Best Effort

Because Mister Bill and I have a long history - he was 16 and I was 12 when we first met - we remember times when we celebrated the completion of otherwise simple tasks. The older-us, however, simply take joy in ...a good effort! Living a righteous life demands much grace and discipline. The psalmist gives insight into being pure in the eyes of God: “You have tried my heart, You have visited me by night, You have tested me, and You will find nothing; I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress. With regard to the works of man, by the word of Your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent. My steps have held fast to Your paths; my feet have not slipped.” (Psalm 17:3-5). A true follower of Jesus pursues purity and understands his or her life is an open book before The LORD to be continuously examined (tried, visited, tested). Furthermore, he [who is serious] is always conscious of what is required to stay pure: live intently, avoid pitfalls, faithful to convictions, move cautiously -- all for the purpose of pleasing God. My high school basketball coach said, “if you’re gonna loaf, don’t loaf on defense.” Believers cannot relax their defenses; I suggest the best defense is a strong offense: "I made haste and delayed not to keep Your commandments." (Psalm 119:60). I challenge you, therefore, to be diligent and make every effort rooted in the perfect Truth of God's Word. That effort alone allows God's Grace to do Its supreme and divine work in and through you. That will always be your ... best effort!

Only If

There's an otherwise "little" word that really ain't so "little" - that word is ... if. Just think about the incidents of utter foolishness we've experience just because we didn't consider the if-factor: trying to make one trip from car-to-house as we unload the groceries and the eggs didn't make it or climbing a ladder when we know better. Proverbs 2 begins with these words: "My son, if you will receive my words and treasure my commandments within you ..." (V.1). Unfortunately, it is our nature to default to our own intellect and wisdom, and ultimately that's the problem: we just aren't as intelligent nor wise as we think. God continues, "... So that your ear is attentive to wisdom and apply your heart to understanding ... then you will understand the [reverent] fear of the LORD and discover the knowledge of God ... for the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding." (V.2, 5-6). Like a good father, God will not withhold His perfect knowledge, wisdom and understanding but He will not force it on us either! Such valuable and Godly riches are ours - only IF...

Best Look

Perfectionism may have a good "look" to it  but someone has worked very hard to bring that look about! There's long been this idea that when someone comes to Jesus, they have to be cleaned-up and free of baggage - not so! Because Salvation is by grace through faith and no merit of our own, Believers find all they are and ever will be in the perfectly finished work of Jesus Christ. Paul wrote of his ministry to Believers, "We proclaim [Christ] ... striving with His power and energy, which so greatly works within me." (Colossians 1:28-29). Perfection here on earth is merely a dream! Those who have put their trust in Jesus have been made perfect with His Righteousness. Oh, yes, there's more - The Saints will one day stand before Jesus and know perfection (completeness) as we've never known before. Until then we are able to set aside the struggling to be what we already are - perfect in Christ ... it's the best look!

Ultimate Beauty

Our perceived physical blemishes have resulted in a high-dollar industry. Imperfections will always be part of this imperfect world. While there is certainly nothing wrong with taking care of ourselves and looking our best, vain attempts to out-do nature ... well, they aren't top-priority with God. We are created in His image to reflect the Beauty of Jesus Christ. We'll never get it from a magazine, a tube or bottle or from a doctor. "One thing I ask of The Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of The Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of The Lord and to seek Him in His temple." (Psalm 27:4). God ultimately cares most about the inside-beauty of His children. "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment ... instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight." (1 Peter 3:3-4). If we are serious about genuine beauty (by God's standards, not the world's), The Presence of The Lord is the only spiritual-spa that guarantees heart-deep beauty treatments. Invest your time (and money) wisely - seek Christ for ... ultimate Beauty.

Search Over

Isn't the "search" feature the best! Search and I actually make a pretty good team: I lose it - Search finds it! There are countless books available today to inspire and lead us to know God more intimately. Nonetheless, we've been given the Best Book of all time - that is, God's Word; what more do we really need? God said to the Isaiah, "I, even I, am He Who blots out your transgressions ..." There's the greatest news found in the greatest book! No further searching required. It's told when Charles Wesley experienced God's forgiveness, he said to a friend, "I suppose I had better keep silent about it" to which his friend replied: "Oh, no, my brother. If you had a thousand tongues, you should go and use them all for Jesus." Charles Wesley went home and wrote these words: "Oh, for a thousand tongues to sing – My great Redeemer's praise - The glories of my God and King – The triumphs of His grace." In His Word and through His Son, God revealed Himself as all we need to live victoriously ... the search is over!

Listen With Your Eyes

Eyes are interesting parts of the body. Of course, they are incredibly irreplaceable and there is
so much we do with them. We smile with our eyes; they also make great glaring weapons.
God wants our eyes so He can have our hearts! There are many ways to guard the heart, but
just filtering out all the ungodly junk helps! Moreover, when we feast our eyes upon His
written Word, oh the joy that is ours! There is great reward when we steady our eyes upon
Christ! Just like we can't sight-see and drive at the same time, we cannot have eyes for both
Christ and for the world. Plainly, Hebrews 12:2 tells us to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus Who is
“the Author and Finisher of our faith.” Steadily focused eyes on Christ help us hear Him, know
Him, stay close to Him. Try something new today ... listen with your eyes!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful Face.
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the Light of His glory and grace.

Learn By Heart

One of the things I recall from school-days is memorization: multiplication and periodic tables, offensive plays in basketball, animal and insect anatomies, etc. This older-me, however, remembers little of those things. Why, we are rarely challenged to memorize anything - we have information stored in our phones or available online just a touch-or-two away. Interestingly, God speaks to the importance of memorizing Scripture. By memorizing The Word, we have access to it no matter where we are or whatever our circumstances. The benefits of God's Word are immeasurable: It keeps us from sinning (Psalm 119:11); It gives comfort in troubles (Psalm 119:52, 92); It sustains our spirit (Deuteronomy 8:3); It It provides guidance (Proverbs 6:20-23); It gives us wisdom in parenting our children (Deuteronomy 6:6-7) ... the benefits are endless! Here's something worth noting: the definition of "memorization" is "to commit to memory; learn by heart." Did you see that - learn by heart! That's exactly what God's Word does: as we hide away (treasure) Its words in our hearts, It transforms and renews our minds (Romans 12:2). I don't recall memorizing those school-things doing any of that! What a challenge with great reward we have before us as Believers. As we read (even memorize) God's words of Truth, we ultimately ... learn by the heart.

Hear Wisdom

Have you on occasion put your fingers in your hears - perhaps to drown-out loud noise or as a signal to someone you weren't listening? I fear this is exactly what we do to God when - clearly in front of us - is His Voice of Truth! God begins Proverbs 1:5 with these words: "The wise will hear ..." The logical conclusion is when we are unwilling and refuse to listen, we will not hear nor are we wise. What about the voices we actually do listen to during the course of even one day - they are many and usually devoid of truth YET we give them audience. The psalmist expresses a discipline too many Believers lack: "With all my heart I have sought You, [inquiring of You and longing for You]; do not let me wander from Your commandments [neither through ignorance nor by willful disobedience]. Your word I have treasured and stored in my heart, that I may not sin against You." (Psalm 119:10-11, AMP). If living and walking wisely before God is important to us, we will listen to Wisdom's voice and pray for God's grace to ... hear wisdom.

Start Digging

The Grands love it when PopC gets our the metal detector! How exciting when they discover those buried "treasures." God said, "A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels to understand a proverb, and the interpretations; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings." (Proverbs 1:5-6). What a tragedy when we quickly read a Scripture passage but fail to dig the riches through study and meditation. J. Vernon McGee tells of visiting the place where Thomas Edison worked in his lab in search of synthetic rubber. McGee writes, "Do you know he found some of it in dandelions, of all things. That would be the last place I would look ... As I stood in the laboratory and looked at those hundreds of test tubes and thought of the hours that he and his helpers had spent there testing this and that and the other thing in order to try to find it, I thought, 'my, how little attention is given to the Word of God where one could do some real testing and some real study.'" When was the last time you set aside time to really mine the jewels of Truth from God's Word? James 1:5 says, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him." The Word of God - the perfect place to find perfect wisdom. Start digging!

Here and Now

It's fun to look back at times past, and even to look ahead often with great anticipation. So it is with the richness of The Gospel of Jesus Christ: the redemptive work of Christ completed, bringing forgiveness, salvation and reconciliation [of man] to God; and, the promised reward of eternity with Christ. All the work of Jesus is worthy of praise and honor, and that includes The Gospel's work in Believers' lives ... here and now. At times I've found myself discontented, discouraged, questioning, overwhelmed ... real spiritual valleys. We are foolish to think it's just a rough patch and it will soon pass. Truth is, God may have us where we are to discipline us: "for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?" (Hebrews 12:7). God's discipline may be pointing us to [in Paul David Tripp's words] "The Gospel present" and Its effectiveness in the here and now. "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live but Christ Who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in The Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself for me." (Galatians 2:20). We rejoice with gratitude for what Christ has done for us and the promised reward of eternity with Him, but let us never forget The Gospel of Jesus Christ is presently at-work in those who die daily to themselves. Thank You, Jesus, for Your Gospel which is effectively working in me ... here and now!

Blog Break - Back Soon

 

Pursue Holiness

Preparing for a trip can be tiring but the anticipation makes us press-through. Oh, if Believers had that same commitment and perseverance toward personal holiness. I remember Mister Bill asking me to bring something from home to him at his office; in order to go to his office [located inside the building], I had to have a hard hat and steel-toe shoes ... of which I had neither. God said to His children, "For I am The Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy." (Leviticus 11:44). In much the same way a hard hat and steel-toe shoes was required to enter Mister Bill's workplace, so is holiness required if we hope to draw near to God. Hearts conditioned through humility, study, prayer and righteousness have a Family resemblance ... we favor The Father in Heaven and His Son, Jesus Christ. Hallelujah, we are saved by grace (Ephesians 2:8-9); true followers of Jesus will trust Him to work-out that salvation in the circumstances of our lives. Truth is, while on this earth, Believers are preparing for a trip with an eternal destination where holiness rules supreme. Let us live in anticipation and faithfully press-though ... pursue holiness.

Promise of Presence

Years ago, if you came near our screened porch, you'd stop in your tracks! Mr. Bill had placed a motion-activated device that sounded like a hoot-owl. It was so annoying! The psalmist wrote, “The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime; and His song will be with me in the night, a prayer to the God of my life.” (Psalm 42:8). There’s a lot of darkness in the world. Even those who are not bound in spiritual darkness – that is, the Saints of God – know dark days: days when the sense of loss is great. Isn’t it soothing to know God directs His goodness and kindness and faithfulness during the daytime, and His singing is present in the dark of night! The conclusion is: there isn’t a time – day or night – when God is absent from those whom He loves and who love Him. God’s Promise of Presence is certain and trustworthy! May this great Truth be our constant companion.

Heart Treasure

What's your heart set on? Perhaps a new car, spring break from work or school, a trip ... a new ironing board - nah, probably not that. Read this: Job asked God, "What is man that You make so much of him, and that You set Your heart on him?" (Job 7:17). We all know what it's like to look forward to something (aka heart set on something) then know disappointment when it doesn't happen. Imagine The Almighty Creator of the entire universe Who has set His heart on you and me - uniquely created in His own image - to be in love and fellowship with Him then we really have no time or energy or desire for Him. We usually quickly argue we do have a heart for God but our choices and actions give no evidence to such a claim. Jesus said, "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:21). When God is our treasure, the affection of our hearts, it shows in every area of our lives. God's heart is set on you - what's your heart set on?

The Hiding Place

Not exactly sure why but most guys enjoy a high-speed car chase. I had enough of that watching the Duke boys! In Genesis we read that Adam and Eve "heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day" (3:8). Mister Bill and I often hear the sound of our Grands playing in the field near our house; what an invitation for us. In contrast, Adam and Eve "hid and kept themselves hidden from the presence of the LORD God." This is what sin does: hinders fellowship with God. I suggest Believers are well aware of the interruption although we choose to blame it on everything except the true offender: sin. Consider with joy God's next move: "The LORD God called to Adam ... 'Where are you?'" (V.9). Note God did not turn-away in disappointment or disgust and give-up on the two-in-hiding although He knew fully what they had done as well as sin's deadly consequences. No, God pursued sinful man and later "made tunics of skins for Adam and his wife and clothed them" (V.21). What a beautiful picture of sin's ultimate covering - the shed blood of His Son, Jesus Christ. How foolish we are to participate in sin, embrace it then deny its ruinous effect on our relationship with God. We are created for fellowship with The Creator; truth is, those who obey Him are His treasured possession (Exodus 19:5). I'm so thankful God pursued me and continues to pursue me; may the only place I ever want to hide is in Him ... He IS my hiding place.

At Rest

Sometimes it's hard to rest when you're in an unfamiliar room or bed. Because the sounds and surroundings are different or the bed is too firm or too soft. rest often escapes us. God said, "I will give you as a covenant to the people" (Isaiah 49:8). God gave the world His Son, Jesus, as the substance - One Who makes the covenant full, solid, firm and eternal. It is our natural tendency to find our rest elsewhere: career, wealth, health, material things, relationships, family, even church. Perhaps like me, you've already heard people express their wishes or longings to improve their lives in particular ways this new year. There's really only one way any of us can invest our time and effort which will prove worthy of that ... time and effort: rest alone in Jesus Christ. When away from our own home and bed, Mister Bill often says, "I can sleep anywhere." What a challenge with awesome possibilities; that is, being at-rest in Jesus anywhere and everywhere whatever the circumstances of our lives. John Piper reminds us - God will be most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him. Why not invest your time and effort wisely ... be at rest in Christ.

Pleasing God

Soon, Mister Bill and I will take a trip to our beloved Island. If all goes according to plan, we know our departure and return dates, how we will travel and [pretty much] what we will take with us. Very little is known of one of my favorite men of Scripture yet a lot is known ... yeah, you read that right. "When Jared was 162 years old, he became the father of Enoch ... Enoch walked with God." (Genesis 5:19, 22). Aside from Enoch's genealogy, seventh from Adam (Jude 1:14), little is known yet one huge and critical thing is know: he walked with God. I cannot imagine a better inscription to appear on a tombstone than "He Walked With God." You see, in this world with its views, standards, culture, morals, politics, correctness, there is The One with whom Believers walk with ... or not. Enoch's testimony wasn't lengthy but it was simply excellent: "he had this testimony, that he pleased God" (Hebrews 11:5). What better could we do in this life as followers of Jesus Christ than to ... please God. There is no way we can know what the new year holds nor can we hope to have control over the circumstances of our days. This we know: by grace we can walk (live) a life that is pleasing to God; there is no better plan for the moments of our days. Will you surrender your agenda for the plan of God - to walk in righteousness moment-by-moment, day-by-day? It's the greatest way to live life ... pleasing God.

New-Creature Living

As I've shared many times, I'm not a shopper - going into a new year, I stand by that statement. The term "gently used" is one that generally means it's not shrink-wrap-tag-bearing new but used ... with care and kindness. It also usually means it cost less! When God says that in Christ we are "a new creation," He absolutely means "the old is passed away ... the new has come" (2 Corinthians 5:17). That Greek word for "new" (kainos) means ... recently made, unused, unworn, a new kind, unprecedented. The newness God gives those who trust in His Son, Jesus, are not like great-grandma's china cabinet that has been stripped of old stain, sanded down then refinished to a like-new condition. "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10). For certain, the workmanship of God can never be described as gently-used or second-hand. To God's glory and like Jesus, we are new and called to walk in "newness of life" (Romans 6:4). Last year was a hard year for many, including me; the weight of last year seems heavy at times. Jesus has designed and designated Believers' lives for new-creature living. God has equipped us with New Life to live with daily victories in the New Year. Let us go deliberately and boldly into 2023 as the new creations we are ... live as new creatures!