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.