I got a new phone this weekend. I was excited because I have had the same phone for years -- and I do mean YEARS. I played around with it pretty much all afternoon Saturday. I am definitely not tech savvy and I still have a lot to learn. But I am at least doing the basics.
The thing is - at first my own phone didn't even know me. That was weird. It was my phone --- so what was going on? Well, it turns out I needed a password - only then would I have access to some of the applications I needed.
Then I had to 'set up Siri.' I had to speak into the phone several times saying different phrases, so the software would recognize my voice. If Siri didn't know who I was, she wouldn't respond to my requests.
I felt like my phone should have known me. After all, I had the same number. I was disappointed I couldn't do everything I wanted with it. But I needed that password. The password was the key.
Are our spiritual lives like this sometimes? Our Savior longs to be part of our lives. After all He has done for us, He probably thinks we should know Him too, right? Can you imagine His disappointment when we act like we don't?
What does He think when we refuse to recognize His blessings, forget to pray every day and hardly ever pick up a Bible to study and learn about Him? If we don't know who Christ is how are we going to respond to his commands?
Daily life is tricky. We are so easily distracted. So much comes at us every day. People disappoint us, jobs sometimes cause stress and we face sorrow and heartache along life's way. There is a peace which passes understanding. The password - the key - is Jesus.
Jesus gives us the strength and hope we need to get through our days and years. Sometimes we are so distraught we can only face one dark hour at a time -- Jesus is the key to getting back to the light.
We need to know Jesus. Know Him through prayer - know Him through studying the gospels and seeing how He lived. Read about how He treated others. Learn of God's care and concern for each of us. He isn't with us on earth anymore; but that should not keep us from knowing Him.
If we expect to get to heaven one day and spend eternity with God, then we must go through Christ to get there. Remember what He said to Thomas in John 14:6, "I am the way, and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." We don't have access to the Father without going through the Son.
Christ goes on to say in John 14:15 - "If you love me you will keep my commandments." As we read on through these beautiful verses, the Savior explains how important this is. Consider verse 21: "Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love Him and manifest myself to him."
Again in verse 23, Christ says love for Him is shown by keeping His word and thereby we gain the love of the Father. It is by knowing the Son and loving Him enough to follow His commandments that we will have access to the love of the Father and to all the things He (the Father) can do for us.
Love is vital in all of this. We can't use the commandments as some kind of "things to do" list. We cannot be like the rich young ruler who checked off all the commandments and said, "I have done all this."
He must have thought he had it made. Yet, Jesus knew the young man's heart. Our Lord presented him with a challenge to sell all he had. The young man went away sorrowfully.
In 1 Corinthians 13 , Paul warned against using our gifts without love. He sums it up in verse three by saying even "if I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing."
Love and obedience should go hand in hand. This is all part of 'knowing Him.' There are other aspects of this, too. Sometimes folks love Christ and obey Him, but don't fully know Him.
Sometimes we don't always study the scriptures enough to understand all His commandments. Maybe we trust others to tell us what to do instead of checking God's word for ourselves. Or maybe we are like the Pharisees and follow traditions of men, rather than the scriptures. We could be truthful all the time and never lie; but if we take part in gossip or hold grudges against our neighbor are we keeping His commandments?
Maybe we think obeying the gospel is all we have to do. But think about this - really think about it please. Is that all the first century church did? For Lydia and Dorcas and Timothy and Barnabas becoming a Christian wasn't the end of their obedience, it was only the beginning!
We need to know Jesus - He is the way, the truth and the life. It is through loving and obeying Him we have the hope of eternal life. There is no other way to the Father except through the Son.
The Savior tells us in Matthew 7:21-23 that not everyone who performs a work in His name will gain entrance into heaven. He will tell them He never knew them. Why? Why didn't Christ know them?
Perhaps no love was involved. Maybe they knew about Christ but didn't take the time to know Him. There is a difference between the two. Or perhaps they didn't study the scriptures enough to understand all of His commands. Remember it is by keeping His commandments that we show our love for Christ and gain the love of the Father.
There is one more thing to consider. We must let others know we love Him. If we want Christ to know us, we should act like we know Him -- live like we know Him. We should treat others as He would have us to treat them. Love like He loved. Follow His way and His truth.
My phone recognized me once I had the password. It was what I needed. If we want to 'come to the Father' we must go through the Son. Jesus is who we need.
Christ above all things,
Robin
Monday, December 31, 2018
Thursday, December 27, 2018
A Blessing at the Post Office
Just a few days ago, I went to the post office during my lunch break. I needed to buy stamps to mail Christmas cards to family and friends. I enjoy sending cards because I know how much fun it is to receive one -- to know that someone cared enough to send good wishes my way.
As I pushed through the door, only one elderly couple was at the counter. "This is great," I thought- "there's not a long line. I'll be out of here in a flash." Boy, was I wrong! It turns out this couple was mailing several boxes all to different places. My hopes were dashed as I realized I would be standing in line after all.
Still, the older gentleman was friendly enough. He greeted me cheerfully and asked how I was doing. Such a sweet hello could only be responded to in like manner. His wife was concentrated solely on watching the postal clerk handle her precious packages.
A line formed quickly as more people came in with items to mail. After all, it was Christmas time. When there were four or five of us behind them, the gentleman turned around and apologized for making us all wait.
"Don't worry about us," I said. "It looks like what you are doing is pretty important." Another lady smiled and said, "That's right. You go right ahead."
The clerk said, "Please bear with me, I will be with you all as soon as I can." And again, most of us assured them it was OK. He weighed the next box and printed the label for it. As he put it back on the counter, it made a small thump. It was then the lady finally spoke up. "Please be careful with those." I looked at the boxes and noticed they had all been marked 'handle with care.'
Her husband said, "Yes there's homemade stuff in there."
It turns out it was jelly and preserves she had made. They were sending all these boxes to relatives (I suppose as Christmas presents). We found out it was muskie dime jelly, plum jelly and apricot preserves.
"I knew what you were doing was important," I said.
"I know your family will be very happy when they open those boxes." Several agreed and talked about how delicious that sounded.
As the conversation in line behind me when on to how making jellies and preserves was almost a lost art, I continued my conversation with the elderly couple. You could hear the pride in his voice and see the love in his eyes as he told me their family always asked for these goodies from her. She told me there would have been pear preserves too, but their pears weren't good enough to do anything with this year.
When the boxes were all labeled, the clerk gave them the total cost for mailing the packages. She laughed and said, "Well we knew it would be on up there." He merely nodded and smiled as he swiped his card.
Their business was done and as they left, they cordially said goodbye to all of us in line behind them. I bought my stamps and left the post office. They were still in the parking lot. Like any true Southern gentleman, he was helping his lady get into the car.
Once more, I wished them "Merry Christmas." I went about the rest of my day with a much lighter heart. Simply being around that much goodness was uplifting. They were such a sweet couple and happy to be able to send a box full of love to those they loved.
I think the joy was contagious. By the time I left, the little post office was full of people waiting to conduct business. Yet, no one in line had complained or said the first ill word. That little couple gave quite a few people quite a bit of joy!
Maybe it was the time of year, maybe it was the manner in which the older couple handled themselves, or maybe it was the quiet and gentle way the postal employee took care of his clients - I'm not sure the reason for it; but it was such a blessing to be in the post office that day!
I keep thinking about that sweet couple. The whole incident has been on my mind since it happened. They put so much effort into what they did for their family members. A lot of time went into the making of those jellies and preserves. But there was also a lot of love and joy in that work. They were indeed giving a rare and unique gift.
Most of us realize God gave us the most unique and rare gift of all. He sent His Son from His home in heaven to our home here on earth. This gift came with great love and sacrifice.
Just think about the time Christ gave us.
As I pushed through the door, only one elderly couple was at the counter. "This is great," I thought- "there's not a long line. I'll be out of here in a flash." Boy, was I wrong! It turns out this couple was mailing several boxes all to different places. My hopes were dashed as I realized I would be standing in line after all.
Still, the older gentleman was friendly enough. He greeted me cheerfully and asked how I was doing. Such a sweet hello could only be responded to in like manner. His wife was concentrated solely on watching the postal clerk handle her precious packages.
A line formed quickly as more people came in with items to mail. After all, it was Christmas time. When there were four or five of us behind them, the gentleman turned around and apologized for making us all wait.
"Don't worry about us," I said. "It looks like what you are doing is pretty important." Another lady smiled and said, "That's right. You go right ahead."
The clerk said, "Please bear with me, I will be with you all as soon as I can." And again, most of us assured them it was OK. He weighed the next box and printed the label for it. As he put it back on the counter, it made a small thump. It was then the lady finally spoke up. "Please be careful with those." I looked at the boxes and noticed they had all been marked 'handle with care.'
Her husband said, "Yes there's homemade stuff in there."
It turns out it was jelly and preserves she had made. They were sending all these boxes to relatives (I suppose as Christmas presents). We found out it was muskie dime jelly, plum jelly and apricot preserves.
"I knew what you were doing was important," I said.
"I know your family will be very happy when they open those boxes." Several agreed and talked about how delicious that sounded.
As the conversation in line behind me when on to how making jellies and preserves was almost a lost art, I continued my conversation with the elderly couple. You could hear the pride in his voice and see the love in his eyes as he told me their family always asked for these goodies from her. She told me there would have been pear preserves too, but their pears weren't good enough to do anything with this year.
When the boxes were all labeled, the clerk gave them the total cost for mailing the packages. She laughed and said, "Well we knew it would be on up there." He merely nodded and smiled as he swiped his card.
Their business was done and as they left, they cordially said goodbye to all of us in line behind them. I bought my stamps and left the post office. They were still in the parking lot. Like any true Southern gentleman, he was helping his lady get into the car.
Once more, I wished them "Merry Christmas." I went about the rest of my day with a much lighter heart. Simply being around that much goodness was uplifting. They were such a sweet couple and happy to be able to send a box full of love to those they loved.
I think the joy was contagious. By the time I left, the little post office was full of people waiting to conduct business. Yet, no one in line had complained or said the first ill word. That little couple gave quite a few people quite a bit of joy!
Maybe it was the time of year, maybe it was the manner in which the older couple handled themselves, or maybe it was the quiet and gentle way the postal employee took care of his clients - I'm not sure the reason for it; but it was such a blessing to be in the post office that day!
I keep thinking about that sweet couple. The whole incident has been on my mind since it happened. They put so much effort into what they did for their family members. A lot of time went into the making of those jellies and preserves. But there was also a lot of love and joy in that work. They were indeed giving a rare and unique gift.
Most of us realize God gave us the most unique and rare gift of all. He sent His Son from His home in heaven to our home here on earth. This gift came with great love and sacrifice.
Just think about the time Christ gave us.
- approximately 33 years of time on earth -- away from heaven - born of woman and lived to give us a perfect example to follow.
- about 3 1/2 years in ministry - teaching about God and His kingdom - with multitudes thronging Him for what He could do for them -- and the scribes and Pharisees criticizing Him for every move He made.
- 6 to 8 hours of tortuous trials -- shuttled from the Garden to the home of Caiaphas - to the high priest - Pilate - to Herod and back to Pilate. Let's not forget the mocking, slapping, spitting and scourging.
- another agonizing 6 hours of excruciating pain on the cross - where God turned His back on His only son while He took on the sins of the world -- until He gave up the ghost and died.
- 3 days in the grave until His triumphant resurrection
- And finally 40 more days giving final instructions to His apostles before His ascension into heaven to reign on the right hand of God.
Think of the love put into everything Christ our Savior did while He was here. The compassion He had for the sick - the blind, those who were hungry and those who were weary with life. We cannot comprehend the love Jesus has for us. Oh how it pricks our hearts and gives us great joy all at the same time!
Now I know those jars the elderly couple sent from the post office cannot compare to the sacrifice Christ gave us. Nothing any of us could ever do would compare with the precious gift of His life, death and resurrection. But maybe a simple comparison such as this can help us understand that Christ wants us to live a life of love - a life of giving.
The gentleman and his sweet wife did not mind the cost of sending those packages. It gave them great joy. Christ willingly paid the cost for our sins on the cross. And He did it with great joy.
"looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:2)
If our Savior was willing to die for us, shouldn't we be willing to live for Him?
Christ above all things,
Robin Whitley
Sunday, December 23, 2018
Those Foggy Mornings
Twice over the past few days I was surprised to wake up to a think and very hazy fog hugging the ground. I know fog is a naturally occurring phenomenon . Foggy mornings are not that unusual. Maybe it was because I was driving or maybe it is just because I am more observant these days. Either way, these two very different occurrences had an impact on me.
The first morning was a couple of weeks ago. The temperature fell during the night, so we woke up to a 'freezing fog.' It was both eerie and beautiful at the same time. My Dad captured it in a photo. It was the morning of December 11th.
The first morning was a couple of weeks ago. The temperature fell during the night, so we woke up to a 'freezing fog.' It was both eerie and beautiful at the same time. My Dad captured it in a photo. It was the morning of December 11th.
But the picture doesn't do justice to the real beauty of that morning. Of course it was very thick and visibility was low. Caution was required when driving. I don't remember being afraid, though. Oh I was alert and watchful as I drove to work, but somehow not afraid.
I guess I was mesmerized. I felt isolated - but in a good way. It was so quiet and calming. It felt like God was making His presence known - like He wanted my attention.
With fog that thick, I had to slow down. When my driving slowed, my mind stopped racing from one thought to another as it so often does. I forgot about the daily rat race so many of us are in. My thoughts turned immediately to our Heavenly Father. I forgot all my troubles and began thanking Him for the beauty of the moment.
As if to crown the morning with His glory, I was almost at my workplace when the fog dissipated and the sun broke through the mist. The sky above was bright and beautiful - reminding me again of His awesome power and majesty. I could not help but smile as I praised Him.
On the morning of December 17th I woke up once again surprised by a foggy mist clinging to the earth. I just hadn't expected it. For me this time was a totally different experience. The fog was so thick it seemed like I could reach out and touch it.
I saw more danger this time than I did in the freezing fog. I could barely see the lights of other cars through the thick mist. On my 22 mile trek to work, I passed Highway Patrolmen four different times in different places. Two of these were at accident scenes.
Was the fog really that much worse or did drivers just fail to be as diligent as they were a week ago? As for me, I made a wrong turn. I exited the highway several miles earlier than I should have. I didn't realize it until it was too late.
I couldn't see around me to figure out where I was, so I was lost .... really lost. Fortunately, I saw a road sign fairly quickly and got my bearings again. It was scary!
This time the sun didn't break through the fog before I got to work. It was shining brightly by the time I went out to lunch though. Again, I couldn't help but smile and be thankful.
These two very different mornings helped me remember a few things.
- Isolate yourself from the rest of the world occasionally. Connect to God in those quiet times. Give Him the attention He deserves. God wants us to be with us. Seek Him out. "The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth" (Psalm 145:18).
- Recognize the power and majesty behind the beauty of the day. "Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! (Psalm 46:10).
- Be aware of your surroundings danger is always near. Peter warns us of this. "Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8).
- One wrong turn can cause you to be lost.
- Look for the right road signs to get back on track. Let the Bible guide your way.
- When the clouds are so thick around you that you can't see anything else, don't give up. The Son is always there - and if we don't give up - His light eventually breaks through even the thickest mist. "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33).
Remember God will always be with us if we want Him to be. In times of beauty and joy, in times of light, in times of darkness and uncertainty, look for the right signs. Stay with Him regardless of your situation. His light will always guide your way.
Christ above all things,
Robin
Monday, December 10, 2018
Starting Over Again
It has been such a long time since I posted anything here. Honestly for a while there I began to think this blog had become a fond memory. I enjoy writing; but some time ago I allowed myself to get distracted.
The times I posted just got farther and farther apart and eventually stopped altogether. A few days ago, something happened which made me think it would be a good analogy to use for my blog. It was then I realized how much I missed this.
My writing helps me focus on the importance of living for Christ. Life is full of moments that remind me of God and I get excited when I do. That is why I started this blog several years ago - to share these moments. So here I am again --starting over --and grateful for the opportunity.
This reminds me of how wonderful it is when God gives us the chance to start again. The Bible is full of stories about new beginnings. Abraham was called by God to leave his home - and his father Terah -- all that was familiar to him and go "to the land I will show you" (Genesis 12:1). God didn't even give Abraham a specific destination. He just told Abraham to leave from where he was. And Abraham did so without hesitation.
Some people had to start over again because of circumstances outside of their control. Lot had to leave Sodom and Gomorrah behind because the Lord was going to destroy those cities. What about Noah and his family? Talk about starting over!
Joseph had to start over when his brothers sold him to slave traders. Actually, let's look at Joseph's life in more detail. He had to learn how to live without the privileges of the wealth of his father. Even more devastating was the fact he had to learn how to live without his father's loving presence.
Then after settling into his role as Potipher's servant, his master's wife falsely accused him and he was put in prison. He had to deal with another betrayal -- another adjustment. The next new beginning came when he interpreted Pharoah's dream. He went from prisoner to be in charge of the entire kingdom. Still Joseph was without his family.
Finally, Joseph was reunited with his brothers and his father. For Joseph perhaps this new beginning was the best one of all! He graciously forgave his brothers and was with his beloved father once again. His brothers had the chance to be reconciled to Joseph and the family was reunited once more.
How many times throughout the Old Testament did the nation of Israel turn their back on God, fall into idolatry and then come back to Him with repentant hearts? This is representative of one who becomes a Christian -- a new creation after baptism. The old way of life is put away and a new path is chosen -- the right path.
All of these are types of new beginnings. I am so happy God gives us these examples. It gives me great comfort to know we have a loving God who is willing to give us the chance to start over again when we stumble and fall.
The thing is starting again with God is our choice. Abraham chose to follow God and start a new life away from everything he knew. Joseph chose to not to give up when his life changed again and again. We choose to become new creatures in Christ and live our lives for Him.
Living the Christian life is a struggle sometimes. The devil is strong. He is ever present -- lurking in the shadows to tempt us when he finds a way in. The good thing is God knows our hearts. Christ lived as a human and He knows what we go through here.
We are going to mess up sometimes -- we aren't perfect and should never pretend to be. The apostle John warns us to be careful about this. The passage found in 1 John 1:7-9 is so beautiful and such a comfort:
"But if we walk in the light, as He in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (ESV).
How wonderful this is! John goes on to tell us in the first verse of chapter 2 we have an advocate with the Father, that is Jesus Christ, the righteous. See, we can always turn back to Him - if we choose to do so. That is the key. We have to love Christ enough to walk in the light. It is only when we make the choice to follow Christ that He becomes our advocate. We must follow His commandments.
Scripture after scripture speaks to us about starting over again -- and we must remember it is never too late to turn back to Him. It is never too late to do the right thing. Jesus wants to be with us; but it is up to us to make that move.
So if you need to get your spiritual life back on track, go ahead and make the move. If you get discouraged from time to time or slip up and lose your temper remember to confess to the Father. Our Christian race is often full of obstacles. Sometimes we may fall prey to them. Remember to go to our Advocate - Jesus Christ. Pick yourself up and start again. Our Lord will be with you every step of the way!
Christ above all things,
Robin
The times I posted just got farther and farther apart and eventually stopped altogether. A few days ago, something happened which made me think it would be a good analogy to use for my blog. It was then I realized how much I missed this.
My writing helps me focus on the importance of living for Christ. Life is full of moments that remind me of God and I get excited when I do. That is why I started this blog several years ago - to share these moments. So here I am again --starting over --and grateful for the opportunity.
This reminds me of how wonderful it is when God gives us the chance to start again. The Bible is full of stories about new beginnings. Abraham was called by God to leave his home - and his father Terah -- all that was familiar to him and go "to the land I will show you" (Genesis 12:1). God didn't even give Abraham a specific destination. He just told Abraham to leave from where he was. And Abraham did so without hesitation.
Some people had to start over again because of circumstances outside of their control. Lot had to leave Sodom and Gomorrah behind because the Lord was going to destroy those cities. What about Noah and his family? Talk about starting over!
Joseph had to start over when his brothers sold him to slave traders. Actually, let's look at Joseph's life in more detail. He had to learn how to live without the privileges of the wealth of his father. Even more devastating was the fact he had to learn how to live without his father's loving presence.
Then after settling into his role as Potipher's servant, his master's wife falsely accused him and he was put in prison. He had to deal with another betrayal -- another adjustment. The next new beginning came when he interpreted Pharoah's dream. He went from prisoner to be in charge of the entire kingdom. Still Joseph was without his family.
Finally, Joseph was reunited with his brothers and his father. For Joseph perhaps this new beginning was the best one of all! He graciously forgave his brothers and was with his beloved father once again. His brothers had the chance to be reconciled to Joseph and the family was reunited once more.
How many times throughout the Old Testament did the nation of Israel turn their back on God, fall into idolatry and then come back to Him with repentant hearts? This is representative of one who becomes a Christian -- a new creation after baptism. The old way of life is put away and a new path is chosen -- the right path.
All of these are types of new beginnings. I am so happy God gives us these examples. It gives me great comfort to know we have a loving God who is willing to give us the chance to start over again when we stumble and fall.
The thing is starting again with God is our choice. Abraham chose to follow God and start a new life away from everything he knew. Joseph chose to not to give up when his life changed again and again. We choose to become new creatures in Christ and live our lives for Him.
Living the Christian life is a struggle sometimes. The devil is strong. He is ever present -- lurking in the shadows to tempt us when he finds a way in. The good thing is God knows our hearts. Christ lived as a human and He knows what we go through here.
We are going to mess up sometimes -- we aren't perfect and should never pretend to be. The apostle John warns us to be careful about this. The passage found in 1 John 1:7-9 is so beautiful and such a comfort:
"But if we walk in the light, as He in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (ESV).
How wonderful this is! John goes on to tell us in the first verse of chapter 2 we have an advocate with the Father, that is Jesus Christ, the righteous. See, we can always turn back to Him - if we choose to do so. That is the key. We have to love Christ enough to walk in the light. It is only when we make the choice to follow Christ that He becomes our advocate. We must follow His commandments.
Scripture after scripture speaks to us about starting over again -- and we must remember it is never too late to turn back to Him. It is never too late to do the right thing. Jesus wants to be with us; but it is up to us to make that move.
So if you need to get your spiritual life back on track, go ahead and make the move. If you get discouraged from time to time or slip up and lose your temper remember to confess to the Father. Our Christian race is often full of obstacles. Sometimes we may fall prey to them. Remember to go to our Advocate - Jesus Christ. Pick yourself up and start again. Our Lord will be with you every step of the way!
Christ above all things,
Robin
Sunday, September 9, 2018
Pony Tails and Flat Irons
Tuesday morning I noticed how cute one of my younger co-workers looked. Almost all the people I work with are younger than I am; but I digress. Anyway, I told another co-worker how pretty I thought the other woman was.
She was dressed neatly but casually. Her hair was in a simple but classic pony tail. I voiced a wish my hair looked that good in that style. I have plenty of hair but it is fine and straight. I went on to say my pony tails always looked thin and just hung lifelessly. Her hair was full and bouncy.
My friend said, "You know she uses a flat iron on her hair right?" I was a little surprised ... I said, "Even when she pulls it back like that?" She nodded yes. Well, that made me stop and think. This meant there was work involved - even with such a simple style.
As I thought about the time and effort put into having a pretty pony tail, I began to think about our spiritual lives. It takes time and effort to grow closer to God -- to be Christ like in our dealings with others -- to develop our faith -- and our love. Just as we have to be willing to put extra time into our physical appearance, we have to be willing to put extra time into our spiritual lives.
Hebrews 11:6 says: "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him" (NKJ). There are so many profound thoughts here in just one verse. Think about it ... do we believe that He is? Yes! Do we understand that God rewards those who diligently seek Him?
At dictionary.com the word diligently is defined as being "constant in effort to accomplish something; attentive and persistent in doing anything." Do we want our Father's reward? Are we willing to put in the work it takes? Or are we satisfied with what is easiest?
Doing what is easiest is a dangerous mindset, especially when it comes to our eternal souls! Just as it takes time and effort to present a more pleasing physical appearance; it takes time and effort to grow and develop our faith.
Please let us not be lazy about our souls! Let us always keep eternity in mind. Seek Him ... through constant prayer and Bible study. This is where we find Him first. The Bible contains the most beautiful story ever told.
Isn't wonderful to see how certain scriptures go hand in hand with each other? God's word works like that. According to 2 Timothy 2:15 we are to "be diligent (there's that word again) to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
We must study the Truth and study it attentively. We will not be ashamed to work for Him if we are using the Truth correctly. If we do not study we will not know what to do to follow the Father's will. If we take only part of the Truth or if we twist it around somehow, our Heavenly Father will not be pleased with us.
We come to God through His truth. Remember Christ said "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me"(John 14:6). So when we study scripture we are essentially learning of Christ. Hopefully, the more we study and learn about Jesus the more our love for Him will grow.
Communication with God is not just a one way street. We hear from God through the Bible. He hears us through our prayers. This is another way to draw closer to our God. It is vital to the Christian's life.
Scripture tells us to be "constant in prayer" (Romans 12:12) and to "continue steadfastly in prayer being watchful in it with thanksgiving" (Colossians 4:2). Remember our definition of diligence -- "constant in effort" and "attentive and persistent?" The very definition of diligence is used in these two passages.
Going back to Hebrews 11:6 - if we want to please God, we must diligently seek Him. We seek Him through diligent Bible study. Yet 2 Timothy 2:15 mentions something else. It mentions being a worker. Paul is talking about working and serving the Lord. If we truly look for Jesus -- if we truly want to be with Him -- to walk with Him, then we must be willing to do His will. We must work at what we study.
Let us not forget the importance of prayer. We must remember what a blessing prayer is. There is an amazing peace that comes with being constant in our prayer life. Yes, it is a command -- but my oh my, the rewards we will gain!
Seeking God requires time and effort. We must train ourselves to spend time with Him and we must teach ourselves to live like Christ did. It is not always easy. It takes diligence on our part. I daresay it takes more time than it does to fix our hair.
Do we want to come to God? Will we be constant, attentive and persistent? It is totally our decision to make. No one else can decide for us. It takes commitment and it definitely is not always easy. But we must remember "He rewards those who diligently seek Him."
Christ above all things,
Robin
She was dressed neatly but casually. Her hair was in a simple but classic pony tail. I voiced a wish my hair looked that good in that style. I have plenty of hair but it is fine and straight. I went on to say my pony tails always looked thin and just hung lifelessly. Her hair was full and bouncy.
My friend said, "You know she uses a flat iron on her hair right?" I was a little surprised ... I said, "Even when she pulls it back like that?" She nodded yes. Well, that made me stop and think. This meant there was work involved - even with such a simple style.
As I thought about the time and effort put into having a pretty pony tail, I began to think about our spiritual lives. It takes time and effort to grow closer to God -- to be Christ like in our dealings with others -- to develop our faith -- and our love. Just as we have to be willing to put extra time into our physical appearance, we have to be willing to put extra time into our spiritual lives.
Hebrews 11:6 says: "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him" (NKJ). There are so many profound thoughts here in just one verse. Think about it ... do we believe that He is? Yes! Do we understand that God rewards those who diligently seek Him?
At dictionary.com the word diligently is defined as being "constant in effort to accomplish something; attentive and persistent in doing anything." Do we want our Father's reward? Are we willing to put in the work it takes? Or are we satisfied with what is easiest?
Doing what is easiest is a dangerous mindset, especially when it comes to our eternal souls! Just as it takes time and effort to present a more pleasing physical appearance; it takes time and effort to grow and develop our faith.
Please let us not be lazy about our souls! Let us always keep eternity in mind. Seek Him ... through constant prayer and Bible study. This is where we find Him first. The Bible contains the most beautiful story ever told.
Isn't wonderful to see how certain scriptures go hand in hand with each other? God's word works like that. According to 2 Timothy 2:15 we are to "be diligent (there's that word again) to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
We must study the Truth and study it attentively. We will not be ashamed to work for Him if we are using the Truth correctly. If we do not study we will not know what to do to follow the Father's will. If we take only part of the Truth or if we twist it around somehow, our Heavenly Father will not be pleased with us.
We come to God through His truth. Remember Christ said "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me"(John 14:6). So when we study scripture we are essentially learning of Christ. Hopefully, the more we study and learn about Jesus the more our love for Him will grow.
Communication with God is not just a one way street. We hear from God through the Bible. He hears us through our prayers. This is another way to draw closer to our God. It is vital to the Christian's life.
Scripture tells us to be "constant in prayer" (Romans 12:12) and to "continue steadfastly in prayer being watchful in it with thanksgiving" (Colossians 4:2). Remember our definition of diligence -- "constant in effort" and "attentive and persistent?" The very definition of diligence is used in these two passages.
Going back to Hebrews 11:6 - if we want to please God, we must diligently seek Him. We seek Him through diligent Bible study. Yet 2 Timothy 2:15 mentions something else. It mentions being a worker. Paul is talking about working and serving the Lord. If we truly look for Jesus -- if we truly want to be with Him -- to walk with Him, then we must be willing to do His will. We must work at what we study.
Let us not forget the importance of prayer. We must remember what a blessing prayer is. There is an amazing peace that comes with being constant in our prayer life. Yes, it is a command -- but my oh my, the rewards we will gain!
Seeking God requires time and effort. We must train ourselves to spend time with Him and we must teach ourselves to live like Christ did. It is not always easy. It takes diligence on our part. I daresay it takes more time than it does to fix our hair.
Do we want to come to God? Will we be constant, attentive and persistent? It is totally our decision to make. No one else can decide for us. It takes commitment and it definitely is not always easy. But we must remember "He rewards those who diligently seek Him."
Christ above all things,
Robin
Monday, September 3, 2018
Holding On
A
certain verse has come to my mind quite often over the last few months. Somehow this
passage keeps coming back around to me. It is short and easy to
remember, but goes straight to the point.
“But test everything; hold fast to what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21
ESV).
In context, the verse refers to the
word of God. The verse directly before
tells us “Despise not prophecies” (v. 20).
We are to heed teachings of God’s word but it is important to ‘test the
teacher’ … read and study on our own to make sure the teaching is Truth. We know false prophets (teachers) have always
been around. It is up to us to sort out
what is good and hold on to it.
Yet for the student of God’s word,
holding fast to the good can be applied to many (if not all) situations in
life. This makes sense to me because what is good inevitably goes back to scripture anyway. Maybe that is why the words keep
coming to my mind over and over again.
They are actually a comfort to me, for holding on to the good means
doing the right thing.
Suppose someone at work is rude – maybe
she comes through the office speaking to everyone but me or you. Do we greet her anyway? Well, if we are holding on to what is good we
certainly do. Why? Because the Christ tells us not to return
evil for evil.
If we walk up to a group who happen to be gossiping about someone
do we eagerly join in or do the good thing – the right thing? Test the scripture to see what it says. You will find Matthew 7:12 – what we call the
Golden Rule. Is it good to “Do unto
others as we would have them do unto us?”
Yes!! Would you want someone to
gossip about you? No? Then don’t participate. Hold on to the good!
This verse is applicable in so many
ways. When a sister in Christ is
rejoicing over a promotion or a new car, what should we do? Do we complain and pout about how old our
vehicle is? Romans 12:15 says “Rejoice
with those who rejoice.” So we hold on
to the good and share in her joy!
When we are weary – when we are so
bowed down with all the sorrows, storms and trials the world throws our way – Christ
tells us “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you
rest.” This is wonderful! Hold on to it … hold on with all our
heart! Take His yoke and walk with
Him. He promises we will find rest for
our souls.
The world is so full of darkness –
strife and division seems to be all around us.
Jesus says “I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows me will not
walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). We can “cast our cares on Him, for He cares for
us.” If we are faithful followers, we
can hold on to His promises. He has
promised not to leave us or forsake us. We
can find strength, courage and comfort in God’s faithfulness. We can hold on to what is good.
Think about Job. Even with all the losses he suffered, when
the devil afflicted him with those painful boils his wife said, “Do you still hold
fast your integrity? Curse God and die.” Job replied, “Shall we receive good from God,
and shall we not receive evil? In all this Job did not sin with his lips” (Job
2:8-10). Job held on to the good.
When we are overcome with the beauty of
the earth and sky – when the magnificence of what we see literally takes our
breath away – we can praise Him for His awesome creation. We can thank Him for our five senses we use
to take it all in. “God saw all that He had made, and it was very good”
(Genesis 1:31a). We can hold on to the
fact our Creator is good.
And when we look back over our lives, as
we all do sometimes, we should remember where all the good comes from. “Every good and every perfect gift is from
above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation
or shadow due to change” (James 1:17).
All these things are good. All these things are worth holding on
to. I was actually surprised to find the
phrase ‘hold fast’ or ‘holding fast’ appears in scripture 36 times. All
but four of these refer to the Lord, the scripture or something within God’s
will. It is definitely a topical study
one could benefit from.
Holding fast means to hold on tight! Don’t let go.
Don’t give in and don’t give up.
Thank God for the goodness in your life.
Realize it is there. Especially
thank Him for our spiritual blessings through Christ Jesus.
Romans 12:9 says “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is
good.” Why is holding on so
important? Why should it matter?
Here is why. Jesus says: “I am coming soon.
Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown”
(Revelation 3:11).
Christ
above all things,
Robin
Saturday, August 11, 2018
Who's the Smartest?
He came into the classroom the same way he always did - full of energy, big brown eyes shining and a smile as bright as his mind. Like the other children in the class, he was eager to tell me about the adventures of his day. As we chatted a few minutes before the lesson, the conversation got pretty interesting.
I don't remember exactly how it came about, but our exchange went something like this:
Him: 'I'm smarter than God.'
Me: 'Oh, you are very smart, but no one is smarter than God.'
Him: 'I am.'
Me: 'No, honey - we can't be smarter than God.' Him: (Pointing in the direction of the road) 'Well I know
that road right out there is 145.'
Me: 'You're right. But God made us and He
knows everything about us.'
I couldn't help but smile. He spoke in such innocence. I think two and three year old children are wonderful. They constantly challenge one's thinking. This is good for both the child and the grown up.
Unfortunately, many adults in this world believe they are smarter than God. It seems we witness more and more of this philosophy in the world today. Growing numbers of people think Christians are dumb, superstitious and narrow minded. Then again, maybe it is just I am noticing it more and more.
At any rate, according to the world the Bible is a book of fairy tales. None of the incredible events recorded in its pages could possibly be true. How could anyone possibly believe that stuff? It is ludicrous -- right? Wrong!!!
To be honest, it all comes down to choice. Either we choose to believe in God or we don't. The Bible is either Truth or it isn't. Either a divine Creator gave us life and made our beautiful world or the world evolved over billions of years. These arguments are not at all new. The battle between a belief in God or not has been going on almost since the world began.
Quite frankly, I find it easier to believe in creation than in any other theory out there. I think it takes more faith to believe in some 'big bang' than it does to believe the earth was exquisitely designed by an omniscient God. Many would argue that point, but most people I know place their trust in creation by God.
If we believe in God and His power to create the world do we believe His Word? There are some who believe in God; but do not believe in His Son. Others believe in the Son - but only accept parts of the Bible - or say they believe in Christ - but not the church.
A certain passage keeps running through my mind. It is 1 Corinthians 1:18 -25.
"For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God (v. 18 ESV). I won't quote the entire passage here, but I encourage you to read it. In these verses the inspired apostle explains the opposing viewpoints perfectly.
God has made foolish the wisdom of the world. Those who believe or trust in their own wisdom will one day perish. An unbeliever might live many years on this earth - but they are perishing (or dying) spiritually.
Paul said the Jews seek signs -- maybe because they read in the scriptures about all the signs God gave His people -- the 10 plagues, the crossing of the Red Sea, the fall of Jericho, Jonah surviving three days in the belly of a great fish. The signs of God's greatness was a huge part of their culture. They were God's chosen people and they took great pride in that claim.
And yet, Jesus Himself gave them many signs - "mighty works and wonders and signs" Peter called them in Acts 2:22 - and still they did not believe in Christ, the Son of the Living God. Why? It was foolish to them He should die on a cross. It was foolish to them when He did not establish the earthly kingdom which would deliver them from captivity once and for all.
Just as the history of God's mighty works were part of the Jewish culture, so the desire for knowledge was part of Greek culture. Paul said "the Greeks seek wisdom" (1 Cor. 1:22). The Athenians (Greeks) emphasized philosophy, logic and literature. They took great pride in their intellect.
Things had to make sense to the Greeks. It was not logical for the son of a god (remember they believed in a plurality of gods) to allow himself to die in such a shameful way. It just didn't make any sense. What foolishness! Why would One so powerful do such a thing?
Yet Jesus Christ was the Son of the only God and He did just that. Neither the unbelieving Jews nor the Greeks understood the simplicity of Christ dying on a cross for a dying world. It was a simple act of love. But they had illusions of grandeur. God and His Son were supposed to be bigger - smarter -more powerful than all that.
This is the wisdom of the cross. This is the mystery of God revealed. The Savior showed the world nothing is bigger than a selfless act of sacrifice. Nothing is smarter than conquering death through a glorious resurrection. And nothing is more powerful than the purity of love.
"For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men" (1 Cor. 1:25).
Christ above all things,
Robin
I don't remember exactly how it came about, but our exchange went something like this:
Him: 'I'm smarter than God.'
Me: 'Oh, you are very smart, but no one is smarter than God.'
Him: 'I am.'
Me: 'No, honey - we can't be smarter than God.' Him: (Pointing in the direction of the road) 'Well I know
that road right out there is 145.'
Me: 'You're right. But God made us and He
knows everything about us.'
I couldn't help but smile. He spoke in such innocence. I think two and three year old children are wonderful. They constantly challenge one's thinking. This is good for both the child and the grown up.
Unfortunately, many adults in this world believe they are smarter than God. It seems we witness more and more of this philosophy in the world today. Growing numbers of people think Christians are dumb, superstitious and narrow minded. Then again, maybe it is just I am noticing it more and more.
At any rate, according to the world the Bible is a book of fairy tales. None of the incredible events recorded in its pages could possibly be true. How could anyone possibly believe that stuff? It is ludicrous -- right? Wrong!!!
To be honest, it all comes down to choice. Either we choose to believe in God or we don't. The Bible is either Truth or it isn't. Either a divine Creator gave us life and made our beautiful world or the world evolved over billions of years. These arguments are not at all new. The battle between a belief in God or not has been going on almost since the world began.
Quite frankly, I find it easier to believe in creation than in any other theory out there. I think it takes more faith to believe in some 'big bang' than it does to believe the earth was exquisitely designed by an omniscient God. Many would argue that point, but most people I know place their trust in creation by God.
If we believe in God and His power to create the world do we believe His Word? There are some who believe in God; but do not believe in His Son. Others believe in the Son - but only accept parts of the Bible - or say they believe in Christ - but not the church.
A certain passage keeps running through my mind. It is 1 Corinthians 1:18 -25.
"For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God (v. 18 ESV). I won't quote the entire passage here, but I encourage you to read it. In these verses the inspired apostle explains the opposing viewpoints perfectly.
God has made foolish the wisdom of the world. Those who believe or trust in their own wisdom will one day perish. An unbeliever might live many years on this earth - but they are perishing (or dying) spiritually.
Paul said the Jews seek signs -- maybe because they read in the scriptures about all the signs God gave His people -- the 10 plagues, the crossing of the Red Sea, the fall of Jericho, Jonah surviving three days in the belly of a great fish. The signs of God's greatness was a huge part of their culture. They were God's chosen people and they took great pride in that claim.
And yet, Jesus Himself gave them many signs - "mighty works and wonders and signs" Peter called them in Acts 2:22 - and still they did not believe in Christ, the Son of the Living God. Why? It was foolish to them He should die on a cross. It was foolish to them when He did not establish the earthly kingdom which would deliver them from captivity once and for all.
Just as the history of God's mighty works were part of the Jewish culture, so the desire for knowledge was part of Greek culture. Paul said "the Greeks seek wisdom" (1 Cor. 1:22). The Athenians (Greeks) emphasized philosophy, logic and literature. They took great pride in their intellect.
Things had to make sense to the Greeks. It was not logical for the son of a god (remember they believed in a plurality of gods) to allow himself to die in such a shameful way. It just didn't make any sense. What foolishness! Why would One so powerful do such a thing?
Yet Jesus Christ was the Son of the only God and He did just that. Neither the unbelieving Jews nor the Greeks understood the simplicity of Christ dying on a cross for a dying world. It was a simple act of love. But they had illusions of grandeur. God and His Son were supposed to be bigger - smarter -more powerful than all that.
This is the wisdom of the cross. This is the mystery of God revealed. The Savior showed the world nothing is bigger than a selfless act of sacrifice. Nothing is smarter than conquering death through a glorious resurrection. And nothing is more powerful than the purity of love.
"For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men" (1 Cor. 1:25).
Christ above all things,
Robin
Saturday, July 28, 2018
Light and Grace
Yesterday we celebrated the life of
a great lady named Mildred Cole. After 100 years, Mildred left her earthly home early
Wednesday morning. Her bright shining
light is now finally at home with the Father of lights. She was truly a lady to be respected and
admired.
Mildred was one of my role
models. She lived her life with strength,
grace and dignity. She literally graced
this earth for 100 years. I believe she was loved by all who knew her. Yesterday seemed to prove this true as people
of all ages were there to honor her.
Sometimes it seems words are never
enough – to explain what someone meant to us – to speak of the love and joy one
gave – or to comfort the loved ones left behind. But the heart speaks the words we cannot say
and shows the love and comfort we long to give.
Sometimes words do not have to be spoken. Sometimes they are simply felt.
Mildred was a wonderful example of
a Christian. God always came first in
her life. She wanted others to love and
serve Him too. She often encouraged the young
men when they led singing or gave a devotional.
Mildred showed an interest in them and they loved her for it.
As Tony Brown reminded us
yesterday, Mildred lived through things in her lifetime we can only read or
study about. Being born in 1918, she was
a child during the Great Depression. She
was only 23 when Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Japanese in 1941. She lived through the assassination of JFK
and Neil Armstrong’s walk on the moon.
We can only read about the Great Depression and WW2 – Mildred lived
through it. She knew what it
was like because she was there.
She dearly loved her husband, Pete.
They were married for almost 70 years before he passed away. Pete and Mildred were two of the people who
helped form the congregation of Hillcrest Church of Christ in Baldwyn, MS. Pete was an elder and Mildred filled the role
of an elder’s wife gracefully.
Pete and Mildred worked actively
with the teens in their church family. They
were a bright shining light for those young people. The couple often hosted youth
events in their home. My brother Todd
attended Hillcrest for a few years. He
had a great respect for both of them.
In fact, Todd asked Pete to be a
groomsman in his wedding in Nashville.
Oh, Mildred was so happy for Pete! She was so proud of him. It meant the world to her that Todd loved
Pete enough to ask him to be a part of his wedding. I still remember her smiles that day. She simply glowed with love and pride for the
husband she loved so well.
Mildred was always serving God in
one fashion or another. She was a
wonderful cook and graced many homes with her fine dishes. She and her good friend Daisy Rowland prepared
fruit baskets for the elderly and needy.
Oh, they had help – but it was their project. In doing so, they brought a little light to
those who needed it.
I don’t know how long Mildred
served refreshments during Vacation Bible School. Forty years later some of us
still remember her passing out cookies. She
often served in the background – doing those very necessary things most people
don’t think about but still always takes a good bit of time and effort.
Another way Mildred and Pete served
Christ was by working as cooks at Maywood Christian Camp. Talk about hard work! But they loved the camp. It meant so much to them to see young people
grow stronger in Christ while they were there.
I still remember seeing Mildred walking through the camp between cooking
and serving meals.
Mildred and Pete lost their
youngest son during his first semester at Freed-Hardeman University. I didn’t know them back then. But this is
something no parent ever expects to go through.
Despite their grief, the couple never lost their faith in God. Even during this sad time in her life, the
word a friend recently used to describe Mildred was “grace.” And a few months later, when
another couple lost their daughter, Mildred and Pete were right there to offer
comfort to the family.
When our Christian brother Pete
left this world, Mildred continued to be graceful, strong and courageous. She kept on loving and serving the Heavenly
Father. She maintained her joy in
Christ. I’m sure her faith was the major
factor that kept her going.
Mildred loved her family. She always spoke of her children and
grandchildren with such a keen love. I
remember how bright her smile was when she talked about them and their
accomplishments. I also remember her happiness
when they were there to be with her for worship.
Mildred loved life. She had a great sense of humor and loved
playing dominoes and card games. She enjoyed
being a lady and dressing like one. She
was always neat as a pin. Personally, I
thought Mildred was a beautiful woman.
Perhaps her joy, compassion, goodness and love for God is what made her
beautiful.
Whatever it was, Mildred was a
beacon of light to those who knew her. Like
Russ and Tony said yesterday, she could brighten a room by her presence. Mildred was the type of person others wanted
to be around. And she never stopped
talking to others about Jesus.
If I had to use one word to
describe Mrs. Mildred Cole, I just wouldn’t be able to do it. I would have to use at least two. Light and grace.
Mildred was light and grace.... and I will miss her.
Christ above all things,
Robin
Sunday, July 8, 2018
An Unknown God
As he walked the streets of Athens, Paul became upset. The whole city was full of idols. Everywhere he turned an altar was set up for yet another god.
What was Paul to do? He was alone in a strange town full of unfamiliar people. Their ways were foreign to him and they worshiped strange unfamiliar gods.
Well, Paul did what he always did in a new town. He taught and preached Jesus. In the synagogue, he talked with the Jews and devout Greeks who believed in God. He also went to the marketplace every day and spoke to whoever happened to be there.
Now the Athenians loved to hear about new things. Some of them spent their time doing nothing else. What Paul said was surely strange to them. They had never heard of Christ and the resurrection.
So they took Paul to the Aeropagus where he had an even bigger audience. Here he had the ear of the most noble men in the city - the judicial council of Athens. What a great opportunity to speak of God and His Son!
They asked Paul about the strange teaching he was presenting. They wanted to know what these new ideas meant. Here is when Paul begins to tell them about the God they did not know.
This beautiful sermon is recorded in Acts 17:22-31. As we see in verses 32- 34, Paul's words were met with mixed reactions. The same is true anytime God's word is taught. Not everyone is willing to acknowledge the Truth when they hear it.
For time's sake, we will not go through Paul's entire sermon; but he uses the city's idolatry and the altar to "an unknown god" as a springboard for telling his audience about the One True and Living God. He explains God is not made with hands but instead we all come from Him. He made us all.
Can you imagine what Paul would think today if he walked the streets of Anytown, USA? Would he see altars to all sorts of gods? Would he be upset about idolatry here? No? Are you sure?
Mmmm..... let's think about this a minute. What would he see? Well he would see televisions in many homes. He would see universities -"institutions of higher learning." He would see folks sitting in front of computers or holding technology in their hands. He would watch them engrossed in playing the newest video game.
Would Paul see idolatry here? Would he see huge sports stadiums in major towns and ball fields all over the country? Would he see parents rushing to and fro to get their children to said ball fields for practice or weekend tournaments? We know this isn't idolatry in the same sense the Athenians practiced it. But ....
Long ago Paul told the Athenians about a God they did not know. But how many of us truly know God here and now? Oh, perhaps we worship with others on Sunday morning. Perhaps we sing His praises in buildings throughout the country. But do we really know our God -
or do we simply pretend to know Him?
Do we sometimes go through the routine of worship while our mind wanders aimlessly to just about anything else under the sun? How often do we take the time to acknowledge we ALL come from Him? Do we race through our busy lives and think only of God in passing?
There is a difference between knowing who God is and knowing God. Our Heavenly Father wants both. He is our Creator -- He is all knowing and all powerful. Scripture tells us who God is. Our faith is built upon this premise.
Knowing God comes through spending time with Him. This means willingly bringing Him into our lives --seeking Him through prayer. When we know God, we realize His goodness and recognize the blessings He bestows on us.
Paul told the Athenians God is not something made with hands. The Lord doesn't live in man made temples. Just because we don't live in Athens in the first century, doesn't mean we don't have temples. Think about that.
I am not saying anything is wrong with television or ballgames or higher education, or even our technological toys. We all know that. I am saying we should be very careful. Sometimes we put things "made" ahead of the One who made all things. I think this is a battle most of us fight from time to time.
It is such an easy trap to fall into. Remember though, the devil doesn't care who or what we put first in our lives as long as it is not God. That dark liar gives us plenty to choose from. The result is all the same. They will all render the same eternal consequence.
The Heavenly Father does care. In fact, He is pretty adamant. God wants us to put Him first. With the Lord there is only one choice. It takes love, faith, courage and self-discipline to follow through. The result? The result is so much more glorious than anything we could ever imagine!
Do we know God? Or do we sometimes have so many other "gods" that the Living God becomes unknown to us? Yes, it is true nothing is wrong with any of the things I mentioned earlier. However we should all remember--
the only way to make sure we find God wherever we go is if we take Him there.
Christ above all things,
Robin
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