Yes, God is Love

“This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.”   1 John 3:23

My thoughts:
Don’t you realize that I have done all of these wonderful things for others?  I have given to charities, worked at the food bank, taken in strangers from the street, and helped the widows and the orphans.  I have been to Haiti, Uganda and China to help those who are famished and dying.  I have loved everybody for who they are and accepted them without judgment and asked nothing from them in return.  I am peaceful, gentle, loving and merciful.  Do you mean to tell me that your God is going to send me to Hell, just because I don’t believe in Jesus?  Really?

This type of statement is all too common in today’s world.  Now some will say that the Bible itself is just a fable and therefore have no interest at all in God or an afterlife.  Based on their refusal of God, our belief; as Christians; is that on judgment day they will be cast into the lake of fire.  But then there are many, genuinely loving people, who do not know or refuse to accept Jesus Christ, as their Savior and Lord.  What they fail to realize is that even though they are loving, charitable and compassionate, they are still filled with sin.  Based on the fact that we are all direct decedents over 100’s of generations from Adam and Eve.  Therefore the blood that runs through our veins comes from their original sinful action and separates us from God’s eternal presence.

Because of our sinful nature, we must be reconciled to God’s perfect righteousness.  This requires some level of atonement, or sacrifice, as it was with the children of Israel in the Old Testament.  The spotless, perfect lamb was offered once a year as a sacrifice for the sins of their family.  Under the new covenant, God sent His own Son, whose blood was pure and righteous from the Father above, to be the final sacrifice for all of mankind.  He provided the only path of reconciliation and atonement of our sins, through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

Despite how perfectly loving and generous we believe we are living our lives, we cannot eliminate the sinful blood that runs through our body.  This sin prevents us from entering into God’s presence and therefore unless we know of another way to cleanse that from our lives and atone for every single sinful act we’ve ever committed, then accepting the gift that God, Himself provided in Jesus Christ is the only way to avoid an eternity in Hell.  Regardless of how good we think we are, or how many people have been helped through our generosity and love, without Christ as our Savior and Lord, we will end up in the lake of fire along-side of those that refuse to even acknowledge that God even exists. 

Be Blessed,

Rich

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It’s a Forever Kind of Thing

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”   Romans 8:38-39

My thoughts:
“Give thanks to the Lord our God and King
His Love endures forever
For He is good, He is above all things
His Love endures forever”   - Chris Tomlin, Forever, 2001 ©

Today is a good day, but there have certainly been bad ones along the way.  Each day the alarm goes off and my feet swing from under the covers to land on the cold floor.  I am reminded that the Lord is still in control and His love will never fade away.  Despite the pain, the fears and the uncertainty that lie ahead of me on this day, my faith is not shaken.  Because for the next 24 hours, the Lord has blessed me once again to rise from this bed and serve Him with my words and actions.

There will come a day when I will not be so blessed as I am today.  When I will not be able to swing my legs from the bed and stand.  When my mind will not be so clear, and my body not so capable.  There will come a day when fear so grips me, or the pain and sadness overwhelms me to such a degree that I just want to stay under these covers and avoid all human contact.  There will be days when I am so angered at those around me or my circumstances that the hatred can consume my thoughts.  You see, each and every day is unique in the challenges that will face us, but one thing is constant – God’s love doesn’t change.

His word promises that nothing can separate us – not physical ailments, not fear, not anger, not pain or sadness.  We may not immediately see His love, but we can trust that it’s there none the less.  He will not turn from us.  If we are feeling the loneliness of missing God the Father, it is we who have turned from Him.  This can only be reconciled by repenting and turning back to His love and grace.  So, whatever it is that keeps you from His loving arms today, turn from it; turn from the pain, the fear, the anger, the sadness, the depression, the pride and come back to the realization that this day belongs to Him, and your purpose is to share His love with those around you.

Be Blessed,

Rich

 

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The Final Eclipse

“This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.”   John 3:19

My thoughts:

Just listen to or read the news headlines on any given day.  The world is full of evil and darkness.  The heart of the child is being corrupted by the sounds of the keyboard and mouse.  I fear that the social skills of this generation are built upon the weak foundation of the world wide web, google and twitter.  The simple fact that 88 percent of teenagers (13-17) have or have access to a cellphone, and 91% of teenagers have access to the internet and spend an awful lot of productive time using both.  This has become the new way of communication and it is breaking down the basics of humanity at it’s core.

Granted, not all teenagers are lumped into this single bucket, but consider that many of them spend more time on their phones, tablets and laptops than actually speaking with another person in a friendly, social environment.  Sure, they speak in class, at the dinner table and when involved in extra-curricular activities; but I have found that much of their “free-time” is now spent in Snapchat, Instragram, Facebook, Twitter and other electronic means of communication.

Why is this so important, or why should you care?
Hypothesize with me if you will.  If God is all about love and sharing His love with our neighbors, families and friends; then if the evil one of this world can remove that interaction from our lives, it gives him a much easier path to instill self-centeredness, greed, entitlement and anger into these lives.  There was a time when violence wasn’t the path to resolving conflict.  Looking at the youth of today though, that seems to be their method of coping with issues that arise in their life.  Be it the protestors (either side), the shooters, the cop-killers or the cyber-bully – they all fall into a similar stereotype.  Look at these individuals and you will find someone who is: self-centered, focused only on their happiness, angry with those that disagree, unremorseful to inflict pain on someone who opposes them and looking to blame everyone else in the world except for themselves.  This persona is the exact antithesis of what God has called us to be.

It is a darkness in the world that has etched it’s way into our lives slowly, but methodically so we wouldn’t notice it immediately.  But, suddenly, though we know where the light switch is, we have found ourselves very comfortable sitting in the darkness and looking at the sliver of light in the corner.  We know that evil is all around us, but fear and to some degree comfort, have settled in such that we aren’t inclined to actually do anything to bring light back into the situation.  That’s the state of our world.  Too many self-proclaimed Christians are sitting in the dusk between the ever increasing shadow and the diminishing light in this world.  Unless we decide to stand up, I truly fear that darkness will overtake mankind and the desire for light will be gone completely.

I suggest you take this to heart and look into the darkness that covers most of our college campus’ today.  I’ve watched interview after interview of our college students boldly staring into the camera and claiming there is no God and that this world is designed strictly for survival of the fittest.  This generation of young people are walking away from the light without any knowledge or concern that they are stepping straight into the shadows of evil. 

We know it’s happening, yet we are willing to sit idly by and watch, then we too have accepted the fact that it’s acceptable for darkness to take our children away from us.  You and I are called to grab their hand and help them find the light once again.  Don’t turn from this problem, it will only get worse.  The scriptures have made it clear that this world will get darker before the coming of our Lord.  Look around yourself and you can see it is happening.  Choose to help those who are blind find their way back.


Be Blessed,

Rich

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God Loves You Most

“God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”   Romans 5:8

My thoughts:

“Who do you love?  Yeah, who do you love?”  Famous singer, Bo Diddly, in the 1950’s coined these lyrics, and they have been sung by millions upon millions since.  When it all comes down to it, we don’t really even know what love is.  For there is only one true, pure love and that is agape love, from the Father.

You kiss your spouse goodnight and whisper “I love you”.  When you leave your date at her doorstep and turn to walk back to your car, she tells you “I love you”  When your child is struggling to get it right, and everything looks negative, you calmly take their hands in yours and tell them “I love you”  When your best friend is going through a hard time and your there to provide support and a shoulder, it’s so easy to say those three little words, “I love you”  When you show up at the hospital and the family is crowded around the parent in their bed, you lean in close and hear those words for the very last time, “I love you.”

The words fall from our lips with ease and trigger emotion in our soul that is often followed by tears, joy or comfort.  When we say the words though, how often are they said as a cliché, or out of habit vs the authentic, deep, heart tugging love that we ought to have for one another?  You see, I think the words have lost their meaning, especially since we have removed the importance and sanctity from the words.  Love is now one emotion that is shared between anyone at any given time without the sincerity or heart felt truth behind it.  Most of you are aware that there are multiple Greek words for love: Eros ~ love of the physical nature; Phileo ~ love your friends; Storge ~ familia love as in parent to child; and Agape ~ love that is beyond understanding as in the Love from God.  Paul warns in 2 Timothy 3:1, that one mark of the “terrible times in the last days” is that people will lack natural love for their own families.  Have we come upon those days?

The love of the Father though is unlike any of these, and so incomprehensible in human terms, because we cannot love in the same manner.  His love exceeds anything we can imagine or conjur up in our mind when we try.  You see, His love transcends all other things, any emotion, any physical boundary, any action, any thought, and any sin.  He cannot stop loving you in the most extreme sense of the word.

Several years back I coined a phrase in our home and with my friends – “I Love you more”  It wasn’t intended to be a statement of superiority over their love for me; but rather a statement that they could be confident that regardless of what happened between us, my love was stronger.  It was a statement that I love you more than this temporary setback or strife that may have come between us.  Even then though, this commitment of loving them pales by comparison to the love the God promises us. 

Our only action to receive this love from the Father is to be conceived.  There is no amount of good works that you can achieve in this life that will make Him love you more.  For if this were true, than His grace becomes a farce.  For through His grace, He loved us when we didn’t deserve it and still does to this very day.  You are unlovable but yet He loves you more and always will.

Be Blessed,

Rich

 

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It's Not Your Choice

“When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple.” – Acts 9:26

Let’s face it, at the root of our being, most people don’t like change.  We become comfortable with our lives and routines because it decreases the stress and creates an environment of control.  When change does come upon us have you noticed how quick others are to be critical and challenge the newness?  I believe it is in our human nature to be skeptical and cautious around others that demonstrate a significant change in life.  Depending on the significance of the change, it may take years to once again gain the confidence and strength of some relationships.  I think of the great author C.S. Lewis.  At a young age, he was known atheist and debater against the belief in God.  He had described himself as “being angry with God for not existing.”   In his later 20’s and early 30’s he encountered God through debates with his friend J. R. R. Tolkien; while at Oxford University.  As he described his own conversion, “..was brought into Christianity like a prodigal, kicking, struggling, resentful and darting his eyes in every direction for a chance to escape.”  Since his conversion, he has become one of the most influential Christian authors of the 20^th century. 

Picture in your mind someone in the 21^st century with a known and professed hatred of Christians.  Think of someone who has devoted their life to destroying the Christian church, even to the point of arresting and murdering Christians in honor of their belief in God.  Now, imagine that this person showed up in your city tonight and was holding a Christ centered revival.  What is your immediate thought?  I can tell you mine would be very skeptical, very cautious and there is a strong likelihood that my biasness’ and understanding of the person’s past would get in the way of my accepting him/her as a new follower of Jesus Christ.  I am so confident in my understanding of this person’s past, that I would find it very difficult to accept that God could or would want to use them for His future.  That’s exactly what happened to Paul.

As Paul returned to Jerusalem after his conversion and time spent in Arabia, he was not accepted by the followers of Jesus Christ.  They knew his past and could not fathom that he could have been converted.  To them I’m sure it seemed like he was plotting, scheming to get them all together just so he could capture them all at one time.  Gaining the trust of the disciples would take years for Paul.  Eventually though, by his actions, his testimony and his demonstration of the love of Jesus Christ they came around to accept him for who God had called him to be.

We will be challenged in our faith.  People will question the authenticity of what we are saying because they know our past.  The important thing to do, is stay focused on the One who called you and spreading His truth to any and all.  Just as some will challenge your faith, we must be cautious of challenging other’s faith and profession of Jesus Christ as Lord.  Jesus Christ blood can redeem even the most vicious and evil men we can think of.  If that is not true, then He did not die for all of our sins.  His death on that cross and resurrection was not for a select group of individuals, and not for others.  No, it was for all of mankind’s sins.  It is not our prerogative to decide who has and who has not received the salvation of Jesus Christ.  Only God knows the condition of a man’s heart.  We must remain focused on the act of forgiveness and allow God to focus on the act of justice.  Consider this scripture of Paul’s acceptance as you look at those around you.  There may come a day when you are face to face with the next great missionary for God’s kingdom.  Be careful not to judge them on their past, but on what God can do with their future.

 

Prayer:
Lord,
Today let us see through Your eyes.  Let us accept the grace of Your salvation in it’s completeness.  Help us to be non-judgmental against our brothers and sisters in Your grace, and give us the discernment to realize when others are using Your name as a deceptive tool.  We acknowledge that You are sovereign and can use any person You choose for Your kingdom.  Help us to see Your love, mercy and kindness expressed through other’s actions.  In Your name we pray - Amen

Learning to Love

“And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’” Matthew 22:37

My thoughts:

I try to be loving and compassionate and understanding and patient, but sometimes it is difficult.  I love them without condition, undeniable and with every ounce of my being, but sometimes they just don’t listen.  Of course I’m referring to my children.  As a parent, perhaps you are in the same place.  Why is it that my children are smart, talented, loving and polite; yet disobedient at the same time?  I’ve watched the way they treat their friends and their friend’s parents. 

I’ve been at our friend’s homes with my kids and watched my kids take care of their dishes, their trash and pick up after themselves.  Using every manner we’ve ever taught them.  But then, I see them completely abandon these same manners in our own home.  They complain, they argue, they leave stuff everywhere and it’s like pulling teeth to get them to help with trash, cleaning, taking care of shoes and bicycles, or picking up their rooms.  The respect they demonstrate for Lisa and I is evident when others are present, but seriously lacking at other times when it’s just us.

And so it is in the way we treat our heavenly Father.  When we’re around other Christians or “like minded” individuals it is so easy to be on our best behavior and use our biblical manners; but when we are in the confines of our own little world it is so easy to slip into rebellion and destructive behavior.  Why is this the case?  God has made the rules very clear – love Him above all things, with every ounce of our being; and love others as yourself.  It’s not hard unless you start loving yourself more.

This is the path that leads to destruction.  When we put ourselves before others, including God and His plan for us, we are separating ourselves from His blessings and purpose.  Then we complain on where is God in this situation and that one.  It’s no different than your relationship with your kids.  You instruct them on right and wrong, good and evil, polite and rudeness.  You provide some discipline when they are outside of your established parameters.  But, when they are disobedient, ignoring, whining, complaining and thinking about how unfair life is – they are separating themselves from your parental guidance down a path of destruction for their life.

Just as you never stop loving your children, your heavenly Father never stops loving you, despite our many mistakes.  He has rules and guidelines and a path of righteousness laid out for you to follow, but we are distracted by the world and our own self interests.  I am thankful that He is a loving Father that guides my footsteps back to His path though.  If I treated my children the same way He treats me, I can assure you my household would be much more loving, peaceful and non-confrontational.  I continue to learn each day from the Master as I delve into His Word for guidance, advice and counsel.  I suggest the same for you.  

Be Blessed,

Rich

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37 Days – Grace Rises to the Occasion

Pastor Randy’s devotional:

My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9

I would like conclude our season of prayer with an encouragement for you. I was recently talking with a friend of mine, and we got into a serious discussion about our faith. Specifically, we were discussing the Coptic Christians in the Middle East who are being beheaded for their faith. The question was, “So what would you do if you were faced with that situation? Would you deny Christ, knowing you were just deceiving your persecutors to get out of this gruesome death? Would you stand strong and face it?” Now, I know what the right answer is. “I would never deny Christ, and I would gladly die a martyr’s death.” OK. So that’s the right answer. But I believe there is a very real grace of God that actually allows those men to face gruesome death. I believe grace rises to the occasion.

I don’t believe David was ready or able to face Goliath in his own strength. God’s grace in him rose to that occasion. I don’t believe Gideon was especially brave and skilled at leading a rebellion. God’s grace rose up in him to do what he could otherwise have never done. And I believe God will call you and me into situations this year that are so far over our heads—so beyond our skill and capacity—and yet sufficient grace will be available if we don’t blink. God’s calling is always beyond our ability. Many do not step into their calling because they feel so inadequate. They . . . we . . . I feel weak and unfit for the task. In those times, we can count on the grace of God rising to the occasion.

Let’s prepare now for those opportunities. Let fuel our faith now so that we will trust that grace to rise. If you show up, grace will show up. We will take our inheritance in 2018 by the grace of God. And, His grace is sufficient!

February 6^th Prayer:
Great and Mighty God…Your grace is sufficient for me. Your strength is made perfect when my weakness and inadequacy is exposed. I anticipate Your power and enablement, that goes beyond my talent and gifts, to enable me to do far beyond what I could ever ask or think. Help me to not shrink back from any opportunity. By the grace of God, I am what I am. Thank You for Your sufficient grace . . . In Jesus’ name!

My thoughts:
Weakness, we don’t talk about it, we don’t want to acknowledge it, but it is very real none the less.  Each and every one of us will face challenges in our life that break us, cause us to tremble in fear and fell powerless.  These are the times when we must realize that God is our provider, God is our comfort, God is our strength and God is authority over all things.  God’s grace is sufficient for anything that we face.  Not some things, not the easy things, not the life or death things, but everything.  You cannot bring something to the throne of God that is beyond His ability to overcome. 

The key is to realize that in our flesh we are weak, we are frail, we are fearful and shaken; then to realize that we belong to the supreme authority over all things.  Once this realization sets in, dealing with our suffering, our fears, our weakness becomes manageable and conquerable.  The Lord is my strength, whom shall I fear?  No one and nothing.

Be Blessed,

Rich

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