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Need2Know
 Posted:
Wed May 21, 2008 7:07 am |
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Tuesday, May 20, 2008
No Greater Gift
"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning."
— James 1:17
Some of the most precious gifts often don't attract our attention at first. We take a hurried glance and see nothing of significance. But if we go back and take another look, we begin to discover the glory and the wonder of that gift.
So it was with the helpless baby in the manger. He was the only begotten Son of God. Words cannot describe it, as Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians, "Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!" (9:15).
Even God couldn't give a greater gift than He has given. He gave His dearly beloved Son. He has given the One who was with Him from all eternity and sent Him into the world.
Our Lord Himself spoke of such a sacrificial act in His parable about the vineyard owner. The owner, who had unworthy servants looking after his property, sent his representatives and servants to the vineyard. One after the other was maltreated, even killed.
Then the owner thought, "If I send my son, they won't do this to him. Surely they will respect my son. There is nothing beyond this. It is the last act."
Hebrews 1:1 says that God sent many servants into the world and to the nation of Israel. God has endowed and endued the world with many outstanding men and women. But God has surpassed them all with the gift of His Son.
This is what should fill our minds and hearts with astonishment: that God has done something that even He Himself cannot exceed. He gave His only Son, His eternal Son, and sent Him into the world.
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N2K
Joined: 06 Jul 2006
Posts: 8847
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Posted:
Wed May 21, 2008 7:08 am |
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Wednesday, May 21, 2008
A Divine Departure
"But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons."
— Galatians 4:4–5
When we think of Christmas, we think of the arrival of Jesus: "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given" (Isaiah 9:6). In reality, it was also a departure. For us, a Child was born. But for God the Father, a Son was given.
In heaven, the time had come for the departure of God's Son. We even have a record of Jesus' farewell words to the Father. He said, " 'Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You have prepared for Me. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure. Then I said, "Behold, I have come—in the volume of the book it is written of Me—to do Your will, O God" ' " (Hebrews 10:5–7).
Jesus literally went from the throne of heaven to a feeding trough. He went from the presence of angels to a stable of animals. He who was larger than the universe became an embryo. Scripture sums it up well: "Though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor . . ." (2 Corinthians 8:9).
No one who has ever lived has even remotely affected human history the way Jesus Christ has. He has been opposed, censored, banned, and criticized by every generation since His birth. Yet His influence continues unabated.
There has never been anyone like Jesus, because Jesus was not just a good man. He was the God-man who came and walked this earth. And that is what we should celebrate every day.
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N2K
Joined: 06 Jul 2006
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Posted:
Wed May 21, 2008 8:03 am |
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Corinthians 2 (New King James Version)
New King James Version (NKJV)
Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
1 Corinthians 2
Christ Crucified
1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony[a] of God. 2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human[b] wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
Spiritual Wisdom
6 However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, 8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
9 But as it is written:
“ Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”[c]
10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy[d] Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. 16 For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?”[e] But we have the mind of Christ.
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N2K
Joined: 06 Jul 2006
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Posted:
Thu May 22, 2008 6:45 am |
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Thursday, May 22, 2008
A Lesson from Mary
"Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary."
— Luke 1:26–27
It is difficult for us to understand, 2,000 years later, the significance of the angel Gabriel's appearance to Mary in Nazareth.
After all, he could have found the future mother of the Messiah in Rome, the capital of the greatest power on earth at the time. He could have found her in Athens, the cultural center of the world, or in Jerusalem, the spiritual center of the world.
But God chose Nazareth, an obscure but extremely wicked city that was notorious for its sin. Upon hearing that Jesus was from there, Nathanael said, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" (John 1:46).
What is amazing about Mary is that she lived a godly life in a godless place, and she did so as a very young teenager. Commentators believe she may have been as young as 12, but not much older than 14.
Here she was, a nobody living in a nothing town in the middle of nowhere—precisely the kind of person that God goes out of His way to call. He chose an unknown girl in a relatively unknown city to bring about the most-known event in human history, an event so significant that we actually divide human time by it.
Maybe you are trying to live out your faith in a godless place today, at work or school or among unbelieving family members. You're wondering if it can be done. It can.
Mary stands as an example for us, proving that it is possible to live a godly life in an ungodly world.
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N2K
Joined: 06 Jul 2006
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Posted:
Mon May 26, 2008 3:03 pm |
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This is Memorial Day weekend. For many, that means heading to the beach, the mountains, or the lakes. It means an extra day off. Or maybe a barbecue, a family get-together or a sporting event.
Sadly, for others, it means partying and driving under the influence on the roads, resulting in increased arrests and inevitable (but avoidable) fatalities on the road. But let's give this day a name that sounds a little less formal—and perhaps a bit more understandable. Memorial is based on the term "to remember."
So let's call today, "Memory Day."
And what are we specifically to remember? We are to remember the courageous members of our armed forces—past and present—who have died in military service to their country. We're speaking of grandparents, fathers, sons, mothers, daughters, and grandchildren who have taken the oath to defend their country and protect the Constitution.
That doesn't mean you have to necessarily agree with every military engagement our country has undertaken in times past—or is engaged in at present. What it does mean is that you are to remember those who have committed themselves to protect you, or even made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Such sacrifices make possible the freedoms we so richly enjoy and hold dear.
One of the greatest privileges we have in our country is the freedom to openly proclaim the gospel message and, as a pastor and evangelist, I am especially thankful for that. In places like Communist China, you can't do that. At least, not legally. That of course has not stopped the rapid growth of the underground church, or what we often refer to as "house churches." But freedom is indeed a precious thing, don't you think? Far too often, we take it for granted. And we take heroes for granted, too.
What is a hero?
When we think of hero different images may come to mind. We might refer to a skilled athlete who can expertly dunk a basketball as a hero. Or maybe we would give the title hero to a rock star who can hit that power chord on his guitar. There's even a video game that's very popular right now called "Guitar Hero."
These athletes, musicians and others may be famous—or infamous. But are they really heroes? In my book, a real hero is someone who makes a sacrifice. Someone who thinks of others before themselves. A person who is even willing to die for another.
Let me close with the story of a real American hero this Memory Day. His name was Ross McGinnis. You've no doubt have read about him recently. On duty in Iraq on December 4, 2006, PFC McGinnis was perched in the gunner's hatch of a Humvee when a grenade whizzed past him and into the truck carrying four of his fellow soldiers.
In a split second, McGinnis did the unthinkable. He shouted a warning to the others and threw himself onto the grenade taking its full impact. He was killed immediately, but he saved the lives of the other four soldiers, his "band of brothers." Now that's a hero.
Ross has been given the Silver Star, posthumously, and will also receive the Medal of Honor—both richly deserved. PFC McGinnis is the kind of person we should remember this day, and the thousands of other troops stationed in faraway places like Afghanistan, Iraq, and elsewhere. This very hour, some of them may be called upon to make terrible, self-sacrificing choices like the one PFC McGinnis made.
Go ahead, enjoy your barbeque and family. But don't forget to remember. Jesus said, "Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13). Two thousand years before PFC McGinnis made the choice to lay down his life, Jesus voluntarily surrendered to a Roman cross, and died for my sin and yours. He made that choice so that we could have the hope of heaven, and know the meaning of life.
And that's something we ought to remember on Memory Day as well.
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N2K
Joined: 06 Jul 2006
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Posted:
Tue May 27, 2008 7:07 am |
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God's Secret Agents
It seems that Americans today are fascinated by the concept of angels, depicting them in everything from jewelry and Christmas decorations to movies and television programs.
A poll conducted by Time magazine in 1993 reported that 69 percent of American adults believed in the existence of angels, and 46 percent felt they had their own guardian angel. Also, 32 percent claimed to have felt an angelic presence at some time in their lives.
In addition, a 2000 poll conducted by the Barna Research Group of Ventura, California, found that 81 percent of adults polled said they believed that "angels exist and influence people's lives."
But is it correct to assume that angels are the nonthreatening, loving beings that many people believe them to be? That all depends.
We find instances in the Bible when angels were sent to deliver specific messages from God. They often began their messages with phrases like "Do not be afraid," or "Do not fear."
But we also find instances in which God used angels to execute His judgment, as in the case of Sodom and Gomorrah and elsewhere.
Generally, God's angels operate undercover. They don't draw attention to themselves, but instead carry out God's assignments.
One reason we may not recognize the presence of angels in our lives is because they are doing their jobs properly. Angels are actively involved in the lives of the people of God, and even in the affairs of people in general. They have a specific function and ministry in the lives of Christians.
The Bible says in Psalm 34:7, "The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them" (NKJV). Hebrews 1:14 says of angels, "Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?" (NKJV).
It is even possible that you have personally met an angel. Hebrews 13:2 teaches, "Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels" (NKJV).
It is amazing to think that some of us may have communicated with an angel, but were unaware of it. Angels are nearer than we may realize.
If an angel of God were to appear before you right now, you would stand in awe because angels are very beautiful. When we read biblical accounts of people who encountered angels, they were often overwhelmed by the glory and beauty of them.
Still, angels remain invisible most of the time, except on very special occasions when God sends them on a unique mission or clothes them in human form.
Contrary to what some have been led to believe, angels are not deceased human beings who are trying to earn their wings. Also, when someone dies, their friends or loved ones may say that person is now an angel who watches over them. However, this is not true.
When people say that someone who has died now helps them or guides them or their presence is felt, it is not true. People who have gone from this life into eternity do not communicate with us. They do not comfort us. They do not guide us. Certainly, they do not turn into angels. Angels are an altogether unique group created by God.
Also contrary to what some people have attempted to do, it is incorrect to attempt communication with an angel, to try to pray to an angel, or to specifically develop a relationship with an angel. We find in Scripture that the focus is on praying to God, looking to God, and developing a relationship with God.
Yes, God does work through angels, but that is not the point. The point is that it is God who is doing it.
We don't know how many times angels have been working behind the scenes, how many times they have delivered us, helped us out of tight situations, or intervened on our behalf. Angels are all around us, taking care of us and ministering to us, even when we are not aware of their presence. This certainly gives hope in these troubled, dangerous times in which we are living.
When we think of all of the violence and chaos and danger in the world today, it is comforting to know that God's angels are watching out for us. They may not help you find a parking space or make your casseroles more flavorful, but you can be certain that angels are God's secret agents, powerfully and effectively doing the work He has called them to do.
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N2K
Joined: 06 Jul 2006
Posts: 8847
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Posted:
Tue May 27, 2008 8:07 am |
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May 27, 2008
COMPLETELY CLEANSED
. . . a man with leprosy . . . knelt before him. "Lord," the man said, "if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean." Matthew 8:2 NLT
It's hard to fully appreciate what life was like for someone with leprosy in the ancient world. At first, the afflicted would notice reddish-brown spots on various places of their body. These spots would begin to blister, burst, and then fester. Their flesh would then begin to decay, particularly at the extremities, resulting in the loss of fingers and toes.
But that's only what was happening on the outside. Inside, the disease would begin to attack and destroy the nervous system. Eventually, nerve endings would lose all sensitivity making it impossible for the person to feel any pain at all. The danger in this was that lepers would frequently injure themselves without even realizing it.
That's the type of person who falls at Christ's feet and begs to be healed of his dreaded disease. You may have heard the story: Jesus touches his hand and the man is miraculously and completely cleansed (Matthew 8:3).
There are a lot of interesting connections between the physical disease of leprosy and the spiritual disease of sin. Both start small, spread, fester, destroy, and desensitize. Ask anyone bound by an addiction how they got into that position. They will tell you that the pattern of sin follows the pattern of leprosy to a tee. Eventually they're on a fast track to destroying themselves without so much as realizing it.
But there's hope. As this miracle shows, Jesus has the power to completely cleanse the effects that sin has wrought in us. We can become brand new when we fall down at His feet and beg for His healing touch. He reaches down, takes us by the hand, and cleanses the sin from our diseased hearts.
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N2K
Joined: 06 Jul 2006
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Posted:
Wed May 28, 2008 7:40 am |
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May 28, 2008
MISTAKE-FREE
. . . Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. John 18:10 (NKJV)
Mistakes were nothing new for Peter, but this one has to rank among the very worst of his apostolic career. Jesus is about to be arrested by a detachment of Roman soldiers (which could have been as many as 200 men) and several other religious officers. In the heat of the moment, Peter decides to defend Jesus (as if He wasn't able to defend Himself), draws his sword, and slices off the ear of the high priest's servant.
That was a mistake. Peter basically signed his own death certificate because he wasn't just trying to take off an ear, he was trying to kill a man. And that was an offense that Christ's captors would have surely punished to the fullest extent of the law. One can only imagine what Peter was pondering at this point, but it probably was something like, "What was I thinking?!"
If the story ended here, there probably would have been four crosses at Calvary the next day instead of just three. However, the story doesn't end there as the book of Luke records an interesting detail for us:
But Jesus . . . touched his ear and healed him. (Luke 22:51 NKJV)
Catch the scene: Jesus picked up the severed ear that Peter was responsible for and miraculously attached it to its rightful, and no doubt bewildered, owner. Peter's mistake had been miraculously erased.
All of us make mistakes. We're not that different from Peter. We lash out in ways that leave us wondering, "What was I thinking?!" Fortunately, Jesus is greater than our mistakes, and He has the miraculous ability to undo them according to His will.
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N2K
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Posted:
Wed May 28, 2008 8:26 am |
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What is worry?
Worry is failing to trust in God and stirring up your own anxiety. And it is a colossal waste of time.
I find it interesting that our English word "worry" comes from an old German term meaning to strangle or choke. And that's exactly what worry will do. It will create a mental and emotional stranglehold on your life. Far from making things better, it consistently makes matters worse. When you worry about the future, you cripple yourself in the present.
Every day has its own quota of problems. That's life! Some of these "issues" are constant day to day. Others come and go. When you get up in the morning, you will find yourself with a daily quota of challenges, adversities and difficulties. (No one gets around that.)
What you don't want to do is go after tomorrow's quota as well! In other words, you don't want to start worrying about things that haven't even shown up yet. Because guess what? They may not show up at all! When you worry about the future, you severely diminish your abilities to handle today's challenges. The fact is, worrying doesn't empty tomorrow of it's sorrow; it empties today of its strength.
Jesus said in Matthew 6:34, "Don't worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself. Every day has enough trouble on its own." God will give you the strength to face each and every day. He says that His grace is sufficient for us. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He won't abandon you in your hour of your need. But if you allow yourself to be locked up by worry, you will only compound your troubles.
An old fable speaks of Death walking toward a city one morning. Along the way, a man stopped Death and said, "Why are you heading toward the city? What do you intend to do there?" Death said, "I'm going to take 100 people." The man was shocked. "That's horrible!" he said. Death simply shrugged and said, "This is what I do. It's the way it is."
Thinking to foil the plan, the man hurried ahead of Death into the town to warn everyone of what was coming. As evening fell, he met Death again. The man said, "You told me you were going to take a hundred people. Why did a thousand die?"
"I kept my word," Death responded, "I took only a hundred people. Worry took the others."
In his letter to the church at Philippi, the apostle Paul gives some practical information about what we should do instead of worrying.
Paul writes: "Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again – rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:4-6, NLT).
Powerful words. Yet when you learn of the setting in which the apostle penned these truths, they become even more potent. Paul wrote these words in chains, imprisoned in a dark, putrid Roman dungeon. That is significant. If we learned that Paul was sunbathing on a beach in Crete, having a glass of iced tea, we might be tempted to say, "It was easy for him to say 'don't worry,' because he was living the good life."
But he wasn't. Far from it. He had been arrested on false charges, thrown into prison and was awaiting his fate. As far as he knew, he could be separated from his head the next morning. Then again, he might be acquitted. He simply didn't know.
What a pathetic, miserable situation he found himself in. And yet with a full heart he was able to say, "Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again – rejoice!" Paul didn't waste time with worry. He prayed, he experienced great peace, and he was full of joy.
Many of us justify our worry by saying, "Well, you just don't understand. I'm in some really hard circumstances right now." I know it's hard. But the Bible doesn't ask us to rejoice in our circumstances, it urges us to rejoice in the Lord. No matter what you may be facing in your life right now, God is still on the throne. He still loves you. His plans for you are still good. He promises never to leave you or forsake you.
Notice that Paul writes, "Pray about everything." He doesn't say, "Pray about some things," or "pray about the really big things." This reminds us that nothing is too big and nothing is too small to bring to God in prayer. He is interested in even the smallest of details.
The next time you find yourself tempted to worry, try something different. Pray instead. We need to get into the habit of turning to God when we feel worry approaching.
Your reaction in times of trouble should be like a conditioned reflex. Do you know the difference between a normal reflex and a conditioned reflex? A normal reflex isn't taught, it's automatic. If I reach out and touch a hot iron, I yank my hand back. I didn't have to teach myself to do that. Even a small baby would pull his hand away from something hot.
When you were learning to drive, you had to consciously think about everything you did. I'm coming to a light, hit the brake. I need to turn. Flip the turn signal. Now when you drive, do you still think about those things? No. You train yourself and develop a set of conditioned reflexes.
When we find ourselves assaulted by worry, it is not our natural tendency to stop and pray. In fact, in many cases our automatic response is to embrace that worry. What if this happens? What about that? And then worry begins to mushroom, taking over our minds.
A conditioned reflex works more like this: When you find yourself wondering, What if this happens? you teach yourself to reply, "I don't know. I'd better pray about that." And you intentionally place that matter in the hands of the Lord.
So what do you do when your knees start knocking? Kneel on them.
Worry accomplishes nothing. Prayer accomplishes more than we'll ever understand.
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N2K
Joined: 06 Jul 2006
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Posted:
Thu May 29, 2008 7:17 am |
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May 29, 2008
THE ALPHA MALE OF MIRACLES
Jesus answered and said to them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." John 2:19 (NKJV)
Without question, it's the "alpha male" of all miracles-the crowning act of Christ's career on earth. Above every other miraculous act, this is the one that matters the most. If we understood every other miracle backwards and forwards, yet misunderstood this one, we would miss everything.
It's one of only two miracles recorded in all four accounts of Jesus' life (the other one being the feeding of the 5,000). It's also the most anticipated and predicted miracle. Jesus constantly pointed to it, as He does in the verse above. It's the miracle of the resurrection.
Someone once stated that "Christianity does not explain the resurrection, but the resurrection explains Christianity." That's true because Christianity would be non-existent without the resurrection. We would have a deceased Savior, a slew of unfulfilled predictions, and a group of disciples who were so paranoid about their own safety that they hid behind locked doors. That's not a winning combination.
The resurrection means everything to those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ. It proves to us that the One we follow is more powerful than the most powerful force known to man: death. Nobody is able to overcome the power death has over humanity-except Jesus. And all who have taken refuge in Him will share not only in His miraculous resurrection power, but also in His miraculous victory.
"O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?". . . thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:55-57 NKJV)
"I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. (Revelation 1:18 NKJV)
Last edited by Need2Know on Fri May 30, 2008 10:31 am; edited 1 time in total
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N2K
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Posted:
Fri May 30, 2008 7:21 am |
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THE MIRACLE OF US
Peter said, ". . . Get up and walk!" . . . the man's feet and anklebones were healed and strengthened. -Acts 3:6-7 (NLT)
There are two miracles contained in this passage. The first and most obvious miracle is the healing of the man who had been born lame. The second, and perhaps more impressive miracles, is that Peter was the one who performed it.
Sound harsh? Remember, this is the same man who was personally rebuked by God from Heaven (Matthew 17:5), the man whose motives were identified by Jesus as being satanic (Matthew 16:23), the man who gave his word that he would never leave Christ's side-and then swore he never knew Him-three times in a row (Matthew 26:70-74)!
Yet, for all his flaws, Peter possessed the trait that mattered most: He loved Jesus. That was enough for the Lord to work with, and He did. So much so, in fact, that Peter was the instrument He used to convert thousands to Christ in the first few days of the early Church's existence (Acts 2:41, 4:4). Hotheaded, reckless Peter became the immovable leader the early Church needed. It was a miracle.
Isn't it a miracle that the Lord is able to use any of us? Back-biter, drug addict, alcoholic, prostitute, kleptomaniac, shopoholic, home wrecker, gossiper, hypocrite . . . these are the labels that once defined us. We were identified, driven, and ruled by our faults. But buried deep down, deeper than anyone could see, there was something in us that resembled the kind of love Peter had.
It wasn't much, but it was enough for Jesus to work with, and He did. So much so, in fact, that He's made it possible for us to be Heaven's ambassadors here on earth. Now that's a miracle!
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N2K
Joined: 06 Jul 2006
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Posted:
Mon Jun 02, 2008 6:29 am |
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Waiting for the Master
Remember the New Testament story in which Jesus sent His disciples across the Sea of Galilee? The Bible says that He waited on the shore and then went up on a mountain to pray.
As the disciples were making their way across, a great storm began to rage, and they thought they were going to die. They rowed hard to try to get back to land, without success.
We then read that Jesus came to them during the fourth watch of the night, walking on the water. The fourth watch would be the time just before the dawn. This means that Jesus came to them after they had been at sea for nine hours. Then He came and rescued them.
Some of us may feel like the disciples did. We might be saying, "Lord, we have been battling away in this world. When are you going to come again? Are you paying attention to what is going on here?"
Of course He is. God is aware of everything that is happening. And know this: God is not late; He is always on time.
The Bible says, "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9 NKJV). The only reason the Lord has not already come is because He wants more people to come into His kingdom.
We have never been closer to the return of Jesus Christ than we are now. Even if He comes in the "fourth watch," we are to be ready. We don't want to be like the foolish servant in another New Testament story who thought, " 'My master is delaying his coming' " (Luke 12:45 NKJV).
With this in mind, we need to be about our Master's business. So what are we to do, specifically?
First, we should be watching for Him. We should be paying attention and taking note of what is going on in the world right now. In the Book of Daniel, foolish King Belshazzar faced judgment because he did not respond to the writing on the wall (see Daniel 5). All around us are signs of the times, reminders that Jesus is coming back. Watch for Him.
Second, we should be ready to go. If I am going to travel somewhere by plane, I pack my bags the night before. Most of my flights are early in the morning. With all of the increased security now, I need to get to the airport well in advance. I get ready ahead of time so I am prepared to go on the trip.
In the same way, we need to be ready and prepared to meet the Lord when He returns. It is wise thing to periodically ask yourself, "Am I living in such a way that I would be doing something I would be ashamed if the Lord were to come back?" Living in the reality of Christ's return should make a difference in our behavior.
Third, we should be anxiously awaiting His return. My dog sleeps outside of my room at night. Sometimes, he leans against the door to be as close to it as possible. When morning comes and I open the door, he is so excited that he runs around in circles. Then he picks up his bone, brings it to me, and waits until I take it. He anxiously waits for me. That is how we should be. We should be anxiously awaiting the Lord's return.
Fourth, we should be working. Luke 12:43 says, "Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes" (NKJV). If watching is the evidence of faith, then working is the evidence of faith in action.
Watching for the Lord's return will help us prepare our own lives. Working will ensure that we bring others with us. That is the plan.
Jesus said, "Surely I am coming quickly." The answer of the true Christian will always be, along with the apostle John, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus!" (Revelation 22:20 NKJV).
Anything that would prevent us from saying those words reveals something that is out of place in our lives. Therefore, we must periodically examine all of our ambitions, pursuits, hopes, dreams, and plans by this truth of the Lord's imminent return.
Jesus is coming back again. It might be sooner than some of us may think. Let's be ready.
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N2K
Joined: 06 Jul 2006
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Posted:
Mon Jun 02, 2008 6:31 am |
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EVERYONE IS ELIGIBLE
. . . he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector's booth. "Follow me and be my disciple," Jesus said to him. -Matthew 9:9 (NLT)
For the most part, the disciples weren't irreverent or immoral men. They understood the difference between right and wrong and did their best to observe it. This is why Jesus caused such a stir when He chose Matthew, a tax collector, to join their ranks.
Tax collectors were viewed as traitors and thieves in Jesus' day. Traitors because they had sold out their Jewish brethren in order to serve the Romans who were occupying their land; and thieves because one of the perks of their job was that they could personally pocket the overages that they imposed. It's safe to say that Matthew wasn't a very popular person with his people.
Yet Jesus picked the man. Not only that, but He stirred up the pot even more by attending a party at Matthew's house:
Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. (Matthew 9:10 NLT)
From the get-go, the Master's message to the other disciples was clear: Everyone is eligible to become a disciple, even a thieving traitor. Matthew was the least likely candidate on earth to represent heaven, but he became a disciple because he did the one thing necessary in order to become one. He followed Jesus.
We all carry apprehensions and prejudices about other people, especially when issues of morality are involved. But the lesson we learn from Matthew's calling is that everyone, no matter how badly they've been stained by sin, is eligible to become a devoted disciple. May this outlook always color the way we look at others!
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N2K
Joined: 06 Jul 2006
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Posted:
Mon Jun 02, 2008 6:36 am |
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1-night stand
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It was 1952. Queen Elizabeth ascended to the throne of England. U.S. President Harry Truman was preparing to engage North Korea and China in peace negotiations. The "Today" show, "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" and "American Bandstand" debuted on television. "Singing in the Rain" and "High Noon" played on the big screen. Nat King Cole was at the top of the music charts.
In 1952, Long Beach, Calif., was still filled with sailors; Charlene McDaniel had no trouble attracting them. She'd sit in bars at night, a vision with platinum blond hair, flawless skin, crystal eyes and shapely figure. She'd ask a man to light her cigarette, lock him with her gaze … and it was all over.
Somewhere along the line, she met a particular sailor. He was a limber strawberry blond-haired guy who swirled her around the dance floor and made her laugh. I don't know anything further – perhaps their connection was no more than a one-night stand.
Eventually, after the sailor was long gone from her picture, Charlene discovered she was pregnant. Never one to lack for options, she quickly married a guy named Kim. And by the time Dec. 10, 1952, arrived and she gave birth to a son, no one was asking a whole lot of questions as to just who the baby's father was. She named me Gregory Mitchell.
The last name on my birth certificate was that of her husband, Kim, but as I began to grow up, he sure didn't feel like a dad.
In spite of my beginnings, God called me to be an evangelist, of all things. There just aren't a whole lot of evangelists out there in the 21st century marketplace. Billy Graham has been the gold standard of that calling in our day; no single person could begin to take his place. Billy's oldest son, Franklin, is a gifted evangelist like his father.
Franklin and I have been close friends for years, and in some ways we are much alike. But our paths have been very different. Franklin has had the blessing of a lifelong relationship with parents who raised him to love God and seek His ways. He's had a mom and dad he could be proud of – and parents who've been so proud of him.
I've seen Franklin support his dad and help him walk, just as his dad once helped him walk as a toddler. I've seen Billy give Franklin direct, fatherly advice, and I've seen him tenderly embrace his son with tears. To be honest, when I've seen their intimate, loving relationship, my heart sometimes constricts with pain and a sense of loss. I love them both … but I wish I could have had the experience they share. I've looked with some envy on a son who not only knows who his father is, but is also a son and heir whose father is a godly role model – not to mention the greatest evangelist who ever lived.
My story started in quite a different way. I was a bastard, in the technical sense of that ugly term, the illegitimate result of a single night of passion. Some would call me a mistake, my very existence a slip-up that could have been whisked away.
But as I've gotten older, I've seen the impossible happen, in that I can now consider my less-than-honorable beginnings an actual blessing. Because I grew up in bars with drunks, sleazy skuzzballs and skuzzy sleazeballs, I can relate to people who come from broken beginnings. I know firsthand that God can intervene in damaged lives and restore them. Incredibly, He can make His repairs work backward in time. Even the hole that I feel when I see friends with their fathers is something God has used for good. I can relate to others who are fatherless.
Through the years of my adult life I have experienced, in a way I otherwise could not have, what it means to rely on God Himself as my heavenly Father.
When you're illegitimate, sometimes you wonder if you were ever even meant to be at all. My mother, Charlene, did not earnestly hope and plan to conceive me. For all I know, she was drunk and had no memory of my conception. I'm immensely grateful that once she discovered she was pregnant, she did not choose to abort me.
But divinely speaking, I was no accident. God was present at my beginnings. He knew me before I was born. He knew then (and knows now) the number of the days I'll walk this earth. He provided for me – a messed-up mortal with questionable beginnings – so that I'll actually live forever with Him.
David wrote, "You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God! They are innumerable!" (Psalm 139:15-17, NLT).
I wouldn't wish my childhood on anyone. But life is a gift from God, and this was the life He gave me. And as I've come to understand, the very things that were the hardest for me growing up were given to me so that I could understand the people I'm called to help.
I can look back at my life and finally say – beyond the shadow of any doubt – that my conception and birth was no mistake. Yes, it may have been the result of a casual sexual encounter, but God can work His heavenly purposes through even the darkest of earthly circumstances.
I wasn't an accident. God had a purpose. My weird, dysfunctional upbringing prepared me – in ways that a happy childhood could not have – to bring the Gospel to wounded people who come from chaotic backgrounds like my own … so that many could be saved.
I come back to the familiar words of Romans 8:28 (NLT): "We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." The psalmist wrote, "Everything serves your plans!" (Psalm 119:91, NLT).
He didn't mean that all things are pleasant. Life's experiences may have been as difficult for him as they had been for me. But the psalmist knew that God is the King of the universe and uses everything for His mysterious purposes.
Everything.
Even a one night stand in Long Beach.
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N2K
Joined: 06 Jul 2006
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Posted:
Tue Jun 03, 2008 6:42 am |
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IT TAKES A LITTLE MORE
. . . in his public ministry he never taught without using parables; but . . . when he was alone with his disciples, he explained everything . . . -Mark 4:34 (NLT)
As Jesus' popularity peaked, it became necessary for Him to divide those who were simply interested in His blessings from those who were truly interested in following Him for who He was. He accomplished this separation by instituting a new means of preaching and teaching.
Instead of employing a straightforward speaking style, He began to communicate through parables. The word "parable" is formed by combining the words "para," which means alongside, and "ballein," which means to throw. Thus, a parable is a short story that's thrown alongside a truth in order to better illustrate or explain it. In Christ's case, He used parables to paint a picture of what the Kingdom of Heaven was like.
For the most part, the multitudes were confused by the parables and left Christ's presence scratching their heads. The disciples also didn't understand the parable's meanings, but they put forth the extra effort to ask Jesus what they meant.
This was exactly what Jesus wanted. He wanted those who weren't really into His message to move on, and He wanted those who were into Him to press in a little harder.
Here's the lesson for us: Discipleship requires an added amount of effort. It means getting alone with Jesus after the crowds have left and asking the questions that others wouldn't. When we do, we're rewarded with the spiritual insight that eludes those who are only interested in what the Lord can do for them.
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N2K
Joined: 06 Jul 2006
Posts: 8847
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Posted:
Wed Jun 04, 2008 6:42 am |
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YOU'VE GOT TO GET ALONE
Then Jesus said, "Let's go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile." -Mark 6:31 (NLT)
Imagine that you're one of the twelve for a moment. You've just been launched into an all-out assault against the Kingdom of Hell. Christ has given you a measure of His divine authority, and now you're able to preach with power, cast out demons, and miraculously heal the sick (Mark 6:12-13). Nothing on earth can stand in your way. In a word, you're "amped," and you can't wait to tell Jesus what you did for Him.
You do just that, and in the back of your mind you wonder what incredible feats the next set of marching orders might include. But you're surprised when Jesus responds by saying, "Let's get away." Get away . . . now? Just when the spiritual tide is turning in our favor? Can't we get away later? Isn't it better to strike while the iron is hot?
But as usual, Jesus understood something that the disciples didn't, and that was their absolute necessity to spend some time with Him in a quieter spot. If they didn't, it would only be a matter of time before they were burnt out by fires that fueled their zeal to serve Him.
There are certainly seasons of activity in a disciple's life, but such seasons must always be balanced by the quiet times spent in Christ's presence. For it's only there that our perspective is brought into proper focus, that our strength is renewed, and that we're reminded of why we became disciples to begin with.
Discipleship that doesn't involve a regular respite alone with Jesus isn't discipleship. It's a ritualistic regimen at best and a precursor to spiritual burnout at worst.
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N2K
Joined: 06 Jul 2006
Posts: 8847
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Posted:
Thu Jun 05, 2008 7:20 am |
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Inside Out
"You try to look like upright people outwardly, but inside your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness."
— Matthew 23:28
People make changes in their lives for many reasons. Often it is when they face a crisis in life. It might be a heart attack. It might be the loss of a spouse through death or divorce. It might be some other crisis that hits them, and they begin to evaluate their priorities and take stock of their lives. They determine to make changes.
But often the same people who vow to change end up going back to their old ways. We often hear of celebrities being admitted to drug rehabilitation centers. We hear about the great changes they have made. They tell their stories on television and write books about it. But then a few months later, we read that they have gone back to their old ways. Why? Because they have made moral changes in their lives, but they haven't gotten to the root of their problem, which is the absence of God in their lives.
Jesus warned the Pharisees, "First wash the inside of the cup, and then the outside will become clean, too" (Matthew 23:26). Jesus was telling them that they were missing the point when they only concentrated on the outward. They must first take care of the inward.
The clear mandate given to the church from the lips of Jesus Himself was to go into this world and preach the gospel, because when people truly find Him, it will change their lifestyle. If, as believers, we allow other things to detract us from this calling, then we are also missing the point. As Jesus said, "First wash the inside, . . . and then the outside will become clean, too." That is where we must focus our efforts.
Last edited by Need2Know on Thu Jun 05, 2008 7:29 am; edited 1 time in total
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N2K
Joined: 06 Jul 2006
Posts: 8847
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Posted:
Thu Jun 05, 2008 7:21 am |
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EVERYONE IS IMPORTANT
So he left Judea and returned to Galilee. He had to go through Samaria on the way. -John 4:3-4 (NLT)
This might not seem like much to our modern minds, but Christ's trip through Samaria was a huge deal back in His day. The racial rift between Jews and Samaritans was centuries old, and it showed no signs of ever being bridged. Jews stayed in Judea and Samaritans stayed in Samaria. It was as simple as that.
So as a Jewish man, Jesus did the unthinkable by crossing the proverbial "tracks" of life. And He didn't stop there. He took it a step further by stopping and speaking with a Samaritan woman about the things of God. This was such a social "no-no" at that time that it left the disciples absolutely awestruck:
Just then his disciples came back. They were shocked to find him talking to a woman, but none of them had the nerve to ask, "What do you want with her?" or "Why are you talking to her?" (John 4:27 NLT)
Jesus went to Samaria for the sake of the Samaritans, but He also went there for the sake of the disciples because this trip taught them something important. Christ's willingness to go to a group of people who were socially off limits was a powerful lesson that everyone is important. No one is off limits.
Is there a Samaria in your life? Perhaps there's a place or a group of people that you're just not willing to go to. What would happen in your heart if God suddenly said, "Let's take a trip to (you fill in the blank)?"
All people are important to Jesus, and His disciples are supposed to see them the same way.
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N2K
Joined: 06 Jul 2006
Posts: 8847
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Posted:
Fri Jun 06, 2008 7:03 am |
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KEEP ROWING!
Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake . . . -Matthew 14:22 (NLT)
It seemed simple enough. Jesus tells the twelve to board their boat and cross over to the other side of the lake. This "lake" is actually the Sea of Galilee, which is between six and eight miles across. Crossing it wasn't as easy as taking a walk around the block, but it wasn't a major feat, either. A handful of hours of earnest rowing and they'd be on the other side.
Then, halfway through their journey, something unexpected happened. A storm hits, and it hits hard. So hard that it took every ounce of their energy just to keep from going backwards or going under. There they were, in the middle of the swelling sea that was looking more and more like a watery graveyard.
After a few hours of this, they must have started asking themselves, How did we get here? They got there because they obeyed Jesus. Remember that He sent them to the other side. He didn't tell them that there would be a storm, and He didn't tell them to retreat once the weather got rough. He just told them to cross over, and they did their best to obey. Instead of giving up, they kept rowing. And just when it seemed like they couldn't hold out any longer, Jesus arrived and rescued them (Matthew 14:32).
Jesus knew a storm was coming, and He knew it was the perfect tool to test their hearts and teach them this important lesson about discipleship. When the unexpected storms in life arise, a disciple needs to stick with it until they accomplish what the Lord has commanded them to do.
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N2K
Joined: 06 Jul 2006
Posts: 8847
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Posted:
Fri Jun 06, 2008 1:05 pm |
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Friday, June 6, 2008
True Conversion
"And when people escape from the wicked ways of the world by learning about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and then get tangled up with sin and become its slave again, they are worse off than before."
— 2 Peter 2:20
Sometimes we hear about well-known people who claim to have made a commitment to Jesus Christ. Often, it is around election time. When they address Christians, they speak of their great faith in God. After the elections, we seldom hear about it again.
Then there are people who say they are believers, but a month or two later, they go back to their old ways again. They say, "I tried Christianity, but it didn't work for me." But in reality, they never really found Christ.
Others will turn to God when they hit hard times. Awhile later, you see them going back to their old ways, and you wonder what happened. I would suggest that many of these people never were converted at all. They went through the motions, but Jesus Christ never became a part of their lives. Often, they end up worse than before.
When Jesus Christ truly comes into our lives, He takes up residence. And He doesn't just do a basic housecleaning; He does a thorough one. There is real change. But when a house has only been swept, that is, when someone has made only moral changes, he or she is still vulnerable to the Enemy. This is why we must recognize the futility of simply turning over a new leaf or making a few New Year's resolutions. We must realize the problem is deeper than our moral sins. We must get to the heart of the matter and have Jesus Christ take residence in our lives and change us from the inside out.
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N2K
Joined: 06 Jul 2006
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Posted:
Mon Jun 09, 2008 6:32 am |
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The Promise of Persecution
The period in church history from A.D. 100 to A.D. 314 was known as the Martyr Period, when literally thousands and thousands of courageous Christian men, women, and even children sealed their fate with their blood.
Secular historians agree that there have been 10 great persecutions against the church. Ten major attempts to wipe out Christianity from the face of the earth, starting with the wicked Caesar Nero and ending with Diocletian. Believers were fed alive to wild animals. They were taken to Roman arenas for sport. They were torn apart, tortured, and burned at the stake.
But instead of growing weaker during these times of persecution, the church actually grew stronger. Persecution can have that effect.
In a way, persecution will separate the real from the false, the genuine from the fake. If you are a true follower of Jesus, then you won't back down if a little persecution comes your way. If God allows persecution in your life, then He will give you the strength to face it.
We find this to be true in the case of Polycarp, a great hero of the Christian faith. The pastor of the church in Smyrna, he was martyred on February 23 in A.D. 155. On that day, the public games were taking place, and the crowds were whipped into a real frenzy. Someone cried out, "Let Polycarp be searched for!"
The night before, Polycarp had a dream in which the pillow under his head was on fire. He woke up and told his fellow believers, "I must be burned alive." When Polycarp was arrested, he asked for the privilege of having a final hour to spend with the Lord in prayer.
As Polycarp entered the Roman arena, God spoke to his heart and said, "Be strong, Polycarp, and play the man." The Roman proconsul gave him the choice between cursing the name of Christ and making a sacrifice to Caesar, or dying. Polycarp said, "Eighty-six years I have served the Lord. He has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who has saved me?"
When the proconsul threatened him with being burned at the stake, Polycarp replied, "You threaten me with the fire that burns for a time and is quickly quenched, but you do not know the fire that awaits the wicked and the judgment to come into everlasting punishment. Why are you waiting? Come and do what you will."
The crowds went crazy, providing firewood and kindling from their woodshops. There Polycarp stood, and they set the wood around him on fire. Amazingly, the fire did not harm him. It came right up to him and would not burn him, while Polycarp sang praises to God.
Finally, they couldn't wait any longer and thrust him through with spears. Polycarp showed true courage in the face of true persecution.
Sometimes we will whine a little about how hard it is to be a Christian. But maybe we need to stop for a moment and consider our experience in comparison to that of Polycarp's. Perhaps then we will understand what persecution really is.
Jesus said, " 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you" (John 15:20).
If you are living a godly life, then you will be persecuted in some way, shape, or form. But persecution can actually help you grow stronger spiritually.
Persecution reminds us of two very important things. First, it reminds us that we are children of God. Jesus said, "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you" (Matthew 5:11–12).
Second, persecution causes us to cling more tightly to Jesus and remember that this world is not our home. I do believe that persecution will intensify as we get closer to the Lord's return.
Today, it seems like you can believe anything but the gospel. Everything is fine, except the gospel. Do you know why? Because it really bothers people when you say, "Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father."
But if you are a Bible-believing Christian, then you can say no less. Our Lord Himself said He was the way, the truth, and the life (see John 14:6). If we really believe it and really proclaim it, then we will face persecution.
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N2K
Joined: 06 Jul 2006
Posts: 8847
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Posted:
Mon Jun 09, 2008 6:39 am |
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Monday, June 9, 2008
The Power of Impartation
"But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life."
— Romans 6:22
Are you happy with the way that you are right now? Are there things in your life you would like to see dramatically altered?
Perhaps, like many other people, you make bold resolutions whenever a new year rolls around. You make plans regarding what changes you want to make in the coming year. But it's not long until you have gone back on those great resolutions.
In the same way, as Christians we are often defeated in day-to-day living because we don't really realize how many resources God has placed in our spiritual account. A lot of times we say, "God help me. God, give me this. God, give me that." Meanwhile, God is saying, "Will you please go check your account? I have deposited more than you could ever use. Check it out."
Can you imagine a soldier fighting a battle with no ammunition, while he was sitting on a bunker filled with thousands and thousands of rounds of ammo, more than he could use in a thousand wars? He has more than he needs right under him, but he is trying to fight the battle without the resources he has.
Our defeat in our battle with sin and temptation lies largely in our ignorance of the facts. In Jesus Christ there is power to live a new life and to no longer be under sin's control. That power is not in imitation, because you can imitate Jesus all you want and try to be like Him. The power comes from impartation.
God has done something for you, and now it is for you to appropriate that divine provision.
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N2K
Joined: 06 Jul 2006
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Posted:
Mon Jun 09, 2008 8:37 am |
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Lost boy found
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Posted: June 07, 2008
1:00 am Eastern
© 2008
For the next few weeks, I'd like to change the pace a little in this space to talk a bit about a boy I used to know, a kid who was lost and got found … and who also happens to be me.
Actually, it's a taste of my upcoming autobiography from Regal Books, "Lost Boy." What follows below and for several more times together in this column are a few glimpses into that story … my story.
I resonate with what comedian Steve Martin wrote in his memoir, "Born Standing Up: A Comic's Life": "In a sense, this book is not an autobiography but a biography, because I am writing about someone I used to know. Yes, these events are true, yet sometimes they seemed to have happened to someone else, and I often felt like a curious onlooker or someone trying to remember a dream."
This Greg I used to know came from pretty bad beginnings. He grew up to be a quirky adult with wild tales to tell. But the big story here isn't so much about the lost boy. It's about the great God who found him and would not let him go.
As I've reflected, I've remembered scenes I'd long forgotten – some of which I would have preferred to stay forgotten. I've thought about people I've known, some who are still right by my side today, and some who are dead and gone. I've seen dark and light strands woven together, times of pain I wish I hadn't had, and times of laughter so deep and huge that I smile when I remember – and the wild thing is, again, that this story isn't about me. It's about God and how He uses absolutely everything, good and bad, to draw us to Himself and keep us there.
You may not particularly care who Greg Laurie is. A good deal of the time I don't either. But the question comes to all of us now and then, sometimes in those rare quiet moments, sometimes right in the middle of a busy day. We wonder, Who am I, really? Am I the competent professional who looks like he or she has it all together? The scared kid hiding in the dark? The parent, child, pastor, rebel? Am I one – or all – of these roles, and more? And how in the world did I come to this place in my life?
For me, this "place in my life" is far more deep and wide and wild and good than I ever could have dreamed. I came from broken beginnings … my mom's seven broken marriages, broken dishes, lots of broken promises. I hoped that somehow I'd one day have a life that was whole and secure. I wanted to know that I mattered. I dreamed of being significant. I wanted to create things, to make people laugh, to inspire them and touch their lives for good.
When I was a teenager, no one would have thought that any of my dreams could come true. Our family has had some pretty wayward relatives, with a number succumbing to severe alcoholism, and there was no indication that I would be any different.
Not exactly a promising future.
But people's destinies don't have to be determined by their genes or their environment. Your future doesn't have to be dependent on your past. No foregone conclusions. When God breaks into your story, it changes.
For one thing, it gets a lot more interesting.
And though you know how the story will end in the end – literally, happily ever after in heaven – you can't anticipate all the twists and turns along the way. It's like a roller-coaster ride. Sometimes you're in a peaceful place, gently climbing the next hill. Sometimes you're hanging upside down, helpless, pockets spilling quarters. Sometimes you're laughing, screaming, the wind in your hair, on top of the world.
Today, I still can't believe it when I realize that I've been married for 34 years and that Cathe and I have a stable, loving family. No shattered cocktail glasses, no revolving-door relationships. And I haven't been to prison yet, except to visit those inside. No, today – of all things – I'm "Pastor Greg" to a congregation of 15,000 people.
In my old life, it was somewhat of a marvel that I was never expelled from high school, seeing as I spent so much time in the principal's office for mouthing off. Today, I'm still verbal. But now I teach about God and the Bible on the radio every day, and I'm told that the audience is about 3 million listeners. I've traveled all over the world preaching the Gospel, and I teach on a television program that's aired internationally. I've written about 30 books, as well as thousands of articles and columns.
I don't share these things to impress you. If you knew me and who I was and where I came from, you'd simply say, "This is impossible." And you would be right. But when God enters your story, it's exhilarating. It's unpredictable and secure at the same time. It can be scary. I would say that it's fun, but that's too light of a word for a pastor to use. So I will say that the journey is full of joy, which is even better.
It's a story for people who looked out the window and daydreamed of a better life but had no idea how to get there. I'm writing for people whose lives haven't been great at all, people who come from origins they're ashamed of or who've made choices they regret. I'm here to say that no matter what crazy, broken beginnings you come from, God can change your ending. He changed mine.
Everyone deals with questions about identity, security, significance and destiny. And whether you came from poverty or privilege, whether you were an underachiever, an overachiever or got lost somewhere in the middle, God can take hold of your story and change it for good. He uniquely answers the fundamental life questions that beat in every human heart.
In my case, let's just say that when you see a turtle on a fence post, you know he didn't get there by himself. Someone put him there. And in order to find out just how he arrived at his particular post, the fresh breeze blowing through his hard shell and his little turtle beak smiling in the sunshine, you have to hear his turtle story.
Stick with me for a few weeks and we'll do a little of that.
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N2K
Joined: 06 Jul 2006
Posts: 8847
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| Need2Know
Posted:
Tue Jun 10, 2008 6:36 am |
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Tuesday, June 10, 2008
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