Daniel 3:13-18 (NLT)
13 Then Nebuchadnezzar flew into a rage and ordered that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought before him. When they were brought in, 14 Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you refuse to serve my gods or to worship the gold statue I have set up? 15 I will give you one more chance to bow down and worship the statue I have made when you hear the sound of the musical instruments. But if you refuse, you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace. And then what god will be able to rescue you from my power?” 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. 18 But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”
Nebuchadnezzar had made a decree that at the time everyone heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of music, they must fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. Whoever did not fall down and worship the golden image would be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. Three men who stood for God refused and were seen not bowing in public. The king gave them the chance to bow or be thrown into the fire. They chose to be thrown into the fire whether God saved them or not.
Johnny Cash had a song called The Forth Man in the Fire. It went like this:
Refrain: They wouldn't bend. They held on to the will of God so we are told. They wouldn't bow. They would not bow their knees to Idols made of gold. They wouldn't burn. They were protected by the Fourth Man in the fire. They wouldn't bend. They wouldn't bow, they wouldn't burn. Now the prophet Daniel tells about three men who walked with God Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Before the wicked king they stood and the king commanded them bound and thrown into the fiery furnace that day. But the fire was so hot that the men were slain that forced them on their way.
Refrain: Now when the three were cast in and the king rose up to witness this awful fate.
He began to tremble at what he saw in astonished tones he spake. Did we not cast three men bound
into the midst of the fire? Well, Lo, I see four men unhurt, unbound and walkin' down there; there's Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and the fiery coals they trod. But the form of the Fourth Man that I see is like the Son of God
Three men refused to do anything but God’s will in their lives. They were willing to die for what the believed. The fire was hot enough for it consumed the guards who threw them into the fire. These three men met the pre-incarnate Christ who was there in the fire with them, reassuring them they would survive. And they emerged untouched by the fire showing the true God was their protector.
We need to remember we should always stand for God no matter what the cost. For this world is a temporary place and if God still has plans for us here He will protect us.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Sorry and it's ok
Galatians 5:14 (KJV)
"For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."
Matthew Henry wrote of this verse, “Love is the sum of the whole law; as love to God comprises the duties of the first table, so love to our neighbour those of the second. The apostle takes notice of the latter here, because he is speaking of their behaviour towards one another; and, when he makes use of this as an argument to persuade them to mutual love, he intimates both that this would be a good evidence of their sincerity in religion and also the most likely means of rooting out those dissensions and divisions that were among them. It will appear that we are the disciples of Christ indeed when we have love one to another.”
When our love for God comes first everything else just fits into place. We learn what a true relationship is like. We learn how God’s love for us is not dependent upon our actions. We learn mercy and grace is offered to us when we don’t deserve it. We find God loves us no matter what the circumstance. We find forgiveness for others as God forgave us.
As I watched the TV show “The Middle” last night, Patricia Heaton’s character, Frankie, was struggling with the issue of how people respond in happenstances. She happened to bump into one man’s shopping cart and he became very rude and disrespectful; even when she said she was sorry. Later while taking a group of her son’s classmates Trick-or-Treating the kids happened to be in the way and again Frankie said “I’m sorry”. But the words went unnoticed and the woman who couldn’t get by with her daughter made a rude comment about the kids. This time Frankie wanted to show the children people shouldn’t treat a person that way so she confronted the woman and gave her a lecture. At the end of the frustrated lecture the woman said, “I’m sorry” and Frankie replies, “It’s ok”, smiles and walks off.
We need to learn the words “I’m sorry” and say them when it is perceived we have done something wrong. We also need to let go of anger and replace it with love by saying, “It’s ok, I understand.” Most of us have wronged someone and there are those who have wronged us. Make it right by loving your neighbor instead of hating your neighbor and by forgiving as God would forgive.
"For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."
Matthew Henry wrote of this verse, “Love is the sum of the whole law; as love to God comprises the duties of the first table, so love to our neighbour those of the second. The apostle takes notice of the latter here, because he is speaking of their behaviour towards one another; and, when he makes use of this as an argument to persuade them to mutual love, he intimates both that this would be a good evidence of their sincerity in religion and also the most likely means of rooting out those dissensions and divisions that were among them. It will appear that we are the disciples of Christ indeed when we have love one to another.”
When our love for God comes first everything else just fits into place. We learn what a true relationship is like. We learn how God’s love for us is not dependent upon our actions. We learn mercy and grace is offered to us when we don’t deserve it. We find God loves us no matter what the circumstance. We find forgiveness for others as God forgave us.
As I watched the TV show “The Middle” last night, Patricia Heaton’s character, Frankie, was struggling with the issue of how people respond in happenstances. She happened to bump into one man’s shopping cart and he became very rude and disrespectful; even when she said she was sorry. Later while taking a group of her son’s classmates Trick-or-Treating the kids happened to be in the way and again Frankie said “I’m sorry”. But the words went unnoticed and the woman who couldn’t get by with her daughter made a rude comment about the kids. This time Frankie wanted to show the children people shouldn’t treat a person that way so she confronted the woman and gave her a lecture. At the end of the frustrated lecture the woman said, “I’m sorry” and Frankie replies, “It’s ok”, smiles and walks off.
We need to learn the words “I’m sorry” and say them when it is perceived we have done something wrong. We also need to let go of anger and replace it with love by saying, “It’s ok, I understand.” Most of us have wronged someone and there are those who have wronged us. Make it right by loving your neighbor instead of hating your neighbor and by forgiving as God would forgive.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Discipleship - looking past your needs
Philemon 1:21 (NLT)
21 I am confident as I write this letter that you will do what I ask and even more!
The book of Philemon is written by the Apostle Paul as a letter to a fellow Christian named Philemon whom Paul had the privilege of leading to Christ. The main purpose of Paul’s writing was to ask Philemon to reconcile with Onesimus, an indentured slave who had run away from Philemon. Paul wanted Philemon not only to reconcile, but also consider releasing Onesimus that he might serve the Lord freely.
William Culbertson in Listening to the Giants, Christianity Today writes, I find that discipleship means, first, truly living. It does not mean a joy ride to heaven; it does not mean that there are no trials and no burdens. But it does mean peace in your soul and joy in your heart, and a sense, a supreme sense, of the smile of the Lord upon you. It is living. And discipleship means that you are using your time on earth to the best possible advantage. The Lord Jesus says so.
The Apostle Paul lived under a tremendous burden of being imprisoned for following in the footsteps of Jesus. Paul suffered and faced painful trials in his life. Yet Paul had a strong faith in God that God would answer his prayers. In the midst of Paul’s difficulties, Paul still found it within himself to reach out and disciple others. Paul reached out to the churches and to individuals. Paul continued to love and support others even if his circumstances were dismal.
Considering the circumstances of your life are you using your time to the best possible advantage? Are you focused on yourself or are you looking to help the needs of others?
21 I am confident as I write this letter that you will do what I ask and even more!
The book of Philemon is written by the Apostle Paul as a letter to a fellow Christian named Philemon whom Paul had the privilege of leading to Christ. The main purpose of Paul’s writing was to ask Philemon to reconcile with Onesimus, an indentured slave who had run away from Philemon. Paul wanted Philemon not only to reconcile, but also consider releasing Onesimus that he might serve the Lord freely.
William Culbertson in Listening to the Giants, Christianity Today writes, I find that discipleship means, first, truly living. It does not mean a joy ride to heaven; it does not mean that there are no trials and no burdens. But it does mean peace in your soul and joy in your heart, and a sense, a supreme sense, of the smile of the Lord upon you. It is living. And discipleship means that you are using your time on earth to the best possible advantage. The Lord Jesus says so.
The Apostle Paul lived under a tremendous burden of being imprisoned for following in the footsteps of Jesus. Paul suffered and faced painful trials in his life. Yet Paul had a strong faith in God that God would answer his prayers. In the midst of Paul’s difficulties, Paul still found it within himself to reach out and disciple others. Paul reached out to the churches and to individuals. Paul continued to love and support others even if his circumstances were dismal.
Considering the circumstances of your life are you using your time to the best possible advantage? Are you focused on yourself or are you looking to help the needs of others?
Monday, October 24, 2011
Character
Proverbs 24:3-4 (NLT)
3 A house is built by wisdom and becomes strong through good sense. 4 Through knowledge its rooms are filled with all sorts of precious riches and valuables.
We are always tempted by riches of the world thinking that wealth brings happiness to a home. Yet there are many who are rich and still painfully suffer the trials of everyday life. King Solomon recognized it is one who builds their family and home by honest means, with a good conscience, a good name, and a respect of God that will find their rooms filled with the precious riches of life. For each family member will possession a wealth of wisdom, a love of God, and a hope for eternal life.
Donald Miller relates in his book, To Own a Dragon, an interesting story goes like this: I lived for a time with my friend and mentor John MacMurray, where the first rule is to always tell the truth. John and I were sitting in the family room one night when he asked about my new cell phone. “I got it free,” I told him. “How did you get it for free?” he asked. “Well, my other one broke, so I took it in to see if they could replace it. They had this new computer system at the store and they didn’t have their records. They didn’t know whether mine was still under warranty. It wasn’t, I knew, because it was more than a year old. The guy asked me about it, and I told him I didn’t know, but it was right around a year. Just a white lie, you know. Anyway, the phone was so messed up they replaced it with a newer model. So, I got a free phone.” “Did you ever see that movie The Family Man with Nicolas Cage?” John asked. “There’s this scene where Nicolas Cage walks into a store to get a cup of coffee. And Don Cheadle plays the guy working at the counter. There’s a girl in line before Nicolas Cage, and she’s buying something for ninety-nine cents, and she hands Cheadle a dollar. Cheadle takes nine dollars out of the till and counts it out, giving her way too much change. She sees that he is handing her way too much money, yet she picks it up and puts it in her pocket without saying a word. As she is walking out the door, Cheadle stops her to give her another chance. He asks her if there is anything else she needs. She shakes her head no and walks out.” “I see what you’re getting at, John,” I say. “Let me finish,” he says. “So Cheadle looks over at Nicolas Cage, and he says, ‘Did you see that? She was willing to sell her character for nine dollars. Nine dollars!’” After a little while, I spoke up. “Do you think that is what I am doing with the phone? Do you think I am selling my character?” And to be honest, I said this with a smirk. “I do,” John said. “The Bible talks about having a calloused heart. That’s when sin, after a period of time, has so deceived us we no longer care whether our thoughts and actions are right or wrong. Our hearts will go there easily, and often over what looks like little things—little white lies. All I am saying to you, as your friend, is, watch for this kind of thing.” Miller concludes the story saying: I went back to the store the next day. It cost me more than nine dollars, but I got my character back.
Do you have friends you will confront you in love for your own good? It’s important to have friends who know God’s heart. When confronted do you react smugly or humbly? We need to humble ourselves and listen to those who have our best interest at heart. Could it be that something came to mind as you read this story and there is something you need to do? Maybe now is the time to act in order to get your character back.
3 A house is built by wisdom and becomes strong through good sense. 4 Through knowledge its rooms are filled with all sorts of precious riches and valuables.
We are always tempted by riches of the world thinking that wealth brings happiness to a home. Yet there are many who are rich and still painfully suffer the trials of everyday life. King Solomon recognized it is one who builds their family and home by honest means, with a good conscience, a good name, and a respect of God that will find their rooms filled with the precious riches of life. For each family member will possession a wealth of wisdom, a love of God, and a hope for eternal life.
Donald Miller relates in his book, To Own a Dragon, an interesting story goes like this: I lived for a time with my friend and mentor John MacMurray, where the first rule is to always tell the truth. John and I were sitting in the family room one night when he asked about my new cell phone. “I got it free,” I told him. “How did you get it for free?” he asked. “Well, my other one broke, so I took it in to see if they could replace it. They had this new computer system at the store and they didn’t have their records. They didn’t know whether mine was still under warranty. It wasn’t, I knew, because it was more than a year old. The guy asked me about it, and I told him I didn’t know, but it was right around a year. Just a white lie, you know. Anyway, the phone was so messed up they replaced it with a newer model. So, I got a free phone.” “Did you ever see that movie The Family Man with Nicolas Cage?” John asked. “There’s this scene where Nicolas Cage walks into a store to get a cup of coffee. And Don Cheadle plays the guy working at the counter. There’s a girl in line before Nicolas Cage, and she’s buying something for ninety-nine cents, and she hands Cheadle a dollar. Cheadle takes nine dollars out of the till and counts it out, giving her way too much change. She sees that he is handing her way too much money, yet she picks it up and puts it in her pocket without saying a word. As she is walking out the door, Cheadle stops her to give her another chance. He asks her if there is anything else she needs. She shakes her head no and walks out.” “I see what you’re getting at, John,” I say. “Let me finish,” he says. “So Cheadle looks over at Nicolas Cage, and he says, ‘Did you see that? She was willing to sell her character for nine dollars. Nine dollars!’” After a little while, I spoke up. “Do you think that is what I am doing with the phone? Do you think I am selling my character?” And to be honest, I said this with a smirk. “I do,” John said. “The Bible talks about having a calloused heart. That’s when sin, after a period of time, has so deceived us we no longer care whether our thoughts and actions are right or wrong. Our hearts will go there easily, and often over what looks like little things—little white lies. All I am saying to you, as your friend, is, watch for this kind of thing.” Miller concludes the story saying: I went back to the store the next day. It cost me more than nine dollars, but I got my character back.
Do you have friends you will confront you in love for your own good? It’s important to have friends who know God’s heart. When confronted do you react smugly or humbly? We need to humble ourselves and listen to those who have our best interest at heart. Could it be that something came to mind as you read this story and there is something you need to do? Maybe now is the time to act in order to get your character back.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Fair and just
Proverbs 21:2
2 People may be right in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their heart.
Matthew Henry writes, “Note, 1. We are all apt to be partial in judging of ourselves and our own actions, and to think too favourably of our own character, as if there was nothing amiss in it: Every way of a man, even his by-way, is right in his own eyes. The proud heart is very ingenious in putting a fair face upon a foul matter, and in making that appear right to itself which is far from being so, to stop the mouth of conscience. 2. We are sure that the judgment of God concerning us is according to truth. Whatever our judgment is concerning ourselves, the Lord ponders the heart. God looks at the heart, and judges of men according to that, of their actions according to their principles and intentions; and his judgment of that is as exact as ours is of that which we ponder most, and more so; he weighs it in an unerring balance, ch. 16:2 (All the ways of a man [are] clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.)”
First I want to make a confession about myself. There are many times I make statements which I truly believe, but it does not make them right. I know I have been guilty of thinking I know the facts, thinking I know the truth, and thinking I have the right understanding only later to be convicted I was slanted or wrong in my thoughts. Sometimes it is a friend who gives reproof and I see my error. Often it is God who convicts my heart there are other ways to see and view the truth. God is the one who examines the hearts of people and He alone knows what is right. I need to listen more to God and listen less to myself.
With that said I want to share a quote I read yesterday that said, “Those who try to enforce tolerance upon others need to be careful or they themselves will be found intolerant.” I find that often to be true. People try to make something so right they go beyond what is right and make their objective wrong. I have seen it happen in racial issues where one group says things should be this way to be fair, but then they go on to establish benefits slanted towards their own desires. We all need to stop trying to figure out what is right and fair for us and instead determine what God believes is just and fair for all.
2 People may be right in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their heart.
Matthew Henry writes, “Note, 1. We are all apt to be partial in judging of ourselves and our own actions, and to think too favourably of our own character, as if there was nothing amiss in it: Every way of a man, even his by-way, is right in his own eyes. The proud heart is very ingenious in putting a fair face upon a foul matter, and in making that appear right to itself which is far from being so, to stop the mouth of conscience. 2. We are sure that the judgment of God concerning us is according to truth. Whatever our judgment is concerning ourselves, the Lord ponders the heart. God looks at the heart, and judges of men according to that, of their actions according to their principles and intentions; and his judgment of that is as exact as ours is of that which we ponder most, and more so; he weighs it in an unerring balance, ch. 16:2 (All the ways of a man [are] clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.)”
First I want to make a confession about myself. There are many times I make statements which I truly believe, but it does not make them right. I know I have been guilty of thinking I know the facts, thinking I know the truth, and thinking I have the right understanding only later to be convicted I was slanted or wrong in my thoughts. Sometimes it is a friend who gives reproof and I see my error. Often it is God who convicts my heart there are other ways to see and view the truth. God is the one who examines the hearts of people and He alone knows what is right. I need to listen more to God and listen less to myself.
With that said I want to share a quote I read yesterday that said, “Those who try to enforce tolerance upon others need to be careful or they themselves will be found intolerant.” I find that often to be true. People try to make something so right they go beyond what is right and make their objective wrong. I have seen it happen in racial issues where one group says things should be this way to be fair, but then they go on to establish benefits slanted towards their own desires. We all need to stop trying to figure out what is right and fair for us and instead determine what God believes is just and fair for all.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Following the crowd
Exodus 23:2 (NLT)
You must not follow the crowd in doing wrong.
This was a call from God to follow justice and not the crowd. The people were being reminded they should not be swayed by opinion, but instead seek the truth in a situation. They were to seek God’s wisdom and speak on their own accord.
Stuart Briscoe told the following story in his book, Everyday Discipleship for Ordinary People: One of my young colleagues was officiating at the funeral of a war veteran. The dead man's military friends wished to have a part in the service at the funeral home, so they requested the pastor to lead them down to the casket, stand with them for a solemn moment of remembrance, and then lead them out through the side door. This he proceeded to do, but unfortunately the effect was somewhat marred when he picked the wrong door. The result was that they marched with military precision into a broom closet, in full view of the mourners, and had to beat a hasty retreat covered with confusion.
It is so easy to follow the crowd, but it doesn’t mean we end up where we are supposed to be. This is why it is so important we have a solid foundation in our life from which we can make good choices.
You must not follow the crowd in doing wrong.
This was a call from God to follow justice and not the crowd. The people were being reminded they should not be swayed by opinion, but instead seek the truth in a situation. They were to seek God’s wisdom and speak on their own accord.
Stuart Briscoe told the following story in his book, Everyday Discipleship for Ordinary People: One of my young colleagues was officiating at the funeral of a war veteran. The dead man's military friends wished to have a part in the service at the funeral home, so they requested the pastor to lead them down to the casket, stand with them for a solemn moment of remembrance, and then lead them out through the side door. This he proceeded to do, but unfortunately the effect was somewhat marred when he picked the wrong door. The result was that they marched with military precision into a broom closet, in full view of the mourners, and had to beat a hasty retreat covered with confusion.
It is so easy to follow the crowd, but it doesn’t mean we end up where we are supposed to be. This is why it is so important we have a solid foundation in our life from which we can make good choices.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Contentment
Philippians 4:15-17 (NLT)
15 As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this. 16 Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once. 17 I don’t say this because I want a gift from you. Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness.
The apostle Paul gives thanks to the Philippians for the financial support they offered him when he traveled through their area speaking on the Good News of Jesus Christ. The Philippians didn’t stop with the original gift, but also sent a second gift to meet Paul’s financial needs. Many might make an excuse they have given once and why should they give again? But that was not the case with the Philippians who were generous from the heart. Paul then went on to tell them he was thanking them, not begging for more financial assistance, but for the kindness they had already displayed.
C. H. Spurgeon once said, “You say, “If I had a little more, I should be very satisfied.” You make a mistake. If you are not content with what you have, you would not be satisfied if it were doubled. Jerry Bridges, an evangelical Christian author wrote, “The contented person experiences the sufficiency of God’s provision for his needs and the sufficiency of God’s grace for his circumstances. He believes God will indeed meet all his material needs and that He will work in all his circumstances for his good. That is why Paul could say, “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” The godly person has found what the greedy or envious or discontented person always searches for but never finds. He has found satisfaction and rest in his soul.”
The very first temptation of the world was about contentment. Adam and Eve were tempted with being more than who they were and they fell into Satan’s trap of discontentment. When we are discouraged it is because discontentment tells us we are lacking something. Those who are content have gratitude in their hearts for what they have received and they bless others for their kindness. They don’t see themselves as one giving too much to God, nor do they see themselves as one who does not receive enough from God. Instead they are rich, for they know God will meet their needs and they need no more than what God provides.
15 As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this. 16 Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once. 17 I don’t say this because I want a gift from you. Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness.
The apostle Paul gives thanks to the Philippians for the financial support they offered him when he traveled through their area speaking on the Good News of Jesus Christ. The Philippians didn’t stop with the original gift, but also sent a second gift to meet Paul’s financial needs. Many might make an excuse they have given once and why should they give again? But that was not the case with the Philippians who were generous from the heart. Paul then went on to tell them he was thanking them, not begging for more financial assistance, but for the kindness they had already displayed.
C. H. Spurgeon once said, “You say, “If I had a little more, I should be very satisfied.” You make a mistake. If you are not content with what you have, you would not be satisfied if it were doubled. Jerry Bridges, an evangelical Christian author wrote, “The contented person experiences the sufficiency of God’s provision for his needs and the sufficiency of God’s grace for his circumstances. He believes God will indeed meet all his material needs and that He will work in all his circumstances for his good. That is why Paul could say, “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” The godly person has found what the greedy or envious or discontented person always searches for but never finds. He has found satisfaction and rest in his soul.”
The very first temptation of the world was about contentment. Adam and Eve were tempted with being more than who they were and they fell into Satan’s trap of discontentment. When we are discouraged it is because discontentment tells us we are lacking something. Those who are content have gratitude in their hearts for what they have received and they bless others for their kindness. They don’t see themselves as one giving too much to God, nor do they see themselves as one who does not receive enough from God. Instead they are rich, for they know God will meet their needs and they need no more than what God provides.
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