You Know Better Than That!

"Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen" 2 Peter 3:17-18

When I read these two verses this morning, other verses came to mind, and so did my mother's voice. In fact, I remembered her voice so clearly this morning, that I laughed within myself.  Even as I share her words with you, I can still see the look on her face and hear the tone of her voice.  As a little girl, (and sometimes still today!) I will choose to do something wrong, instead of doing what I know to be right.  When I chose to do wrong rather than what was right, and when my sin found me out by my mom, (I was always found out!) she would say, "Why on earth did you do that?  You know better than that!"

I can almost picture Peter admonishing the beloved in the same way.  Peter closes his epistle with a word of warning in verse 17, and encouragement in verse 18.  He tells us to beware, or to be on guard and not to be led away or astray by the wicked. (the world and evil influences).    Psalm 1 warns us not walk in the counsel of the ungodly, not to stand in the way of sinners and not sit in the seat of the scornful.  So, how can we be on guard? By reading God's Word, by praying, and by having friends who love the Lord and keep His commandments.  (Psalm 119:63) When we already know what is right and what is wrong, we are prepared for what lies ahead and prepared to make right decisions, instead of poor choices.

Beloved, because we have the indwelling Holy Spirit, and because we have the Word of God, 'we know' what is right and what is wrong.  We don't have to live our lives unprepared, and we can remain stedfast!

We know better than that...

    When we grow in grace...

        And in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ...

            But that's just me!

"Before one can know what is right and wrong, he must first align himself with God. Only then is one in a position to do right." Billy Graham

Resisting or Releasing?

"Some people believe holding on and hanging in there are signs of great strength. However, there are times when it takes much more strength to know when to let go and then do it." Ann Landers

"Life's trials are not easy, but in God's will, each has a purpose." Warren Wiersbe

"Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved." Psalm 55:22

My friend asked for prayer this morning for her adult son.  Concern for his health caused her to reach out for prayer. I think as a parent, some of our worst fears stem from our concern for the well-being of our children, no matter how young or how old they are.  Most of our anxieties and mental anguish are brought on by resisting what is going on in our lives, or in the lives of our family.  I know, because I struggle with this myself.  I tend to spend most of my energy resisting what is happening in my life as if I can do anything to change what is going on, instead of releasing my fears into the palm of my Saviour's Hand. But God knows what He is doing. He is refining us into His image just like diamonds are formed from coal.  (Did you know that natural diamonds form from carbon, and are only made under immense heat and pressure?  It takes friction for diamonds to brilliantly shine.)

Henry Ward Beecher once said, "We are always in the forge or on the anvil; by trials God is shaping us for higher things."

Releasing my inabilities to change my circumstances, releasing my anxieties, worries and fears and, instead, claim the promises of God in His Word, I am guaranteed a peace that will pass all understanding, no matter what I, my children or my family are facing.

Knowing that God has a plan and a purpose for my life and for my children's lives', (Jeremiah 29:11) and claiming Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

I can stop resisting and release my burdens onto the One Who has promised to bear them for me.

"Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." 1 Peter 5:7

Even before time began...

     our Creator knew exactly where we would be...

         and He knew exactly what we would be going through...

            Stop resisting, just release your worries into His hands...

                But that's just me!

"When you are troubled and worried and sick at heart, and your plans are upset and your world falls apart,

remember God's ready and waiting to share, the burden you find much too heavy to bear,

So, with faith, let go, and let God lead your way,

into a brighter and less troubled day." Helen Steiner Rice

The Blessing in an Envelope

"Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again." Words of Jesus, Luke 6:38

This verse came to pass yesterday afternoon while we were at church.  A man handed my husband an envelope that only had our last name written upon it.  When my husband opened the envelope, inside was a gift of cash and this note, "May this be a blessing to you as you've been to us."  Though this note remained anonymous and we do not know the person who gifted us with this, we know that God knows and He will bless this persons' socks off, just like this gift has blessed our socks off!

My husband has been furloughed for a month now due to the Government shutdown.  During the past four weeks, we have had a peace that passes all understanding.  Our Lord has always taken care of us, and we know that He always will.  Sometimes He takes care of us directly, and sometimes He takes care of us by using others.  My husband and I are truly grateful for the generous gift this person/persons/ or family has given us.

I confess. When we first opened the envelope and saw what was inside, we went from shock, to thinking that there is someone who needs this gift more than we do, to humility, and finally to gratefulness and praise to our Lord!  There are so many bible verses that show what this act of Kindness truly is, from 'reaping what you sow,' to 'Our God shall supply all your needs,' to 'Love one another.' the list could go on and on, and yet I chose Luke 6:38 because our hearts are truly full and overflowing for the love and kindness shown to us by someone who wants to remain anonymous.  

This blessing in an envelope went much further than into our hearts and into our bank account.  You see, as I deposited this gift into our account this morning, the Teller asked me, "Are you going out to lunch today, or doing anything fun?"  I said, "No, actually I will just be going back home today.  My husband is one of many who has been laid off due to the Government shutdown, and this money being deposited into our account today is because the Lord laid it upon someone's heart at our church to give this to us to help us until my husband can go back to work."

I think I shocked this Teller into silence.  

God will reward this person openly one day...

    But until then...

        We will praise and thank God for using this person to help us along the way...

            But that's just me!

A gift given blesses more than the recipient when God is involved!  TH

        

It's a Spiritual Battle

"For we wrestle not with flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness, in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."

Ephesians 6:12-13

I cannot count how many times I have read these verses in my own personal devotion time, or how many times I have heard them preached from the pulpit, or taught in Sunday School class and yet when I read them this morning, God spoke to me in a new way, showed me new things, and reminded me of where my battle is truly taking place.  I'm so thankful that we serve a Living God and that He has given us His Living Word!

Let's define some words before I share how the Lord spoke to my heart this morning.

Wrestle-To contend, to combat, to trip

Principalities-Various applications of order, time, place or rank

Powers-Privilege, influence, authority, jurisdiction

Rulers-World ruler, Satan

Darkness-Absence of light, shadiness, obscurity

World-Age, a particular period

Wickedness-Malice, iniquity

High-Celestial

Places-In all places, everywhere

I had to ask myself a hard question when I read these verses today.  "If we wrestle not with flesh and blood, why do I try so hard to use my flesh in the battle?"  Why do I try to fix things on my own?  Why do I seek my husband or friends to help me in my battle?

I was reminded this morning that in order to wrestle against spiritual darkness, I must wrestle wearing my spiritual armour! My earthly friends cannot help me fight my spiritual battles, but my Heavenly Father fights my spiritual battle for me!  He equips me with Spiritual Armour and through prayer and the promises of God, the battle is won!

I was also reminded that I must put on the 'whole' armour of God. When I leave off an important part of my armour, I've given Satan a foothold to pierce me in the weakest area of my life!  But when I put on the Whole armour of God, God enables me to not only stand, but to withstand!

To 'withstand' means 'to stand up against, oppose with firm determination, resist successfully. '

In other words, during my Spiritual battle, I am not defending myself...but rather, I'm fighting my battle offensively!

'Having done all,' means I have not left anything out in my battle.  I am armed and ready for Victory!  In Spiritual warfare it's important to know our enemy, and it's important to claim our victory in Christ!

Every morning as soon as my feet hit the floor...

    I must put on the whole armour of God...

        And through prayer and God's Word, I am prepared for today's battle...

            But that's just me!

"The devil whispered in my ear, "You're not strong enough to withstand the storm."

Today I whispered in the devil's ear, "I have on the full armour of God, I am the storm!"

The Wise Man and the Foolish Man

"Therefore whosoever heareth these saying of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it." Words of Jesus, Matthew 7:24-27

In conclusion to the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is now giving His listeners a choice. They can choose to build on one of two foundations: the rock, which is stability and a sure foundation, or they can build on sand which is Pharisaic righteousness.

When I read these verses this morning, I couldn't help singing them.  We all grew up singing about the Wise man and the Foolish man in our Sunday school classes.  I almost did the hand motions as I sang it this morning as well!  But what spoke to my heart this morning about these verses is the difference between just 'hearing' the Word of God, and 'heeding' the Word of God by actually doing what Jesus told us to do.  Isn't it funny how we can continually hear the Word of God, but seldom make an effort to put it into practice? By doing that, we are robbing ourselves of the Blessings of God.

The Wise Man built his house on a rock.  In Scripture, we know that Jesus is The Rock.  When we put our faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, we have a sure foundation!  Upon His principle's, His Word and even on Him Himself, our foundation is sure, secure and stable!  It won't matter how hard the rain falls, it won't matter how deep the water becomes, it won't matter how tornadic the winds of trouble blow our way, Jesus is our sure foundation and we are unshaken!

But on the flip side, Jesus shows us what will happen to the man who builds his house upon the sand. This man is a Foolish Man.  He was shown the Truth but continued to do things his own way. I can picture the 'sand' as being worldly philosophies, false doctrine, the traditions of man.  These are not a sure foundation. When the rain, floods, and wind come and beat upon the foolishness of this man and all the vain things he has chosen to stand on, all will be lost!  What a sad end for the Foolish Man, especially when He had the Great Architect give him the Perfect Blueprint for a sure foundation.

Isn't that just like the world?  There are always those who want to take a shortcut in building their house.  They choose cheaper materials and construction workers who do not even hold a degree to help them build their houses.

It will lead to disaster when the first storm hits, and it will fall.

But the Wise are given this promise: "It fell not!"

Unshaken, no matter what!

Jesus tells us where to build, and Psalms 127:1a tells us Who should build, "Unless the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it:"

Friend- are you liken unto the wise man...

    or are you liken unto the foolish man...?

        The choice is yours to make...

            But that's just me!

Bad News

"While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?" Mark 5:35

Jairus, a ruler in the synagogue, a man of High Standing, bowed down on his knees at the feet of Jesus and besought Him greatly with an urgent request: "My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live." (Mark 5:23) Such faith!

Verse 24 tells us that Jesus answered his prayer and went with him to his house, but someone hindered their quick return.

A woman with an infirmary lasting twelve years, who had spent all of her money seeking the help of physicians, heard of Jesus, and pressed through the crowd in order to simply touch the hem of Jesus' garment.  She knew that if she could just touch His clothes, she would be made whole.  Such faith!

What this woman didn't know, was that Jesus would know the moment she touched His garment.  It caused Jesus to pause.  Being aware that virtue had gone out of Him, He stopped and asked, "Who touched my clothes?" (Verse 30)

Can you imagine what Jairus was thinking when Jesus stopped following him to his house to heal his daughter?  He was probably thinking that his daughters time on earth was short and Jesus was taking a long time to get to her. He was also probably thinking the same thing His disciples were thinking and asked Jesus out loud. "And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?" (Verse 31)

But Jesus already knew who had touched Him, for He looked straight at the woman. (Verse 32)  So, what was Jesus waiting for?  He was waiting for a Public Profession of her faith. (Let the redeemed of the Lord say so! Psalm 107)

And when the woman confessed it was her who had touched His garment, He comforted her.

What a Saviour!

Just as Jesus was speaking comforting words to the woman whose faith had made her whole, bad news was brought to the ears of Jairus, "Your daughter is dead, don't trouble the Master," yet at the same time bad news was declared, Jesus turned and spoke to Jairus directly and said, "Be not afraid, only believe."

Such comfort!  Can you imagine the hope that had been restored to Jairus' broken heart?

Readers, Here comes a miracle!

Jesus takes Peter, James and John with Him to Jairus' house, but an interesting thing happens right before a miracle takes place: they are met with mockers and scorners.  Friend, let me remind you that you will have mockers and scorners who will laugh at you and who will laugh at Jesus during the most trying times of your life, but hear the words of Jesus, "Be not afraid, only believe."

Jesus put out the mockers and scorners from the house of Jairus before He healed his daughter.

Mockers and scorners will always miss the Miracles.

But those who believe will always witness Miracles!

There was great rejoicing in the home of Jairus that day!  And rightly so.  Just as the woman's faith had made her whole, Jairus' faith had brought his daughter back to life that day!

Friend, when we receive bad news, it might not always end with a miracle, but when we believe the words of Jesus, "Be not afraid, only believe," His comfort will sustain us, even in the heartaches.

Bad news...

  It confuses the mind, shatters the heart and leaves us with no hope...

    But not when we have Jesus...

        But that's just me!

Secret Acts of Kindness

"Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly." Words of Jesus, Matthew 6:1-4

We all know at least one person in our lives who like to let us know what wonderful acts of kindness they've done for someone during the week.  They like to mention a task, a sacrifice, or maybe a work that they have done on behalf of the church, or a church member.  In fact, as I write these words, I'm sure a person instantly comes to your mind. A person who fits this very description to a T; perhaps it's even you?  Me?

I confess, when I was a new convert in Christ, I liked to let others know what I was doing for other people and for the Lord.  It felt good to get a nice pat on the back, recognition, words spoken that said, 'Well done!' or 'Thank You!'

But as I grew in my faith, I realized that by letting others know all about my 'good works,' I was losing my Heavenly Rewards.  You see, when I was recognized by man, that's exactly all that it was, Man's Applause.  As my faith began to grow, my motives began to change.  My desire to be kind to others was simply a desire to be kind to others!  

In fact, the less people know about my acts of kindness, the better!  

I've learned that I'd rather be rewarded by my Heavenly Father with Eternal Treasures, than to be rewarded by man with carnal accolades.  

I've learned that when I am kind to others secretly...

    God gets all the glory...

           Because He is Worthy...

                But that's just me!

Apples of Gold

Compiled by Jo Petty

Published by The C.R. Gibson Company

"I did a favor yesterday,

A kindly little deed...

And then I called to all the world,

To stop and look and heed.

They stopped and looked and flattered me,

In words I could not trust,

And when the world had gone away,

My good deed turned to dust.

A very tiny courtesy,

I found to do today;

'Twas quickly done, with none to see,

And then I ran away...

But Someone must have witnessed it,

For-truly I declare-

As I sped back the stony path,

Roses were blooming there!