Don’t give up on hope. It’s the last great thing you have.”–Ken Pratt (Dragon’s Fire)
“Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”–Romans 5:5 (NKJV)
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Several years ago a friend of mine was working inside a building. He was a contractor and was so caught up in his work that he didn’t notice his location. Taking a step backwards he fell down the elevator shaft. He had to be rushed to the hospital. There were several broken bones and internal injuries. He did survive the fall, but he was never the same. Simply by not paying attention to his surroundings his life was changed.
Asaph is the composer of Psalm 73 and quickly we find that he was somewhat jealous of those who, he thought, had a better lot in life. He saw the wicked prosper and he thought it was unfair. Because of their wickedness or their wealth they didn’t seem to have the problems of others. Perhaps he wrote this Psalm to help heal his mind, for as Matthew A. Castille said, “Envy is a sickness that only faith can heal.”
1 — Truly God is good to Israel, to such as are pure in heart.
2 — But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped.
3 — For I was envious of the boastful, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 — For there are no pangs in their death, but their strength is firm.
5 — They are not in trouble as other men, nor are they plagued like other men.
6 — Therefore pride serves as their necklace; violence covers them like a garment. (NKJV)
God is good to Israel, but to me, well, that is another matter. It seems as though the promises of God are not meant for me. Have you ever found yourself thinking those thoughts? Have you ever found yourself envying the wicked or the wealthy? Perhaps you are in a form of spiritual coma, and you are just merely going through the motions of life and your Christian experience.
However, we cannot see into the hearts and minds of those who seem to have it made. What problems are they facing in their lives? I knew of a man who made between $5000-$10,000 a week. Was he happy? He had the best of everything…BUT he lost his family. His wife left him for he was married to his career. His two children were estranged from him, addicted to drugs, and had been in jail. Was he happy? He was wealthy, but what was the turmoil that was going on in his soul?
Dwell on verse 2–almost… Asaph says he “almost” stumbled, slipped and fell. There was a saying in the old West that when a cowboy sold his saddle it was over for him. He might not own a horse, most did not, but he had his saddle. That term then moved on to other areas. A man “almost” left his wife. A man “almost” stole something. A man “almost” committed suicide. A man “almost” …. But! He did not sell his saddle, he almost slipped, but he remembered who he was.
“How good is the God we adore,
Our faithful, unchangeable Friend!
His love is as great as His power
And knows neither measure nor end!”
–Joseph Hart
Author: Ira Paine
Coffee Percs
Man at the pot!’ came the call just as he took a cup from its hook. He rolled his eyes, grabbed two more cups, then started to pour the first of the three cups of coffee.”
–J.V. James (Frye)
Come on in, Pard for I’ve a question for yuh. Readin’ the above I began to wonder and ponder who is goin’ to serve the first cups of coffee to those at the heavenly table. My notion is that it will take more than one, but I think the crew will be led by Andrew and Martha. Most likely there’ll be plenty of servants that I don’t know; hmmm, perhaps my Annie will be one of them. Since we will be in the heavenly realm, I don’t think it will take all that long even though we have millions of years, because we are no longer bound by that villain “time.”
Things will sure ‘nough change. Don’t worry Pard, you’re not goin’ to be floatin’ around on some cloud, wigglin’ yur tootsies and playin’ a harp. No siree, there’s work to be done. Adam was placed in the Garden to work, then the curse came and work changed. I don’t know exactly what we’ll be doin’, but I know we’ll be workin’. The Lord don’t like shirkers. Oh, and by the way, no matter whatever anyone says, you ain’t goin’ to become no angel. Ha, though that might be a sight with you flappin’ yur wings.
Ahhh, this coffee is surely good, but that heavenly brew–it’s already makin’ the gizzard tickle. But enough of that fantasizin’, we still got plenty to do down here on this ol’ earth. Things are deterioratin’ mighty fast. The Lord is workin’ whether we see Him in action or not. He is quickly bringin’ everything to a climax. The “man of lawlessness” will soon be revealed, but I’m not frettin’ that. When he is down here struttin’ his stuff an’ speakin’ all sorts of lies, I’m goin’ to be up in heaven with a cup of that heavenly brew, praising the Lord.
Trust yur ready for that day for it can’t be far off. Yuh ride wary, make sure yur cinch is tight, and be ready for the trumpet to sound.
Vaya con Dios.
Echoes From the Campfire
It doesn’t pay to get involved with the devil’s play.”–D.C. Adkisson (Mal de Ojo)
“Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them.”–Ephesians 5:6-7 (NKJV)
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How to Live in a Pagan, Apostate, and Foolish World
Key Verse: “We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.” –1 John 5:19 (NKJV)
This is a confused world. This is a world living in fear. This is a world that mocks God and His moral values. I heard recently that there is a trend for people to stand up in a congregation to challenge the minister’s message. The idea is to challenge the deity of Christ. Some things never change for this has been going on since the Book of Acts. Therefore, it is vital that WE KNOW!
“We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.”
–1 John 5:18 (NKJV)
“We Know” that we are born of God and do not sin. Whoa–not sin? Warning: do not take Scripture out of context to make a doctrine upon it. Christians do sin, that is why we can go to Christ and He will forgive us of our sins (1 John 1:9). However, the believer does not continue in the state of sin; he does not continue to practice it. John is interested in the condition of man, not the particular action of man.
“They [unbelievers] are in the dominion of Satan. Their whole life is a life of sin; they dwell in it, it is their realm, and they inhabit it. But those who are born of God are no longer in that state; they have been taken out of it.”
–D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
The unbeliever abides in the world; he abides in sin. He is in need of a Savior. The Christian abides in Christ.
“We Know” that we are born of God. He watches over us. We are part of His family. Paul gives us comfort when he writes,
“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”
–1 Corinthians 10:13 (NKJV)
Paul also tells us that we (believers) were once in a sinful state–we were once His enemies. However, through Christ we are now reconciled to God.
“We Know” that He keeps us. Satan cannot take us out of His hand. Satan does not cling to us like a bad vine of poison ivy. Satan cannot rob God of His possession, therefore, do not fear. God is more than able to keep you from the clutches of the devil. John writes, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.” (Revelation 12:11, NKJV)
So in the midst of this confused and chaotic world the believer, you and I, have clarity. We know clearly that God is in control and takes care of His own. When many are living in fear, worried about life, we know that we can trust in God. He will never leave or forsake us. We know that He lives and that there is a day of judgment coming for those who mock Him. Stay firm, hold fast to the word of life. I recall the chorus of that old hymn:
“Only trust Him, only trust Him,
Only trust Him now;
He will save you, He will save you,
He will save you now.”
–J.H. Stockton
Echoes From the Campfire
But work’s good for a man, especially if he’s got heavy things on his mind… Work’s a good healer.”
–Elmer Kelton (After the Bugles)
“Commit your works to the LORD, and your thoughts will be established.”
“Commit your works to the LORD, and your thoughts will be established.”
–Proverbs 16:3 (NKJV)
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Have you ever had an evaluation on your job performance? In most places of work this is a normal occurrence. Sometimes because of a lack of work, or lack of work ethic a person get released from their job because of not doing their work, or not doing it properly. Sadly, to say this is prevalent in our society today. Mediocre work. I talked to the owner of a Chick Fil-A a few years back and asked her if she ever hired from the unemployment office. She smiled, shaking her head, answering, “There’s a reason why most of those people are unemployed. If I hired one of them, a month later they would be unemployed again.” There is definitely a lack of a solid work ethic today.
One of the things this nation was built upon was its work ethic. It was called the Protestant Work Ethic, sometimes the Puritan Work Ethic. It was based upon Colossians 3:17, 23, all our work is to be done for the Lord and His glory. Therefore, that means if you are a carpenter you strive to be the best carpenter you can be. If you are a waitress or waiter you work with a smile for you are actually working for the Lord. This concept has largely disappeared from our society. Why work when the government will pay you? Why pay your bills when the government will bail you out?
We most definitely judge work. I wrote yesterday about grace/work, and this is a valid reason works are not acceptable for salvation. By whose work standard is one to be judged? What is the job description for salvation? There can be none, for it was purchased by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. So we don’t judge salvation, that is by grace, but we do judge a person’s work. There are many Scriptures that speak to work and a godly work ethic.
So we are to work, work for the Lord and His Kingdom, but we are to also bear fruit. Some people grow only lemons, just look at their face as they go through the day. They sure are sour, and the Lord does not want that kind of fruit being produced. One of the reasons He chose you was for you to bear fruit, not wait for a handout.
“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.”
–John 15:16(NKJV)
Bear fruit, then the Father will give you what you ask in Jesus’ name. Sometimes we get it wrong and think the Father gives to us automatically. After salvation, after being saved by grace through faith, He expects two things of us: to work and to bear fruit.
In closing today’s devotion I want you to contemplate the following from Andrew Murray.
“Have you ever noticed the difference in the Christian life between work and fruit? A machine can do work; only life can bear fruit. A law can compel work; only love can spontaneously bring forth fruit. World implies effort and labor; the essential idea of fruit is that it is the silent natural produce of our inner life. The gardener may labor to give his apple tree the digging and manuring, the watering and the pruning it needs; he can do nothing to produce the apples; the tree bears its own fruit. So in the Christian life: ‘The fruit of the Spirit is love, peace, joy…’ The healthy life bears much fruit.”
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Have you ever had an evaluation on your job performance? In most places of work this is a normal occurrence. Sometimes because of a lack of work, or lack of work ethic a person get released from their job because of not doing their work, or not doing it properly. Sadly, to say this is prevalent in our society today. Mediocre work. I talked to the owner of a Chick Fil-A a few years back and asked her if she ever hired from the unemployment office. She smiled, shaking her head, answering, “There’s a reason why most of those people are unemployed. If I hired one of them, a month later they would be unemployed again.” There is definitely a lack of a solid work ethic today.
One of the things this nation was built upon was its work ethic. It was called the Protestant Work Ethic, sometimes the Puritan Work Ethic. It was based upon Colossians 3:17, 23, all our work is to be done for the Lord and His glory. Therefore, that means if you are a carpenter you strive to be the best carpenter you can be. If you are a waitress or waiter you work with a smile for you are actually working for the Lord. This concept has largely disappeared from our society. Why work when the government will pay you? Why pay your bills when the government will bail you out?
We most definitely judge work. I wrote yesterday about grace/work, and this is a valid reason works are not acceptable for salvation. By whose work standard is one to be judged? What is the job description for salvation? There can be none, for it was purchased by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. So we don’t judge salvation, that is by grace, but we do judge a person’s work. There are many Scriptures that speak to work and a godly work ethic.
So we are to work, work for the Lord and His Kingdom, but we are to also bear fruit. Some people grow only lemons, just look at their face as they go through the day. They sure are sour, and the Lord does not want that kind of fruit being produced. One of the reasons He chose you was for you to bear fruit, not wait for a handout.
“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.”
–John 15:16(NKJV)
Bear fruit, then the Father will give you what you ask in Jesus’ name. Sometimes we get it wrong and think the Father gives to us automatically. After salvation, after being saved by grace through faith, He expects two things of us: to work and to bear fruit.
In closing today’s devotion I want you to contemplate the following from Andrew Murray.
“Have you ever noticed the difference in the Christian life between work and fruit? A machine can do work; only life can bear fruit. A law can compel work; only love can spontaneously bring forth fruit. World implies effort and labor; the essential idea of fruit is that it is the silent natural produce of our inner life. The gardener may labor to give his apple tree the digging and manuring, the watering and the pruning it needs; he can do nothing to produce the apples; the tree bears its own fruit. So in the Christian life: ‘The fruit of the Spirit is love, peace, joy…’ The healthy life bears much fruit.”