Put Off - Put On: Love

My family ends each phone conversations to one another with the words “love you.” Most all times it’s easy to say, but there have been a few times … well, not so easy.  There’s no telling how times in a day we say, I love this and I love that with little thought to what real love entails.  God’s pretty specific in His Word, however, about how and why Christians are to love.  “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love … If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?” (1 John 4:7-8,20)  These verses what IS love but what IS NOT love – directing us to when and where there is lack of love.  John 15:12 gives us God’s love-command: “This is my commandment that ye love one another, as I have loved you.” (John 15:12)  By and through His Grace today, let us “put off” a lack of love and “put on” love.

Good Company

Have you ever played "Twenty Questions?"  It's an imaginary game teenagers hate to play with their parents -- I know I did!  Until I was a parent myself, all the questions seemed pointless: Who's going? Who's driving? Who's going to be there?  By the end of the "game," I wasn't even interested in going!

 

Time with Jesus produces evidence of a different life.  The religious and military leaders were amazed at Peter and John in Acts 4. Verse 13 says, " ... they marveled; and they recognized that they had been with Jesus." What a distinguishing attribute!  "Twenty questions" wasn't really a game; it was an act of loving and responsible parents who cared about the company I kept.  I ask myself, "what do others conclude by my responses and reactions to life? Do they reflect enough time in the company of Christ." This passage from Beth Moore's poem, "The Company I Keep" says it beautifully:

 

Let me be known by the company I keep

Eclipsed by Your presence that I may decrease

'Til all You have chosen this traveler to meet

No longer see me but the Company I keep.

 

Highest Freedom

Memorial Day!  It's the last Monday in May each year when Americans honor the memory of U.S. soldiers who have given their lives in war.  It's not uncommon to see more flags a'flyin' during this patriotic weekend.  Everyone swells with pride when we see it waving but to Veterans of war, there is an indescribable sense of pride and honor.

For Christians, every day is Memorial Day because there is no greater sense of pride and honor than when we see the Cross of Christ.  The flag indeed represents shed blood of men but the cross stands for a higher freedom bought and eternally paid for with The Blood of Christ.  I have two framed crosses, brought to me by friends-- one from Ireland and one from Italy.  I do not look at either of them without reflecting on the cost of my spiritual freedom.  Because Jesus Christ laid down all He had just for me, I do not have to be captive to worry, fear, anxiety, or sorrow.  Just like those men of Memorial Day who served with passion the Country they loved, God loved with abandon His greatest creation just so we could live free.  No doubt about it, that's the highest freedom!

Mindful Mind

It’s been said of growing old, “Of all the things I’ve lost, it’s my mind I miss the most.”  I certainly resemble that remark!  Between Mr. Bill and myself, we sure can forget to remember what we were positive we’d never recall.  Yeah, that’s right!

What’s stirs your memory?  Better yet, what is stirred in your memory?  Satan is always eager to bring to mind things to stir us up!  When our minds are left to wander, we fritter away precious time spent otherwise constructively.  Peter writes, “This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you in which I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, that you should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles.” (2 Peter 3:1-2)  Keeping the mind in-check, pure – well, that’s a full-time never-ending task!  Peter writes of what it takes to keep the Believer’s mind focused on living holy.  We live in a time when the world mocks Christ by glamorizing sin, making it preferable in every way.  As followers of Christ, we won’t identify sin nor see it for what it is unless The Truth is ever before us.  The Word of God, by the work of the Holy Spirit, stirs  the sincerity of Believers’ minds to recall the words and commands of Christ.  Satan will see and seize every opportunity to do his work in us when we neglect God’s Word.  Determine by the grace of God to STAY IN THE WORD, remain FAITHFUL TO THE WORD, and be OBEDIENT TO THE WORD.  It’s the only way to have a mindful mind!

Fruitful Living

you were a fruit, what fruit would you be?  I think I'd be a grape, 'cause they're always in bunches.  Grapes probably never get lonely, and they don't have to fret about being skinned, peeled, cut, or cooked!  Yes, I know I'd be a grape!

Did you know God loves fruit?  He doesn't specifically mention grapes, but He's serious about fruitful living.  Jesus says in John 15 there will be fruit present in the life of the Believer who obeys His commands:  "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." (V.5)  I have three crepe myrtles that don't bloom very much, and the problem is simple -- they live in the shade of a tall tree where they receive insufficient sunlight.  Such is the life of Believers who suffer from too little exposure to The Son -- Jesus Christ.  Sadly, our Bibles lay unopened and dusty and we're too busy to pray; the result is a life void of fruitful living.  Can you imagine no fruit in the grocery stores!  Well, consider the life of those verbally committed to Christ yet no evidence of Him in their walk and talk.  Christ commands, "You  have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained [appointed] you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain [abide].” (John 15:16)  Okay, so we’re not called to be grapes, but we are called to fruitful living.  Consider, then, if “fruitful” describes your life …

Spit It Out!

There was a time when I loved sunflower seeds, however, the one-time baseball players here redefined eating sunflower seeds.  The rule seems to be to see how many sunflower nuts one can cram into the jaw, to the point the jaw is all poked out.  The cracked shells are then spit on the ground, leaving quite a mess.  I really don't care so much for sunflower seeds anymore ... just not as tasty as they used to be.

What if you and I could discern (separate) right from wrong, good from bad as easily as the sunflower nut is separated from its shell -- aptly spitting out what is evil.  Satan has made that difficult for even the most discerning and righteous, however.  The bad and the ugliest sin have been beautifully disguised as anything but obvious.  In a dream, God asked King Solomon, "Ask! What shall I give you?" (1 Kings 3:5) Solomon asked for a heart that could discern (distinguish) good from evil. (v.9)  God was well pleased with Solomon's request, "God gave Solomon wisdom and exceedingly great understanding, and largeness of heart like the sand on the seashore ... for he was wiser than all men ... men of all nations, from all the kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom, came to hear the wisdom of Solomon." (4:29, 31, 34)  This same Almighty and Powerful God (Eloheem) Who gave Solomon wisdom also wants to give us wisdom to know His Best today.  There’s a lack of genuine Godly Wisdom today in the home, the workplace, the government, and it’s only divine discernment that can help us make good choices and respond appropriately to and in every situation of life.  God’s eager to share His wisdom if only we ask and then boldly obey -- spitting out what is evil and contrary to God's Best for our lives.  And, this kind of spitting doesn't make a mess!

Serving Refreshments

My guys always liked it when I hosted a meeting here at the house.  They knew after everyone left, they’d get to enjoy the refreshments.  It was pretty tough keeping them out of the goodies before the guests arrived!

Those in Christ are always in the business of serving refreshments.  Many of us don’t remember lemonade stands, but the idea of a cool glass of lemonade on a hot summer day … well, just sounds lovely!  What about a generous sprinkling of joy to a lonely, heavy, or weary heart!  We may not have what it takes to serve up lemonade but every follower of Jesus Christ is adequately equipped to refresh others.  Paul asked of his friend and  fellow Believer, “Yes, brother, I want some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.” (Philemon 20)  Do we not forget we have Godly benefits to offer others!  Amazingly, when we refresh others, we become refreshed ourselves: “… he that watereth shall be watered also himself.” (Proverbs 11:25)  You know, the guys didn’t really care WHAT I served as refreshments – it didn’t matter at all.  Refreshments were refreshments!  In and for the name of Christ, are you serving refreshments?

Be Faithful

Have you ever done anything seemingly so insignificant only to learn how God used it to a mighty way?   Most of us will probably live a lifetime just doing what we do day-in-day-out without such a glimpse.  Perhaps that’s why we’re commanded in Colossians 3:23, “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.”  We just never know, never dream, never imagine, never suspect how mightily God uses our faithfulness to Him. Songwriter, Steve Green, penned these beautiful words …

 

Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
May the fire of our devotion light their way
May the footprints that we leave
Lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful

Diggin' For Joy

There was a well-thought-out purpose for the big box behind the door of my office.  It was a catchall for gym shorts, t-shirts, duffle bags, tennis shoes, etc. left behind by students (including my own two boys).  Sometimes I [and others] stumbled over these items, not to mention how my office often resembled a gym locker room!

The heart of man gathers lots of junk.  It started early too; Genesis 6:5 says, "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually."  That came as no surprise to God -- what He knew beforehand was soon realized in His most precious creation.  According to Psalm 40:12, the sinfulness of our hearts are more numerous than the hairs of our head. Now, that's a lot even if your hair grows thin!  Consider all the junk we take in through our eyes and ears -- it breeds corruption.  The beauty of Christ in our lives gets ambushed and soon the ugly takes over.  Guess what I found buried at the bottom of the box: a textbook we thought was lost.  When we see the heart for what it is -- desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9), God forgives and makes beautiful what was once ugly.  Digging and uncovering Christ overtaken by the decay of sin in our hearts brings back the joy and peace to our lives.  I encourage you to go ahead and do a little digging of your own.  The results are ... joyful!

The Pattern

Most women I know had a home economics class as a teenager in which we learned basic sewing.  In my class, we made aprons and I was so proud of mine.  I learned enough by making that simple apron to do a little sewing here and there.  Calling me a seamstress, however,  would be quite a stretch!

In Paul’s letter to Titus, he uses the phrase, “pattern of good works” when describing Christian behavior.  Although he was writing to young men, this is easily applicable to all Believers. “Show yourself in all respects to be a model [pattern] of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.” (2:7-8)  One of the first things we learned in sewing class was how to lay pattern pieces on top of the fabric then meticulously cut around each pattern piece, rendering pieces of fabric the same shape.  What a mess that apron would have been had my fabric pieces been carelessly cut or no pattern used at all.  Similarly, what poor images of Christ we are when our pattern for living is anything apart from Jesus Christ, The Pattern, for Christian living.  For good or for bad, the resulting evidences (behavior) of our faith WILL resemble something!  God demands our behavior point to The Pattern of good works through Jesus Christ, rendering a beautiful work of His grace for all to witness.  I don’t remember what happened to my apron or if I ever wore it but [certainly] every Christian should desire to display [be] a “pattern of good works” to the Glory of God.  Stay true to The Pattern!

Secure

With great joy and care, Mr. Bill maintains a special saltwater tackle box. Yes, this is altogether separate from his freshwater tackle.  He doesn’t bring it out in the open very often and he has a secret place he keeps it.  He particularly doesn’t share it with other “family fishermen.”

Try as we may, we cannot secure our earthly treasures. This is not true, however, of eternal treasures -- they are safe and secure in Christ.  Death takes away too much of what we hold dear, but that nasty enemy has been defeated! I love how Charles Spurgeon says it: "Oh, how sweet to have sunlight when the candle is gone!" I remember locking a file cabinet at work one time only to learn there was no key. Even then, the cabinet was not secure because it wasn't long before the custodian had it open for me. Christ said in Matthew 28:20, "I am with you always," and that security is rooted in the authority of He Who spoke it. That means we can trust Him completely with every care and concern of this day and every day to come. It just doesn't get any more secure than that!

Evermore

Life is full of beginnings, and it’s nice to revisit them from time-to-time.  I remember the small mobile home where Mr. Bill and I lived the first five years of our marriage.  I fondly remember the simplicity and smallness of the place: less stuff, less area to clean and keep tidy, and cheap rent.  Mr. Bill, on the other hand, seems to only recall a pilot light that wouldn’t stay lit making winters cold and the black-and-white television with rabbit with few channels.  Such a grump!

How do we trace the beginning of God?  Well, we don’t!  That’s because He has no beginning and has no end.  The Beloved Apostle John lays this out nicely, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” (1:1-3)  With finite mindsets, we can’t comprehend no beginning and no end.  It seems easier, however, to embrace security in The Substance of our faith – He Who ever was and ever will be (Hebrews 11:1).  As much as I feel secure with and trust Mr. Bill, I know his days (as all life) are numbered by Almighty God.  Maybe it was Job left most speechless by The Creator: Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundations? Who laid the measures, stretched the line, set the cornerstone? Who made the sun know its place, commanded the day’s end? Do you know where light and darkness dwell? Who scatters the wind, causes plants to bud, makes dew drops fall? What about the frost – where does it come from? (Job 38)  We may can trace our beginning to the womb but God traces us to before the beginning of the world.  Our Sovereign God, gracious and merciful and powerful and eternal; will we not stand as the Levites to declare God’s goodness, “Thou, even thou, art LORD alone.” (Nehemiah 9:6a)  I fear many Believers today only faintly hold a faith that is faltering because they do not remember this vital characteristic of The Author and Finisher.  In this world of beginnings and endings, we do well to remember the lack of beginning and end to our God.  Why not stop today – right now – acknowledge and worship He Who Was, He Who Is, and He Who Ever Will Be!   Evermore …

Depend On It!

Isn't it strange the things we wish for?  Most parents long for when their children can feed themselves, dress themselves, drive themselves, support themselves.  Before long, they do these things and we're back to wishing they weren't so ... independent!

God does not desire our independence -- He desires our dependence ... on Him.  Tom Blackaby writes, "The Christian life is not one of growing independence; it is one of growing dependence. Christian maturity is measured not by how much we can do for ourselves, but by just how dependent we are on God every day."  As I read and re-read those words, I was amazed at how backward we live our lives.  We live as if God is raising us, maturing us so we can go it on our own.  How frustrated we become when we fail then realize we can't manage without God, thus determine we're not as spiritually mature as we thought.  God's Truth is: there is no arrival -- life is a journey WITH Christ, not APART FROM HIM.  God longs to do it all: discipline the children, manage the checkbook, juggle appointments, plan the menus, coach the ball team, listen to a hurting friend, bake the cookies ... and He'll use us to do it.  It's is not about what and how much we can do -- it's about what and how much HE CAN DO through us.  God says, "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness." (Jeremiah 31:3)  The best move we can make is acknowledge His love, stop being so independent, and depend on Him.  He is our All in All -- depend on it!

Life

Some things are what they are or as Mr. Bill puts it, “it is what it is.”  Don’t bother trying to figure it out or change it, just see what it is and adjust accordingly.  In other words, end of story -- it is what it is.

 

Life is God’s business!  He formed man from the dust of the earth and breathed holy life into him then placed him in a perfect place.  Well, we know that didn’t turn out so well but life did not end there.  The Creator didn’t just hang man out to dry: He made a way through Christ to sustain us so we could share eternity with Him.  Between the first and the last breaths, there’s  joy & sorrow, pain & pleasure, hope & despair, sickness & health.  So much between yet it’s all His business.  We say reluctant goodbyes to lives well-lived and we exuberant hellos to lives yet-to-be.  Some describe this as the cycle of life, but it’s so much more than a cycle.  The gift of life God wrapped in human form (His very image) has divine design with potential for holiness and righteousness from beginning to end.  Job spoke of the faithful life, “But He knows the way I take; when He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot has held fast to His path; I have kept His way and not turned aside. I have not departed from the command of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.” (23:10-12)  God gives life and God takes life and God cares deeply what happens in between; He gives, takes, and sustains.  My friend, this is Truth: the world may question it, debate it, even turn away from it but nonetheless … it is what it is!  I will assume you are breathing right now  -- do not waste another breath.  Make every breath count for Christ. Know Him and nothing more.

Finally Home

Mr. Bill and I have lived in our house thirty years so I reckon  it's ... home.  We raised our boys in this house and even though two of them have their own homes now, they still talk about when they lived “at home.”  Guess there’s just something special about that “first” home.

Do you ever think about your real home?  I'm not talking about  brick-and-mortar, but instead where our hearts yearn.  It's  sad how we forget this place of struggles and strife IS NOT home.  The Truth frees us from  such despondent thoughts.  In John 14, Christ said, "... I go to prepare a place for  you ... that where I am, there you may be also." (V.2-3)  He spoke this  exciting news right after talking to troubled hearts: "Do not let your  heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me." (V.1)  Isn't it  just like Christ to speak words of comfort then tell of a place where comfort is no longer needed!  Don Wyrtzen wrote a beautiful song, “Finally Home" …

But just think of stepping on shore and finding it heaven, of touching a hand and finding it God's

Of breathing new air and finding it celestial, of waking up in glory and finally it home

What joy for those already home -- no more pain, sorrow, confusion, no more - no more ... only joy,  gladness, rejoicing, just more and more and more ... endless ... eternally in the Presence of Christ our Lord.  Hope you’ve declared Christ your Lord and getting a little homesick yourself.

SWEET CUP

Are you interested in better digestion, a boost to your immune system, more nutrients and vitamins?  Well, here you go – add buttermilk to your diet.  Okay, I know it’s not everyone’s idea of a smoothie.  At my house, everyone checks the label before they pour!

Life is full of bitter cups.  Are you visualizing a glass of buttermilk?  The struggles and causes of struggles are many!  Christ faced similar struggles: He lived without a home and a job, was estranged from His earthly and heavenly family, no one understood him which created a terribly lonely existence.  Perhaps the greatest struggle came when He faced death – a fear of us all.   In this one struggle, Jesus showed us how to face ‘em all: wave the white flag of surrender.  He  said to The Father, “not my will but Yours be done.”   That looming bitter cup of death suddenly became a sweet cup of surrender.  Now, I know buttermilk will never taste the same as a cup of sweet milk and the nutritional values will always differ.  In this life, however, we don’t have to squeeze our eyes shut and hold our breath to face our struggles.  No, we can consciously with confident hope say “Yes, Lord” and [like Christ] we’ll come to know the sweetness in every struggle and victory.  Try it, it really is a sweet cup!

Know He Can

As a child, I heard “can’t never could do anything,” challenging me to keep a positive attitude toward anything I tried to do.  Come what may, the conversation always ended at Arnold Munk’s (aka Watty Piper) story, “The Little Engine That Could,” and its repetitive strain “I think I can – I think I can – I think I can.”  Good gracious, how annoying that became!

God isn’t author of a think-I-can faith!  Sure, it’s a cute story and makes a good point but, spiritually speaking, it’s shallow.  What about that person in your life you just can’t seem to love?  You know according to God’s command, you are to extend kindness – forgiveness – love – mercy; the truth is – you don’t even LIKE the person so how can you possibly LOVE!  One thing’s for sure – we can’t talk ourselves into it or pump ourselves up for it; that just doesn’t last very long.  The “I Think I Can” attitude worked for the little blue engine to get him over the looming mountain but what about the next mountain then the next?  Life’s full of mountains, obstacles that cast us into bouts of confusion, frustration, discouragement, helplessness.  Saying “I think I can” over and over is about as effective as counting to 10!  God is The Sustaining Hope of all we face and struggle with in this life.  Here’s what He says: “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a)  As followers of Christ, we need to just get out of God’s way, allowing Him to love through us. The greatest optimism we have as Believers is knowing WE CANNOT but HE CAN.  There’s no need to search out or wait on feel-good emotions to live according to God’s commands; just ask God to live Himself out through you.  Oh, yes our faith is much deeper than “I Think I Can” – it is I Know He Can!

Worth the Wait

Boredom overtakes me sometimes ... never at work or home!  Usually it's blowout ball games or hunting videos.  Before I know it, I'm dreaming of being elsewhere, then yawning.  Not very inconspicuous, huh?

Aren't we glad God doesn't get impatient with us?  We sure do with Him!  While God's uses our circumstances to build character and strengthen our faith, we're yawning and whining, "When's it going to end?"  The Father sees the bigger picture while our vision is limited, seeing only what is causing us pain.  "Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord." (Psalm 27:14)  The Hebrew word for "wait" is kaw-vaw, meaning to tarry patiently expecting something. You see, it’s not a tap-your-foot kind of wait.  It's clearly a matter of trusting God to be God of it all, and letting Him bring His perfect work to completion in our lives.   Our time is all His and His timing is perfect. Anyway, His end is always worth the wait!

Super Grace

Don't you love super centers?  You know, those big stores that got even bigger -- more floor space, more stuff, open more hours. If we can't find it in super centers, maybe you don’t need it and perhaps it doesn’t really exist!

God's grace is like this:  It can't be used up, doesn't dry up, never just doesn't ... exist. His grace is abundant – plentiful, amply sufficient, more than enough. What if that described quantities of chocolate or variations of sporting equipment? Before long, we’d be tired and sick of chocolate and sports! In contrast, in this life we will never be at a place where we grow tired of, or not need God's Grace. No hurt we inflict on another, no rebellious attitude we embrace, no word ill-spoken, no bad decision is removed from the exceedingly abundant grace of The Father. His endless supply could be labeled "super" grace -- abundant, free, and most importantly ... ours!

Last Words

Some folks just have to have the “last word.”  My favorite “last word” is that walk-off homerun in the bottom of the ninth.  No rebuttal, no response, nothing.  Just toss in the ball, sack up the bats, and turn out the lights.  Party’s over!

Make no mistake – God is the Authority on final words now and forever more!  I don’t know why we feel we must have the last say about things, but the psalmist confirms Almighty God’s authority:  “O LORD, you have searched me and known me!  You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar.  You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways.  Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether.  You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.  Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.” (Psalm 139:1-6)  God is and has absolute and perfect knowledge – he know all our thoughts and actions, everything about us is known and open to Him.  He takes notice of our every step – the right ones and the wrong ones.  He knows the hidden motives that cause us to live as we do.  You know those words that casually slip through our lips?  Well, He knows them before they are even formed on our tongues.  How does He do that?  Because He is God: omniscient (knows everything) and omnipresent (is everywhere).  So, if we MUST have the last word, here they are: “Search me, O God, and know my heart!  Try me and know my thoughts!  And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” (V.23-24)  Go ahead, have the last words …

Holy Inhale

What are your spittin' foods? Spittin' foods -- foods that make you want to spit 'em out!  Licorice is one of my spittin' foods.  I don’t even like to smell it!  You guessed it – Mr. Bill loves it and loves to exhale on me after eating it!   Oh, horrors!

The Breath of God is most holy and He desires us to inhale Himself!  And, WHAT WE INHALE certainly effects WHAT WE EXHALE.  Psalm 19:14 says, "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer."  Consider that place inside us where no one -- not spouse, children, boss, client, co-worker, closest friend – no one can see or know -- only God.  The hidden place ... the darkest and most remote crevice of the heart, void of light or revelation to everyone ... except The Creator.  If we are really breathing, inhaling Almighty God, those most secret places in our hearts are made clean and whole.  Our words, our deeds, our meditations (our thinkin') suddenly becomes acceptable (different) in the Sight of He who exhales Perfection.  Glorious!

Walk His Way

“Walk this way,” the restaurant hostess says.  It’s just what it sounds – an invitation to follow her as she leads you to your table!

What does it mean to walk in Christ?  You remember playing “Follow the Leader?”  As teenagers, my friends and I loved to play “Follow the Leader” off the diving board – what a fun twist!  We did our very best to duplicate the leader’s cannonballs, dives, and crazy jumps in the water.  It’s what Christians are called to do -- imitate Christ.  Jesus chose twelve men to be His disciples: disciple -- a learner, one who follows another’s teaching, an adherent, an imitator of a teacher.  The goal of every disciple is to be like the teacher.  Jesus said,  “A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.” (Luke 6:40)  Do we not see how essential it is Believers are to “walk in Christ?”  Paul wrote to the Colossian church, “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him.”   Considering the condition of this world and the lures of sin, it’s not so easy to obediently follow Christ but it’s very simply written -- “walk this way.”  God’s grace enables and empowers us to do so; His grace is sufficient and His strength is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).  It’s not a game – it’s a way of life: follow THE LEADER – walk HIS way!

Casual Christianity

Mama & the Sustas went out recently, and the question was asked what the dress code should be -- casual or dressy?  We were all relieved to know we could wear whatever our personalities identified with for the evening. If you know the Sustas, you know just how scary that is!

There are far too many Believers who live as if their faith is ... casual. To better understand "casual," think of casual collectors, casual fans, casual walkers -- aloof, indifferent, nonchalant ... whenever the mood strikes them to do, whatever it is they decide to do.  Not really – not Christianity?  There was certainly nothing casual about God's love for you and I nor anything casual about Christ's sacrifice on the cross.  Vance Havner wrote, "We have too many casual Christians who dabble in everything but are not committed to anything."  We cannot pick and choose the situations and circumstances in which or people with whom we apply Christ's commands.  No, real faith demands we apply God's Truth in all things. Casual and Christianity are much like oil and water -- they just don't mix!