you’d
already done this once and were ready to move on to real grandparenting, where
you could spoil them and hand them back at the end of a long day. I see your
loving patience and your kind wisdom as you brace for the challenges today and
for the years yet to come. You feel like this wasn’t what you signed up for,
but your love for those poor little ones fuels you and you’re just glad to be
able to do it.
And I see you, dear mother, who has
suffered the excruciating heartbreak of losing your child. I see you who have
grieved for your child who was miscarried. I see your tears and your pain,
though more importantly, God sees your hurt and He knows the tears you’ve cried
and He cares you with a compassionate, empathizing love, for He too knows what
it’s like to see His Son die.
I see you,
barren woman, who so desperately wants to have a child, but it hasn’t happened
and you don’t know why. I see your cries to the Lord and your frustration over
His silence. May your trust rest in His unfailing love and salvation.
I see you, mother of regret, who
has lived with the silent anguish of having aborted your child. O, woman, there
is forgiveness and healing in the name of Jesus, whose blood shed for the
forgiveness of our sins is sufficient for cleansing away all guilt and shame.
And I see you, godly mother, leading your children to know and love the Lord. I see you teaching them to honor and obey His Word. I see you displaying His gentleness and humility, His mercy and grace, His kindness, forgiveness and compassion and patience. I see you embody His servant heart in the way you interact day by day with your children. I see you longing to impress His truth upon their hearts, and I see you on your knees interceding with them before the Father in heaven. I know you're not perfect and sometimes you feel like a failure, but your love is reaching their hearts and they are growing strong in the faith, largely because of the example they see in you.
Keep pressing on, mom, and know that God is using you in shaping the lives of these precious children into the image of His own Son.
To you all, I say Happy Mother’s
Day. May God bless you richly.
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Loving God and Loving Others
Some thoughts from 1 John 4:20-21 as I prepare to preach this morning "Living in Love and Living Love Out."
"If anyone says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this command we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother."
"If anyone says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this command we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother."
You simply cannot hate your brother and be a true Christian.
Many professing Christians say they love God, but they don't love one another. And they're living a lie.
You can talk about knowing God, you can talk about being in the light, you can
say you have fellowship with Him...but the proof is not in your words; it’s in
your actions. Specifically, it's in your obedience to the Lord's command to love one another.
You may do a lot of other things in the church, serving in various ways,
putting money in the offering plate, singing in the choir, teaching Sunday School, and a host of others, but if you’re not loving one another
you’re living in disobedience to Christ's command, and you really don’t know
Him at all. You’re not walking in the light. You’re not in fellowship with Him.
You don’t have eternal life.
So examine your life. Take a good, long, hard look at your
heart.
If this word hurts, then good. Better for it to hurt now
while you can still do something about it, than for it to hurt later when it's too late. Listen,
you don’t want to be deceived this whole time thinking you’re good, that you’re
in...and then stand before the Lord Almighty on that day of judgment and hear Him
say, “Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil
and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you
gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you
did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.” And you will
say, “Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or
sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?” And he will answer, “Truly, I
say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it
to me.” And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into
eternal life. – Matthew 25:41-46
O God, teach us to love. Forgive us for when we've failed to keep this simple, yet essential command. Help us to love one another. We can't do it on our own. We need your help. We need your love to flow through us if we're going to do this love thing well at all. Give us a heart of compassion, of mercy, of grace. Open our eyes to see the needs of people all around us who are hurting and broken and in need of your love. Give us courage and faith to step out and meet those needs. Let us do it in your name, and in the power of your Spirit within us. Amen.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Specializing in Redemption
Redeem \ri-ˈdēm\ v. To recover ownership of by
paying a specified sum…to set free; rescue. To save from sin. To make up for.
(American Heritage Dictionary, 1983)
It’s one of the sweetest words in the English language. A third baseman can make a throwing error in the top of the ninth allowing the go-ahead run to score. But when he comes to bat in the bottom of the inning he has the opportunity to redeem his mistake.
A student may score poorly on a math quiz, but a good grade on the final exam can redeem his work.
I recently messed up on my wife’s birthday present (or lack thereof), but was able to redeem my folly by coming through with a gift she truly enjoyed later. Not that I advocate ever messing up on your wife’s birthday, men.
These examples, however, pale in comparison to the way God has redeemed His people in Christ Jesus.
The apostle Paul stands as one of the greatest example of redemption this world has ever known. Before he was redeemed, Saul, as he was called then, was a very zealous man, rising high in the ranks of the religious elite. He had earned all of the accolades from the religious establishment and took home all of the trophies one could carry.
He thought he had it all together. And from all outward appearances from the world’s viewpoint, he did.
It wasn’t until he had a personal encounter with the risen and living Lord Jesus on the road to Damascus that he truly understood his sin and his need for a Savior. Paul’s own testimony shows what redemption in Christ is all about.
“I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, appointing me to the ministry – one who was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an arrogant man. Since it was out of ignorance that I had acted in unbelief, I received mercy, and the grace of our Lord overflowed, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: ‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners’ – and I am the worst of them” (1 Timothy 1:12-15).
Though Paul’s former way of life seemed to be on track, when Jesus met him that day he began to see how sinful he really was. God redeemed him, recovered him, bought him back with the blood of Christ, rescued him and released him from the grip of sin’s enslavement and set him free to live in righteousness. That’s what the mercy and grace of God does in those who acknowledge and confess their sin, repent from it and turn in wholehearted faith and devotion to Jesus as Savior and Lord of their lives.
Maybe you’ve read of the death of Chuck Colson this past week. He serves as another great example of God’s ability to redeem. You probably know of Colson’s role in the Watergate scandal and of his reputation as Pres. Nixon’s “hatchet man” in the White House. But following his arrest, God got Colson’s attention. He repented of his sin and received the riches of God’s mercy and overflowing grace by trusting in Jesus.
God redeemed Colson’s life. He spent the next 40 years ministering to prisoners and their families through Prison Fellowship Ministries. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said Colson “lives on as a modern model of redemption and a permanent rebuttal to the cynical claim that there are no second chances in life.”
In 1973 the Boston Globe wrote: “If Mr. Colson can repent of his sins, there just has to be hope for everyone.” How true.
Friend, there is hope for you. God’s willing to give you another chance. Repent and turn to Jesus. He specializes in redemption.
It’s one of the sweetest words in the English language. A third baseman can make a throwing error in the top of the ninth allowing the go-ahead run to score. But when he comes to bat in the bottom of the inning he has the opportunity to redeem his mistake.
A student may score poorly on a math quiz, but a good grade on the final exam can redeem his work.
I recently messed up on my wife’s birthday present (or lack thereof), but was able to redeem my folly by coming through with a gift she truly enjoyed later. Not that I advocate ever messing up on your wife’s birthday, men.
These examples, however, pale in comparison to the way God has redeemed His people in Christ Jesus.
The apostle Paul stands as one of the greatest example of redemption this world has ever known. Before he was redeemed, Saul, as he was called then, was a very zealous man, rising high in the ranks of the religious elite. He had earned all of the accolades from the religious establishment and took home all of the trophies one could carry.
He thought he had it all together. And from all outward appearances from the world’s viewpoint, he did.
It wasn’t until he had a personal encounter with the risen and living Lord Jesus on the road to Damascus that he truly understood his sin and his need for a Savior. Paul’s own testimony shows what redemption in Christ is all about.
“I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, appointing me to the ministry – one who was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an arrogant man. Since it was out of ignorance that I had acted in unbelief, I received mercy, and the grace of our Lord overflowed, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: ‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners’ – and I am the worst of them” (1 Timothy 1:12-15).
Though Paul’s former way of life seemed to be on track, when Jesus met him that day he began to see how sinful he really was. God redeemed him, recovered him, bought him back with the blood of Christ, rescued him and released him from the grip of sin’s enslavement and set him free to live in righteousness. That’s what the mercy and grace of God does in those who acknowledge and confess their sin, repent from it and turn in wholehearted faith and devotion to Jesus as Savior and Lord of their lives.
Maybe you’ve read of the death of Chuck Colson this past week. He serves as another great example of God’s ability to redeem. You probably know of Colson’s role in the Watergate scandal and of his reputation as Pres. Nixon’s “hatchet man” in the White House. But following his arrest, God got Colson’s attention. He repented of his sin and received the riches of God’s mercy and overflowing grace by trusting in Jesus.
God redeemed Colson’s life. He spent the next 40 years ministering to prisoners and their families through Prison Fellowship Ministries. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said Colson “lives on as a modern model of redemption and a permanent rebuttal to the cynical claim that there are no second chances in life.”
In 1973 the Boston Globe wrote: “If Mr. Colson can repent of his sins, there just has to be hope for everyone.” How true.
Friend, there is hope for you. God’s willing to give you another chance. Repent and turn to Jesus. He specializes in redemption.
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