Bow to Truth

Do you like to hear the truth? At what point will you bow down to God? When will you relinquish your desire to be in control? Will only happen when you have grown old and are nearing the end of your days? Will it be when you have experienced a disastrous event?

Truth can be a hard reality. We often go about our daily lives ignoring the hard truth. We live in a fantasy we think we control. Our desire for everything to be perfect causes us to live fake lives, pretending everything is good. We try to sweep the unpleasant reality under the rug.

The unpleasant reality I’m talking about is not what the news blasts at us. No, it is the fact that we are not in control. The fact that we allow others to control us. They tell us what we should think. They tell us what clothes we should buy. They tell us how we should like and dislike. All of this causes us to develop biases…and we deny it.

There is one truth that all of us will have to face one day. Everyone will bow before God. We can deny it all we want. However, we are told over and over and over in the Bible that it will happen. Our choice is simple. We can bow before him during this life, learning to walk in his ways, and follow Jesus. Or we can deny it, perhaps even going to our grave denying it, and bow to him when he comes to judge the world. The second choice ends with us being sent to eternal torment. The first choice puts in his presence for an eternity of joy.

We have a choice to believe the truth or deny it. But one day we will see the truth face-to-face. At that point, there will be no denying it. In fact, we will be incapable of denying it. Our choice is simple yet made difficult by the pressures of the world. We need to make the hard choice and choose God over the world.

I pray we all seek to know the truth. I pray we know that we will all bow down the Lord. I pray we make the choice to bow before him now and choose an eternal life of joy over an eternal life of torment. Seek the truth. Bow before God today. Choose eternal life with God.

Psalm 22:27-28

All the ends of the earth shall remember 

and turn to the Lord; 

and all the families of the nations 

shall worship before him.

For dominion belongs to the Lord,

and he rules over the nations.

Limitless

Have you given much thought to names? If you could change your name to anything, what would it be? Would it be a name that has a meaning? Would it be a name you especially like. Would it be a name of someone in your family history?

We don’t normally get much say in what our name is. We are named by our parents and that is that. When we become parents, we spend time thinking about what to name our children. Often, we choose names we like or are popular. We don’t often think about the meaning of the name.

In the case of Abram and Sarai, God renamed them to Abraham and Sarah. God changed Abraham’s name because he was going to be the ancestor of a multitude of nations (Genesis 17:5). He changed Sarah’s name because kings would come from her offspring. God was going to do something amazing through the two of them, something they could not fathom.

Abraham was a shepherd. He was faithful to God and left his home country to travel to a new one God promised to give his descendants. Sarah was also faithful and went along with Abraham to fulfill God’s promise. But I’m sure both of them were wondering how this would happen. Perhaps there were doubts. After all, when God made his promise, Abraham was ninety-nine years old, and Sarah was eighty-nine years old.

As we grow older, we begin to settle into the limitations of this world. We begin to realize we are not as quick, strong, or flexible as we were when we were young. Our bodies ache. Our memory may not be as good as it used to be. We cast aside any notion of doing things we did when we were young. Yet, God can do anything through us he decides to do. Our part is to be willing and to believe God can do it.

I pray we all are willing to be used by God. I pray we believe God can do anything he wants. I pray each one of us will submit to God’s plan and understand he is limitless. Submit to God’s plan. Be willing to be used by him. Know God is limitless. Trust his promises.

Genesis 17:15-16 God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. I will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall give rise to nations; kings of peoples shall come from her.”

Walk Before the Lord

What would you do for a million dollars? What if the amount of money was so large you could not count it? Would you do anything, even if it was offensive to you? Is there anything you would not do? How do you respond to God’s promises when he just wants you to obey?

Playing the hypothetical game with money can be fun. Many of us have planned how we would spend the money if we won the lottery. It’s a nice little imagination game than can capture our attention for a while. Then we realize it will never happen, especially if we don’t play the lottery.

But God’s promises are a horse of a different color. They stand out. We know he keep his promises. Yet, we often don’t take him up on them. Why? We don’t want to wait. We want it all immediately, which is funny when we think about it, because we must wait for lots of things. We wait nine months for a child to be born. We wait for school to be out for the summer. We wait in long check out lines when Christmas shopping.

When we realize it is our impatience and lack of faith in God’s promises that stops us from taking him up on his promises, is the time we start the process of taking hold of his promises. It is no different than being an addict. Only when we realize and admit our problem can we take steps to be better. So, we must come to grips with our impatience and lack of faith to start the process of building our faith and taking God up on his promises.

Just as God promised Abraham that his offspring would be as numerous as the stars and made it so, God’s promises are valid for us today. Just Abraham walked before the Lord, we must walk before him as well. Just as Abraham continued to believe in God, we must continue to believe in him. It is our acceptance of God’s promises and our faith in him to fulfill them that allows us to see his promises come true in our lives.

I pray we all believe God’s promises. I pray we walk before him in faith. I pray each one of us will build our faith and take God up on his promises, trusting him to fulfill them. Walk before God. Build your faith. Trust in God’s promises. Trust God to fulfill his promises. Live the abundant life.

Genesis 17:1-2 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless. And I will make my covenant between me and you, and will make you exceedingly numerous.”

The Time is Fulfilled

How do you know it is the right time? Is there simply a feeling about it? Is it the right time because your planning has worked out? Do you know because someone told you? Or did you recognize it yourself? Have you paid attention to God’s timing?

Determining the right time can be a challenge. There are seasons in our lives in which timing can be critical. There are others when timing doesn’t seem to play much of a role. Yet, we can all relate to having the right timing for some things.

Timing may be key when proposing marriage. We hear of “perfect timing” in a variety of sports situations. Even passing another vehicle on the highway requires timing. We may say that being in the right place at the right time makes all the difference. We often don’t think about it, but timing plays a key role in our lives.

Jesus said the time is fulfilled when He starts His ministry. He said the kingdom of God had come near. What does that mean? First, it means that God stepped into the world he created. Second, as we find out a little later in Jesus’ ministry, God has provided a way for our reconciliation with him.

Jesus goes on to say that we are to repent and believe in the good news. He is giving us the instructions we need to come into a right relationship with God. Repenting and believing in Jesus is how we are forgiven and brought into good standing before God.

I pray we all seek a right relationship with God. I pray we accept reconciliation with God. I pray each one of us knows God’s timing is perfect, we repent, and we believe in Jesus Christ. Seek a right relationship with God. Be reconciled. Recognize God’s timing. Hear the good news. Repent and believe.

Mark 1:14-15 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”

Heaven Rejoices

Many of us have been baptized, but how many of us remember our baptism? Depending on your religious background, we may have been baptized as infants, young children, young adults, or even as an older adult. So, remembering it may be near impossible.

For those who were baptized as infants, they may have gone through confirmation classes and been confirmed in a church in their early teens. If so, they may remember those classes and the experience of being confirmed. If you went through that, how was that experience?

I grew up in a tradition in which a person was not baptized until they were old enough to make the decision on their own. We moved between my eighth grade and freshman year in school, and we fell away from the church. Finally, I returned to the church with my own family and was baptized at thirty-seven years old. I can say that I felt refreshed and lighter after being baptized, but there was no visible tearing of the heavens.

When Jesus was baptized, there was a tearing of the heavens. That is hard for us to imagine. Our minds may think of a science fiction scene that shows the sky being torn. Though it is recorded the Spirit descended like a dove, it does not mean it was in the form of a dove. A dove descends softly, with its wings outspread, and lands softly on the branch. In this case, I imagine the Spirit becoming one with Jesus, perhaps dissolving into Him. The Father speaks. I imagine a commanding, booming voice that declares who Jesus is.

Our baptism may not be as dramatic nor rending the heavens in the same way Jesus’ baptism was. Yet, our baptism does create joy in heaven. We are told the angels in heave rejoice when one lost soul repents and comes to be a follower of Christ (Luke 15:10). Therefore, even if we do not see or hear it, the heavenly host rejoices over us.

I pray we all decide to be followers of Jesus. I pray we know heaven rejoices over us. I pray each one of us who have not been baptized will decide to be baptized to show our commitment to Jesus. Know you are loved by God. Know that heaven rejoices for you. Become a follower of Jesus. God will be well pleased with you.

Mark 1:9-11 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”

Once For All

How good are you at forgiving? Do you forgive others when they do something that offends you? Do you forgive yourself when you do something you know is wrong? Will you accept forgiveness from others? Do you know that Christ died to cover all sins for all time?

Forgiving others can be difficult. If someone slanders us, we may be able to prove them wrong and move on. If they physically injure us, we may heal and put the injury behind us. But forgiving the person for doing these things to us may take a long time to do.

Forgiving ourselves can be even more difficult. There are sins we live with that only we know about. We remember things we did wrong years ago, perhaps as children, and may continue to beat ourselves up about them. We can be held prisoner by these memories, continually trying to make for them. We may even impose the punishment of ourselves on others unknowingly.

I have recently participated in an exercise to demonstrate how our sins are forgiven. It is a simple exercise. You write a sin on a small piece of flash paper. You have a lit candle available. You light the flash paper with the candle and quickly toss it into the air. The flash paper burns very quickly, leaving no smoke and no ash. It simply disappears without a trace.

Jesus died a horrible death on the cross to do the same for our sins. We confess them, ask for forgiveness, and His suffering eliminates them. His righteousness covers our unrighteousness. His perfection covers our imperfection. His suffering was endured so that we could go to God without fear, without reservation, and without hesitation. Jesus gave Himself up so that we can be reconciled with God.

I pray we all know that Jesus died for our sins. I pray we accept forgiveness from Jesus. I pray each one of us will forgive ourselves, knowing that God forgives us when we confess our sins and ask for forgiveness. Christ died for you. He died so your sins would be forgiven. Learn to forgive others. Learn to forgive yourself. Ask God to help you forgive.

1 Peter 3:18a For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God.

Live Your Best Life

Where are you at in life? Are you looking for something but do not know what it is? Do you feel as though you are drifting along without direction? Do you desire to know the path you should travel? Are longing to know you are loved? Are you willing to humble yourself before God?

Many people do not know their place in this world. They continue to wonder from place to place, job to job, and relationship to relationship trying to discover where they belong. They are seeking something they cannot find. Too often, they are looking in the wrong places.

If we truly want direction in our life, we need to turn to God. When we humble ourselves before him, he instructs us along our way. God provides the guidance we need by granting us peace with one choice above others. When we seek him through prayer regularly, we become attuned to his guidance. Our spirit becomes in sync with his Holy Spirit.

God is ready to instruct us. He is ready to guide us to the path that will be best for us. Why? God loves us with a love far more powerful than anyone else can. He is faithful to us when we are unfaithful to him. He continues to care for us regardless of what we do. But it is only when we obey him and submit to him that we will live our best life.

I pray we all turn to God for guidance. I pray we listen for and follow God’s instruction. I pray each one of us will humble ourselves before God, honoring his covenant and obeying his commands. Humble yourself before God. Obey his commands. Know that God loves you. Know that God is always faithful. Live your best life.

Psalm 25:8-10

Good and upright is the Lord; 

therefore he instructs sinners in the way. 

He leads the humble in what is right, 

and teaches the humble his way. 

All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, 

for those who keep his covenant and his decrees.

Heart and Soul

Do you like music? Do you like to sing? What is your favorite genre of music? Do you like multiple genre’s? Have you ever had a song stuck in your head that kept playing over and over all day long? Would you sing a Psalm to God all day if you knew the tune?

Music moves people. Some songs bring us to tears of sadness. Others lift our spirits with joy and celebration. Some songs tell stories, even true stories. Others are just fun bops. Many of the hymns we sing on Sunday’s are based on Scripture and we can sing those all day long.

The hymn “Unto Thee O Lord” is based on today’s passage. As originally written by Charles Monroe, it has an uplifting tune and written with a two-part harmony. Though we may not be able to sing the two-part harmony on our own, we can hear it in our minds. Singing this Psalm will not only lift our spirits, but it is also pleasing to God.

The Israelites and the early church sang the Psalms as worship music. We have largely lost that tradition. Even if we prefer the “old hymns,” which were also new and contemporary when initially written, we are not singing the oldest of hymns. There is a plethora of contemporary Christian music today. Some of us like it and some do not. But what really matters? We are singing praises to God. It is a matter of the heart and soul.

I pray we all sing from the heart to God. I pray we sing Psalms that can lift our spirits. I pray each one of us allow the music to touch our soul while also giving thanks to God for his rich blessings. Sing the Psalms. Lift up your spirit. Give God praise. Thank God for his blessings. Be moved by music.

Psalm 25:1-2

To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. 

O my God, in you I trust; 

do not let me be put to shame; 

do not let my enemies exult over me.

Keep Your Word

Have you signed a contract? Was it a contract to borrow money to purchase a car? Was it a contract to purchase a house? Was it a contract you signed as you were hired into a new job? Did you read the contract carefully? Or did you glance over it and sign it?

Contracts today contain a lot of legalese. Lawyers have attempted to draft them to cover every possible scenario. They have attempted to close all loopholes. In all their attempts to cover every base and close all loopholes, they have often included other loopholes unintentionally.

God does not go to such an extent. He makes a covenant with us and keeps it simple. His covenant to never flood the entire earth again was simple. The rainbow is the sign of it. For those who are of a scientific mindset, they will say this is ridiculous. The fine water droplets in the air reflect the sun and make the rainbow. So, why believe God did this?

The first thing we must do to answer this question is go back and read what happened leading up to the flood. From the beginning of creation until the flood, there had never been rain. There was a dew that watered the earth. We still have the dew, but not to the extent it occurred prior to the flood. God sent the rain to cause the flood, which was the first time any human had seen it rain.

God’s covenants are simple with no loopholes. They are based on God and us keeping our word. In the case of the first covenant God made with people, it is solely God who makes the promise. Nothing is required of us. We should adopt keeping our word in the same way God keeps his.

I pray we all know God’s covenants with us. I pray we take him at his word. I pray each one of us will follow God’s example, keeping our word and honoring the covenants we make. Know God’s covenants. Trust him to keep his word. Follow God’s example. Keep your word.

Genesis 9:17 God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.”

Promises Kept

Do you long for promises to be made and fulfilled? Are you longing for someone who will keep their word? Have you had someone break a big promise? Have you been part of a group who had a promise made to them? Do you know God makes and keeps his promises?

Broken promises can tear us apart. Especially if those promises are made to us as children. Any promise that is not kept creates distrust. We start being skeptical about the things a person says, if they have broken a promise. We may even have our hearts broken by a broken promise.

Because broken promises can be devastating, parents must be careful about making promises. They must ensure they can keep the promise they make. Stating we will do something cannot easily be cast aside. For by stating we will, we are making a promise. If we do not treat it as a promise, we do not put much stock in our own word.

Yet, God makes promises and keeps them. We see a promise God made in today’s Scripture, one that he has continued to keep throughout history. One that he will continue to keep until the end of time. We can count on it. After all, he has kept that promise for thousands of years.

As we see God has kept this promise, we can count on him to keep all his promises. As we look through Scripture, we see many promises God has made and kept. God continues to make promises to us today. He wants us to take him up on his promises, trusting him, and living in those promises.

I pray we all read God’s promises. I pray we trust his promises. I pray each one of us will take God up on his promises and live in them by trusting God in all we do. Read God’s promises. Trust in God’s promises. Take God up on his promises. Living in God’s promises.Genesis

9:8-11 Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, “As for me, I am establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you, and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the domestic animals, and every animal of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark. I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.”