But he prayed for nothing except life, courage, cunning to meet all issues.”
–Zane Grey (The Lost Wagon Train)
“So we may boldly say: ‘The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?'”
–Hebrews 13:6 (NKJV)
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We know that it is “by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9, NKJV). We also understand that “without faith it is impossible to please Him…” (Hebrews 11:6, NKJV). So we see that faith is important in obtaining salvation and living for God.
However, there is that aspect of faith that we find in James: “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” (James 2:26, NKJV). We are saved by grace through faith, and then we must use our faith to produce works. I’ve borrowed some thoughts from Vine’s Expository Reference Edition Bible that I am going to use in reference to the faith that we should have. I am just changing the format from paragraph to bullet.
“Faith must work; it must produce; it must be visible… It must inspire action… James integrates true faith and everyday practical experience by stressing that true faith must manifest itself in works of faith.
–Faith endures trials. Trials come and go, but a strong faith will face them head-on and develop endurance.
–Faith understands temptations. It will not allow us to consent to our lust and slide into sin.
–Faith obeys the Word. It will not merely hear and not do.
–Faith produces doers.
–Faith harbors no prejudice…faith and favoritism cannot coexist.
–Faith displays itself in works.
–Faith is more than mere words; it is more than knowledge; it is demonstrated by obedience; and it overly responds to the promises of God.
–Faith controls the tongue.
–Faith acts wisely. It gives us the ability to choose wisdom that is heavenly and to shun wisdom that is earthly.
–Faith produces separation from the world and submission to God.
–Faith provides us with the ability to resist the Devil and humbly draw near to God.
–Faith waits patiently for the coming of the Lord. Through trouble and trial it stifles complaining.”
Should I dare ask if you have faith? Remember, everyone is given a measure of faith. As believers we are to use our faith; we are to grow and demonstrate our faith.
To live by faith is not blind, for we know in Whom is our trust. Living by faith is making choices in the light of God’s Word. In fact, the best word to describe faith is that of being faithful. Faithful obedience to God’s Word is a facet of faith.
As we wait patiently for the return of the Lord, we must live a life of faith. It might be good to read of those of Hebrews 11. Read of men and women who lived a life of faith (i.e., Fanny Crosby, Smith Wigglesworth and others). Money will not get you through the days ahead; career will not see you through the hard times–it is by faith that we live.
Month: October 2020
Echoes From the Campfire
He recognized the feeling for what it was—the need within himself to protect and care for something beyond himself. It was that, in part, that had led him into so many fights that were not his; and yet, was not the cause of human freedom and liberty every man’s trust?”
–Louis L’Amour (The Mountain Valley War)
“What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and self-indulgence!”
–Matthew 23:25 (NLT)
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I have been doing my morning devotions from the Book of Matthew and am currently on the section where Jesus has made His final entry into Jerusalem. The tone and message of His words have changed upon this occasion. The verses from yesterday morning’s made me do some pondering.
“Snakes! Sons of vipers! How will you escape the judgment of hell?
“Therefore, I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers of religious law. But you will kill some by crucifixion, and you will flog others with whips in your synagogues, chasing them from city to city. As a result, you will be held responsible for the murder of all godly people of all time—from the murder of righteous Abel to the murder of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you killed in the Temple between the sanctuary and the altar. I tell you the truth, this judgment will fall on this very generation.”
–Matthew 23:33-36 (NLT)
Do you depict harshness in the words of Jesus? My mercy, He is telling them like it is and the Pharisees and other religious leaders don’t like it one bit. In these verses, Jesus is pronouncing judgment. I like what Alexander MacLaren has to say, “Let us remember that He who sees hearts had a right to tell harsh truths… There is nothing so terrible as the anger of gentle compassion, and the fiercest and most destructive wrath is that of the Lamb.”
From the beginning, God has graciously called people back to Him. He had sent the prophets, He had given His word to the people, and yet/still they refused to listen, now to the very Son of God. Look at His wording here, “Snakes…vipers!
There is poison oozing from them to deceive. Here is Truth standing in front of them and they are writhing around seeking for a way to destroy the Truth.
Judgment did come–in two forms. First, the judgment of sin fell upon Christ to appease the character of a holy God, then also in 70 A.D. the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple came with the armies of Titus. But stop, think, could this be one of those two-fold prophetic messages? God is still sending out His message: “Come to Me.” He is speaking to men in the world today not wanting any to perish. Yet…men of today are similar to those of old–they reject the message.
MacLaren writes, “God goes on sending His prophets because we reject them; and the more deaf men are, the more does He peal His words into their ears.” God speaks, God speaks, God continues to speak–there will be none who can say, “I didn’t know.” I heard it said many years ago, and I have seen it born out: “the Holy Spirit will either convict or enrage.” When the Spirit speaks men will either be convicted and repent or they will harden their hearts as Pharaoh of old and hate God all the more. Until the day when the cup of iniquity is full and God says, “That is enough!”
My ears may be failing me some in my later years, but I think they are also more sensitive. I sometimes I can hear the cry of the innocent unborn: “when Lord, when?” Besides the other major issues of this election, you tell me how can so-called Christians bide with a side that is seeking premeditated murder? The blood of the innocent, will be on their hands, and the “anger of gentle compassion” is ready to burst upon the scene.
The Saga of Miles Forrest
All fine–STOP–hope all is well with you–STOP–Gibbons says, thanks–STOP” signed, Covney.
Well, that was a relief, thank the good Lord. “Molly!” I hollered, “I’m goin’ to the office to see Charlie.” Before leaving I asked Thompson how long he was going to be in town, telling him to see me before going back to his ranch.
As I walked across the street Solly came out of his store and grabbed me by the arm. “Take a look up at Foster’s and Newsome’s, you’ll see a sight,” he said with a broad smile beaming on his face.
Nodding at him I hurried my walk some. Turning the corner I glanced up the street to see folks walk around carrying posters, women mostly. They read: Vote Out Newsome, Vote Out Foster. Another read, UnChristian Practices. John Newsome was standing outside his store, hands on hips watching the display. I started walking his way.
Wilson Foster must have been looking through his store window for he rushed out just as I reached Newsome. “Marshal, you have to stop this, this, riotous act!” When he said that I glimpsed Darnelle carrying one of the signs.
“Have they done somethin’ wrong?” I questioned. “Have they tried to stop anyone from enterin’ your stores?”
Foster bellowed, “That’s just the point! No one will enter!”
I looked at the little parade outside, then asked, “Has anyone been threatened?”
“They’re threatening us,” piped up Newsome. “Look at those signs!”
“I don’t see anythin’ threatenin’ written on them,” I replied, then grinned before addin’ to my thoughts. “Kinda makes good sense to me.”
I thought Foster was going to have a conniption fit. Newsome got red in the face. “We’ve been on the city council almost since the beginning of Durango. Now, because of a Mexican getting shot we have this on our hands.”
Now that statement gave me the urge to thump him along side the head, but I controlled myself. “No, the problem is your greed. Why the two of you would steal pennies off a dead man’s eyes then argue about it.”
If possible, Newsome turned even more red. Hmmm, I wonder if he’d been guilty of that.
“Well!” snapped Foster. “What are you going to do about it?”
“Nothin’, they’re within their rights,” I stated then gave my biggest smile, “I wonder who is goin’ to run against you? Election’s next month.”
Seeing Darnelle with the group gave me a new thought. “I guess I could arrest the instigator. I kinda hate to throw decent citizens in with that bunch of drunkards and no-goods that are currently in jail.”
As I started forward, Foster moved to block my way. “Uh, maybe I was speaking a little too hasty.”
“Let’s see if I can make some sense of this,” I said then motioned for Darnelle to come to me.
“Marshal Forrest, it’s always pleasant to see you,” she said politely. “Uncle, Mr. Newsome. How can I be of help to you Marshal?”
Tipping my hat along with a quick wink, I asked, “Do you by chance know how much money your Uncle is losin’ each day?”
She names an amount with a smile, then added, “I don’t know about Mr. Newsome.”
“I do!” came a yell from the doorway of Newsome’s store. It was his wife, Jewelene. She started our way with daggers in her eyes. I didn’t know if they were for me, Darnelle, or Wilson and John.
“All this is your fault!” she spluttered. “You shouldn’t have hired that Mexican for a deputy!”
“But Mrs. Newsome, hasn’t he kept you safe? Didn’t he arrest some derelicts attemptin’ to steal some jewelry? Oh, an’ that time when those cowboys came by makin’ lewd remarks to you, didn’t he stop them makin’ them apologize?”
She began to stutter. “Now, if I get this right, the money you are losin’ and will most likely continue to lose will be almost the salary that Mateo would get for a month.”
I looked at them one at a time. “That’s about right, Marshal Forrest,” perked in Darnelle along with her wonderful smile.
“If’n I was you all I would take some time considerin’ the situation,” I uttered. “Oh, but don’t take too long, election’s comin’ up.”
Tipping my hat to Mrs. Newsome and Darnelle, I turned to walk away. I still wanted to see Charlie before Thompson and his men left town. Hurrying to the sheriff’s office I was fortunate to find him sitting at his desk writing reports from his recent trip.
“Ah, you’re doin’ the fun stuff,” I teased and received a not too friendly look.
“Sit down, Miles. It’s been a while since I’ve chatted with you.”
Taking the chair that was near Charlie’s desk I set myself. “Sheriff, I have a couple questions.”
He took a deep sigh. “When you refer to me as ‘Sheriff’ I know something is amiss.”
“Do you recall anything about a Kyle Langston? He’s workin’ with Cecil Thompson.”
Charlie scratched just below his ear then answered, “As far as I know that’s all he is. I did take the time to look through posters when I heard about him.” Now he rubbed his chin. “Did he say how Keim is doing?”
“All he told me was that Keim is recovering at the ranch,” I stated, then continued, “That’s more than I can say about Mateo lying in his adobe.”
Dropping his head a bit, Charlie gave a little shrug of his shoulders, then asked, “Anything else?”
“How about a Blackstone? Have you come across anythin’?”
He sighed before speaking. “I don’t think you’re going to like what I found. There is a Frank Black up in Silverton. Not the most reputable of men.”
“Do you think….”
Echoes From the Campfire
Life was sunshine and storm—youth and age.”
–Zane Grey (The Desert of Wheat)
“He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.”
–1 John 5:12 (NKJV)
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It has been a while since we had our study in the Psalms. Before vacation I left off at Psalm 48, and we are on the last portion of that Psalm. What a powerful few words, especially for the time in which we live. Right from the start the words jump out at us.
“God, within Your temple, we contemplate Your faithful love.” (verse 9, HCSB)
One of the lost disciplines of the believer is that of meditation/contemplation. People go to church (if their’s is open) and hop around some, sing some songs (hopefully they are truly worshipful), hear a short message mostly to appease the ears, then go home. But LOOK! We are to contemplate on His faithful love (other versions have “unfailing love”). Now that takes some time and effort and concentration. More than that, since we are the “temple of the Holy Spirit” we should be contemplating on his “faithful love.” His grace, His mercy, His love are to be in our thoughts. I like what H. Norman Pell says, “I praise God because he not only guides my directions but overrules my mistakes.”
10 – “Your name, God, like Your praise, reaches to the ends of the earth; Your right hand is filled with justice.
11 – Mount Zion is glad. The towns of Judah rejoice because of Your judgments.”
We may be crying in our haste and in our own way of thinking wondering where is the justice of God. Ah, but remember His ways are much higher than ours. He holds justice and judgment in His hand. The people around the old city of Jerusalem rejoice because of His justice. It is coming, are you ready?
12 – “Go around Zion, encircle it; count its towers,
13 – note its ramparts; tour its citadels so that you can tell a future generation:
14 – ‘This God, our God forever and ever—He will always lead us.’”
Being the “temple of the Holy Spirit” what is it that people see when they walk around us? What do they see when they looks at us? Does our appearance represent the holy God Almighty? Oh, despite what some may claim, appearance does count, but it is not the main thing. When we are with people what do they see in our character? Are they confused because of what we proclaim, what we look like, and what we do?
One of most important responsibilities and obligations is to represent the Lord in all we say and do. It is imperative that we tell them, especially those of our family of the wondrous works of God. We are to explain who He is, what He has done, how He has blest us. We should speak of the way He has kept us, how He has healed us, how He has guided us.
“For that is what God is like. He is our God forever and ever, and he will be our guide until we die.” (verse 14, NLT)
God is like that citadel. He is our fortress, are we telling our children and grandchildren that? Forever will that fortress stand unlike the ones made by human hands. Oh, and look at the end, He will be there all the time until we die. His mercies are new every morning!
“Let strangers walk around the city where we dwell;
Compass and view thy holy ground, and mark the building well;
The order of thy house, the worship of thy court,
The cheerful songs, the solemn vows, and make a fair report.”
–Isaac Watts
Take some time to contemplate God’s unfailing love and the rest of Psalm 48 this week.