Making A Difference Daily

Today’s Passage – Habakkuk 1 – 3

Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. (Habakkuk 3:17 & 18)

This morning as I write this post, I am sitting on the patio of a luxurious condominium on the Big Island of Hawaii. To my left is a spectacular view of a golf course with a beautiful mountain off in the distance. Directly in front of me is an expansive pool with exquisite landscaping. I am drinking a cup of coffee, listening to the tropical birds chirping in 75 or so degree temperatures; and as you can see from the picture above, there is not a cloud in the sky. It’s easy to rejoice and “joy in God” under such circumstances.

However, Habakkuk is facing very difficult days where there was little to be happy about, at least from a human perspective. However, he chose to rejoice; he chose to be thankful to great and powerful and awesome God despite his present circumstances. This is not easy to do. It takes a great deal of spiritual maturity to look past the temporal and rejoice in the eternal blessings that God gives, as well as just rejoicing in who God is.

Today, I have a lot of good things to enjoy about my life. I am in a virtual paradise on earth; but the true test of my spirituality will be determined when I choose to rejoice and “joy in God” when the vacation is over and when I am back to the old grind, contending with all of the problems that all of us face in life. The crazy thing is, I have just as much to rejoice about then as I do now. It’s all a matter of how I choose to look at it. God is good all of the time!

Today’s Reading – Micah 5 – 7

He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? (Micah 6:8)

A simple but very profound verse of Scripture from the Book of Micah. Do you want to know how you can be right with your God? There is a simple three point outline here in verse eight of chapter six that explains just how to do that. Notice, however, that this verse is written to a people that already know God, so in order to make the application to yourself today you would have to have already begun a relationship with Him through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. If you have already been trusted Him as your Savior, then this verse is for you:

1  Do justly – this has as much to do with our relationship with others as well as our obedience to God. We need to strive to be in a right relationship with others; and do the right thing by them. If we have wronged somebody, let’s try to get it right. “Do the right thing”.

2  Love mercy – this has to do with forgiving others who have wronged you. Are you bitter against somebody today? Why not release him from the debtor’s prison in your heart; and forgive him. Look at how God (and others) have forgiven you. Loving mercy could also apply to your love for the souls of men.

3  Walk humbly with God – We need to see ourselves for who we really are – nothing; and see God for who He is – everything. Do you have a walk with Him? Are you spending time daily in prayer, and in the Word? Are you living your life in submission to His will.

Living in a right relationship with God is not all that mysterious or difficult. Jesus said that his yoke is easy, and his burden is light. But if we refuse to submit ourselves to His Lordship, holding on to our own will and desire; walking with Him will be impossible. I’m not talking about perfection here: we all blow it at times; but when that happens, we must confess it to God, get back up, and move forward again in our walk with Him.

Micah 4:1 But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.  

I kept coming back to this verse while reading. As I dwelled upon this verse I could picture all the people flowing into the house of the LORD. Then I started to think of those who influenced me for Christ. Then I got to thinking of the one who probably influenced me the most: my uncle: Frank Lyons.

I love my Uncle Frankie. He taught me how to build model airplanes: plastic and balsa wood ones. During WWII he was in the air force, stationed over in England. He was the faithful son that took care of his mother till her death. When I was a young child, he would take me, my mom, and grandmother to church. He played his guitar in church. He read his Bible and loved Jesus.=If I had to sum up my uncle in one word, it would be: faithful. Being up in age, Uncle Frankie has some problems. My sister Ruthie is caring for him. He was in a wheel chair for a while, but I’m happy to report that he is using his walker again.

What else can I say about Uncle Frankie? I know he prays for me. He reads his Bible through around six times a year. And like I said, even though he has problems, he still does these things: he still loves the Lord. Faithful. That is the idea behind the picture. I took this shot of a Monarch Butterfly down by the ocean. He had part of his wing missing, but he was still flying around doing what butterflies do. Working with the Senior Saints Sunday School, I see lots of damaged butterflies. But they are not as damaged as you think. As long as we are all alive, God still has something for us to do. We will be busy for the Lord until He calls us home. Till then, may we all be found faithful like my Uncle Frankie. Let’s increase the flow.

Peace.

Today’s Reading – Jonah 1 – 4

“…and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not. But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry.” (Jonah 3:10b – 4:1)

I thoroughly enjoy reading the little book of Jonah. This was one of the first Bible passages that I ever read or learned about as a child; but it still helps me today. I got to thinking about how Jonah is not much different than me a lot of times. I get rather apathetic toward the things of God; and sometimes even get hardened toward His people, losing my compassion for them. As I read today, I thought about three ways that you can tell that you are a backslidden preacher. By the way, this does not just apply to preachers in the pulpit, any Christian can make these applications.

You know you are a backslidden preacher when:

1  You avoid and even run away from opportunities to serve God.

Jonah was given a unique opportunity to serve God by preaching to the Ninevites: a people that God loved, but Jonah despised. Millions of others were bypassed, and God chose Jonah; but he refused; he rebelled; he ran away from the will of God. Preachers and Christians today often do the same thing. It may be something as big as running from a ministry; or it may be something as small as not volunteering to serve in the nursery. Either way, an opportunity was there  to serve the God of Heaven, to make a difference in His Kingdom; but it was refused.

2  Your life ceases to be a blessing to those around you; but rather, you become a burden.

If Jonah was on board the ship on his way to fulfilling the will of God, the sailors would have been helped along the way by the blessings of God. Notice also, that it took the storm to get Jonah to even mention God to the sailors.

3  You fail to rejoice when God saves a soul. You even get angry in the midst of revival.

I remember when I was in college. We used to see literally hundreds of people saved and baptized every week. At first, I was excited as I saw the the people lining up for baptism, but after I had been there for a while it got old and I wondered to myself “when will the service be over. I want to go home.” The thought of people getting saved didn’t thrill me like it used to. Now I am here in New Jersey, and I don’t see nearly as many saved as I used to; but I got my excitement back. God gets excited over one sinner that repents. We have become hardened to the true spiritual victories that God gives us. We would be thrilled if somebody gave us something tangible, but we have lost our zeal over the spiritual blessings.

Have you found yourself becoming like Jonah? Do you get angry about the trivial, when God is doing great things in the eternal realm? Ask God to re-kindle the flame of revival in your heart; and re-ignite a passion for people.

Today’s Reading – Amos 6 – 9; Obadiah 1

Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord: (Amos 8:11)

Amos is writing concerning Israel about a time where there will be an absence of the Word of God among the people. But that famine of Bible instruction and principle comes as a result of the lack of desire among the people of Israel for hearing the Words of God. The people of Judah and Israel had their fill of God. They no longer desired to hear what He had to say; they no longer desired to live in by His precepts. They simply felt that they no longer needed God or His instruction.

I feel that America today is in the same boat. There is no famine here. There may be preachers out there who water down the Word of God; and there may be a lot of compromise out there; but there is certainly available to nearly every person in America a copy of the Word of God, and a church where the Bible is being preached and taught on a regular basis. The problem is not the availability of the Word of God. Rather, the problem is a lack of desire of most America for instruction from God. We have loosed from the moorings of our Biblical heritage and are floating in the sea of secular humanism. We are shouting to God from our culture, “Get Out!”. We don’t need you and we certainly don’t want you. I don’t think it is too far fetched to think about a day in the near future when our authorities try to stop the distribution of the Word of God altogether.

God will not stay where he is not wanted. In fact, the only thing holding back the judgment of God is a remnant of people in America who love the Word and the God who wrote it. So what is the solution? Can this tide of apathy and antagonism toward God be stopped, or even slowed? I am not sure. But my instructions are still to “preach the Word”, even when it is out of season. Christian, it matters not what the world thinks about our God and our Bible. We need to keep obeying God by sowing the seed of His word to the world around us. Some day soon, our job will be done; but for now it is still our responsibility to reach who we can with the glorious gospel of Christ. There are still people out there that hunger and thirst after righteousness.

Today’s Reading – Amos 1 – 5

Can two walk together, except they be agreed? (Amos 3:3)

The context of verse 3 above deals with both tribes of Israel and how they have chosen to live contrary to the principle of the Word of God. They have become immoral and idolatrous. They have become enamored with the cultures of the heathen nations around them. God tells them here that He cannot walk with these people because they are not in agreement.

I have often quoted this verse when preaching, particularly while speaking on matters of separation. How is it that the professing Christian today feels so comfortable walking alongside the people of the world, who do not know Christ. There must be agreement in order for their to be fellowship. Now, I can walk alongside anybody for a short distance. I will have to work with people who are not Christians at times; and hopefully, I will walk along with a lost man for a time trying to persuade him to trust Christ. Jesus walked and ate with some lost people at times in order to reach them. But, I do not think that this verse is talking about casual, purposeful, or limited contact with the lost world around us. It is talking about true communion. God cannot commune with people who have forsaken Him; and we should not be comfortable running with people who are not in fellowship with Him either.

Christian, be careful who you run with. Surround yourself with people who are going to influence you positively, encouraging your walk with God. Stay away from the gossips who have “the goods” on everybody else. Avoid those who are always negative: who desire to tear everything down, instead of building things up. Run with people who have the same doctrine and standards that you have. My preacher used to say, “You are, or soon will be, who you hang around.” I want to run with people who will cause me to do right and grow in the Lord. Just a thought!

Today’s Reading – Joel 1 – 3

Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. (Joel 3:14)

This Book of Joel, much like many of the other prophetic books which we have recently read, deals in the immediate context with the people of Judah being warned of impending judgment because of their falling completely away from God. This book, however, is unique in that it begins referring to the judgment as if in the past tense. At first glance, you might think that Joel was writing after the Babylonians had already come. It is possible that the judgement referred to in chapter 1 could be a reference to the Assyrian invasion of the northern kingdom; or perhaps to one of the first incursions into Judah by the Babylonians. You may remember they came in several times before the final destruction.

Another curious aspect of this book is that it transcends from the immediate future to the distant future, promising that the day will come when God’s people will once again be in a right relationship with Him; and all their enemies will be destroyed. In the second chapter God promises that if they will repent and turn to them, “rending their hearts”, that God will be merciful. We know from history that they never do this prior to the Babylonian captivity; and from what I can gather from Scripture, they never will until the time of Great Tribulation.

Which brings us to the above referenced verse. There will be multitudes in the valley of decision. The word “decision” there has to do with judgement. On the surface it almost sounds like God will give them the opportunity to decide; however, by this time, these Gentile enemies of God will have already decided against Him. This is the great Battle of Armageddon. As I read this, part of me wants to “jump for joy” because of the victory of God. However, I then begin to think about who makes up that multitude in the valley of decision. It is made up partially of people that I know: maybe family members, neighbors, co-workers: people I failed to reach with the gospel. Then I think about Jesus weeping over the multitude because they were as sheep having no shepherd. My previous joy is now turned to mourning. Many people will enter into a Christ-less eternity that day.

But that day is not yet. I still have a little time, though it is quickly running out. I still have an opportunity to help people decide for Christ before they get to that Valley of Decision: the time of final judgment. Lord, help me to love and care about people like you do. Help me to be the testimony that I need to be. Help me to have boldness to share the gospel of Christ with the people that you have surrounded me with.

Today’s Reading – Hosea 7 – 14

Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. (Hosea 10:12)

Last year, the verse above was the theme verse for our church. Throughout the year, we would say to each other before services or soul winning, “It’s time”. In the context of Hosea’s book, Israel was at the end of their time for turning to God. God had warned them over and over again to come back to Him; but they were content to stay away. They had become comfortable, and content. They had been protected and prosperous, but they attributed their success to themselves rather than to the blessings of God. God had been patient; but His patience was running out. It was past tie to seek the Lord. Judgement was imminent.

As a preacher, I sometimes feel the same frustration that Hosea and the other prophets felt. I preach the best that I can, yet I get the feeling that for the most part, my words are going in one ear and out the other. I am not speaking here about people who are trying but struggling. I am in that category myself sometimes; but I am sensing that their is an indifference to spiritual things by many in our community and even in our church. I believe with all of my heart that we are in those “perilous times” that Paul spoke of where men will “heap to themselves teachers having itching ears”.

Those of you that are reading this blog most likely are not in this category. You are the “choir” that so often get preached at (or written to). You love God, and though you may have your weak moments and battles with the flesh, the world, and  the devil; you desire to live for Him. Keep seeking God. Don’t let the attitude and apathy of the world cause you to back up in your love and devotion for Him. Keep moving forward, keep growing. Hosea was writing to a bunch of lost Israelites about turning back to God; and we certainly want to encourage a lost America to turn to God. But, we also want to plead with those who may already have a relationship with God to keep seeking Him; keep drawing closer to Him.

Today’s Passage – Hosea 1 – 6

Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land… My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. (Hosea 4:1 & 6)

I remember recently looking at a textbook from back at the turn of the last century. I think it was called a “primer”; and it was used for teaching in public schools all over America. It is full of references to God, and direct quotes from the Bible. It didn’t matter what the subject was, the writers of the curriculum made sure that while the students learned academics, they also learned about God. When I was a child, we used to observe a “moment of silence” which was our opportunity to pray at the beginning of the school day. When my dad and mom were young, they actually prayed; and also recited the Ten Commandments, etc. in the public school. America was filled with the knowledge of God in years past. They say that the average lost man, 100 years ago, knew more Bible than a Bible college student does today. I don’t think that is far from being true. We have become a secular society with all of the humanistic principles and philosophies that go along with it. We no longer look to God for solutions: we look to the government or the prominent secular authority.

In Hosea’s day it was much the same way. The land of Israel was founded on Biblical principles, yet the people became increasingly enamored with the counsel and culture of the ungodly. God said that the people were destroyed because of this lack of knowledge. The question in my mind, though, is where to place the blame. Was it God’s fault? No. Was it the people’s fault? That is a good question. I mean, the people obviously had lost their appetite for spiritual things: they did not want to “hear it” anymore. It’s hard to deliver truth to people who don’t want to listen anymore. However, I would place the blame at the feet of God’s ministers. They seemed to have gotten tired of going against the popular trends of their day; and chose to acquiesce to it rather than preach against it. So, truth stop being delivered, and the people got worse.

This sure reminds me of the current religious climate in America. Preachers want to please the people. Who doesn’t want to be liked? The problem is that in pleasing the people they often compromise the truth. Most churches in America today are only delivering a small fraction of the truth that they once delivered. For example: how many churches have shut down their Sunday School programs; Sunday Evening services; and mid-week Prayer Meetings? How many messages have been cut back to a palatable 20 minutes; and how many of those 20 minute messages have more than a reference or two to Scripture. God commands His preachers to preach the Word “in season (when it’s popular) and out of season”. It really does not matter if the culture wants it or not, we are to flood our communities with the truth of God’s Word. Our nation is starving for the Word of God; and, unfortunately, so are many of our church members. We need to get back to preaching and teaching the truth in our schools and in our churches and in our homes. We need also to get back to flooding our communities with the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, so that the people won’t be “destroyed for lack of knowledge”

Daniel 10-12 

When Will It All End?

 I love the Book of Daniel. I love all the end time prophecies. But did you ever get so frustrated about the things going on in your life that you cried out: “When will it all end!?”

Daniel 12:10 tells us that many shall be purified, made white, and tried. The wicked are still going to do wickedness. Isn’t that the way it is today? It just seems that the wicked out-number the purified. The gap grows larger every day. Paul gave us a perfect description of our times in 2Timothy 3…

2Ti 3:1-5 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

Now I can’t tell you when it will all end. But I can give you a glimpse into the future. It’s not only for the future, it is for now. Thinking about everything going on at the church, people going through rough times, and even the problems of my own family; at 1:30 am, in the break room of the Cape May Home Depot, Friday morning, I opened my New Testament. My eyes fell on Psalm 150…

Psa 150 Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.  Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness. Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.

The Lord knows the right thing to say at the right time. Now instead of a frustrated cry of anguish, a cry of praise comes out: “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”

Praise the Lord for whatever day you have today.