Priorities

 PRIORITIES

“But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.” - Acts 6:4

For some time, I've tried to begin a new year with one word that captures my emphasis for the following twelve months. For 2023, the word is priorities.

We can't accomplish everything that we'd like to accomplish in life. There are just 24 hours in a day. The demands of work, family, church and home can easily drain us of our time. The fact is that we can't create more time. The best we can do is properly manage our use of available time.

The proper management of available time requires the setting and keeping of proper priorities. Setting priorities can be very simple. Yet most people can't articulate their priorities because they never given them any thought. Once priorities are set, keeping these priorities requires diligence and determination.

The apostles faced a crisis in Acts chapter 6. Grecian believers were complaining that the apostles had neglected them in the distribution of food. In response to the complaint, the apostles made it very clear that they were too busy to help them. The Bible says, “It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.” While the Grecian believers had a valid complaint, they needed to realize the time restraint that ministers face. Instead, the apostles were led to delegate responsibility. They appointed seven men to address this problem.

It is important to note that the apostles were not shrinking from responsibility, merely delegating certain tasks. Instead, the apostles set priorities for themselves. They said, “But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.” They set a high bar for themselves. Their priorities were simple, yet vital: prayer and the ministry of the Word.

In spite of temptations to do otherwise, I think it is important for ministers to follow the lead of the apostles. Along with family time, we need to keep prayer and the ministry of the Word as our greatest priorities. We have to guard these priorities, because it is easy to depart from them.

You may not be a preacher or evangelist, yet it is important to set and keep proper priorities. There will always be temptations to divert from these priorities, yet we must remain committed to them.

Jesus said, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Notice He said for us to, “ … seek ye first the kingdom of God...” We need to keep first things first.

Let me suggest that you make two things a priority for the upcoming year. First of all, keep prayer a priority. Don't neglect your prayer-life. Let me testify for a moment. My greatest failures have come when I've neglected prayer. When I've failed to pray, God has brought overwhelming circumstances that have driven me to me knees. I wonder how many of these problems I could have avoided if I had prayed like I should. Join with me and learn from my mistakes. Keep prayer a priority.

Secondly, spend time in God's Word daily. Come to the spiritual dinner table every day and feast from God's Word. The Bible is food for the soul. The Bible will give you insight and wisdom. The Scriptures will keep you from mistakes and error. The Word is powerful and alive. Read the Bible to know its Author.

Like the apostles, I want to be faithful in keeping the right priorities. In 2023, I seek to give myself continually to prayer and the ministry of the Word. When the apostles kept these priorities, the Bible says, “And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.”

Let's keep the Lord as our #1 priority in 2023.

Mysteries

 MYSTERIES

“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” - 1 Timothy 3:16

When I was growing up, I loved to read mysteries. In my grade school years, it was the Hardy Boys. As I got older, I transitioned to “whodunit” mysteries from authors like Agatha Christie, Erle Stanley Gardner and Ellery Queen. Even though I primarily read non-fiction today, every one-in-a-while, I'll still read a good mystery.

The only book that I read daily is the Bible. Did you know that the Bible has many mysteries in it? In fact, Paul wrote, “Behold, I shew you a mystery...” You can read the Bible over and over again, yet never be able to resolve many of its mysteries. Some offer trite answers to Biblical mysteries. Yet who can fully understand the Trinity? Who can interpret all of the mysteries surrounding election and predestination? Who can give a suitable explanation about every prophecy of the book of Revelation? When was the last time you heard a sermon about the wheel in the middle of the wheel? Perhaps these subjects are simple to you, but they are mysteries to me.

The ways of God are mysterious to us. If we could fully understand and explain all He does, we would be divine, too. The Bible says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9). In Romans 11:33-34, the Apostle Paul wrote, “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?” To mere humans like ourselves, God's ways are mysterious.

Among the great mysteries is the incarnation of Christ. Somehow, we have gotten used to the story of Christmas. We've lost the awe and wonder of the Savior's birth. Songs, stories and sermons have been dedicated to the telling of the incarnation, yet they have never begun to explain the mysteries found in the Savior's birth.

The fact that God would descend from heaven and take on human flesh is a mystery to me. For the pure Son of God to enter this sin-infested world is something that still amazes me. The Bible tells us that He came because of love, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son...” Who can explain that kind of love? We can understand the love a mother has for her child. We understand the love a man has for his wife. But who can understand the love God has for rebellious mankind? Who can explain God loving His enemies? His love is a sacrificial love. Such love is a supernatural love. Such love is a mystery to me. But I'm glad it's true!

What about His arrival to earth? God is so mighty that our minds cannot comprehend the vast nature of His being. Yet He chose to inhabit the womb of a virgin. That is a mystery to me.

Many pagans argue against the virgin birth of Christ. How can a virgin conceive? They argue that it is impossible for a virgin to have a child. Yet the incarnation of Christ was due to a supernatural work of God. The Bible says, “And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” Can you explain all of this to me? If you can explain this, it would be a natural and not supernatural. The incarnation was supernatural. It remains a mystery.

God came to earth. Think about that sentence again. GOD CAME TO EARTH. Doesn't that amaze you? God became man. Paul put it this way, “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Jesus did not come to give us a holiday. Instead, He came on a mission of love.

God came to earth through a supernatural birth, so He could live a supernatural life, die a sacrificial death and be raised in a supernatural resurrection. All of this was done so that you and I could experience a supernatural rebirth, enjoy His supernatural life and ultimately experience a supernatural resurrection ourselves. I never cease to be amazed at these mysteries.

I will never fully understand the mysteries of the Bible. Yet the more I think about these mysteries, the more I love and worship the One who sits on the throne. One day, the mysteries of life will become crystal clear. Until then, I will gladly serve the One who works in mysterious ways.

What God Sees

WHAT GOD SEES

“... the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” - 1 Samuel 16:7

What does God see when He looks at you? Is He bothered by physical blemishes? Is He disappointed if your hair isn't combed correctly? Is He troubled if your clothes get dirty?

Many of these things matter to us. We take great care with our outward appearance. Whether we're going to work, church or the doctor's office, we make it a point to dress appropriately. We don't want others thinking that we look like something that crawled out of a garbage dump. For most of us, it is important what others think of us and what they perceive us to be.

But do we ever care about what God sees? If we put more concern into pleasing Him than we do impressing others, things would be drastically different in our lives. You see, God is more interested in the state of your heart than in the style of your clothes. He cares about the tenderness and receptivity of your heart than your fashion taste.

When you go to church, you probably spend time in preparation. You take a shower, comb your hair and put on nice clothes. But do you prepare your heart for worship? You may have the proper appearance, but is your heart ready to meet with the saints and praise the Lord?

When Samuel was sent to anoint a king, Jesse presented his sons. Outwardly, each one seemed to be a good candidate. The problem was that God didn't choose any of them. Finally, Samuel said, “Do you have any other sons?” Jesse said he had one more son. When David was brought before Samuel, God told Samuel that David was His choice.

Think about it for a moment. Jesse did not have any confidence that his son, David, was a suitable man for the job. Maybe Samuel thought the same thing. That's what prompted God to say, “... the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” God liked what He saw in David. Jesse only looked externally and felt that his other sons were more qualified. God looked at the heart and knew that David was His man.

It is sad when people look down on others. Perhaps you've been guilty. Maybe you've thought, “This person will never amount to anything.” Such a statement is made because only the external can be seen. We underestimate what God may do with that person. Jesse underestimated what God could do with his son, David.

You may be underestimating what God can do with you. You may have a limited education. You may have limited gifts and talents. Others may seem stronger, smarter or more attractive. Yet these things aren't impressive to God. It is the heart that matters most.

The hectic schedule we face makes it difficult to deal with matters of the heart. Yet God is most interested in this area. Admittedly, it is easier to deal with clothes than character.  While clothes matter, character is far more important to God, and should be to us, too.

Since God is looking on the heart, we need to concentrate on it, too. Proverbs 4:23 instructs us, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”

Every morning, let's get on our knees and talk with God. We need Him to keep our hearts pure and right in His sight. Like the psalmist, let's pray, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

What does God see as He looks at your heart right now?

Ichabod

 

ICHABOD

“And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband. And she said, The glory is departed from Israel: for the ark of God is taken.” - 1 Samuel 4:21-22

I am amazed at the names given to babies these days. It seems like parents want to give their children unique names --- as if the child receives extra credit for having an unusual name. I don't think parents really think about the fact that the child has to grow up using that name. I once knew a grown woman who hated her first name because it was so unique.

In Biblical times, often the name of a child had a meaning that was prophetic of his life. Also, it wasn't unusual for a child's name to reflect an event at his or her birth. Such was the case with Ichabod.

Eli was priest of Israel. On the surface, it didn't seem like Eli was a bad man, but he refused to exercise discipline over his sons. His sons grew up to be very wicked men. Eli's sons abused the priesthood, using the position for manipulation, selfish gain and immorality. Eli refused to step in and stop the wickedness. As a result, Eli and his sons died the same day. Israel lost a hard fought battle. During the battle, Eli's sons died and the ark of the covenant was captured by the enemy. When word reached Eli about his sons and the ark, he fell, broke his neck and died.

The wife of one of Eli's sons was giving birth at the time word got back about the battle. The mother died in child birth. When the child was born, he was named, Ichabod, because the glory had departed from Israel. The name, Ichabod, literally means, "the glory has departed."

Sadly, it appears that the glory has departed in our day.

1. THE GLORY HAS DEPARTED FROM OUR CHURCHES

I can't help but think that we could accurately relabel most of our churches with the name, Ichabod. The glory has departed from most churches. On one hand, some churches encourage excesses that cannot be supported by Scripture. On the other hand, some churches are spiritually dead, showing no sign of any life. Whether it is strange fire or no fire, the cause is the same: the glory has departed.

What has happened to protracted revivals? What has happened to mass baptisms? What has happened to shouting in churches? I know the answer: the glory has departed. In some circles, it seems as though people are trying to manufacture the glory by having lighting shows and emotional entertainment. I guess their thinking is that if the Spirit doesn't move people, maybe a bass guitar will. Regardless, the glory has departed.

2. THE GLORY HAS DEPARTED FROM OUR COUNTRY

A politician recently made the remark that America has never been great. While some of us may disagree with his belief, I think we all can admit that America is not as great as she used to be. The glory has departed. The temptation is to blame everything on politicians. Certainly, they are responsible, to some degree, for America's woes, but when we dig deeper we realize that the real problem is sin. Our nation has embraced sin. Our country has celebrated sin, claiming that we've advanced as a civilization. Corruption, dishonesty, immorality, abortion, homosexuality and transgender rights are among the issues that our nation has tolerated and accepted. If we truly seek God's blessing on our country, we can't be silent or tolerant about issues that He has clearly condemned in His Word. The glory has departed.

3. THE GLORY HAS DEPARTED FROM OUR CITIZENS

While our nation has openly embraced wickedness, the glory has departed from families and individuals. Divorce is a common occurrence in America, even among professing Christians. Cohabitation is considered proper behavior. Drug use is out of control. Suicides are increasing. Racism and hatred is spreading like wildfire. Sexual and physical abuse is a regular headline in our news.

Like Eli's day, the glory has departed from America. Let's learn some lessons from Eli. Why did the glory depart from Israel during the days of Eli? Here are just a few reasons. First of all, there was unholy leadership. The priesthood was contaminated with sin. Eli's sons had desecrated the priesthood with their wicked ways. It is sad to hear about sexual abuse and sexual misconduct among those in leadership. Furthermore, it is shameful to hear of dishonesty, cover-ups and corruption among those in leadership. John Maxwell once said, "Everything rises and falls on leadership." Basically, the people follow the example of their leaders. Ron Dunn once said that the spiritual level of a church will never rise above the spiritual level of its pastor. Unholy leadership is a mark of God's judgment upon the people. Where there is unholy leadership, the glory quickly departs.

Secondly, there was idolatry among the people. The people were treating the Ark of the Covenant like a good-luck charm. They had abandoned God for the worship of the Ark. Today our idol may not be an Ark, but we worship sports, sex and success. In religious circles, we worship the church instead of Christ. Others worship music styles or denominational distinctives instead of the Lord. America is an idolatrous land. The glory has departed.

Finally, there was spiritual apathy in Israel. They were no longer passionate about God. They had gotten away from the things of the Lord. Here in America, we conveniently leave God at the church house until we need Him. Most Americans are religious. Some are even spiritual. Few are actively worshiping the Lord and obeying His Word. We have a nation of religious pagans. As a result, the glory has departed.

It is easy to point out the problems, but what is the solution? What can we do if the glory has departed? We need to recognize that God is sovereign. We cannot manipulate Him into doing what we want. There is no magical formula for this. Most preachers give a three, four or five step process to receive something from the Lord --- as if spiritual renewal is a recipe to follow. The fact is that God gives His blessings as He wishes and He can remove the glory any time He wishes.

While there is no formula for experiencing the glory once more, there are a few things that may make us candidates for a season of refreshing. First of all, we need to get desperate. We shouldn't be casual about the present situation. The glory has departed. Time is running out and the need is great. Secondly, we need to humble ourselves. We need to run to God in prayer. Don't be content with an Ichabod life. Don't deceive yourself into thinking that America is too great to fall. "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and he shall lift you up." Finally, we need to repent. Turn to God and passionately seek Him.

When we turn from God, His glory departs. I would hate to have the name “Ichabod” describe my life, wouldn't you?

(Author's Note:  This blog was originally posted on August 25, 2018.  I feel that it needs to be revisited today)

There's No Place Like Home

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME

“And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!” - Luke 15:17

Home. Just the mention of the word brings fondness to our hearts and pleasure to our souls. When we find ourselves on a distant trip for several days, we yearn for the comfort of home. The old proverbial saying is true, there's no place like home.

The prodigal son found himself far from home. A series of foolish decisions led him to the pig pen. Pigs are filthy animals, yet this man was jealous of them. The pigs were eating better than he was.

To put it bluntly, his life was a mess and he had no one to blame but himself. He had sown to the wind and was reaping the whirlwind. He had disrespected his father, arrogantly pursued a wicked lifestyle and ultimately faced financial ruin. He had squandered his inheritance and wasted his life. At the pig pen he was enduring the agony of self-inflicted pain. He deserved what he was getting.

Even though the story of the prodigal son was told as a parable, many of us can identify with it. I know I can. You see, once I was a prodigal myself. The Heavenly Father was loving and kind, yet I wanted to live my life my way. I wanted His favor, but not His leadership. I wanted His blessings, but not His fellowship. When Jesus told the story of the prodigal son, He probably had me in mind.

In Jesus' story, the prodigal son finally had a defining moment that changed everything. The Bible says that the prodigal son, “... came to himself.” In other words, an awakening took place. He had an “aha” moment. This comes to different people in different ways. Often it comes when a sinner hears a sermon. It may come while a person is listening to a Gospel song. It may be a word from a Christian friend or relative. In that brief moment, God gets his attention. The Bible refers to it as conviction.

Rather than desiring the pleasures of sin, the sinner now seeks the Father he has mistreated and forsaken. Instead of running away from home, he seeks to return. That's what the prodigal son did. In repentance, he sought the father's house. He was ready to verbalize a long, contrite confession.

He forsook the pig pen and made the humble trip back home. Unworthy and undeserving of acceptance, he came back to his father's house.

The parable of Jesus vividly teaches us about the deceitfulness of sin. The story also shows us the destructive nature of sin. It shows us how undeserving we are of the Father's grace. Thankfully, the story doesn't stop there.

When Jesus shared this story, He said that when the prodigal son neared the father's house, the father saw him and ran to meet him. The father welcomed his son with great love and enthusiasm. The boy was received and presented with the best robe, a ring and shoes. A big feast was held to celebrate the boy's return. He was not received as a servant. He was received as a son. He was home.  He learned that there's no place like home.

The story shows us the depravity of sin and the disgrace of a sinner. Best of all, the story shows us the abundant grace of our Father. His grace is much greater than our sins. Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. I was a great sinner but He was a greater Savior. Now I can say, like the old song, “Anywhere is home, if Christ, my Lord, is there.”  There's no place like home.

If you are far from the Father, let me remind you of an another old song:

I’ve wandered far away from God,
Now I’m coming home;
The paths of sin too long I’ve trod,
Lord, I’m coming home.

Coming home, coming home,
Nevermore to roam;
Open wide Thine arms of love,
Lord, I’m coming home.

Perhaps you have wasted your life. Maybe you are in the pig pen right now. There's a better life than the life of sin. Come home right now. The Father will welcome you and receive you today. Why wait any longer?

Jesus is coming soon. The family of God will be gathered together on that day. The Father will open up His house to us and will share it with His children forever. We will be home where we belong. Home with the Father.

There's no place like home.

Dinner Time

 DINNER TIME

“Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.” - Psalm 81:10

Did you have a good meal on Thanksgiving Day? I did. In fact, I'll probably have to loosen my belt another notch. There's nothing like enjoying a great meal with family. I've enjoyed seeing pictures on Facebook of families gathering around a dinner table for Thanksgiving.

All of this causes me to wonder. What would happen in America if Christians were as zealous about spiritual food as they are about natural food? What if our hunger for spiritual things exceeded our appetite for the Thanksgiving dinner? How many people would be in church on Sunday if they had a hunger for God and His Word? How would our lives be different?

God gives us a great invitation: “Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.” Just as a baby bird opens its mouth for the mother to feed it, we should open our mouths for the Lord to feed us Himself.

The real problem is our lack of appetite. When you eat too much junk food, your appetite diminishes when dinnertime arrives. The devil has been very successful in keeping Christians busy feasting on junk food. Television and the internet devour our time and ruin our spiritual appetite. It is not uncommon for a man to drive hundreds of miles, just to sit in the cold for three hours so he can cheer his favorite football team. The same guy will find it difficult to go to church the next day. If he does go, he will complain if the service lasts more than an hour. Junk food ruins the appetite.

Job once said, “I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.” WOW! What would our churches be like if every member had a greater hunger for God's Word than for their next meal? What would your life be like if you had an insatiable hunger for the Lord? We need our spiritual appetite restored.

When Jesus fed 5,000 people, the Bible says, “And they did all eat, and were filled.” The people ate until they were full. On Thanksgiving Day, you probably ate until you were filled. When I finished eating on Thanksgiving Day, I bragged on the food and the cook. I felt good! The meal was satisfying.

When was the last time that happened to you spiritually? When was the last time that you left church satisfied? When was the last time you feasted on God's Word and walked away feeling wonderful? Do you recall a time when you enjoyed church so much that you couldn't quit talking about it?

Isaiah 55:2 says, “Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.” The Lord is challenging us to seek food that truly satisfies. Why waste time and money on anything less?

The Bible says, “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.” Notice that this famine is not a famine for the preaching of the Word. Instead, it is a famine for the hearing of the Word. In my opinion, this prophetic verse describes the spiritual landscape of America today. The Word is available, but most will not hear it.

In 2 Kings chapter 7, the people of Samaria were starving. The had a dire need. Four lepers finally said, “Why sit we here until we die?” In their desperation, they put their lives on the line and went seeking food. Ultimately, their act of desperation was rewarded by the Lord. Not only were the lepers fed, but the famine in Samaria came to an end.

It is time for Christians to rise up and say, “Why sit we here until we die?” Why should our churches die? Why should families be destroyed? Why should we just sit idly by and watch souls perish? It is time to throw away the junk food and come to God's table.

When His disciples were dragging fish to the shore, Jesus gave them an invitation: “Come and dine.” The Lord prepared a meal for His disciples. Did you know that Jesus could cook? Can you imagine how good the food was?

He poses the same invitation to us. The Bible says, “O taste and see that the Lord is good.” Come and dine. It is dinnertime right now.

Open your mouth wide … and He will fill it.

Thank You

THANK YOU

“In every thing give thanks.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:18

As humans, we find it difficult to say the right things at times. We find it challenging and embarrassing to say things like, “I'm sorry,” “I was wrong,” or “I love you.” Despite the difficulty in saying these things, it is imperative that we get used to saying them … and saying them with sincerity.

Let's be honest. Most of us are terrible at expressing our gratitude. When I was growing up, my parents had to train me to say, “thank you.” It didn't come easy. These days, it is getting easier to express my thanks. This is due, in part, to the fact I recognize my unworthiness to receive anything. I tend to appreciate the effort and cost involved in the things I receive. Although I am still learning, I don't want to be apathetic about expressing my gratitude.

It is important to thank others for the things they do. Whether it is a waitress at a restaurant, a mechanic who repairs your car or a doctor that diagnoses and treats an ailment, we need to let others know that we appreciate the work they do for us.

Expressing such gratitude needs to begin at home. Let your spouse know that you appreciate the things he or she does for you. “Thank you,” should be two words that are verbalized in your home daily.

Most of all, we need to express our thanks to the Lord. He is the One responsible for all our blessings, including many that we take for granted or overlook.

As we approach Thanksgiving Day here in America, most Americans will treat this holiday as just a day off from work. They will celebrate with food, family and football. Yet this holiday is designed to remind all of us that we need to express our thanksgiving to the Lord. As Christians, may this be our primary goal on Thanksgiving Day ... and every day.

Despite all of the bad news that surrounds us, we have much to be grateful for. The Lord has been good to us. We should let Him know how much we appreciate Him.

Let us thank Him for our daily provisions. I believe Christians should give thanks for their food every day. Additionally, the Lord has provided us with a place to live, clothes to wear and resources to make our lives comfortable. When was the last time you thanked Him for these things?

Also, we should thank Him for family and friends. The Lord has granted us special relationships to make our lives rich and full. He has brought people into our lives who encourage, inspire and challenge us. Be grateful for these special people. Most of all, thank the Lord for them.

Don't forget to thank the Lord for the portion of health you enjoy. It is only by God's grace that you are alive today. It is by His grace that you are not in the ICU or a nursing home. Your next breath is a gift from the Lord.

Most of all, we need to thank the Father for giving us His Son. He saw our hopeless condition and did the unthinkable. He sent His Son to die upon a cross to redeem us from sin. You and I are loved deeply by the One who sits upon the throne. Through the blood of Christ, our sins have been forgiven. We've experienced the second birth. We are now children of God. What magnificent love the Father has for unworthy people like us! Never forget to thank Him for this sacrificial love. Never forget to thank Him for salvation by grace through His Son.

Lord, we sincerely say to You, THANK YOU!

The Throne of Grace

THE THRONE OF GRACE

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” - Hebrews 4:16

When your burdens seem overwhelming, do you have someone you can call, knowing that they will pray for you? Do you have a prayer partner or someone special who knows how to reach heaven on your behalf? I think every person should have such a friend.

Here's the big question. Are you that friend to someone else? When someone asks you to pray, do you take the request seriously and pray zealously for the need? Do others know you to be a person of prayer? Can others count on you, knowing that you will pray for them when they ask?

Prayer is a responsibility, but it is also a privilege. Hebrews 4:16 says, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” When we pray with faith, we come to the throne of God.

Ordinary people like you and me are not permitted in many important areas. For instance, we aren't permitted to visit the Oval Office any time we want to. Yet there is a place we can come at anytime that is greater than the Oval Office. We can come to the throne of God!!!

The Bible invites believers to “... come boldly unto the throne of grace.” Why should we come boldly unto the throne? The reason we can come boldly to the throne is because we have been given personal access to the throne. Let me explain.

When you get on the internet, you must have a password. Once properly set, this password gives you access to the internet. In a similar fashion, we have been given access to the throne of God with a special password: JESUS. When Jesus died on the cross, He gave us privilege to use His Name to approach the throne. When Jesus died on the cross, the veil of the temple was torn in two. The veil had been placed there to keep people away from the Holy of Holies. The veil split when Jesus died, opening the way for us to come to the very throne room of God. We don't come to the throne in arrogance, boasting of our worthiness. Instead, we come with confidence that the Name of Jesus is worthy of the Father's attention. We aren't worthy, but we come in the Name of One who is.

In the book of Esther, no one could come before the king uninvited, including the queen herself. Anyone who would dare approach the king uninvited would be put to death. The only exception would be if he held out his golden scepter. The king was under no obligation to hold out his golden scepter, but when he did, it was an act of grace. Brothers and sisters, because of Jesus, the golden scepter of grace has been held out to every believer who comes to the throne in His Name. Isn't that exciting news?

When we pray in the Name of Jesus, we come to the throne. Our prayers are heard and answered by the One who occupies that throne. It is there that we find mercy and grace that we need. Not just for ourselves, but for others, too. Grace is God's unmerited favor. Grace is the mercy and blessings God bestows upon us in spite of our unworthiness. We need His grace. So do others. Thankfully, there is a place we can go to find grace for ourselves and others. The Bible refers to God's throne as the throne of grace.

R. A. Torrey gives us great advice about prayer, “Before a word of petition is offered, we should have the definite and vivid consciousness that we are talking to God, and should believe that He is listening to our petition and is going to grant the things that we ask of Him. We should look to the Holy Spirit to really lead us into the presence of God and should not be hasty in words until He has actually brought us there.”

Be a person of prayer. Stay in close communion with the Lord. Be a person that others can look to when they have a desperate need for prayer. Let us continually come to the throne, talk with the King and receive His blessings. It is a glorious privilege to approach the very throne of God.

Come boldly to the throne of grace.

Distractions

DISTRACTIONS

“But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.” - Matthew 14:30

It was a Saturday afternoon. I was about 15 years old when it happened. Our family was outside on a sunny summer day, mowing the front yard. Dad was using the riding mower. The front yard is rather steep, so he had to balance himself to keep the mower from turning over as he mowed. Using a riding mower on such a steep area is probably not a good idea, but he did it anyhow.

The road on the mountain was a one-lane dirt road at the time. It ran parallel to the bottom of the front yard. A guy was driving his truck on the road and saw Dad riding a mower on that steep yard. He took his eyes off the road and kept watching Dad balance the mower as he mowed. What the driver didn't notice was that another pickup was on the ridge road going in the opposite direction. The two pickups hit each other, knocking one of the trucks off the road into the wooded area below the road. No one was injured and some neighbors came and eventually pulled the truck out from under the hill.

I've never forgotten that incident. From the place I was mowing, I could see the two trucks were about to collide, but I was powerless to keep it from happening. It all took place because one driver was distracted.

Here's a Bible question for you. How many people in the Bible walked on water? The correct answer, of course, is two. We know that Jesus walked on the water, but most people forget that Peter also walked on the water. When he saw Jesus walking on the water, Peter asked Jesus if he could also walk on the water. When he was invited to come, Peter got out of the boat and began walking on the water.

Yet something happened. The Bible says, “But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink.” The text seems to indicate that he had his eyes on Jesus when he began walking on water, but the stormy conditions caught his attention. Peter got distracted and down in the water he went.

I can identify with that story. There have been times when I've gotten distracted from my walk with the Lord … and down I went. Distractions can hinder us. Distractions can lead to failure. Peter got distracted and began to sink. Perhaps you feel like you are sinking today. If you trace it back, you'll probably find that you got distracted.

The enemy wants us to get our eyes off of Jesus. He wants us to focus on anything except the Lord. To be rather honest, it is easy to get distracted. So many things are placed along the path to get our attention. Some seem decent and others are downright sinful. Yet all of them are meant to divert our attention away from the Lord. They are distractions.

Let's get brutally honest for a moment. Television, Facebook and hobbies can easily distract us from the things that matter most. It seems like many believers have been distracted by politics and unnecessary religious debates. Enormous amount of time is wasted on fruitless, futile endeavors. Instead of walking with God and winning souls, most are distracted, pursuing something other than God's will.

Returning to the story of Peter walking on water, the distractions he faced were real. Stormy conditions existed. When he focused on the storm rather than the Savior, his faith turned to fear. Instead of walking on water, he began to sink in the water. Distractions have a way of doing that. Perhaps that is a description of your life right now. At one point, you were walking in victory, but now you are sinking in defeat. Distractions have caused your focus to shift from Jesus to something else. Now things are a mess.

Here's some good news. If distractions have diverted your attention away from the Lord, He is still merciful. Perhaps your focus has shifted from Jesus to the world. You may have taken your eyes off of Jesus, but He has never lost sight of You. You may have gotten distracted, but He hasn't. Perhaps you've been unfaithful, but He remains faithful. When Peter got distracted, he began to sink. In that critical moment, he cried to Jesus, saying, “Lord, save me.” It was a short, pitiful prayer, but Jesus answered by stretching forth His hand and rescuing Peter.

If you feel like you are sinking, call on the Lord. Look to Jesus, by faith, and ask Him to help you. He still rescues sinking people.

Yes, distractions can be destructive. That's why the Bible instructs us to be diligent. Walk by faith, not by sight. When you walk by sight, you'll be easily distracted and defeated.

Keep focused on Jesus.

Overwhelmed

 OVERWHELMED

“From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” - Psalm 61:2

Life is complicated these days. There are so many demands on our schedule, which is overcrowded already. To add to this, we face the stress of family concerns, financial worries and health issues. It is easy to feel overwhelmed by it all.

What should a person do when he or she feels overwhelmed? The temptation is to get away from it all and hope these problems resolve themselves. Of course, this is foolishness. We cannot run from the problems of life.

At times, it feels like we are drowning in the ocean of cares. We can feel like we are losing a wrestling match against our problems. It may feel like a mountain of trouble has fallen on us. It is easy to feel overwhelmed.

The good news is that the Bible gives us insight about such circumstances. The psalmist recognized that overwhelming situations come in this life. He wrote, “From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”

From this verse we learn several things.

First of all, we need to be honest about our situation. The psalmist wrote, “when my heart is overwhelmed.” The temptation is to live in denial. Pretend that situations are better than they really are. Alternately, it is tempting to run from the problems. In another psalm, the writer said, “Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.” I think we can relate with this. Perhaps this describes your life at this moment. Yet we will never find lasting relief until we embrace the truth. The first step to finding help is to realize that we need help.

Secondly, we need to use the resource of prayer. When the psalmist wrote this verse, he was speaking these words as a prayer to the Lord. Our problems tend to drive us to our knees. In our desperation, we need to seek the face of God.

Next, trust the leadership of the Lord. The psalmist wrote, “... when my heart is overwhelmed, lead me...” Seek the guidance of the Lord. When we are going through tough times, many worldly people will give us their advice. Yet the Bible says, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” When we cannot see the path ahead, we can trust the One who sees the unseen and knows all things. We can trust Him.

Also, we need to abide in the Lord. We should find our resting place in God. The psalmist wrote, “... lead me to the rock...” We are safe and secure when we are anchored in the Rock of Ages. We find rest when our resting place is God. The rock is not meant as a place of visitation, but a place to abide.

Finally, worship God from our place of despair. The psalmist wrote, “... lead me the rock that is higher than I.” Notice that the rock is, “higher than I.” When we feel overwhelmed, we need to remember how great our God is. Charles Spurgeon once said, “O dear friend, when thy grief presses thee to the very dust, worship there!” The Rock of Ages is higher, stronger and greater than we are. When we worship, we realize that He is greater than our problems, stronger than our struggles and wiser than our enemies. Our burdens get a little lighter when we realize that our burdens --- and our lives --- are in the hands of One who is greater than everything.

We are not promised a life free of overwhelming circumstances. However, we find help and hope in the One who is in control of all things.

Nothing is overwhelming to Him.

Distant Disciples

DISTANT DISCIPLES

“And Peter followed him afar off, even into the palace of the high priest: and he sat with the servants, and warmed himself at the fire.” - Mark 14:54

The word, “disciple,” is defined as a follower or learner. The twelve men that Jesus chose to walk with Him during His ministry are often referred to as disciples. In a broader sense, every follower of Jesus is a disciple since he or she is following Jesus.

In Mark 14:54, the Bible says, “And Peter followed him afar off.” Peter was a disciple. He was a follower of Jesus, but in this critical moment, he followed afar off.

Does that sound like you? Are you following afar off? Perhaps there was a time when you walked closely with the Lord. The fellowship was sweet. Your joy was full. Life was wonderful. For some reason, that is not the case right now. Perhaps you've quit going to church. The Bible that you once loved and cherished is collecting dust. Your prayer-life is anemic. You never mention the Lord in conversations anymore. You've become a distant disciple. You are following afar off.

What caused Peter to drift away from the Lord? First, the Lord predicted this would happen. Peter confidently boasted that he would follow the Lord, even unto death. I don't think it was an empty boast. I believe that Peter was sincere in his statement. Yet the Lord told Peter that he would deny Jesus three times before the end of that very night. Our self-boasting is a form of pride. Pride leads to destruction.

Secondly, Peter faced fear and uncertainty. Jesus was on trial. The other disciples had fled. Peter stood in an unfriendly crowd, witnessing the trial of Jesus. The entire event was filled with hatred. It was a hostile situation that could quickly erupt into a riot. All the animosity was directed to the One that Peter had loved and followed. Peter probably knew that if his own identity were revealed, he could be facing death himself.

The longer you follow afar off, the easier it is to stay there. Such was the case for Peter. Notice a few things about his condition.

THERE WAS COLDNESS

Peter warmed himself by a fire. Even though he was physically cold, it was his spiritual condition that was most frigid. When you get away from the fire, you tend to get cold. The spiritual heat we receive when walking with the Lord is gauged upon our nearness to Him. After Jesus had walked with two from Emmaus, they said one to another, “Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?” If you follow afar off from the source of the flame, don't be surprised when you get cold.

THERE WAS COWARDICE

Peter had showed boldness many times. Now he was vulnerable and weak. When he was accused of being a disciple of Jesus, Peter bluntly denied the charge three separate times. He was once bold, but now a coward. When we follow afar off, we often face defeat and disgrace.

THERE WAS CONTRITION

Peter followed afar off and ended up regretting it. One of the greatest failures in Christian history was Peter's denial of the Lord. After this, “he went out and wept bitterly.” My greatest failures in the Christian life have come when I followed afar off. The failures we encounter are often the result of following distantly, not the cause of it. If we neglect our spiritual communion with God, we slowly drift from Him. Eventually, like Peter, we find ourselves afar off.

Here's the good news. If you are a distant disciple, that can change today. If you are following afar off, you can get close to the Lord again. Peter failed greatly, but his encounter with the risen Redeemer brought him close to the Lord once more. Peter would go on to preach the great evangelistic message on the Day of Pentecost. He would be a leader in the early church. He eventually had two epistles included in the canon of Scripture. In spite of his failures, the Lord still used Peter.

If you are following afar off, let me give you some suggestions. First of all, realize your situation. Admit that you are far from the Lord. Secondly, repent. Repentance is a change of mind that leads to a change of direction. Third, draw close to the Lord. The Bible says that if we draw close to God, He will draw close to us. The next move is yours. Get close to Him again. Next, be diligent to stay close to the Lord. Get back in church. Get back to serving God. Read your Bible daily. Pray often. Serve others. Give generously in the Name of the Lord. You will never be lukewarm or cold in your faith if you stay close to the flame. Stay close to Jesus. Walk in close communion to Him each day.

We are walking as close to God as we want to. We don't have to be distant disciples.

Lessons From Leviticus

 LESSONS FROM LEVITICUS

“For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.” - Leviticus 17:11

As I write this, I am reading through the book of Leviticus in my morning quiet time. Let's be honest, most people avoid this book. Leviticus is a difficult book of the Bible to read. Yet I am convinced that our lack of knowledge about the book of Leviticus --- and the Old Testament itself --- is a real problem in American Christianity.

Let me ask you a question. How does a man, woman, boy or girl experience forgiveness of sins? If you posed this question to people in the church, you'd probably get a lot of different answers. Most would probably say that a person would need to publicly respond to a Gospel invitation. Either walk an aisle, kneel at an altar, or repeat a “sinner's prayer.” Each of these answers seem accurate, but standing alone they aren't sufficient. Here's the reason why. Redemption does not come by walking an aisle or repeating a prayer.

From the book of Leviticus, we learn several vital things about sin and redemption.

1. SIN MUST BE DEALT WITH SERIOUSLY

First of all, we learn that sin must be dealt with seriously. One reason why people struggle to read the book of Leviticus is because of the graphic description of the sacrifices to be offered. Why was this required of Israel? The extreme sacrifices show us that God treats sin seriously. When it comes to our sin, we'd prefer to compare ourselves to others or even condone our actions. We tend to treat our sins lightly. Yes, we can be harsh about the sins of others, but we can be very accommodating about our own sins. The reason for so many “false converts” in churches today is that a superficial Gospel invitation has been given by an evangelist in which sin is mentioned loosely, it at all. Sinners need to know about their guilt, the serious nature of their offense and the severe consequences for their sin. The book of Leviticus was written to remind Israel --- and us --- that God treats sin seriously, and so should we.

2. SIN MUST BE DEALT WITH SPECIFICALLY

Secondly, we learn that sin must be dealt with specifically. Sin must be dealt with on God's terms and not our own. Aaron's sons died when they offered strange fire at the altar. They deliberately chose a different method than God had specifically ordered. The death of Aaron's sons show us that we must come to God on His terms, not our own. The book of Leviticus was given to Israel to show them how to deal specifically with sin --- on God's terms.

3. SIN MUST BE DEALT WITH SACRIFICIALLY

Finally, sin must be dealt with sacrificially. Sin is so serious that blood must be shed. Leviticus 17:11 teaches us, “...it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.” When Adam and Eve sinned in the garden, they tried, on their own, to hide their nakedness by sowing fig leaves together. However, when God confronted them about their sin, He covered their nakedness with the hide of animals. Blood had to be shed to cover their sin. The book of Leviticus is so graphic in its description of sacrifices because it reminds us that only blood makes an atonement for the soul.

When the first Passover was observed, the Israelites were commanded to take a lamb, without blemish and without spot; slay that lamb and put its blood over the door of each home. The Israelites were saved from judgment that night because the blood was applied. Yes, blood makes an atonement for the soul.

Some would argue that we are no longer under the law, but under grace. I totally agree. Yet the grace we enjoy is provided because of the shedding of blood. The animal sacrifices mentioned in Leviticus are a foreshadowing of the ultimate sacrifice to come. When John the Baptist saw Jesus, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.” Jesus, the Son of God, came as a lamb without blemish and without spot. The blood He shed upon the cross has made an atonement for every one who believes. The Old Testament saints will be in heaven because of their faith in the future atonement that Christ would purchase. The New Testament saints believed that Jesus paid for their sins in full with His shed blood. If the Old Testament saints will only get to heaven by the blood and the New Testament saints will only get to heaven by the blood, be assured that it is only through the blood that people go to heaven today. “Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission.” It is only through the blood that there is atonement for the soul.

Many well-meaning people, deeply influenced by some TV evangelists, believe they are going to heaven because God is merciful and all they need to do is ask for forgiveness. While there is some truth in this, they are missing a vital piece. Salvation is not based upon what we do, but what God has done. The mercy and grace of God could not be enjoyed at the expense of the justice and holiness of God. In order for us to be forgiven, justice and holiness needed to be satisfied. That's the reason for the cross. At Calvary, the Son of God shed His blood and died. His death satisfied the righteous demands of God's justice on our behalf while, at the same time, providing us mercy and grace.

I don't want to be misunderstood. Walking an aisle or kneeling at an altar is not wrong. It's just that our salvation is not based on those things. Instead, these are outward expressions of an inner work of God. Our salvation is based on what the Lord has done for us. Our sins can only be covered by blood, not by our deeds. This is best summed up by the words of the old hymn:

What can wash away my sins?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus;

What can make me whole again?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

We are saved by grace through faith. Saving grace is provided by our Lord based upon the blood and death of Christ. Our faith lies in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Our faith receives the free gift of eternal life, a gift purchased for us by the blood of the Lamb.

Learn this lesson from the book of Leviticus, it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.