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.