The Latchets of Jesus’ Shoes

“And (John) preached, saying, ‘There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.’” (Mark 1:7)

Jesus’ assessment of John the Baptist was that among those born of women there had not risen a greater than John the Baptist. John’s assessment of Jesus is found in our text.

The latchets of shoes that were ready to be unloosed are on shoes that have been worn all day and have accumulated dirt, mud and grime, not nice clean shoes that have no dirt and grime on them from a day’s wear. Following a day’s activity of walking on unpaved roads and streets and of working in the field, the dirty shoes must be unlatched, removed and the feet washed and prepared for night-time rest.

The lowest of servants were assigned the task of taking off those grimy shoes and then cleaning them to be ready to wear the next day. John was saying that he was not worthy to be the lowest of servants to the Lord Jesus.

Where do you and I fit in the ranking of servants for the Master?

The Inspired Word of God

“For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” (II Peter 1:21)

When I was a child growing up in the country I often read the “Progressive Farmer” magazine. One of the monthly features was a short snippet called, “Hambone Says…” It was filled with pithy one or two sentence sayings of a black man whose name was, “Hambone.” One of his sayings that has stuck with me for over sixty-five years goes like this: “Hambone says, ‘When I read the Bible it sure does help me understand them commentaries.’”

The president of the Christian College I attended asked to see my Bible, a popular reference Bible. He examined it and handed it back to me and said, “Son remember, the Bible part of that book is inspired of God. The rest of it may or may not be true since it is primarily the author’s opinions and interpretations.

Hambone and my college president were both correct. For interpreting and understanding the Bible, nothing will ever take the place of just reading it, studying it, meditating on it, memorizing it and living it.

In Remembrance

“…the Lord Jesus the same night in which He was betrayed took bread: and when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said, ‘Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.’” (I Corinthians 11:23,24)

Compared to the size of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. the wafer of bread and the thimble size cup of fruit of the vine are insignificant. Compared to the persons they each memorialize, the Lincoln Memorial is tiny.

The two elements of the Lord’s Supper help us remember the broken body and the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, when He died on the cross, the greatest single event for the benefit of more people than all other memorialized persons or events combined.

Let us on this Memorial Day remember the many lives of American Soldiers, Sailors, Air-men, Marines and Coast-guardsmen who gave their all for our freedoms. And let us never forget the great love of God and His Son when we were made free from the chains of Satan.

The Unchanging Gospel

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which ye also are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless he have believed in vain.”
(I Corinthians 15:1-2)

You and I may forget what day it is or what day we got saved. We may forget how many young men lost their lives on Normandy Beach in World War II. I knew an elderly gentleman who drove to church on a Sunday evening but forgot how to get back home. His wife had to send someone after him.

The apostle is writing to the Corinthians to remind them of the gospel story and of how they came to be Christians. He was saying, “This is what I preached when I was there with you. It has not changed."

This is what the old preachers were declaring when I became a Christian. It has not changed. In fact, whether or not we forget, God has not forgotten.

Is Your Heart Broken over Your Sins?

“For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt-offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, Oh God, thou wilt not despise.” (Psalm 51:16-17)

It would have been a simple, fairly easy thing for David to have chosen one of his finest sheep from his flock, kill it, pour out its blood on the altar and consider his sins of adultery and murder paid for. After all, that is what the Law of Moses prescribed. But David knew what the Jews of Isaiah’s day would later fail to realize: that sacrifices can become nothing more than routine ceremonies. (Isaiah 1:1-31)

My fear is that gone are the days of genuine contrition and brokenness of heart over one’s sins, when the altar would fill with people shedding tears of contrition over their sins and the sins of the state and nation. Today it seems from pastor to people we are more concerned with building mega-churches, growing budgets, entertaining the unrepentant heathen than of experiencing true heart-felt repentance and revival.  Praise the Lord for those churches who have genuine contrition and heart-felt repentance.

It is not my responsibility, nor any other preacher’s responsibility to confess your sins, nor to hear the confession of your sins. My responsibility is to confess my sins before God as David did. That is your responsibility also. How much your heart is broken and how contrite you are is between you and God. Simon Peter denied that he knew the Lord Jesus. When the rooster crowed and Peter saw Jesus looking at him, he went out and wept bitterly. How much your heart is broken over your sins depends, not on the size or shape of your sin, but on how much you love the Lord against whom you sinned.

Restoring the Joy

“Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.”
(Psalm 51:12-13)

Do you remember the joy that was yours right after you received Christ into your life? You could sing with the children, “I have the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart.” But something happened to steal your joy. Perhaps it was a sin like David’s. Maybe you gradually stopped assembling with other believers and your soul was not being fed. It could be that you stopped reading your Bible and talking with God in prayer. Whatever the cause of losing the joy you want it back. There can never be Godly joy in a disobedient child of God.

It was only after King David had laid his confession before the Lord, asked for mercy and appealed for his sins to be purged and cleansed by the blood that he could expect salvation’s joy to be restored.

Notice that David did not ask for his salvation to be restored. Rather, he asked for salvation’s “joy” to be restored. He had not lost his salvation, just the joy.

Finally, only after salvation’s joy is restored can we also be useful servants of the Lord again. It was then, David acknowledged, that he would teach transgressors God’s way and sinners would be converted.

Whiter than Snow

“Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” (Psalm 51:7)

Hyssop, in Biblical times, was a small, light-weight bush growing to a height of twelve to twenty-four inches. It is mentioned in the Bible as a plant that is dipped in the basin of blood of the Passover Lamb. The blood on the hyssop was sprinkled on the door posts and the lintel over the door of the houses if the Israelites. God declared, “When I see the blood, I will pass over you.” (Exodus 12:13, 21-24)  The blood was used to sprinkle blood on the altar in other worship ceremonies also.

David’s use of the word “hyssop” in our text was not just referring to the plant, but its significance as the applicator of the sacrificial blood. The blood of the Passover Lamb and the blood of the many other sacrificial animals in the Old Testament were looking forward in faith to that day when the Lamb of God, the Lord Jesus Christ would shed His blood on a cross outside Jerusalem.

David was praying in faith to God, knowing the Son of God would one day shed His precious blood for Him just as the blood of the Passover Lamb had been shed for deliverance of the Jews on that first Passover evening. David knew the necessity of the blood of the Lamb as well as the absolute sufficiency of it.

I think of the song, “What can wash away my sin?” The answer is, “Nothing, but the blood of Jesus.”

Acknowledging our Sins to God

“For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.” (Psalm 51:3)

The first step in getting right with God is to acknowledge that we are not right with God. Trying to hide our sins from our fellow man is impossible. Imagine attempting to hide our sins from Him whose eyes are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. (Proverbs 15:3)

David begins his prayer of confession by appealing to God for mercy. David knew that his sin was not the fault of another person, bad circumstances or bad environment. He never called his sin “a mistake.” He referred to his sin as, “transgressions,” “iniquity,” and “evil.”

An eraser will wipe out mistakes. It takes the blood of Jesus to cleanse us from sin. If you are tired of trying to hide your sin, take it to the cross of Jesus, confess it and leave it there.

Why do We Sin?

“Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.” (Psalm 51:5)

King David committed a terrible sin with the wife of one his bravest and trusted soldiers. When David discovered that she was with child as a result of their sin, he had it arranged for that soldier to be killed in battle and for the woman to be his wife. One sin will never cover up another sin.

David did not become a sinner as a result of those sins. He committed those sins because he was a sinner. He acknowledged in his prayer of confession in the fifty-first Psalm that he was a sinner even from the time of his conception in his mother’s womb. The same is true for you and me.

The Bible says, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” (Romans 5:12) From the time Adam and Eve yielded to Satan and committed their sin in the Garden of Eden, every descendant of Adam and Eve have come into the world with the sin nature. That is why we sin, and the reason the Bible is truthful when it says that, “we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) That is why we need a Savior. That’s why God provided His Son to be our Savior.

I encourage you to receive Him by faith to be your Savior.

Gaius: A Well Man with a Sick Body

“Behold, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” (III John 1:2)

We live in a day of health food fads, health food stores, work out gyms and running tracks. Our churches have built “Christian Life Centers,” spending millions of dollars to keep everyone’s body healthy and happy.

Gaius was a Christian with a healthy soul but a sickly body. Apparently he exercised his faith by walking in the Spirit. His walking regimen probably included walking with God as Enoch, the Old Testament saint did.

John was interested in both, the physical and spiritual health of Gaius. We should be interested in both also. However, the crowd will gather more quickly for human body building than for soul building. But if we have a choice, the church will function better with members with healthy souls and weak bodies than it will with members with healthy bodies and weak souls.

Pray for Lost Sinners

“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved.” (Romans 10:1)

Paul had a deep desire for his people, the Jews, to be saved. He not only preached to them and witnessed one on one to them, he prayed for them.

Praying for lost and unsaved people works. I’m not sure how, but it does. I’m not sure how praying for someone with cancer works either but it often does. In praying for the lost, most certainly we are not trying to convince God to do something He does not want to do. Surely, Calvary would convince everyone how desperately He wants the lost to be saved. He is, “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (II Peter 3:9)

We were in the middle of a revival. Nothing had happened up to this time. My father called on anyone who would to stay after the service and pray. There were not many of us. We scattered out in the sanctuary with no two of us together. We knelt, or stood, or sat on the pews and prayed. No food was served. There was no music. There were no loud voices among us; just low voices in prayer. About three a.m. my father said, “It’s in the hands of God. Let’s go home and come back tonight.” That night when the invitation to accept Christ was extended several people came forward receiving Christ as their Savior and professing faith in Him.

Pray for the lost sinners to be saved. It works.

When I Can Find the Time

“And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, ‘Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.’”(Acts 24:25)

Paul had given his defense before Felix the governor and now a few days later, Felix and his wife, Drusilla, are before Paul. Like so many others before him and since, Felix is trembling under the conviction of the Holy Spirit. He wanted to put off any decision until he could find a more convenient time. No record of his becoming a Christian is given in the Bible. Apparently, he never found the time.

A man with whom I had shared the gospel was in the Coronary Care Unit of our hospital. I visited him there and again shared the gospel. He had never been this serious about being saved before. He suddenly said, “Come back to see me at home. This is not the right place, nor the right time.” He was dismissed from the hospital and went home. I visited him again at home and he said, “Not right now.” The next day he had a massive heart attack and died instantly. Like Felix, he never found the time.

The Bible says now is the accepted time of salvation. There will never be a better time than now.

Be Ready to Tell the Story of Your Salvation

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man who asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.” (I Peter 3:15)

Stuart Hamblen was saved in Billy Graham’s first major crusade in 1949 in Los Angeles, California. When Hamblen’s friend, John Wayne, observed the changes that had taken place in Hamblen, Wayne remarked, “What’s the secret to the changes in your life?” Stuart Hamblen replied, “It’s no secret what God can do.”  John Wayne said, “That would be a good title for a song.” As the late Paul Harvey would say, “And now you know the rest of the story.”

Stuart Hamblen was ready to tell his friend what had happened to him. He had no Bible college degree or seminary degree. He just knew that God had changed him from the inside out and he couldn’t wait to tell others.

Our text calls for us to set the Lord apart in our hearts and be ready to answer folks when they want to know what has happened. A witness in a trial is asked to tell what he knows from first hand knowledge. Be ready, as the text says.  The Lord will give you opportunities to tell others.

Live the Word, Don't just Listen

“And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.” (Ezekiel 33:31)

I heard the story of an all day church meeting with dinner on the grounds. After the morning worship service and a big lunch, the outdoor tables were cleared and everyone made their way back inside as the singing started. When the preacher began preaching, one little boy slipped out to get some fresh air. He stayed out a good long while and decided he should go back in.  As he was coming back to the building, he met another little boy who was stepping out for some fresh air.  The first boy asked the second, “Is the preaching done yet?  The second boy answered, “The preaching is done but they ain’t done nothing about it yet.”

In Ezekiel’s day they admired the preacher, expressing much love toward him and said good things about his sermons. Ezekiel was to them like a beautiful song being sung by an accomplished singer. The last part of verse thirty-three sums it up. It says, “For they hear thy words, but they do them not.” (Ezekiel 33:32)

Every Sunday in churches across America it can be said, “The preaching is done, but no one has done anything about it.” We must be doers of the Word and not just hearers only. (James 1:22)

Keep On Keeping On

"But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry." (2 Timothy 4:5)

The Bible gives warning of the time coming when folks will not listen to sound doctrine. Because of their desire to hear something new and different they will have a multitude of teachers and they will be turned to fables. (2 Timothy 4:3-4)

So, what are Bible believers, pastors and other ministers to do? In verse 5 Paul tells Timothy, "But watch thou..." is the way the King James Version reads. Another translation reads, "As for you, watch." Whatever others may do, no matter how far astray they may go, as for you, you can't always help what others do, but you can be watchful for yourself. You can be faithful even when others are not.

Then the writer adds. Endure afflictions. There will always be afflictions in this world, even for Christians who are living holy lives, and sometimes, especially Christians. Keep evangelizing. Paul witnessed and led people to faith in Christ even while in prison. Continue to do your ministry. What is your ministry? It may not be on a foreign mission field. It may be simply encouraging a young, or weak or discouraged Christian. It may be tithing and giving. Or, it could be teaching a Bible class or pastoring. Make yourself totally His.

Under His Wings

“…In the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.”  (Psalm 57:1)

On a farm where the mother hen and her baby chicks run free, danger may come in many forms: a chicken hawk, a fox, a storm or a host of other dangers. When any of these are threatening, the mother hen will  make a “clucking” sound  and spread her wings while her chicks run for cover under her wings.  The chicks will be safe and comforted in the protective care of the mother hen.

In this Psalm David was fleeing from Saul who was seeking to kill him.  David is seeking shelter under the wings of God.  He knew he would be safe there until the danger had passed.

Jesus used the expression of a hen gathering her chicks under her wings to illustrate His wanting to gather the Jews to Himself. But, they would not come to Him. Their refusal prompted these words from Him: “Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.” (Matthew 23:37, 38)

You and I face numerous calamities in life.  But just like is said by these words from the old song, we will be safe under His wings.
                        Under His wings, under His wings,
                           Who from His love can sever?
                        Under His wings my soul shall abide,
                           Safely abide forever.

Impromptu Opportunities

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts; and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.” (I Pet. 3:15)

It was told that Benjamin Disraeli, Prime Minister of Britain in the 1800’s, after giving a speech before Parliament, was praised by someone for his “excellent impromptu speech.”  The Prime Minister said, “True, the speech was given on short notice, but I have been preparing this speech for a lifetime.”

The Christian, likewise, is to always be ready to share his belief and testimony.  Peter said this in his first epistle as seen in our text for today.  

Chance meetings with non-believers provide opportunities for the Christian who is always ready. Paul the Apostle told his young Christian friend, Timothy, to be “instant in season or out of season.”

To always be ready requires private reading, study, memorization of and meditation on the Bible. Readiness to share our Christian testimony also requires spending time with God in prayer.  It requires patience, endurance and the presence of God in trials and hardships.   It requires a life of faith.

Living the Christian life moment by moment, day by day, year in and year out prepares us for those “impromptu” opportunities.

A Virtuous Woman

Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.” (Proverbs 31:10)

For years and years this well known passage has been read, quoted, used as a text for Mothers’ Day sermons and is used as an example of a Godly woman. There are so many outstanding traits here it is difficult to know which one is best. A sermon could be preached from each of the twenty-two verses beginning with our text.

When my mother died a few years ago and my siblings and I were deciding what inscription to have engraved on her memorial stone, we all agreed on the latter half of Proverbs 31:26. It reads, “…and in her tongue is the law of kindness.” Only because we could not find a stone large enough, we could not include the entire passage of Proverbs 31:10-31. Like many of my readers with strong, loving feelings for your mother every trait of the virtuous woman would be an appropriate description of our mothers.

My desire is for the mothers who read these lines today to have a happy Mothers’ Day. If your mother is still living do whatever you can to help her have a wonderful day.

Harvest Time

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap if we faint not.” (Galatians 6:9)

Last fall farmers were in their fields planting wheat in anticipation of reaping a harvest sometime in June, the season for harvesting wheat. Now that we are almost half way through May, harvest time is coming in three to four weeks.

We Christians in the harvest of souls must be faithful and stay at the task. We must teach, preach, witness, pray and live a Christian life before the lost. Just as the grain farmers have not given up, we Christians cannot give up. Faithfulness is called for.

It is too soon to quit. I have heard true stories of people being faithful to pray for a lost husband, brother, father, friend or neighbor.  They faithfully shared the gospel with that person. One day the harvest came. The person was saved by the grace of God because someone refused to be weary in well doing.

Burden Bearers

“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2)

Folks all around us have burdens of different sizes, shapes and content. Some are burdened with sickness, while others have financial burdens. Family issues are burdens for many folks. There are multitudes of burdens all around us.

We Christians are to be burden bearers. We are to help others through their hard times. The idea is that we are to put our shoulder under the burden of others. We are to be “Load Lifters.” We are to do this through love as Christ loves us.

An old song I have loved for many years, since the first time I heard it, illustrates well the idea of burden bearing. The song is entitled simply, “Others.”

Others

Lord, help me live from day to day, in such a self forgetful way,

That even when I kneel to pray, my prayer shall be for others.

Help me in all the work I do, to ever be sincere and true,

And know that all I’d do for you must needs be done for others.

And when my work on earth is done, and my new work in heaven’s begun,

May I forget the crown I’ve won, while thinking still of others.

Chorus

Others, Lord, yes, others, Let this my motto be,

Help me to live for others, that I may live like Thee.

The Blessing of Christian Assembly

“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:24-25)

Some Christians assemble in humble, small one room buildings. Others assemble in a huge, well decorated building with stained glass windows, the latest sound equipment and an organ and piano that would be the envy of Carnegie Hall. Unfortunately, some professing Christians never assemble with other believers at all.

The purpose of the assembly of the believers is to worship the Lord, hear a challenging message and to encourage one another in the Christian walk. When believers are absent they neither give nor receive encouragement.

The day of the return of Christ is fast drawing on. Knowing this, we have all the more reason to assemble with other believers so we can exhort one another in the Christian walk.

Why not let this coming Lord’s Day be the beginning of a renewed commitment to assemble with fellow believers? Not only will you receive a blessing, you will be a blessing to others.

Rightly Divide 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)

The story goes of a preacher who never studied his Bible, never prepared his sermons in advance and just stood behind the pulpit and allowed his Bible to fall open at random, placed his finger on a verse and then he would preach on that verse.

One Sunday morning his Bible fell open to Matthew 27:5 which says, “And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.” Well, he hardly knew what to say, so he tried again. This time his Bible fell open to Luke 10:37. He placed his finger on the latter part of the verse which says, “Go, and do thou likewise.” By now he was desperate. He tried again, his Bible falling open to John 13:37. His eyes focused on the words, “Then said Jesus unto him, ‘what thou doest, do quickly.’”  He dismissed the congregation.

If the Bible can be “rightly” divided, as our text admonishes, obviously this little story illustrates how it can be “wrongly” divided.

Whether one is reading the Bible for personal edification and divine direction or preparation to teach others, we must take time to read it in its context, comparing it with other scriptures making sure we are not making it say things that it does not say.

No Certain Dwelling-Place

“Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling-place; and labor, working with our own hands: being reviled we bless: being persecuted, we suffer it: Being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the off-scouring of all things to this day.”  (I Corinthians 4:11-13)

Very often when we Christians pray, we thank God for food, clothes and shelter. Paul the apostle had a shortage of all of these but never complained. Even though God had ordained that they who preach the gospel should live of the gospel, Paul worked with his own hands and supported himself. He never embraced the “health and wealth” religion so prevalent today.

When he was defamed and gossiped about and his name besmirched he prayed for those who were guilty. He was considered to be the filth of the world. He was considered the off-scouring of all things. Sometimes a stove oven will have baked on stuff where something has boiled over in the oven. The stuff one scrapes off is useless off-scouring. Dead bugs scraped off a car wind-shield are another example of useless off-scouring. The world considers the dedicated, committed Christian to be useless off-scouring. That is part of being considered a fool for Christ: willing to be counted as nothing and of no value in the eyes of the world.

Are you willing to suffer the loss of all things for the Lord Jesus Christ and for the sake of the Gospel of Salvation?

What Kind of Fool are You?

“We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honorable, but we are despised.” (I Corinthians 4:10)

There are a number of fools in the Bible. There is the “atheistic fool” who declares in his heart that there is no God. He believes the universe just happened to come into existence. He does not believe in heaven, hell, judgment or the need for Christ Jesus. The hereafter is just a myth to him. (Psalm 14:1)

Then there is the “educated fool.” He professes himself to be wise and has become a fool, "And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. (Romans 1:22-32) God as He is proclaimed in the Bible is inadequate for the “sophisticated” mind of this educated fool.

There are those deceived by alcohol and strong drink. The Bible says, “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging, and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” (He is a fool). (Proverbs 20:1)

There is the “Rich Fool” of Luke 12:16-21 who lives for his wealth and selfishly hoards it to the neglect of his fellow man.

Our text mentions the “fools for Christ.” They have forsaken all to follow Jesus. They believe the Bible, they love Christ, whom they have not seen and faithfully assemble with other believers Sunday after Sunday. They pray to a God they cannot see and sing praises to the Son of God whom they haven’t seen. When they are mistreated they forgive the offender because they know they themselves have been forgiven by the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

What kind of fool are you?

A Spectacle to the Entire World

“For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.” (I Corinthians 4:9)

There are no apostles today who meet the criteria laid out in Acts chapter one. However, there are innumerable faithful servants of the Lord in various capacities. They are found on the mission fields, preaching God’s word behind both the glamorous and unknown pulpits and teaching the Bible Sunday after Sunday in the Sunday Schools. They are sharing their testimonies with the lost and sacrificially supporting the work of the local churches with their tithes and offerings.

Many of them, while not seeking recognition or attention are made a spectacle, “on stage” as it were, and the entire world is watching, often hurling slurs and insults at those faithful ones.

Let me remind all of us that only the trees bearing good fruit have rocks thrown at them.

Be faithful, child of God. Consider it an honor that God counts you worthy to suffer for His sake. You are not alone in your service for the Lord.

Follow the Leader who Follows Christ

“Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” (I Corinthians 11:1)

In a young preachers’ Bible class the professor often said, “Always practice what you preach.” Other times I have heard it said, “What you do speaks more loudly than what you say.”

When Paul gave his instruction in our text to the church of Corinth he was saying a similar thing. “When I follow Christ, follow me. When I cease following Christ, don’t follow me.” It takes a discerning spirit to tell the difference. Too many times we follow a man simply because everyone else is.

Nine-hundred and nine people blindly followed Jim Jones to their deaths in Jonestown, Guyana, South America on November 18, 1978. Jones was a very charismatic man, but he was not following Christ. Consequently, neither were his followers following Christ.

Follow the leader, pastor or preacher/teacher who follows Christ, who stays in the Word, basing doctrines, decisions, deportment and destiny on the, “Thus saith the Lord,” in the Bible.

Believe God and Be of Good Cheer

“Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.” (Acts 27:25)

It was in the midst of a storm at sea that Paul the Apostle spoke these words. He was on board a small ship sailing for Rome. Two hundred and seventy-six men, including Paul, were on board. All hope of being rescued was gone. An angel of God stood by Paul after about two weeks, telling him that he and everyone on board with him would be saved.  The ship did indeed wreck, but everyone made it to shore.

It was the Word of the Lord through the angel of God that prompted our text from Paul, “I believe God.”

One must believe God’s Word to be saved and have eternal life. In addition, faith in what God says about never leaving nor forsaking us will see us through the storms of life. The old song says, “I’m standing on the promises of God.” Are you standing on His promises?

You and I will have storms in life as surely as Paul and those men with him had their storm. Someone once said, “You have just passed through a storm, or you are in a storm right now or you are just about to go through a storm." You can be of good cheer, as Paul suggested, when you believe God.

Growing through Opposition

“As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.” (Acts 8:3-4)

The church has always had enemies because the head and founder of the church has always had His enemies. It is true even today. Until the Lord saved him, Saul was one of her chiefest opponents.

By the same token the church has always had her faithful servants of the Lord. The church may sometimes appear to be losing but the church will always be victorious.

When my older brother was a teenager he let a fire in a field get out of control. In his effort to stop it from spreading and to put it out he caused it to spread. Evil men will always try to stamp out the church’s fire but such efforts only make the fires of evangelism and missions spread.

When the church of Jerusalem was resisted and opposed, it resulted in the witness of the church spreading. One of the strongest churches of the first century was the church of Antioch which resulted from the martyrdom of Stephen in Jerusalem and the Christians being scattered abroad. (Acts 11:19)  Thank God for faithful servants of the Lord who stand in the face of opposition.

Let Christ Change You

“And Saul was consenting unto his death.” (Acts 8:1)

If I see evil taking place and I do not raise my voice against it I am consenting to the evil. It is very much like Pilate the governor when Jesus was being tried, scourged and crucified. Pilate, “took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, ‘I am innocent of the blood of this just person…’” (Matthew 27:24)

In Acts 6 and 7 the Sanhedrin Council was cut or pricked to the heart when Stephen preached his message to them concerning their history of rejecting the messages of the prophets of God. Stephen’s message included their rejection of Jesus, the Messiah. To silence Stephen they took up stones and stoned him to death. Saul gave his consent. He never lifted his hand or raised his voice against it. He just went along with it.

Even though he went along with this evil deed, shortly afterward, Saul was saved by the grace of God. His name was changed from Saul (big man) to Paul (insignificant man). He became one of the greatest Christians ever. He was a servant, or slave, to Jesus. He wrote thirteen books of the New Testament and made his stand against evil, standing for Christ and the followers of Christ.  He suffered a martyr’s death. Christ Jesus the Savior made a change in him. Christ can make a change in you if you will let Him. 

Love One Another

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

The word tells us that the disciples were called Christians first in a place called Antioch. The word, “Christian,” means, “Christ-like.” Apparently there was evidence in the lives of the disciples that they were Christ like. What was the evidence?

If you were arrested and put on trial for being a Christian what evidence would the prosecution bring against you? Would there be enough evidence to bring a conviction?

The one sure piece of evidence that you are one of the Lord’s disciples is that you have love for your fellow disciples. This love is more than just a warm, fuzzy feeling for others. Warm fuzzy feelings can’t be seen by the world. Only the God kind of love that sent Jesus into the world to die for sinners can be seen. That is the word that is used in our text.

We must not let our attitudes of rancor, ill will, back biting, jealousy, selfishness and such things negate our efforts at evangelism in our communities. Jesus said they will know we are Christians by the genuine love we express toward fellow Christians.

Waving a Red Flag

“Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.” (I Peter 1:8)

No one living today has seen George Washington, Thomas Jefferson or Abraham Lincoln. But they are part of the very fabric of the United States of America. No one would be willing to show his ignorance to the rest of the world by saying these men never existed. We depend on the accounts of reliable historians and biographers to tell us their stories.

I have often wondered why people who profess they are wise wave a red flag over their ignorance by saying Jesus, the Son of God, never existed and was not, is not real. We have numerous accounts of His person-hood, power and passion from reliable eyewitnesses who lived in that day.

We Christians have not seen Him in the flesh, but we know He is alive and well and that we will see Him in person one day. Do not doubt that fact. We have not seen Him in the flesh but we love Him and rejoice with unspeakable joy.