Tag Archives: 1Thessalonians

Making the time for what’s important

Posted on February 4, 2014 by | Comments Off on Making the time for what’s important

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Yesterday, the community college where I work at was operating on a two-hour delay because of the recent winter weather that passed through our area.  Not having the usual routine of being at the campus by 9:00, I decided to take the morning to do some things that I’ve put off for a couple of weeks.  Although not required to keep office hours because of the two-hour delay, I went ahead and went to the campus during the normal time just so that I could be there if I had a student that wanted to see me.  When I arrived, I had a young man, a former student of mine, approach me and ask if he could talk to me.  He explained that he had been there waiting for me, knowing that I had office hours; he wanted to talk to me about a problem he was having.

When I began teaching during my graduate school years working on my Ph.D., I decided that I would always make myself accessible to students and would not limit the conversation to coursework or course related issues, but would allow the student, within reason, to feel completely open in talking to me.  Since 2006, I have regarded what I do as being a missionary; not to some far off exotic location, but a domestic missionary charged with the burden of taking the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to the college campus.  It is challenging as any foreign field since I cannot openly discuss my faith.  Almost every university or college I have worked at has had a policy in place that only allows me to discuss my faith if I am asked questions about it by the student(s) and only during non-academic class time. With this in mind, I have always made my office hours longer than required by college policy and do use the opportunity to share my faith when students do ask me about it.

Knowing I was a Christian, he began to ask me questions about my faith and how I balance the demands of life with what I feel the Lord has called me to do.  As we began to talk with one another, he told me that he struggles to get everything done; he is a single father trying to raise his son on his own, has a job, and is trying to be a full-time student – all at the age of 23!  He then began to share how the Lord has laid a burden on him which he described as a spiritual calling to not only share his faith more with those around him, but to really study the Bible and to be more faithful in his church attendance.  He even began to tell me that he has felt as if he has sinned when he has gone to bed without reading his Bible or praying for the needs of others.  As I listened to this young man, I immediately thought of what the apostle Paul wrote: Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more (I Thessalonians 4:1). This young man was trying to live a life that would please God.

Within my own life I have faced a similar struggle of balancing the things that life requires, the responsibilities that I have, and the spiritual needs and callings God has placed on me.  As a husband and a father, I have the responsibility to work, provide an income, to be a friend, partner, and all else that family life calls for. As an employee, I have the responsibilities to be ready for the courses I teach, to devise my own exams and lecture materials, and to treat each student in my course no different from any other student in my class.  I have an obligation to faculty members to support their efforts, to diffuse situations where students question or openly critique other faculty members and staff.  As a sole proprietor of a small printing ministry, I have obligations to the churches and missionaries that the ministry supports.  As a Christian, I have the spiritual responsibility of daily studying the scriptures, in sharing my faith with others, lifting the needs of others to my God and King in prayer, and in teaching my daughter to do as the Lord has commanded each Christian to do: [to] love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself (Luke 10:27b). I also have the responsibility of fulfilling the call that God has placed on me to serve as a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Continued on next page.

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Preparing for the onset of temptation

Posted on January 2, 2014 by | Comments Off on Preparing for the onset of temptation

reading-bible_2316_1024x805Anyone that knows me will tell you that, besides the disabilities I have as a result of my military service, I rarely get sick. This time of the year—during the middle of winter—is one of the two times a year I  either will catch a sinus infection or the flu. As Michelle can tell you, I do not make a good patient; I am grouchy, whiny, want to be left alone, and crave only coffee.  If you are like me, I can usually tell when I am about to come down with some sort of bug.  As soon as I feel the tickle in my sinus cavities, I begin drinking gallons of orange juice, taking both daytime and nighttime cold medications, and hosing down the house in disinfectant in anticipation of the cold.

I began thinking that if I do all of these things—the taking of cold medications, drinking juice, and everything else on just the idea of getting the cold, why don’t we take the same precautions when it comes to dealing with sin in our lives? Sure, there are no pills, no special spray, or ointment that alleviates our fleshly nature from wanting to sin.  Even the apostle Paul had to deal with the realities of the flesh drawn to the lusts and desires of the world; it is for this very reason Paul wrote For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me (Romans 7:14-20). Make no mistake about what Paul is warning every Christian about—there is a real battle going on within the hearts of every born-again believer. As long as you live within this body of clay, you’ll fight the fight. You’ll feel the pull of the flesh; sometimes you’ll emerge victorious by the leading of the Holy Spirit.  Other times, you’ll end up face first in the dirt at the feet of the Lord Jesus Christ asking for forgiveness.

Just as we prepare to face the cold and flu season we can also prepare ourselves to face our temptations that so readily play to the appetite of our flesh. There are some things we can do to prepare ourselves in facing our temptations:

  • Study the Bible: This is where learning to resist the temptations of the flesh begins.  David wrote, Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee (Psalms 119:11). As a child of God, it should be our desire to want to seek God’s counsel in all that we do.  When we read the Bible, it begins to manifest itself in our hearts; it will give us strength to resist the temptations to sin. Even the Lord Jesus Christ quoted scripture when he was tempted by Satan.  Memorize a verse or two and when you feel the temptations of sin approaching, recite the verses and find comfort and strength enough to resist what Satan has to offer.
  • Pray for ourselves and others: Within the book of James there are two scriptures that should cause every Christian to want a better and stronger prayer life: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much (James 5:15-16). Add to this verse the understanding of the apostle Paul, Pray without ceasing (I Thessalonians 5:17) and Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God (Philippians 4:6), it becomes clear we should always be near to our Heavenly Father through prayer.  It is through prayer that we can call upon His grace and mercy to sustain us during times of temptation.
  • Avoid the things that tempt us to sin: Solomon, heralded as the wisest of all kings, wrote, Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away (Proverbs 4:14-15) and Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil (Proverbs 4:27). This is some sound  advice for anyone who wants to resist the temptation to sin. When we find ourselves being tempted or committing sin, we have often put ourselves within the situation that led us to being tempted.  Avoid the places and people who offer us easy access to the things that tempt us to sin.  Avoid being placed in situations where the temptation to sin will override our ability to resist.  In other words, be aware of our surroundings.
  • Make an effort to be at church or with other Christians: Again, turning to the writings of the apostle Paul, Christians are encouraged to spend time with others of the faith: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching (Hebrews 10:25). Even the Lord Jesus Christ encourages us to seek the companionship of other Christians: For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them (Matthew 18:20). Quite simply, there is safety in numbers.  When we are regularly attending church it can strengthen our resolve to resist the temptations of sin.  And when we are not in church, we can still seek His assurances and strength by associating ourselves with other Christians.  We are less likely to cave to our fleshly weaknesses when we are in the presence of other Christians.
  • Sing a song to the Lord: There’s something about singing a song simply to praise and bring honor to God that elevates even the most tempted soul.  David wrote, While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being (Psalms 146:2) and Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy (Psalms 59:17). It does not matter if you sing a hymn known by millions or a song you are making up on the spot—but let your heart sing to the goodness of the Lord   Jesus Christ!  When we are singing praises to God I honestly believe that the Lord Jesus Christ bends a little to hear the song from our hearts.  The apostle Paul understood this and even encouraged us to offer such praise to Him: By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name (Hebrews 13:15). Want to make devils tremble? When you’re tempted to sin, let Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me, ring from your lips and heart.
  • Know our adversary and don’t surrender: The apostle Peter warns us to Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour (I Peter 5:8).  James urges us to Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you (James 4:7). We must be aware of the things that appeal to our flesh and realize that the devil knows these weaknesses we have too. He knows when we are at our weakest and knows just how much he needs to push.  The Lord Jesus Christ promises us that if we will resist this pressure, then Satan will flee from us—and the reason is not because of anything we are doing, but because we are allowing Christ to work through us by submitting to His perfect will. Satan has no power as long as we resist temptation.

Knowing how to prepare to face temptations actually can serve to strengthen our walk with the Lord Jesus Christ.  It is important that each day we make a conscious effort to keep our walk with the Lord Jesus Christ as close as we possibly can.  Only then can we enjoy the perfect peace and joy that Christ can bring.

[Because of current copyright laws in the United States, and even though I am the author of this devotional, it is required that I indicate that this was originally published in the January 2014 edition of Gospel Light Baptist Church newsletter, available at http://www.glbcky.com.]

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Noticing, appreciating, and obeying the small things

Posted on November 18, 2013 by | Comments Off on Noticing, appreciating, and obeying the small things

Henderson Sidewalk

Earlier this year, as I celebrated my 43rd birthday, I decided that it was time to become more pro-active about my health. In June I mapped out a course that takes me from my apartment to the steps of the courthouse and back – a four mile walk that takes me a little over an hour to complete.  I have a busy day and being a creature of habit, I knew that I would have to make time for the walk – the only time that would work was first thing in the morning.  So, I began walking each morning between 5:00 and 5:30 a.m, nearly thirty minutes before the first rays of sunrise.  One morning I was running late for several reasons and started my walk closer to 6:00 a.m. and what I began to notice about my morning walk truly amazes me.

The picture above – an old sidewalk at the intersection of Main and Clay Streets in Henderson, Kentucky was something I never expected to discover on my morning routine.  Normally when I walk past this intersection, its still dark – but that particular morning, because of running late, the sun was up and I was noticing details about the town I live in simply because I was in a situation where I was more aware of my surroundings.  I was now aware of the things that I passed by every day on my journeys that I never knew existed and never gave a second thought to.  Shortly after I took the picture, I shared this picture in a Facebook photo album focused on Henderson and the immediate surrounding area, I wondered what blessings God has given to me that I have not noticed or shown him my gratitude because I have been too “busy.”  If I had not been walking after the sun had come up, I might have missed that little reminder of a bygone era of local history.

The apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in Thessalonike In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you (I Thessalonians 5:18).  At first, its hard to understand what exactly we need to be thankful for – but everything literally means – EVERYTHING.  As I think about the apostle James and his writing to early Christians, Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away (James 4:13-14), I am reminded that I am not promised tomorrow.  With that in mind, the very act of waking up in the morning, the four mile walk, the hot shower, the challenges of being the father of a three-year old daughter, and everything else I face each day now become the very things that I must stop and give thanks to God for the blessings of life.  

The apostle John reminded the early Christians he wrote that Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward (II John 1:8).  John is reminding his readers that we are supposed to be mindful of everything that we have as Christians – the gifts of salvation, forgiveness, the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and the fruits of our salvation – and in doing so, it will allow us to receive the rewards that the Lord Jesus Christ has set before us.  We do this as pointed out by the apostle James as he wrote But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves (James 1:22).  We gain our heavenly rewards based on remembering and by doing the things that the Lord Jesus Christ would have us to do.  We do these things by paying attention and being obedient to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

I have found that it is not the large things that I feel the Holy Spirit leading me to that are the problem – it is the smaller things that the Spirit leads us to that we often overlook.  When is the last time you felt the Holy Spirit leading you to share the gospel or a kind word to someone you came across?  When is the last time you let the Holy Spirit lead you to buying a meal for the homeless man or woman you met on your daily routine. When is the last time you took time to pray for a co-worker that you saw was having a bad day or dealing with loss?  These are all small things in the eyes of man and often go unnoticed by many professing Christians. It should come as no surprise when Jesus taught those listening to him that day Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me (Matthew 25:45).  Those who are willing to feed the hungry, give living water to the spiritually thirsty, who offered a smile and a kind word to the stranger, took care of the poor, visit and pray for the sick, downtrodden, depressed, or visit those in prisons are the ones that are paying attention to even the must slightest leading of the Holy Spirit.  While they may not have the accolades of men, their deeds do not go unnoticed by a kind and loving God.

Although Jesus is teaching about alms, or the giving of clothing, food, shelter, or care to the poor, there is a spiritual teaching that can gleaned from it when He states Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward (Matthew 6:1-2). Those little things we do in obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit may not be noticed by your family, your friends, or even your pastor, but they are noticed by God.

 

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