Category Archives: Relationships

Blogs in this category deal with relationships between ourselves and God, family members, other Christians, and the lost.

The snare of indifference and discontentment

Posted on January 14, 2014 by | Comments Off on The snare of indifference and discontentment

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Yesterday afternoon, as I left the community college campus, I got a good look at the inside of my car.  As I was putting my things in the back seat, a pen fell out of my book and onto the floorboard and that is when it hit me how dirty the interior of my car had gotten.  A soda bottle in the floorboard, small leaves and grass, and small pebbles and dirt nearly completely cover both the back and front floorboards. Dust covers the dashboard, a thin layer of film covers the inside of the windshield, and the ashtray is full of pennies.  I hadn’t realized that I had let the car get so bad until that moment.  And then, I began to realize that the problem was not the cold weather or the lack of time to keep the car clean – the problem was I had lost perspective.

Yes, the car I drive is a 2003 Ford Taurus.  It’s a stock model, nothing fancy – but it is the car that God provided for me when I needed it.  It may not have been my first choice, the color, or even the type of car I wanted; God didn’t provide for my wants but provided more than adequately for my needs. The apostle Paul has even told us about the bountiful grace of the Lord Jesus Christ: But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19). God promises us that he will meet our needs when we depend upon his provision. The apostle Paul also wrote Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee (Hebrews 13:5) and But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content (I Timothy 6:6-8). What more should I have wanted? I had God’s promise that he would provide for my needs, that he would remain beside me, and he has remained faithful to do those things, yet I willingly chose to treat his provisions for me with a careless attitude.

During the earthly ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ, he even taught those who were willing to listen of their importance in the eyes of God: Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things (Matthew 6:26-32).

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Posted in Chrisitian Philosophy, Contentment, Our relationship with God

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God’s absolute judgment

Posted on January 3, 2014 by | Comments Off on God’s absolute judgment

Gold Lady Justice, in Brugge, Belgium.

Across our nation, there is a statue that adorns many courthouses across the land – the statue, Lady Justice – is seen as being the perfect representation of the ideals of American jurisprudence. She is blindfolded, and in one hand holds up a balance, while holding a sword in the other. Our nation takes great pride in the dispensation of justice.  Phrases such as “justice is blind” and “equal protection under the law” are taught in nearly every high school civics class across the country.  Recently, I heard some people in my community talking about various local judges; one was considered a “good judge” because he was deemed as understanding, cared about people and always tried to find a way to give them a second chance.  The other judge was seen as evil, wicked and uncaring because he does not give second chances and always gives the criminal the harshest penalties that the law allows.

Just as the three people were discussing the implementation of man’s idea of justice, we have all come across people that try and view God’s implementation of justice in similar fashion.  The world (and some so-called “Christian” denominations) have the idea that God weighs your good and bad deeds and as long as your good deeds outweigh the bad, then you’ll get into Heaven.  This is far from the truth; in fact, Jesus taught against this very thing: And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions (Matthew 19:16-22).

Overall, this young man was what the world would be considered a decent, good man.  It was not his great deeds, his good and wholesome lifestyle, or even his great wealth that would keep him from eternal life.  The thing that would keep him from gaining eternal life was his lack of obedience and faith – the young man loved his wealth and the prestige and security that comes with it.  Instead of depending upon the Lord Jesus Christ and the promise that even the apostle Paul understood, But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19), this young man took great comfort in relying on his own works, his own hands, and his own understanding. He didn’t want to hear the teachings of Jesus: Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also (Matthew 6:19-21).

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Posted in Christian Living, Our relationship with God, Standards

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What happens when Christians forget

Posted on December 3, 2013 by | Comments Off on What happens when Christians forget

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They are located in every town and city in our nation.  We have all seen them and wondered what happened that would cause it to happen.  In my town of Henderson, Kentucky, a ride through the older neighborhoods contain a half-dozen churches that are now silent and cold.  No more does Amazing Grace ring from its sanctuary; no more do its members walk down the aisle to pray at the altar.  No more does the nursery hold the younger generation of church faithful; no longer does the church impact the community.

Within the Old Testament, the prophet Jeremiah wrote A voice was heard upon the high places, weeping and supplications of the children of Israel: for they have perverted their way, and they have forgotten the LORD their God (Jeremiah 3:21). After all that God had done for the children of Abraham, Jeremiah is bearing witness that they forgot God.  The prophet Ezra wrote Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God. And they set the altar upon his bases; for fear was upon them because of the people of those countries: and they offered burnt offerings thereon unto the LORD, even burnt offerings morning and evening (Ezra 3:2-3). Not only did the children of Israel forget God but they also neglected to keep up the things that God had prescribed – which is why Ezra recorded that they had to “set the altar upon his bases” – essentially rebuilding the altar that had fallen down after years of neglect.

We read those scriptures and similar passages in the New Testament and wonder how God’s chosen people could allow such a thing to happen – how the altars were forgotten, neglected, and allowed to deteriorate.  We wonder what could3450741598_382a81c3e5_o have caused those of so long ago to forsake the teachings about the deliverance, goodness and grace of God and act with indifference when we find ourselves following the same path. Just as the altars of Israel had fallen in decay, there are churches across America that are in the same shape.  The question must be asked is why?  Why did this happen to the church?  Unfortunately all we have to do is to look what happened to those Old Testament lessons and we can see exactly why the church is in decay.

They forgot to teach their children about the things of God 

During the exodus out of Egypt, the Lord, through Moses, was trying to teach the children of Israel and the mixed multitude that accompanied them the importance of remembering the mighty work that God had done. According to the leading of the Holy Spirit, Moses wrote Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons (Deuteronomy 4:9). Those that were brought out of Egypt had a divine obligation to teach their children and their grandchildren of the mighty works that God had done. Somehow, they even ignored the warnings given by God, Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day (Deuteronomy 8:11) and continued to ignore the responsibilities to teach the younger generations.  Within a few generations, the nation of Israel found itself with its altars broken and God had left them to their own devices as He had warned: And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the LORD thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish. As the nations which the LORD destroyeth before your face, so shall ye perish; because ye would not be obedient unto the voice of the LORD your God (Deuteronomy 8:19-20).

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Posted in Chrisitian Philosophy, Christian Responsibility, Our relationship with God

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