Hearing But not Heeding

“And they shall turn away their ears from the truth…” (II Timothy 4:4)

I heard of an elderly preacher who smoked a pipe. Through the years different ones had tried and failed to get him to quit his unhealthy habit. Finally a young preacher came to the old gentleman and said, “Brother Brown, many of your friends and family have tried to get you to stop smoking that old pipe. If your doctor said you had to quit or you would die what would you do?” The old preacher rocked back in his rocker, took another puff and said, “I would change doctors.”

When confronted about their unbelief and immoral lifestyles and the consequences of living outside the will of God, many folks express the same attitude that old man did about his pipe. They will change preachers, change churches and even change religions rather than change the way they live.

Sadly, large numbers of people will turn their ears away from the truth of God’s word and will turn to fables in order to have their ears tickled by something that will not help, but will do eternal harm. Truth is not changed by the constant denial of it.

Don’t be Duped by the Devil

“The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.” (Psalm 10:4)

One of my acquaintances responds to the Biblical Gospel message by saying, “I’m alright. Don’t worry about me. If so-and-so makes it to heaven I will too.” His pride tells him that he is alright without God.

The Psalmist went so far as to say that “God is not in all the thoughts of the wicked.” The New American Standard translation of this portion reads, “All his thoughts are, there is no God.”

He has become his own god. He has been duped by the devil. He is correct when he says, “If I go to hell I’ll have plenty of company,” because, “wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat.” (Matthew 7:13)

Admit you need God and repent of your sins and trust the Lord Jesus Christ.

Draw Near to God

“But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.” (Psalm 73:28)

A song I remember from childhood says, “There is a place of quiet rest, near to the heart of God.” The closer one draws to God the more precious He becomes.

If I am to declare all His works I must draw near to Him. If I keep my distance I cannot experience all He has for me and neither can I declare His blessings to others.

The Bible says that if we draw near to God, He will draw near to us. (James 4:8)

Have You Been to Calvary?

“For neither did His brethren believe in Him.” (John 7:5)

These brothers, James, Joses, Simon and Judas were the half brothers of Jesus. Mary was the mother of all five of these men and Joseph was the father of all except Jesus. God was the Father of Jesus. Joseph, Mary and all these men plus their sisters lived under the same roof while the children were growing up. Even though there was familiarity, Jesus’ brothers did not believe in Him. They thought He was a hoax. They encouraged Him to go up to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles and “…show yourself to the world.”

One may know all the facts about Jesus and not be saved. It was not until the arrest, the mock trials, the scourging under the command of Pilate, the crucifixion, Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection that they came to believe. The events of Golgotha and the empty tomb made the difference. Fifty days after Calvary, they were in the Upper Room on the Day of Pentecost and were filled with the Holy Spirit. Their lives were changed.

The Gospel song asks, “Have you been to Calvary?” One must see him/herself as a sinner and come to Calvary where our Savior died, was buried and rose again to find saving faith.

Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth

“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (II Timothy 2:15)

In some Bible translations the word, “study,” is translated, “be diligent.” Taken together it means, “be diligent in your study,” showing yourself approved unto God. The Bible says, “Much study is a weariness of the flesh.” (Ecclesiastes 12:12) Studying the scriptures diligently is hard work.

One man said, “The first thing a serious preacher or teacher of the Word of God needs to purchase is a log chain with which to chain himself to his chair at his desk so he will give diligence to the study of the Bible.” Avoid the temptation to be jumping around like a cricket from one thing to another to the neglect of studying the Scriptures.

The late scholar, C. I. Scofield reminds us that the Word can be “wrongly” divided is the reason the instruction to “rightly divide” the Word is there. So we must “dig in” to rightly divide it.

To “rightly divide” is like the carpenter who measures and marks a piece of wood then makes a precise cut. The mechanic overhauling an engine may plane the cylinder heads of the engine by thousandths of an inch. That’s precision. The Word must be studied, measured and rightly divided or else it may be wrongly divided to the eternal ruin of a precious soul.

Christ Died in the Place of Sinners Like You, Me and Barabbas

“…Now Barabbas was a robber.” (John 18:40)

Luke’s account of the story of the release of Barabbas and the killing of Jesus in the robber’s place, tells us that Barabbas was also a murderer. When Jesus died in the place of Barabbas He died for a robber who was also murderer.

When we explore the Scriptures we discover that, “…when we were yet without strength in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” (Romans 5:6)  When we look at that long list of sinners in I Corinthians 6:9-10, we see that Christ died for sexual perverts, idolaters, adulterers, homosexuals, robbers, such as Barabbas, covetous people, drunkards, revilers, and extortioners.

Barabbas was a robber and a murderer. What are you? What is your sin? Some folks are liars, some are gossips, and some are involved in witchcraft. The Bible tells us that we have all sinned. Put your name in the place of Barabbas’ name. Then put your sin where Barabbas’ sin is.  He died for all because all have sinned.

Christ died for you taking your place and suffering for your sin just as He died for Barabbas. Admit you are a sinner and receive His gift of eternal life by faith.

Your Invitation

“Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

(Matthew 11:28)

If you are struggling with some sin, perhaps a sinful habit, Jesus invites you to come to Him. Often people struggle with guilt. Take it to Jesus. People labor with expectations and demands of their religion. They find it difficult to keep all the rules and regulations laid down by some religious leader. “Come to me,” Jesus says.

No burden you have is too great for Him. Take your burdens and cares to Jesus. His invitation is inclusive and you are included in the invitation and His promise to give you rest.  As the old hymn says, “Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.”

And Others

“…and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: and others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings…”

(Hebrews 11:35-36)

Hebrews chapter eleven is known as the “Heroes of Faith,” and the “Roll Call of the Faithful.” Seventeen names of some great people of outstanding faith are mentioned in that chapter. Their stories can be found in the Old Testament accounts.

In that same chapter our text mentions some unnamed heroes who suffered for their faith. Who were these nameless people of faith?  These people were tortured, tried by cruel mockings, were scourged, were bound, imprisoned, stoned, sawed in half, tempted, and were slain with the sword. They wandered in sheepskins and goatskins. They were destitute, afflicted and tormented. They wandered in deserts, in mountains and in dens and caves.

The Bible says that they obtained a good report through faith. The word also says, “…of whom the world was not worthy.” They were the “others.”

I have been privileged to be the pastor of some outstanding, unnamed “others.” Their names do not appear in the Sunday bulletin, on church officer rolls, in lights or on church signs. They have simply and courageously taken up their cross and followed Jesus. Most churches would have serious problems without these, “others.”

In Love With This Present World

“…Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world…” (II Timothy 4:10)

At this writing Paul is in prison, nearing the end of his earthly life. He knows his time is short as he makes some requests to his friend, Timothy. “Come shortly,” he pleads.

He has been forsaken by Demas, the reason being that Demas loved this present world and was in no hurry to die, especially at the swift hands of an executioner.

Unfortunately many people, “bail out” of church and the Lord’s work when the going gets tough. They are in love with the world. It is not execution that threatens them; it is rather the unwillingness to take an unpopular stand.

Paul goes on to say, “Only Luke is with me.” Thank God for those dear folks who stay true to the word and work of the Lord Jesus.  Then he states that no man stood with him at first, but reminds us, “The Lord stood with me.”

If everyone bails out, as Demas did, the Lord will remain faithful in your time of need.

An Excellent Testimony

“I fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” (II Timothy 4:7)

I have occasionally attended funerals of older men, a faithful deacon, a pastor or a godly layman where this verse was used as the text and summation of the gentleman’s life. Obviously it must be used sparingly because not all men have that kind of testimony.

When we men read this verse we should do some self analysis to see how we are measuring up in our Christian walk.

We have a fight to fight against the devil, against the flesh and against temptations.

We have a course to finish. We Christians are involved in a race that began when we got saved and will not end until we cross the finish line at death or the second coming of Jesus.

We have a faith to keep of the things that we believe that produce right behavior in our lives.

Identifying Marks

“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” (Acts 2:42)

Yesterday we used this verse as a text to look at the effects of the Holy Spirit on the early church in the areas of evangelism and discipleship.

They continued unwavering. They were steadfast, firm and fixed. They were like the Rock of Gibraltar in their steadfastness.

They continued in four primary points.

• The first was the apostles’ doctrine. They stayed with what the apostles had taught them. Doctrinal beliefs determine doctrinal practices.

• Secondly, they continued in fellowship. The word, “fellowship,” comes from the Greek word, “koinonia.” It means, “A sharing together.” Christians come from many different backgrounds, cultures, races and economic levels. That which unites us is our sharing or fellowship in Christ. He is our common denominator.

• Thirdly, they maintained the Lord’s Supper, the meal our Lord instituted when He said, “This do in remembrance of me.”

• And finally, they continued in prayers. The Bible instructs us to, “Pray without ceasing.” (I Thessalonians 5:17)

These four were part of the identifying marks of the early church. They would be an excellent formula for churches today who desire to get back on the Biblical track.

And They Continued

“And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship and in breaking of bread and in prayers.” (Acts 2:42)

We are living in a strange part of the church age. Every kind of trick and gimmick imaginable has been tried to get people to come into the church and once there to continue.

It was on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit filled the believers who were gathered in the upper room. The Word tells us that, “there were added unto them about three thousand souls.” I personally believe that the addition and continuation resulted from the working of the Holy Spirit. Too often churches try to have the addition of souls and the continuation of discipleship without the Holy Spirit.

There will not be another Pentecost. The Holy Spirit came to stay in the first century. However, there must be a fresh working of the Spirit of God in the lives of repentant sinners and new Christians to see genuine evangelism and lasting discipleship in our day.

That which took place on the day of Pentecost and following was not done by tricks and gimmicks and tricks and gimmicks won’t do the job today.

The Christian’s Bar of Soap

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (I John 1:9)

This verse has been called, “The Christian’s Bar of Soap.” Like all soap, it is no good unless it is applied.

John the beloved is a Christian writing as he is directed by the Holy Spirit to other Christians. Notice the pronouns: “we,” “our,” and “us.” He is including himself. Also notice the scripture verses before and after this verse, looking again at the pronouns. We do sin sometimes, even after we are saved. While sin does not break our relationship with God, it does hinder our fellowship with Him.

The verse never says that we must beg God for forgiveness, just confess our sins. To confess means to “agree with the facts.” God already knows the facts and all the details of our sins. Confession is acknowledging the facts to God and agreeing that it is a sin.

One other thing: Confession is more than tacking the little phrase, “And forgive me of all my sins,” on the end of our prayer. I can almost hear God saying, “Name one.” Be specific. He promises to forgive confessed sins and to cleanse us.

The Living God

“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10:31)

If God were dead there would be no need to fear Him. If He were dead it would be useless to trust Him. But, He is not dead. He is the “Living God.”

In previous verses we are told of those who despised the Law of Moses and died without mercy under two or three witnesses. He then reminds us of those who have trodden under their feet the Son of God, besmirched the precious blood of Jesus and have insulted the Spirit of grace. He asks, “How much stronger will the punishment be for these latter than for those former who broke the Law of Moses?”

The Bible says, “God is love.” His love placed Jesus on the cross to bear our sins. There is no greater love than God’s love. However, God has what has been called, “His stormy north side.” It is His “judgment” side.  That stormy, “north side” was seen when all the sins of mankind were placed on Jesus, showing us God’s wrath against sin, as the sin Bearer was nailed to the cross. The cross shows us God’s hatred of sin while at the same time showing us His love for mankind.

If people refuse to receive God’s love for them at Calvary and His payment for sin, the wrathful judgment of the Living God against sin will be poured upon them.

Our Changeless Savior

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever.” (Hebrews 13:8)

The word, “immutable” comes to mind. It means, “Not given to change.” When something is immutable it does not change. Jesus is immutable. He does not change.

Yesterday Jesus Christ was the Son of God. Today He is still the Son of God.  Tomorrow He will still be the Son of God. Yesterday He was sinless and perfect. Today He is sinless and perfect. Tomorrow He will still be sinless and perfect. Yesterday, today and tomorrow Jesus was and is and forever shall be our sin bearer. Jesus arose from the dead following His crucifixion, He continues to live today and will be alive forevermore.

Jesus loved us yesterday, loves us today and will love us tomorrow.

You can depend on Jesus because He is always trustworthy and will not change. Of none of us can it be said that we are changeless. We are fickle, forever changing our minds, and jumping from one idea to another. But Jesus is always the same. You can trust Him now and forever.

The Preacher Who Preaches the Truth is not Your Enemy

“Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?” (Galatians 4:16)

Paul never ceased to preach the truth. Even In the face of opposition and possible persecution he stayed true to Biblical truth. The Galatians loved the message on the grace of God from Paul but when he opposed their adoption of legalism which said one is saved by grace but kept saved by maintaining the keeping of the Jewish laws they turned on him.

At first, they would have sacrificed their eyes and given them to him, but not now. Their change in attitude prompted our text.

A pastor may preach nice sounding things such as heaven, the presence of Jesus in our trials, how Jesus loves us and the like. But when the church needs to be rebuked for immorality, false doctrine or ceasing to be faithful in the work of the church the pastor must address it. The attitude of the guilty often changes when he starts “stepping on toes.”  

One man said, “The way to preach and not make anyone mad is to preach on sin but don’t mention the sins of the people in the pews in front of you.” 

Have a Strong Appetite for the Bible

“…I have esteemed the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.” (Job 23:12)

 

Well people love to eat. They love to eat good food that is well prepared. Healthy people love food that is tasty and nourishing.

 

When my younger brother was very sick with cancer he was repulsed by the sight and smell of even his favorite foods. I have known many people who, when diseased or sick, could not eat.

 

Job was spiritually well and had a strong appetite for the Word of God. That’s the way it is with people toward the Bible. When sin-sick they are repulsed by Biblical truth. They don’t want to hear it. It is sickening to them and they treat God’s Word as though it were poison. The spiritually alive and well are like Job. They want to hear and read what God has to say in His Word.

 

How is your spiritual appetite? Does the Bible cause you to want more or do you turn a deaf ear and a blind eye to it?

Things that Accompany Salvation

But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation.” (Hebrews 6:9)

If we could name all the things that accompany salvation it would be a list much too long for the space we have here. However, allow me to share some of them.

• First on the list would be the forgiveness of one’s sins. To forgive means to wipe the slate clean, to totally eliminate sin and wrong from the divine record. They are forgiven and forgotten, never to be remembered again.

• Second on the list of things that accompany salvation is fellowship with God through prayer and Bible study. A saved person has a desire to communicate with The Lord Jesus, to thank Him for salvation, to seek direction for his life and to just tell Him we love Him.

• Because the Holy Spirit came to live in us when we received Christ as our Savior, bearing the fruit of the Spirit accompanies salvation. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering (patience), gentleness (kindness), goodness, meekness, temperance.” (Galatians 5:22-23)  Are you bearing fruit of the Spirit?

• Faithfulness to the Lord and the service of the Lord in and through the local church. Do you attend church when it suits you, or when it suits Him?

• Christian forgiveness to others when they have wronged us in some way, forgiving as Christ has forgiven us.

• A willingness to share our goods, our time and our help for the good of others, with a willingness to share our testimony of what the Lord has done for us.

• A peace that comes from standing on the promises of God.

I am sure you can think of others. Add them to this list and see what God has done for you.

No Greater Joy

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” (III John 1:4)

John the Apostle received word concerning the faithfulness of Gaius and then let him know in a letter that he had no greater Joy than to hear that his children walked in truth.

I, too, rejoice when I hear of the continued faithfulness of believers to whom I have been privileged to minister.

But there is an even greater joy for me and other Christian parents and that is to know that our earthly children are saved, exemplify Christian traits and lifestyles and to continue to walk with Jesus and to be active in the Lord’s work in a local church.

I say with the beloved, aged apostle John that I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

Doing God a Favor?

“…the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.” (John 16:2)

On that beautiful morning, September 11, 2001, little did we realize that America was about to be radically changed and shaken to the core.

Men of a strange, unfamiliar religion to most Americans commandeered four commercial airliners with the intent of killing hundreds of Americans in the name of their god, thinking they were doing God a favor.

Two planes were flown into the World Trade Center Towers, one was flown into the Pentagon and the fourth was taken over from the hi-jackers by brave men on board and crashed in a field in Pennsylvania. Nearly 3,000 people were killed that day by suicide killers who thought they were doing God a favor.

God has been gracious and merciful to America as we have attempted to recover from that day fifteen years ago. We must establish a renewed patriotism, not letting it become our religion, but being strong and united. We need a spiritual renewal as we again allow God to speak to us and direct us as He did in the days of our nation’s beginning.

Let us hold in reverential memory the many people who lost their lives that day and pray for the family members who continue to struggle with the terrible losses that came to them because misguided men thought they were doing God a favor.

Identify with the Glad and the Sad

“Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.” (Romans 12:15)

Why would we not rejoice with someone who is rejoicing?  Perhaps it is because our fallen human nature is envious over their reason to rejoice. Rejoice with that person, because if you are a Christian God has already blessed you with His amazing grace and salvation. The greatest thing that can happen to you is to be saved from an eternity without Christ.

But, must I weep with those who are weeping? People need to know we identify with them in their sorrow. In a church setting when one member suffers all the members suffer.  Let us not let anyone in our church weep alone.

A little girl with a broken doll is crying. Her friend sitting beside her is weeping, also. When the girls are asked why they are crying, the first one says, “I’m crying because my doll is broken.” The second little girl replies, “I’m crying because my best friend is crying.”

No Greater Love

“Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends.”  (John 15:13)

Giving a hungry person something to eat can be an act of love. Helping an old person back to their feet after they have fallen can be from a heart of love. Many other small or large acts can express love.

A young soldier threw his body over a hand grenade that had been tossed into a fox hole where he and fellow soldiers had sought cover from the enemy. He gave his life that his buddies might live.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, went to the cross, taking all our sins upon Himself, dying for us. There is no greater love than that.

No wonder we can sing, “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so…”

They Will Know we are Christians by our Love

“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” (John 13:35)

When I was a young boy, several times I saw a small bi-plane writing an advertising message in the sky.

Jesus commanded us to share our faith and seek to win others to Him. He did not tell us to advertise that we are one of His disciples by writing it in the sky with an airplane, by putting in on a large billboard or by putting it on Facebook. The way the world will know that we are one of His disciples is by loving one another as He loved us.

Let us not destroy our testimony by being hateful to one another and by failing to be loving and kind.

Love One Another

“A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” (John 13:34)

No Christian would ever question the fact of God’s love. There are many unsaved people who acknowledge the truth of John 3:16, although they have not accepted the gift of God’s great love.

The Greek word from which the word “love” is translated in John 3:16 is the root of the word in our text. It is the “God kind of love.” It is not a “warm fuzzy” feeling. It is not the word used when we express our love for a particular candy bar or soft drink.

It means to sacrificially do more than is expected for the good of others with no thought of being paid back, helped in return or benefited in any way. It is the kind of love that prompted God to send His only begotten Son into the world to live among men and to give His life for us. It was that love that held Jesus on the cross.

It is that kind of love that is used when our Lord commands us to, “love one another as I have loved you.”

…For Christ’s Sake

“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

One of the first Bible portions children are taught in Sunday school is, “Be ye kind one to another.” It seems to be one of the first verses we forget when we become adults. 

Along with being kind to one another we are to be tenderhearted. We have a human tendency to let life and all its hardness produce in us “hardheartedness.” Not only are we to be kind and tenderhearted, we are to forgive others when they are unkind and hardhearted toward us.

To be able to forgive we must remember that it was not because of our sweetness and goodness that God has forgiven us. It was for Jesus’ sake on the cross that God forgave us. It was not our sacrifices that caused God to forgive us. Rather it was because of our Savior’s suffering and sacrificial death God forgave us. We must therefore forgive others. It is the Christian thing to do.

Do You have a Job?

“For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.” (II Thessalonians 3:10)

On an early television program there was a leading character named, “Gillis.” His buddy was Maynard G. Crebbs, a somewhat lazy fellow. When Gillis would mention the word, “work,” Maynard would recoil and repeat the word, “work” in horrified tones as though Gillis had said a dirty word.

Work is an honorable thing. God told Adam, “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground.” (Genesis 3:19)

There are people who cannot work for health reasons, bodily afflictions and the like. Then there are those who could work, but will not. This latter group is being addressed in our text. There is a difference in those who “cannot” work and those who “will not” work.  One man said of his trifling son who would not work, “He just hasn’t got hungry enough yet.” A country should count it an honor to help feed the unfortunate. A country should hang its collective head in shame when it is guilty of feeding those who are unwilling to work.

On this Labor Day if you have health to work, to be gainfully employed, can earn a day’s pay for a day’s work and if you are holding down a steady job be thankful to God.

Night is Coming

“I must work the works of Him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” (John 9:4)

There is urgency about life. Jesus, the Son of God, knew that He had a limited time to do the work on earth His Father had given Him to do.

The psalmist said, “Teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”  (Psalm 90:12) 

Jesus knew how short his time was. But, you and I do not know about tomorrow or if there will be a tomorrow. A hymn from the past said, “Work for the night is coming.”

We have but a short time here to make preparation for an endless eternity.

Are You Glad When You Are Invited to the House of the Lord?

“I was glad when they said unto me, ‘Let us go into the house of the LORD.’”

(Psalm 122:1)

There is a difference in saying, “I have to go to church tomorrow,” and saying, “I get to go to church tomorrow.” “I have to go,” almost sounds as if going to church is a dreaded duty that is done with some reluctance, like taking a dose of very bitter medicine. “I get to go,” sounds like a privilege that is not afforded to many in other lands, in hospitals, nursing homes and care-givers waiting on the sick and shut-in.

“I get to go to church,” is anticipation of something good, exciting, comforting and enjoyable. I get to go to church and worship the Lord, fellowship with fellow believers and be encouraged by the message, the singing and the praying. What a joy and privilege.

Tomorrow is Sunday, a day set aside for worship in many churches and for many people. Will you “have to go to the house of the Lord tomorrow?” or will you “get to go to the house of the Lord tomorrow?”

Much depends on your attitude about the Lord Jesus Christ.

Change Your Ways or Change Your Name

“And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.”( Acts 11:26)

Today we carelessly toss around the word, “Christian,” without giving a thought to its meaning or origin. The first place the title “Christian” is used in the Bible is in our text. It is used only two other times in the Bible. It means, “Christ Like.”

It was a name given by others to the disciples of our Lord. The disciples, followers of Christ, were observed in their actions, which no doubt included their speech, their love for one another, their benevolence, their forgiveness of wrongs done to them and many other Christ-like actions. They were followers of Christ and were Christ Like.

A soldier of Alexander the Great was arrested for theft. His officer brought him and the charge of theft to Alexander. As the young soldier stood before Alexander the Great, the leader asked him, “Son, what is your name. The lad said, “My name is Alexander, sir.” Alexander the Great said, “Son, either change your ways or change your name.”

With so many in our world claiming to be Christians, with a lifestyle more befitting Satan than Christ, one can almost hear our Savior say, “Change your ways or change your name.”

Does Jesus Care?

“Master, carest thou not that we perish?” (Mark 4:38)

When the storms of life are raging and you are in the middle of your own storm is when it sometimes seems that Jesus doesn’t care.

The disciples had been perfectly safe and content on shore, but when evening came Jesus said, “Let’s pass over to the other side.” So they obediently got in the little boat and headed for the distant shore on the other side. Had they not obeyed maybe they would not have been in a storm with their ship about to sink. To them it seemed that Jesus did not care. “Master, carest thou not that we perish?”

Have you been in that storm? You did what He told you in His Word, but the storm came. Does He care?

Yes, He cares. He is in the boat with you. He has control over the storms. He may allow the storm to rage long enough for you to learn to trust Him in the storm. But, when He tells the storm, “Peace, be still,” the storm will cease. Trust Him who cares for you to protect you in the storm and to cause the storm to cease.