|
David Scudder
DaveBethel at gmail dot com Sr. Pastor of Bethel Chapel Church
Derick Scudder > Misc. comments from Bethel's youth leader
Doug Scudder > Current political perspectives
Bethel Chapel Church > Learn about Bethel Chapel Church
Bethel's Youth Group > Musings from Bethel's young people Kensington Neighorhood House > Our Outreach to Kensington |
|
It amazes me that everyone doesn’t want forgiveness of sin, but I have met many people who do not. Why is that? Even though King David shows us in Psalm 51 that when we ask for forgiveness God’s way, we are forgiven. Period! At that point God declares that our sins are washed away and forever gone. Who wouldn’t want that? Even thought the Bible tells us that when God forgives us, He removes our sin “As far as the east is from the west” (Psalm 103:12). If that’s true, then who wouldn’t want God’s forgiveness? It’s free, forever, and complete.
Keep reading in Psalm 51 to see why some people reject God and His forgiveness. Even though God’s forgiveness is freely offered, it comes as a package deal. When God forgives us, He also changes us. Too many in our world don't want that change. They want to keep going their own way. They don't want God to change the direction and focus of their lives. Many years ago Wilber Reese wrote a poem called “Three Dollars Worth of God.” He uses some sarcasm to make his point. I would like to buy 3 dollars worth of God, please Not enough to explode my soul or disturb my sleep, But just enough to equal a cup of warm milk or a snooze in the sunshine. I don't want enough of Him to make me love [someone of a different color] or pick beets with a migrant. I want ecstasy, not transformation. I want the warmth of the womb not a new birth. I want about a pound of the eternal in a paper sack. I'd like to buy 3 dollars worth of God, please. The truth is that God will never give us just a little bit of Himself. When you have an encounter with the almighty, holy, creator of the universe, it is transformational. Actually, though, that is good news. When God changes us on the inside, we begin to WANT what He wants. “Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He will do it” (Psalm 37:4-5). In a sense then, a Christian does get to do what he wants to do. That’s because a Christian wants to please and follow the One who forgave all of his sin. Andrew Murray, a South African pastor in the 1800’s explained how God’s forgiveness changed him: “ May not a single moment of my life be spent outside the light, love, and joy of God’s presence and not a moment without the entire surrender of myself as a vessel for Him to fill full of His Spirit and His love.” Surrendering to God’s forgiveness is the beginning of great joy. As David put it, “Serve the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful singing” (Psalm 100:2). Charles Spurgeon said, “None but God can give back this joy; he can do it; we may ask it; he will do it for his own glory and our benefit. This joy comes not first, but follows pardon and purity….” When you accept the package deal that comes with God’s forgiveness, then you will want to shout: “The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock; and exalted be God, the rock of my salvation” (2 Samuel 22:47). If you are interested in learning more about God’s forgiveness, I’d be glad to talk to you or send you some free information. You can leave a message for me at 215-533-4395 or write to me at DaveBethel@gmail.com.
Comments
(0)
|
|
We all know what it’s like to feel that we are a failure. It is a miserable feeling. It is a common feeling. In fact, we have all failed God, and He has told us how to deal with those failures. Jesus said we should come to Him: “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). That is easier said than done, though. The problem is that we don’t want to come to God when we feel dirty. We avoid Him, the holy, pure One who knows every wrong we have done, but we need Him desperately. What should we do?
King David’s life can give us the answer. David was a great man, and yet he was also a great failure. One day, after he became king, he let his eyes wander. He began lusting after a beautiful woman. Then he let that lust grow until he slept with her. When she got pregnant, he conspired to have that woman’s husband killed so he could take her as his wife. After her husband was dead, David thought that everything was all neatly covered up and that all would be fine—but life wasn’t fine. David was miserable. (You can read the full story in 2 Samuel, Chapters 11 & 12). For about a full year David lived in denial. God gave David all that time so he could repent of his sin on his own, but he refused to do it. He probably thought that the guilt would go away if he just ignored it long enough. He continued to feel bad about what he had done, but he did not face it honestly. It wasn’t until the prophet Nathan confronted David with his failure that he repented. David wasted a whole year of his life being miserable (David describes what it felt like in Psalm 32:3-4). That got me to thinking. I wonder how much time we have wasted being miserable because we were waiting until we FELT ready to pray to God, instead of just dealing with our failure as soon as we recognized it? How did David come to God when he didn’t feel worthy to come? You can read about it in Psalm 51. In verses 1&2 of that Psalm, David began by admitting his absolute need for God’s gracious forgiveness. David did not offer any excuses, or any mention of his good works. David could have reminded God of his courageous victory over Goliath, his years of patience while King Saul was trying to hunt him down and kill him, or the number of inspiring Psalms that he had already written. No, David skipped over all of those things. He understood that his good works could not pay for his failure. David relied completely on God’s grace. Notice how he prayed: “Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin” (Psalm 51:1-2). David understood that God’s grace was his only hope. David didn’t make any promises to DO something for God in order to be forgiven. He just asked for God’s complete and undeserved forgiveness. That’s hard for us because accepting God’s grace is humiliating. When we accept His free grace, we are admitting that we don’t have anything good within ourselves to offer God. We can’t come to God and bargain with Him. We can only come like a penniless beggar. In other words, God must get all the credit for our forgiveness. God’s forgiveness always begins with cleaning us up on the inside. That often isn't where we want it to start. Frequently, we just want our guilt to disappear so we can look good to others. If we don’t allow God to change our heart attitudes that led us into sin, though, it’s like letting an unclean cut heal on the surface without draining the infection that is underneath. Charles Spurgeon, the British Baptist preacher of the 19th century put it this way: “The hypocrite is content if his garments be washed; but the true [petitioner] cries, ‘WASH ME.’” If you would like to hear more about God’s forgiveness, go to www.BethelChapelChurch.com, click on the picture page to open the site, and then click on the words “The Pulpit” underneath the name of the church at the top of the page. Look through the message titles and click on “How Failures Should Pray.” God's message of grace and forgiveness is for you. It doesn’t matter how much we have failed. If we hate our failures, our sins, and are willing to humbly ask Christ for forgiveness, we can be free from guilt. We can again seek God with a joyful heart.
Comments
(0)
|
|
Should your religious beliefs guide your politics? What about the decisions you make at work? What about the way you raise your children? Many people would answer, “No!” That reality hit me again yesterday. A public school teacher here in Philadelphia tried to convince my daughter that her religious beliefs should NOT affect the other areas of her life. He told her, “It’s OK for you to have your religion, but you need to keep it separate from the other parts of your life. Think of your religion like the foods on your dinner plate. Just as you separate the different foods on your plate, don’t let religion touch the other parts of your life. Don’t let them get mixed up.”
Should our faith be a small, self-contained part of our lives? It seems like that is the popular way to hold religious beliefs nowadays. Many people think of faith as something they do an hour or two a week at a place of worship; others only practice their faith a couple times a year. Is that how Christ told His followers to live? Does your faith govern the rest of your life? Jesus spoke very plainly when He said, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me” (Luke 9:23). Jesus expected His followers to focus their entire lives on Him. Solomon put it another way when he said, “In all your ways acknowledge [God]” (Proverbs 3:6). What does a person’s everyday life look like when his faith in Christ is guiding every part of his life? He will work hard, for example, even when his boss isn’t looking. He won’t steal, even when he could get away with it. He will act loving to those who don’t act very loving to him. He will read the Bible--just because he wants to learn more about the God who paid for his sins. Real faith in Christ is so powerful that it affects everything a believer does. This is why the Bible tells us that, “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father” (Colossians 3:17). A follower of Christ is more interested in pleasing Christ than fitting in with popular culture. Peter was confronted with just such a choice once. He had been arrested because he was saying that Jesus was the Messiah. The religious rulers warned him to stop that kind of preaching. Peter then stood up and boldly said, “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). Later Peter explained why Christians live their lives so differently. He said that we should live, “…so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever” (1 Peter 4:11). A Christian’s life is all about Christ; it’s not about what is popular or “politically correct.” I was saddened that a teacher in one of our public schools was trying to stifle my daughter’s faith. He wanted to convince her to keep Jesus in the background so that the other students would stop mocking her ideas. It didn’t work. She understands that “all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12). If your love for Jesus flows into every area of your life, many people won’t like it. They’ll persecute you too. Do you love Jesus enough to be unpopular?
Comments
(0)
|
|
Since we just finished celebrating Memorial Day, this would be a good time to remember an American hero. I want to talk about a REAL hero, not one of our modern day spoiled brats that are often treated like heroes. For example, many of the so-called “heroes” of our day are just multi-millionaire sports figures. Some of them even whine that they don’t make enough money, and others are enslaved to drugs and alcohol. The political world is no better. We recently had a man run for president who was cheating on his wife while she was battling cancer. To top it all off, our pop culture is filled with “heroes” who use foul language regularly, think nothing of breaking the law, and parade themselves like they are some kind of gods.
Instead, I want to talk about a real American hero named Alvin C. York. In his day he was the most popular figure in America. He was awarded 50 decorations, including the Medal of Honor. Alvin York single-handedly attacked a German machine gun nest in World War I. He killed 28 German soldiers, took out 32 machine guns, and captured 132 other soldiers with only a rifle and a hand gun—before they even knew that they were only fighting one man. Later he told his division commander, General Duncan: “A higher power than man guided and watched over me and told me what to do.” Alvin York was born into abject poverty in Tennessee in 1887. He was the third of eleven children. Although his mother was a wonderful Christian, he started his adult life rejecting her faith. He was known for his hard drinking and his tendency to get into fights. One night during a brawl after some heavy drinking, a close friend of York’s was killed. That served as a wakeup call for Alvin York. He began to think about his own mortality and his need for forgiveness. In December of 1914 York attended some revival meetings near his home town conducted by H. H. Russell. Those sermons convinced York that faith in Christ was the only thing that could turn his life around. He surrendered himself to Christ, and his life was forever, radically changed. He became a gentle, yet principled, man. After WWI broke out, York was drafted into the Army. He was reluctant to fight, but gradually became convinced that it was the right thing to do. He was eventually sent to the front lines where life in the trenches was dangerous and rough. York read his Bible in his off-duty hours. He kept a diary where he wrote, "The only thing to do was to pray and trust God." When the war was over, York remained in Europe through the winter of 1918-1919. He spent much of that time traveling around France, sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ and holding prayer meetings with small groups of men. Shortly before York returned to America, a story about him in the April, 1919, “Saturday Evening Post” brought York worldwide prominence. He instantly became a hero in the eyes of the American people. When he returned to the U. S. in May, New York City honored him with a ticker-tape parade. Later he wrote, “And then I knew, too, they were going to give me a big reception when I arrived in New York...And that had me more scared than those machine guns in the Argonne.” York’s unexpected fame gave him many opportunities to profit financially. The offers would have brought him between $250,000 and $500,000. York turned them all down. “This uniform,” he explained, “ain’t for sale.” Oh, for more men like Alvin C. York! The more our culture gets away from a reverence for God and His Word, the more it tends to lift up the worthless as heroes. Would you be willing to join me in doing what we can to reverse that trend? It must begin with a humble dependence on our God and a determination to stand up for what it right. That becomes possible when we learn to live for the One who created us, instead of for ourselves. Jesus challenged our selfishness when He said, “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it” (Matthew 16:25). May God bless American with godly men and women! As Alexis de Tocqueville observed: “Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits aflame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America ceases to be great.”
Comments
(0)
|
|
Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
Life often takes unexpected turns--as Ann Dunwoody could tell you. On November 14th 2008, she became the first female four-star general in the U.S. Army. That is not what she had planned for her life. She intended to stay in the Army for two years after she graduated from college and then become a physical education teacher. During her promotion ceremony she said, “Thirty-three years after I took the oath as a second lieutenant, I have to tell you this is not exactly how I envisioned my life unfolding.” Now that I’m a little older, I can say that I’ve noticed how life usually unfolds much differently than what we expected. Sometimes that is good. We might get a better job than we expected. Other times it’s not good at all. We might lose a precious loved one in death. Of course, it doesn’t matter if we like life to be unpredictable or not—it just is. How can we cope with life’s unexpected twists and turns? We can get angry and bitter, but that doesn’t help anything. We can, on the other hand, look for a lasting and helpful solution. It makes sense to me that we should learn how to respond to life’s challenges from our Creator. God does, after all, know everything—the past and the future. In the verse I quoted at the top of this article, the Bible promises that God will “make your paths straight” or “mark out your path” if we do three things. When we do them, we can deal with life’s unexpected turns. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart.” First we must completely trust what God tells us to do. Halfhearted trust won’t do. We must trust that the Lord knows best. When an uncontrollable event changes our lives, we must trust that an all-powerful God knows what He is doing and that His plan is better than ours. “‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11). “Do not lean on your own understanding.” Second, we need a healthy distrust of ourselves. We must admit that we don’t know what is best. When trouble comes, our anger and bitterness with God stems from our deep conviction that we had a better plan for our lives and that our plan was the right one. We have to turn away from our own understanding. Jeremiah put it this way: “I know, O Lord, that a man’s way is not in himself, nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps” (Jeremiah 10:23). That is humbling, but necessary. “In all your ways acknowledge Him.” Lastly, we must put God in the center of our everyday thoughts and plans. It’s not fair to make life’s decisions without seeking God’s wisdom and then blame God when things go wrong. The Bible says that man’s natural way of thinking is “…is earthly, natural, demonic” and it results in “jealousy and selfish ambition… disorder and every evil thing” (James 3:15-16). Getting in touch with God is not just something like taking out life insurance--something we want to get around to before we die. Instead, seeking God in all things is the pattern for successful living. Don’t forget, though: God’s ways and God’s thoughts will never make sense to us if we don’t belong to Him. “But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised” (1 Corinthians 2:14). But, “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come” (2 Corinthians 5:17). One of the “new things” that comes when we accept Christ as our Savior is being able to cope with life’s unexpected turns.
Comments
(0)
|
|
When was the last time someone called you a saint? Yeah, I can’t remember that ever happening to me either. We generally only hear that word used to describe some great religious person who died a long time ago. Did you know, though, that the most popular word in the Bible to refer to everyday, ordinary Christians is “saint”? You can find it 61 times in the New Testament. For example, Paul told the Christians in Philippi to, “Greet every saint in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:21). Paul also addressed the Christians in Rome with these words: “to all who are beloved of God in Rome, called as saints” (Romans 1:7).
Do you know what the word “saint” means? The Greek word means “set apart for God.” It is the same root word that is also translated “holy,” “sanctify,” or “sanctification” in other places in the Bible. By using that word to refer to Christians, Scripture is defining them as people who have been set apart for God. In other words, real Christians are different from everyone else in the world. They “no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf” (2 Corinthians 5:15). How do you become a “saint,” someone who has been “set apart for God”? There is only one way. Christ’s death on the Cross made it possible. Turn from your own way, your own goodness, and your own selfishness desires. Turn to God and accept Christ’s death as all the payment you need for your sin. “By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified” (Hebrews 10:10, 14). Being set apart for God is something that only God can do. We can’t work for it or earn it in any way. “But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption” (1 Corinthians 1:30). We who know Christ are forgiven and we are thankful. We show that thankfulness by doing the things that please the One who suffered for us. We sometimes fail, of course, but then He tenderly shows us our failures and how we can change. God never stops working in our lives. I can’t remember anyone every calling me a saint (and I’m not holding my breath for that to happen any time soon!), but that doesn’t bother me. The Bible says that I AM a saint. I know that is true because I have accepted Christ’s gift of forgiveness. Now, when God looks at me, instead of seeing all of my sinfulness, He sees the righteousness of Christ. Notice 2 Corinthians 5:21: “[God] made [Christ] who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”. I am the first to admit that I don’t deserve it. I have only been, “justified as a gift by [God’s] grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24). What a joy to know that I have been made a saint! What about you? According to the Bible, are you a saint, too? God’s invitation is open. Jesus said, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink” (John 7:37). If you have questions or would like some help in your spiritual journey, I would be glad to help. You can contact me 215-533-4395.
Comments
(0)
|
|
Come visit me. This Saturday is our annual Open House at Bethel Chapel Church. I know you agree with me that church should be a warm and caring place where love is felt. I can confidently say that Bethel Chapel is one of those places. Because we would like to display that love to Juniata, we’re inviting everyone to our Open House this Saturday, June 28thth, from 2 pm to 6 pm. . There will be hot dogs, popcorn, snow cones and drinks, face painting, helpful literature, pony rides for the children--and it’s all free!
This Open House is kicking off our third annual “Friends and Family Days.” Join us again on Sunday beginning at 9:30 am for a light breakfast and unique services at 9:50 am, 11:00 am, and then again at 6:00 pm in the evening. We are going to keep the singing and Bible teaching and joyful fellowship we enjoy all day on Sunday going right on, meeting at 7 pm on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. We will have services with songs and stories just for children provided during these. This year we are very excited to have Dr. Jim Van Gelderen back with us. Dr. Van Gelderen is a gifted communicator with a tender heart. He is the director of Minuteman Ministries, a youth and discipleship outreach. He is also the Vice President of Baptist College of Ministry in Menominee Falls, Wisconsin. Some of the topics that Dr. Van Gelderen will be covering during these meetings include “How God Changes Us,” “How to Deal with Troubled Teens,” “How to Overcome Addictions” and “How to Turn Failure into Blessings.” Look for an announcement of our “Friends and Family Days” in today's paper for more details. These special days are Bethel Chapel’s gift to build closeness here in Juniata. I love a lot of things about our community, but more than anything else I love our diversity. On the 4000 block of “K” Street where I live, I am a white guy with neighbors who are Muslim, Asian, Hispanic, and African American--just to name a few. We get along, but I would love to get to know each of them better. This weekly column has allowed me to get to know many of you over the last three and a half years. (I can’t believe I have actually been writing this column that long!) I have been humbled by the encouraging comments that many of you have expressed to me. Thank you for reading this column so faithfully. My sole purpose is to point you to the good news about Jesus Christ. I believe we should continue to work at getting closer to each other, which is why I would love for you to join us for our “Friends and Family Days.” Why could I begin this article by saying so confidently that Bethel Chapel Church is a warm and caring place where love is experienced? I can say that because we pattern our closeness after the pattern in the Bible. When Paul wrote the followers of Christ in Rome he told them to, “accept one another” (Romans 15:7). Who doesn’t want to feel accepted? It is difficult to accept each other, though, because we are all so very different. We are all naturally self-focused, too. We can overcome these things, though. Keep reading and let me show you how. We can accept each other and build close relationships when we become more concerned about our neighbors than we are about ourselves: “Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification” (Romans 15:1-2). Selfishness will always pull us apart. Paul explains that we can overcome our selfishness when we have hope – a calm assurance that God accepts us. We can only get that hope when we learn and believe what the Bible teaches. It is, “through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (Romans 15:4). Closeness with each other also happens when we turn our attention toward God and learn how worthy He is of our worship. Paul puts it this way, “Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 15:5-6). When we understand how willing God is to love His followers, it becomes possible to really love our neighbors: “Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God” (Romans 15:7). God has accepted those of us who are His children with all of our own problems. We can accept each other. If you are not sure if Christ has accepted you as one of His own, turn your attention to Him. I would suggest you start by reading the book of John in the Bible. If you would like a free Bible or some free Bible study aids, just contact me. Also, if you have any questions about our Open House or anything else, please let me know. You can reach me at (215) 533-4395 or at DaveBethel+Juniata@Gmail.com I hope to see you all Saturday!
Comments
(0)
|
|
If you fear reading articles written by pastors, I hope you’ll overcome your fear long enough to finish this one. The clinical list of phobias (or fears) is almost endless. Today I stumbled across a website called “phobialist.com” that lists over 530 different phobias that are mentioned in medical or research papers. You ought to look at the list. The fears that some people have can make you laugh (unless of course you have that phobia)--like Consecotaleophobia which is the fear of chopsticks or Pteronophobia which is the fear of being tickled by a feather.
The things that really DO scare us are no laughing matter, of course. For example, if you fear enclosed places, elevators are a big problem. If you live in a big city and are afraid to drive on freeways, your life is handicapped. It isn’t funny. It makes your life, and sometimes the lives of those around you, very difficult. Even the rich and famous struggle with fear. Brigitte Bardot a legendary French movie star admitted, “Solitude scares me. It makes me think about love, death, and war. I need distraction from anxious, black thoughts.” Dr. Samuel Johnson, a famous philosopher, was very careful to always enter a room with his right foot first. If he ever accidentally entered a room with his left foot first, he would immediately back out of the room and come back in with his right foot first. He was also so afraid of death that he would not allow anyone to mention it in his presence. Julius Caesar, a great military hero, was terrified of thunder and always tried to be underground when any thunder sounded. Marshal Saxe, a French military hero in the 1700’s would scream in terror when he saw a cat. Peter the Great only crossed a bridge when he had to, and would howl out with fear as soon as foot touched the bridge. We all have different fears. How then can we escape them? Let’s let a little child show us the way. When a child is afraid of a storm, what does he do? He looks for a caring adult (hopefully mom or dad) who will hold him and confidently assure him that there is nothing to fear. If a father is confident in God’s power, the Bible says, “his children will have refuge” (Proverbs 14:26). How can you and I find confidence when a storm is shaking our world? The Bible boldly announces the solution: “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18). When we love and trust our Creator, we will find our fear is gone. David put it this way, “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the defense of my life; whom shall I dread?” (Psalm 27:1). The God of the universe has more than enough power to take care of us. When God says, “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10), we can choose to believe what He says. If we don’t trust Him to do what He says, then we are disrespecting (or “dissing” as the young people say) God. Who are we to have fear when God Himself has promised to help us? God loves you, and getting rid of your fear must begin with that conviction. That’s important because God’s love is the only love that is perfect. The clearest proof that God loves us happened when He took on the form of a man and then died on the Cross to pay the penalty for our sin. “We know love by this, that [Jesus] laid down His life for us” (1 John 3:16). We can rest in that love. When we accept that love, we are turning from the path of fear. As we grow in our knowledge of His love and as we become a part of His church, we can rest securely, free from phobias, free from foolish fears, and free from real fear that can make our lives miserable. “The eternal God is a dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms” (Deuteronomy 33:27)
Comments
(0)
|
|
I know that sounds a little pushy, but I wanted to get your attention so we could tackle one of our biggest problems: procrastination. Most of us are filled with good intentions, but far too often we never get around to carrying them out. In his book Being the Best, Denis Waitley says some things about procrastination that should cause us to think. For example he says, “When you stop to think about it, there is no such thing as a future decision. You face only present decisions that will affect what will happen in the future.”
Elisha Grey is a real-life example. He was an electrical engineer in Illinois who developed an incredible invention. In 1874 he set up his invention in the sanctuary of the Highland Park Presbyterian Church. He strung a large spool of telegraph wire all through the church and attached a liquid-based microphone. Then he explained his belief that people’s voices could be carried through the wires. The crowd became very quiet, and they were actually able to hear someone speak from another room. Incredible! The crowd was thrilled at what they heard. Potential investors, though, weren’t so enthusiastic. They said it was a waste of money. Mr. Grey got discouraged and set aside his idea for a telephone. Two years later he changed his mind and traveled to the United States Patent Office and applied for a patent for his telephone. Unknown to Elisha Grey, though, another man had developed a similar invention. Just two hours before Elisha arrived at the patent office, a man by the name of Alexander Graham Bell applied for his own patent for the telephone he had invented. The rest, as they say, is history. Putting things off can cause us to lose much more than the credit and income from a good invention, though. A Roman governor of Judea named Felix lost much more than that when he put off doing the right thing for two years. The apostle Paul had been arrested and was brought before Governor Felix to defend himself. Paul used that opportunity to explain Felix’s need to be set free from his sin. “But as [Paul] was discussing righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix became frightened and said, ‘Go away for the present, and when I find time I will summon you.' . . . he also used to send for him quite often and converse with him. But after two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, and wishing to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul imprisoned” (Acts 24:25-27). Felix spent two years looking for just the right time to receive Christ’s offer of forgiveness. I guess the “right time” never came. “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26). If you know you need to give your life to Christ, Jesus Himself warned you that you dare not put it off. In Matthew 24:48-51, he compares one who ignores God’s authority in his life to an evil slave. “But if that evil slave says in his heart, ‘My master is not coming for a long time,’ and begins to beat his fellow slaves and eat and drink with drunkards; the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour which he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” The Bible explains that “the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, ‘Peace and safety!’ then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape” (1 Thessalonians 5:2-3). Gloria Pitzer has written this clever little poem: Procrastination is my sin It brings me naught but sorrow. I know that I should stop it In fact, I will…tomorrow. Waiting to do the right thing can be fatal. “Give glory to the Lord your God, before He brings darkness and before your feet stumble on the dusky mountains, and while you are hoping for light He makes it into deep darkness, and turns it into gloom” (Jeremiah 13:16 ). Remember, “You face only present decisions that will affect what will happen in the future.” Ask Christ to help you follow Him right now. “Glory in His holy name; let the heart of those who seek the Lord be glad. Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face continually” (Psalm 105:3-4).
Comments
(0)
|
|
Darrell Scott, the father of the first victim of the Columbine school shootings in Littleton, Colorado in 1999, gave me permission to reprint a speech he made before the House Judiciary Committee's sub-committee on May 27, 1999. If you have read this speech before, it is well worth reading again. Read these words carefully and then – as we celebrate our Nation's birthday – pray that our nation would turn back to God.
"Since the dawn of creation there has been both good and evil in the hearts of men and women. We all contain the seeds of kindness or the seeds of violence. The death of my wonderful daughter, Rachel Joy Scott, and the deaths of that heroic teacher, and the other eleven children who died must not be in vain. Their blood cries out for answers. The first recorded act of violence was when Cain slew his brother Abel out in the field. "I am here today to declare that Columbine was not just a tragedy – it was a spiritual event that should be forcing us to look at where the real blame lies! Much of the blame lies here in this room. "Much of the blame lies behind the pointing fingers of the accusers themselves. I wrote a poem that expresses my feelings best. This was written way before I knew I would be speaking here today: Your laws ignore our deepest needs, Your words are empty air. You've stripped away our heritage, You've outlawed simple prayer. Now gunshots fill our classrooms, And precious children die. You seek for answers everywhere, And ask the question "Why?" You regulate restrictive laws, Through legislative creed. And yet you fail to understand, That God is what we need! "Men and women are three-part beings. We all consist of body, soul, and spirit. When we refuse to acknowledge a third part of our make-up, we create a void that allows evil, prejudice, and hatred to rush in and wreck havoc. Spiritual influences were present within our educational systems for most of our nation's history. Many of our major colleges began as theological seminaries. This is a historical fact. "What has happened to us as a nation? We have refused to honor God, and in so doing, we open the doors to hatred and violence. And when something as terrible as Columbine's tragedy occurs, politicians immediately look for a scapegoat such as the NRA. They immediately seek to pass more restrictive laws that contribute to erode away our personal and private liberties. "Political posturing and restrictive legislation are not the answers. The young people of our nation hold the key. There is a spiritual awakening taking place that will not be squelched! We do not need more religion. We do not need more gaudy television evangelists spewing out verbal religious garbage. We do not need more million dollar church buildings built while people with basic needs are being ignored. "We do need a change of heart and a humble acknowledgment that this nation was founded on the principle of simple trust in God! As my son Craig lay under that table in the school library and saw his two friends murdered before his very eyes, he did not hesitate to pray in school. I defy any law or politician to deny him that right! "I challenge every young person in America, and around the world, to realize that on April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School prayer was brought back to our schools. Do not let the many prayers offered by those students be in vain. Dare to move into the new millennium with a sacred disregard for legislation that violates your God-given right to communicate with Him. To those of you who would point your finger at the NRA- I give to you a sincere challenge. "Dare to examine your own heart before casting the first stone! My daughter's death will not be in vain! The young people of this country will not allow that to happen!"
Comments
(0)
|
|
Global Warming is one of the hottest topics in our culture today. (And yes, the pun was intended!) Some people are telling us that the earth is gradually getting warmer because we burn too much oil. This warming of the earth is predicted to do all kinds of harmful things, like killing off certain forms of life and flooding hundreds of miles of coastline.
These doomsday predictions remind me, though, of other forecasts the "experts" have given us in the past. I'm old enough to remember the dire warnings we heard in the 1960's that the earth was getting colder. Some scientists were predicting that we were headed for another ice age that could wipe out life on earth as we knew it. Then there was the population explosion hysteria. The "experts" were forecasting an overpopulated world. They said that within a few years there would be world-wide starvation because there were too many people on plant earth. Today the experts quietly admit that under-population is actually the bigger problem. They now say that there is a worker shortage in many parts of the world because the birthrate is so low. Menacing predictions, like Global Warming, don't scare me. Why am I so confident that the earth isn't falling apart? First of all, what makes us think that we are powerful enough to actually overthrow God's creation? This world has existed for thousands of years (some say millions of years), and it has always provided a compatible place for us to live. Automobiles are relatively new, but cows have been around for much longer. Cows put more global warming CO2 emissions into the air than cars do. It also seems very arrogant for scientists to claim that the earth's present temperature is the best it could possibly be. Maybe Global Warming will be a good thing for the planet. Since the earth's temperature is always fluctuating, maybe a slight rise in global temperature will actually improve our world. Who knows? The biggest reason the possibility of Global Warming doesn't concern me is because of what I read in the Bible. The earth belongs to God, not us: "The earth is the LORD'S, and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it" (Psalm 24:1). God has not lost control of what He made. The world as we know it is indeed temporary, but it will only end when God decides to end it. We can do nothing to change that. "[God] does according to His will in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of earth; and no one can ward off His hand or say to Him, ‘What have You done?'" (Daniel 4:35). Jesus spoke clearly about the end of the world. He said that the earth's history will end suddenly without warning, not because of some gradual change in temperature. "And just as it happened in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: they were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. It was the same as happened in the days of Lot: they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building; but on the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed" (Luke 17:26-30). Many people are wringing their hands because the earth's temperature may be warming up by a degree or two. The Bible says, though, that we should be more concerned about God warming it up by thousands of degrees. God explains exactly what is going to happen to our planet. "But by [God's] word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men" (2 Peter 3:7). This is how the earth will end: "the stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind" (Revelation 6:13). Even God's heated judgment on this earth doesn't scare me because I have come to Christ for forgiveness and protection. "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change" (Psalm 46:1-2). You can have this same confidence in Christ. "Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth" (Psalm 46:10). If you want more information about how to have confidence in the future, go to www.BethelChapelChurch.com and click on the home page.
Comments
(0)
|
|
Have we lost our senses? There is no doubt left in my mind that America's priorities are upside down. This latest excitement about Paris Hilton makes that obvious. At one point this last week MSNBC spent over an hour continuously covering the saga of Paris Hilton's trips back and forth to jail. They interrupted the story for nine seconds to mention that America's head of the Joint Chief's of Staff was being replaced. The head of the Joint Chief's of Staff is the man who is in direct control of all of the branches of our military, and he was ignored. This is during a time that our country is at war! A spoiled celebrity's run-in with the law was valued more than our War on Terror.
We can't pass this behavior off as mere idle curiosity. We seem to be obsessed with selfish, self-absorbed, wicked people. As one Bible teacher put it, "We prefer our lust to God's love, our evil to God's forgiveness, and our ego to God's presence." Sadly, we have learned to treasure what is immoral. Jesus pointed out that "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:21). Our hearts are primarily focused on what God hates. This is why the Bible says that moral failure happens when mankind has "exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. . . . they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer" (Romans 1:25,28). Every day we see the results of rejecting God. As Grant R. Jeffrey put it in his book, The Great Debate: "We have sown a wind of secularism, modernism, and shifting moral values. As a direct result, we are now reaping a whirlwind of immorality, sexually transmitted disease, corruption, and violent crime. The only hope that exists for our individual, national, spiritual and institutional recovery is to return to the spiritual values that originally formed the foundation of North American national life – the teaching of Jesus Christ, as found in the Word of God." We have thrown God's values aside. The only solution is to learn how valuable God really is and then treat Him that way. God is more valuable than we could ever know. Notice how God is described in the Bible: "For You are the LORD Most High over all the earth; You are exalted far above all gods" (Psalm 97:9). The Bible also says, "Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, You are very great; You are clothed with splendor and majesty, covering Yourself with light as with a cloak . . ." (Psalm 104:1-2). God is most valuable because He has provided a way for our salvation. After we turned our backs on Him, Jesus paid an awful price on the Cross to purchase our forgiveness. Paul had this in mind when he prayed that we would know "the riches of the glory of His inheritance . . . and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe" (Ephesians 1:18-19). Only God's power can take away our sin. When we value our Creator, we will value His priorities. The "Paris Hilton's" of this world are not worthy of our attention. What do you value more than anything else? Will it still be valuable a hundred years from now? If you are willing to turn your life over to Christ, you will be valuing what is truly most important and most rewarding.
Comments
(0)
|
|
Some of you will remember a TV commercial back in the 1980's by Smith Barney. A serious looking actor by the name of John Houseman spoke the famous line, "We make money the old-fashioned way. We earn it!" The commercials were very successful, probably because they appealed to our sense of pride. We want to feel like we deserve our achievements.
There are some ways that the Bible exalts the importance of earning our own way. For example, Paul tells us that, "if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either" (2 Thessalonians 3:10). Solomon explains: "Poor is he who works with a negligent hand, but the hand of the diligent makes rich" (Proverbs 10:4). There is a big difference, though, between working to earn a living and working to earn salvation, forgiveness for our sins. A Christian cartoonist played off of the Smith Barney commercial when he showed some Pharisees arguing with Jesus about salvation. The punch line was the legalistic Pharisees saying: "We get our salvation the old-fashioned way. We earn it!" There are way too many people in our country (and many of them call themselves Christians) who secretly feel the same way. They are working hard to earn their salvation, and they feel they are doing a good job. God's attitude about working changes dramatically when it is applied to having our sins forgiven. He gives salvation freely to us, and He insists we understand and accept it that way. The Bible is absolutely clear about this in passages like Ephesians 2:8: "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God." Why does God insist we accept His salvation as free? Well, if we had to work to help pay for our salvation, how would we ever know when we have done enough? There would be no way the Bible could say that "there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1). Who is glorified if we help earn our salvation? Jesus died in agony for the sins of the world. None of us did. Christ is the only One who deserves the credit for paying the awful price to purchase our forgiveness. Paul explained that our good works have nothing to do with our forgiveness, "so that no one may boast" (Ephesians 2:9). Some people argue that if salvation is free then we should be able to accept God's forgiveness and then live any way we want. They don't understand how God works. As one person put it: "God loves us enough to accept us as we are, but He loves us too much to leave us that way." When God forgives our sin He changes our desires too, because "He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:6). God's forgiveness is not only powerful enough to void the punishment our sin deserves, it also changes who we are on the inside. That's why this good news is called, "the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes" (Romans 1:16). That is life-changing power. That is God's way. The old-fashioned way – earning it – has no place in salvation. I'm so excited that we who have accepted Christ's forgiveness can have "confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us" (Hebrews 10:19-20). Has Christ freely forgiven you? I would love to learn what has changed in your life. Click on "Comments" below and share your experience with the rest of us.
Comments
(0)
|
|
I think palm trees are impressive. Maybe that's because they remind me of where I grew up. No, I didn't come from Florida, but I did grow up in southern California. (Yes, I've been told it's known as "the land of fruits and nuts!") Getting back to the palm trees, though . . . They are strong, beautiful, and durable trees. Even during the driest summers, they remain green and majestic. They endure almost any force nature can throw at them.
The secret of the palm tree is its root. It sends out a tap root that goes deep into the earth until it finds a constant source of fresh water. That sustaining water from far below enables the palm tree to withstand everything. Do you wish you could stand strong during all the trials of life? Perhaps you need to be more like the palm tree. The Scripture compares a godly person to that tree in Psalm 92:12: "The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree, He will grow like a cedar in Lebanon." We have a similar picture in Psalm 1:3: "And he will be like a tree {firmly} planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers." Remember that the key to a tree's health is a constant supply of good water. We need spiritual water as well. Jesus has promised to give us "a well of water springing up to eternal life" (John 4:14). Water is also used as a symbol for the Bible. Paul put it this way in Ephesians 5:25-26: "Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word." That living water, that regular study of God's holy Word, will keep us strong and healthy and enduring as a palm tree. This week begin digging roots into God's Word. If you have never found the living water of salvation, I'd be glad to talk to you and answer your questions.
Comments
(1)
|
|
I have always enjoyed Charles Shultz's Peanuts cartoons. They often illustrate things about every day life in a very interesting way. In one strip, for example, Shultz describes the inner longing we all have to be loved and our inability to really love others:
Charlie Brown: All it would take to make me happy is to have someone say he likes me. Lucy: Are you sure? Charlie Brown: Of course I'm sure! Lucy: You mean you'd be happy if someone merely said he or she likes you? Do you mean to tell me that someone has it within his or her power to make you happy merely by doing such a simple thing? Charlie Brown: Yes! That's exactly what I mean! Lucy: Well, I don't think that's asking too much. I really don't. [Now standing face to face, Lucy asks one more time] But you're sure now? All you want is to have someone say, "I like you, Charlie Brown," and then you'll be happy? Charlie Brown: And then I'll be happy! Lucy: [Lucy turns and walks away saying] I can't do it! Of course we long for much more than just to hear the words, "I love you." We long to know that someone really loves us just the way we are – with no strings attached. Why don't we receive that kind of love? I am convinced that there are two barriers to experiencing unconditional human love: others and ourselves. Let me explain. First of all, we are all born with selfish and self-centered natures. Just watch two toddlers trying to play with the same toy if you doubt this truth. This "me centeredness" is why others around us have trouble loving us unconditionally. As we grow older, we learn to hid our selfishness, but it is still there. You can see it if you ask someone who is head over heals "in love" why he or she loves the other person. You will hear things like: "He/she makes me feel important" or "He/she understands and appreciates me." Notice the "me" in those statements. Let's face it, we are all too self-centered to totally love someone else unconditionally. We love when our love is returned or when there's something in it for ourselves. Our own feelings are also a roadblock to unconditional love. Although we may want to be loved unconditionally, we don't want to feel that we NEED unconditional love. We want to be loved because there is enough good in us for others to love. We want to be worthy of love. Here is the good news. There is Someone who is willing to love us unconditionally and who can help us to love others unconditionally. His mercy loves us, and His grace makes us worthy of love. Notice how Paul put it, "He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy" (Titus 3:5). As we come to realize that God is willing to love us "according to His mercy" (i.e. unconditionally, not based on anything good in us) then it is easier to love others. When we see how much we need unconditional love it makes is easier to love those around us the same way. Jesus said very plainly, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another" (John 13:34). I would be glad to point you to the One who loves you unconditionally. [You may share any comments or questions with Pastor David at www.JuniataBlog.com.]
Comments
(1)
|
|
In 1981 a radio station reported a story about a Volkswagen Bug that was stolen in California. The police were engaged in an intense search for this particular vehicle, even to the point of placing announcements on local radio stations. Why? On the front seat of that stolen car was a box of crackers that had been laced with rat poison. The owner of the car had been planning to use the crackers as bait for some rat traps. Now, instead of just working to recover a stolen car, the police were now working to save the thief's life.
The car thief, unaware of the danger on the seat next to him, thought he was out for a little "joy" riding. The officer who came to arrest him, though, wasn't just trying to take away his fun. He was trying to keep the thief alive. When God allows fun things to be taken away from us it is often because He sees a danger in them that we don't. God did this for John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist church. Mr. Wesley believed that he could be happy if he just became religious enough. In 1724 he finished his college education at Christ's Church in Oxford. His life was still empty so he made up his mind to participate in Holy Communion every week and to spend at least 2 hours in daily devotion. He became a deacon, and was later ordained as a priest. He then began preaching in England as well as in America. Still Wesley was not satisfied. He thought that all of his good works and religion would make a difference, but the Lord did not allow him to find the contentment he was searching for. When he finished his first preaching tour in America, he returned home very depressed. He wrote, "I diligently strove against all sin. I omitted no sort of self-denial which I thought lawful... I omitted no occasion of doing good." He went on to say, "(I could not find) that all this gave me any comfort, or any assurance of acceptance with God." Wesley thought that he could only avoid hell through his own dedication and hard works. He believed heaven could only be won through his prayers and the blessing of the church. Although people saw John Wesley as a good man, inside he was very unhappy. God allowed all this to prepare John Wesley for the truth that the joy of forgiveness comes only by grace and not by works. It was not until he was 35 years old (about 13 years after he started serving God in the church) that John Wesley found the peace and joy he wanted so badly. He came in contact with some German Christians who seemed to have genuine peace and joy. One day he attended a meeting with them and the preacher was teaching that salvation is by faith apart from our works. Wesley wrote about his experience in this way, "I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt that I did trust Christ, Christ alone, for salvation; and an assurance was given me, that he had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death." From that day forward Wesley's life was never the same. His preaching took on a new passion, and his life showed that at last he had the joy and contentment he had wanted for so many years. God did not allow John Wesley to get joy his own way so that he could experience real lasting joy, both in this life and in the life to come. What is God doing in your life? Are you looking for joy your own way? That is as deadly as rat poison. Perhaps God is leading you to Himself. Please log on and share your comments or questions with me at www.JuniataBlog.com.
Comments
(0)
|
|
A group of us from Bethel Chapel just returned from a wonderful Memorial Day trip to Peace Valley Park in Montgomery County. The weather was beautiful (even though we did get cooled off by two thunderstorms!) and the setting was breathtaking. The lake was a calm deep blue, the grass was a lavish green, and the trees provided a welcomed relief from the sun. We also enjoyed a variety of grilled foods that filled the air with mouth-watering smells. Those, however, were not the things that made the day special to us.
We enjoyed that day so much because we experienced a common bond, a closeness, that was more beautiful that the scenery around us. The time we spent together reminded me of how special Christian fellowship really is. We experienced much more than just outward pleasures. If you had seen us together at the park, though, you would have wondered what could have possibly brought all of us together. Our group was made up of several different nationalities, as well as very young children, older children, teenagers, and the elderly. We all looked very different from each other, but we didn't feel separate in any way. We really enjoyed being together. We prayed together and we played together. The adults and the teens played games with the children. The elderly spent time with the young. Even language barriers didn't keep us from having fun. Genuine Christian companionship like this is remarkable because it satisfies one of our deepest human longings: to be accepted and loved in spite of all of our weaknesses and failures. This is possible for those of us who are Christians because we share a common faith. We may not look alike, or have the same amount of education, or even be from the same part of the world, but we all adore Jesus Christ because He gave His life for us. Since we love Christ, we find it easy to love those who love Him too. John put it this way, "If someone says, ‛I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen" (1 John 4:20). For us, just going to the same worship service is not enough. We are constantly looking for other excuses to be together. As a matter of fact, the Christian church started out that way. Not long after Christ's resurrection the Bible tells us that Christians were, "continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer" (Acts 2:42). They couldn't get enough of each other. Christian fellowship is unique because it's much more than just being together. We should get together because we desire to GIVE fellowship even more than we want to GET fellowship. In fact, we are instructed to, "consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another" (Hebrews 10:24-25). As we learn how to, "Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2), we enjoy a "support group" that I believe is unequaled anywhere.
Comments
(0)
|
|
Yup, a pill for road rage may not be far away. An Associated Press article on June 6th caught my attention because it was entitled ‛Road Rage' gets a medical diagnosis. We have all witnessed someone using foul language and obscene hand jesters as they yelled and screamed out their car window at another driver. Is that kind of anger wrong or can it just be a medical condition?
The article went on to quote a psychiatrist who said, "People think it's bad behavior and that you just need an attitude adjustment, but what they don't know... is that there's a biology and cognitive science to this." The experts are now calling road rage "Intermittent Explosive Disorder." What? So, if we have a fancy name for anger, is it no longer wrong? Many would like to think so. There always seems to be one expert who is never consulted when it comes to understanding our behavior. What does God think about anger? His opinion is important because in the end He will be the judge of every one of us. What does God say about angry people? God calls angry people fools. He says that, "anger resides in the bosom of fools" (Ecclesiastes 7:9) and "A quick-tempered man acts foolishly" (Proverbs 14:17). The Bible also says that "outbursts of anger" come from our sinful nature (Galatians 5:19-20). In Ephesians chapter four, God tells us to put off our old sinful nature that is characterized by anger and to, "put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth" (Ephesians 4:24). The power of God's Spirit enables us to do this after we have been born again. Actually, anger is usually triggered when our desires are not met. Most of our anger would melt away if we truly made knowing God our primary desire, because He can never be taken away from us. "If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored; if you remove unrighteousness far from your tent, . . . . For then you will delight in the Almighty and lift up your face to God" (Job 22:23,26). Anger is usually just pure selfishness (not a medical disorder!), but seeking God brings wonderful peace. "Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He will do it" (Psalm 37:4-5).
Comments
(0)
|
