When I was a child we sang an old hymn called, " Make Me a Channel of Blessing ". Part of the song goes like this, Is your life a channel of blessing? Is the love of God flowing through you? Are you telling the lost of the Savior? Are you ready His service to do? Chorus: Make me a channel of blessing today, Make me a channel of blessing, I pray; My life possessing, my service blessing, Make me a channel of blessing today. Instead of a prayer that asks God to bless us, perhaps we should pray more that God will make us a blessing to others. Dear Father, make us a channel for living waters. Rivers Of Living Water In John 7:38 Jesus says, "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” What are these living waters that the Lord is referring to? He is talking about the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not a gift given so we can keep it to ourselves. The Holy Spirit is a gift given so that we can be a channel, a mechanism or a route, to share God's love with others. Blessed So We Can Bless Others From the very beginning in Genesis 12:2 when God speaks to Abram to leave Haran, God tells Abram that, " I will bless you and make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. " God doesn't bless Abram and then that's it. No, he blesses Abram so that Abram will be a blessing to others. Through Abram's line (Abraham) comes our greatest blessing, Jesus. We don't become Christians to " hide our light under a basket " (Matthew 5:15). We become Christians to love and serve others, to tell others about Christ, to show His love to others and we do this because we have the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives us the strength and the power to serve others when we think we can't. He gives us abilities that we don't have in ourselves alone. He pushes us to do more, be more and give more. As Christians we shouldn't be concerned about how much "me time" we have. We shouldn't be worried about "burn out". We shouldn't be worried that "people are using us". We should should give and continue to give, because that is our purpose on this Earth. We are blessed so that we can be a blessing. The Holy Spirit Is The Living Waters The living waters that Christ is talking about, the Holy Spirit, springs up into everlasting life (John 4:13). These living waters will give us comfort (John 14:26), the Holy Spirit teaches us and helps us remember God's word (John 14:26), He gives us power (Acts 1:8), He is our Helper (John 14:16), He is the Spirit of Truth (John 16:13), and He convicts us (John 16:8). Truly we are blessed . Acts 5:32 says that the Spirit is given to those who obey Him. We should be diligent in our obedience. Fruits Of The Spirit These blessings don't just stop with us. Paul tells us to walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16). Galatians 5:22-23 tells us that when we do this we produce fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These fruits are for us to use when we interact with others. We show people love; we show joy; we seem peaceful; we display patience; we aren't cruel, but kind; we are good to others; we are faithful, not just to God, but to those around us; and lastly, we display control over our actions and emotions when we deal with others. This is how we serve. This is how we show Christ to the world. The Holy Spirit Draws Man Water brings life, just like the Holy Spirit brings life. The Holy Spirit shows the world a different way of living, one lived for others, in humility and service to others. The Holy Spirit draws people to Christ. If our lives don't show the Holy Spirit, then how can we expect to draw anyone to Christ. The will of God, according to our Lord, is "that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life ."(John 6:40). When we live our lives according to God's will, living waters will flow out of our hearts. In this way, other people may behold the Son and believe. We Are God's People The Holy Spirit provides us with what we need to fulfill the will of God on earth. But we have to be willing to do it. We have to be obedient to our calling. 1 Corinthians 6:19 says that the Holy Spirit lives in us and because of this we are not our own. A price has been paid for us (1 Corinthians 7:23). 1 Peter 2:10 reminds us that "once you were not a people but now you are God's people." Let that sink in. We are God's people! We are sent to serve those still in darkness who don't know Him. The Holy Spirit Gives Us Power Maybe this seems impossible to you. Is it impossible to live a life with these fruits of the Spirit: to serve when we are tired and worn, to love when we are hated and despised, and to forgive when we receive no apologies? Truly, it would be impossible if not for the gift of living waters—the Holy Spirit. The Lord turned the meager offering of a few fish and loaves of bread into a feast for thousands. This same power lives in us. Through the working of the Holy Spirit He can also turn our meager offerings into blessings for those around us, we just have to believe and let Him work through us. In Romans 8:26, Paul says that the Holy Spirit helps us when we are weak. He continues to say that we don't know how to pray as we ought to, but the Holy Spirit actually intercedes for us on our behalf. The Holy Spirit even helps us to speak to God in the way we ought to! 1 Corinthians 1:27 reminds us that the foolish are used to shame the wise and the weak are used to shame the strong. As Paul says, " we glory in the Lord, not ourselves. " We pray that the Holy Spirit will truly make us a channel of blessing to others. Praise to God for the gift of His Spirit, a gift given to us, whose gifts are shared by us, so the world may believe.

~Like Pilate we are without excuse~ In Matthew 27 we are told that Pontius Pilate stood before Jesus to pass judgement. He had been brought to the governor of Judea by the Jewish high priest for trial. But right before Pilate passed judgement, he received a message from his wife. "While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.” Matthew 27: 19 God Himself had sent a warning to Pilate. What Pilate decided to do with Jesus would be totally on him. He would have no excuse. His wife had warned him. Used By God What this passage tells us is that God can use people who do not know Him to warn us that we are making a mistake. It tells us that God can use even our dreams to speak to us. How will God use you ? God gave Pilate's wife insight into things she knew nothing about. She called Jesus a "just Man", meaning someone morally upright and honest. Pilate lived in a culture that believed that dreams were often ways that the "gods" spoke to people. He would have been inclined to believe that the dream was significant and yet he chose to ignore his wife. Envy Brought Jesus To Pilate When Pilate stood before the crowd and offered them the choice to free a prisoner, between Barabbas and Jesus, the Bible tells us that Pilate knew why the Jews had brought Jesus to him. Because of envy! " For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy. " (Matthew 27: 18). Jesus had something the Pharisees wanted but did not have. Jesus had many followers and had performed many miracles - things the Pharisees could not do. That Just Man At the moment Pilate was about to offer a choice to the crowds, his wife approached with news of her dream. So Pilate knew that envy was the reason he had been handed over, not because of any real crime. And then his own wife told him that Jesus was a just Man. Pilate was without excuse. "When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.” Matthew 17:24 Pilate Blames Others Pilate attempted to put the blame on others. He symbolically washed his hands of the situation and actually repeated his wife's very words. He called Jesus a "just" Person. But Pilate was weak. Fearing a revolt if he did not give into the crowd's wishes to release Barabbas, Pilate gave into their demands. Power was really Pilate's god. Pilate gave Jesus over to be crucified. Crucifixion was a Roman punishment. In spite of his words, Pilate was NOT innocent of the blood of Jesus. Have We Been Warned? How can we relate to Pilate? Have we been warned by God not to do something? Maybe even warned by someone who is not a Christian. I have. In our heart of hearts don't we see the thing we want to do is wrong, sinful , but choose to ignore that voice that says stop. Don't we look for others to blame for our choices just as Pilate did? We are no more innocent than Pilate. But because of Christ's death and resurrection we have the grace of Christ's love and forgiveness. "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20 Enjoy this hymn, Dream of Pilate's Wife, here .

Many times today we are reminded by people that Jesus showed love to tax collectors and sinners by eating and drinking with them. This story is told in Mark 2: 15-22. In the story the Pharisees are horrified that Jesus would spend time in the company of such people. The Pharisees were a Jewish sect obsessed with keeping the law of Moses to the letter. Jesus condemned them in Matthew 23:23 for neglecting what was really important - justice, mercy and faithfulness. Calling Sinners To Repent When Jesus heard of their complaints, He explains why he keeps company with tax collectors and sinners. He says He has come to call sinners to repentance. They are the ones most in need of a physician. Today this story is often told to show that Jesus was "cool" with sinners. But in reality Jesus explained plainly that He came because these people needed healing and repentance from the sin they were living in. He came to change them! Table For All Dining together was culturally important in Jesus's time. Today we have lost a lot of the significance of eating with our family and friends. Jesus dined with people who were outcasts to show that God's family, His table, was open to all. This is what Jesus told the Pharisees in Luke 14:12-14, “When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. And you will be blessed...." A Heavenly Banquet Several times Jesus is described as eating meals with others. He tells us to " come and dine ". These were earthly representations of the heavenly banquet that we look forward to. Isaiah speaks about this coming banquet in Isaiah 25:6, " The Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined. " (ESV) This banquet is described in the most luxurious of terms. As Isaiah says it is made for all people. Not just the rich and the influential. Sinners Need A Doctor This story is so important it is told in three of the gospels. Besides Mark, it is related in Matthew 9: 10-17 and Luke 5: 29-39. In Romans 5:8 we are told by Paul that God loves sinners. This is not to imply that Jesus didn't come to save the Pharisees or that they were so righteous they didn't need to repent. What Jesus was saying was that the tax collectors and sinners knew they needed a doctor, they needed healing and realized it. The Pharisees were so self righteous that they did not see their need for repentance. Be Transformed Jesus didn't require the tax collectors and sinners to "clean up" first and become righteous. However, after they met Him He did. Their lives would be changed forever by their encounter with Christ. They would not be the same people who walked into that dinner. No, they would turn from their sin and become a holy and living sacrifice (Romans 12:1) by the power of the Holy Spirit, who would live in their hearts. True Righteousness In Matthew 9:13 Jesus quotes Hosea 6:6 to the Pharisees. " For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. " The Pharisees were convinced that God desired perfect adherence to the law; but in reality God wanted the Pharisees to do more than that. He wanted them to really know Him. He wanted them to desire the knowledge of God . If they did, they would realize that mercy was more important than ritual sacrifices. This was true righteousness, not self-righteousness. Blessed Who Hunger For Righteousness Jesus's mission on earth was not to tell the Pharisees what a great job they had done by following the law but to " seek and save the lost " (Luke 19:10) by His death and resurrection. Matthew 5:6 tells us that the blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. These tax collectors and sinners were hungry to know God. They followed Jesus according to Mark. They weren't standing on the sidelines criticizing everything He did like the Pharisees. Self Righteous Like The Pharisees Who would we call self-righteous today? The self-righteous today would be similar to the Pharisees. They would be people who forget that there's more to being righteous than following rules. Love. Mercy. Compassion. Kindness. These people often see themselves as righteous like the Pharisees. Jesus calls them " blind fools " (Matthew 23: 16-17). They see no need for God to change them. They believe they are "nice" people and they think that is enough. They are described in 2 Timothy 3:5 as " having a form of godliness ". They appear religious on the outside, but their heart has not been changed. Reach The Unlovable If we want to love like Christ, then we need to reach out to the unlovable. People who have been marginalized by society; drug addicts, the homeless, the lonely elderly, or criminals for example. We are called to love powerless people who the world does not value. Like the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) our love will be turned into action , not just vague well wishing, but doing for others. As Greg Grandchamp says, " Jesus was living who He was. " Who is it that you and I are living? Christ, or someone else? Come And Dine Jesus tells us in John 21:12 to " come and dine ." Let us feast at His table. He will show us our lives for what they really are and we will realize that we need healing. We all need a great physician. We all need to know God. We will, if we want to be healed like the tax collectors and sinners in Mark, follow Jesus. When we do, we won't stay the same. When we follow Him, we will become transformed into a " new man " , one who is " clothed with Christ ".

Cheap grace was a term used by the Lutheran theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer to describe the state of modern Christianity. In his book, The Cost of Discipleship, Bonhoeffer describes cheap grace like this, " Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance.... Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate." This type of preaching is very popular today. "Come as you are!" pastors say. They forget to tell you that you cannot stay that way. When we come to Christ we become slaves to righteousness, we give up being slaves to sin (Romans 6:16). Costly Grace Bonhoeffer goes on to describe costly grace this way, "Such grace is costly because it causes us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it cost a Man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life. It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner. Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son...." To become a disciple of Christ means to follow Him. We leave everything to follow His will for our lives just as His first disciples did. The evidence of our faith is our obedience and our faith causes us to be obedient! James tells us this in James 2: 20-24. He tells us that faith without works is dead. He says that a man is not justified by faith alone but by works. Transformed By Christ So how do we reconcile what James says with the words of Paul in Ephesians 2: 8-9 that tell us that we have been saved through faith and not works? Our salvation is the gift of God, the gift of faith, given to us by His grace and mercy. Grace is not given to us because of something that we did. It is an undeserved gift of God. The evidence of this salvation is our works. We do not become Christians to just stay the same and go our way. We become Christians and turn on backs on the world to follow Christ. When we are brought to a knowledge of Christ through faith, action is expected, even required, because how we live and what we do is evidence of our transformation by the Holy Spirit, through Jesus Christ. Cheap Grace Cheap grace says we only have to believe. Cheap grace doesn't require change. Cheap grace says I can live how I want to as long as I have faith. Cheap grace makes a mockery of Christ's sacrifice for us on the Cross. And yet, if I am an alcoholic and give up my alcohol or rich and give away all my money, then that is wonderful, but that does not save me. A saint without faith is no saint at all. When we step out in faith and come to Christ when He calls, that is our first act of obedience. If however we continue in disobedience to Jesus and His call on our lives, that is evidence that we do not have faith. The Bible plainly tells us that simple belief is not enough. In James 2:19 we are commended for having belief but we are also told that " even the demons believe and tremble." It is sad to consider how many people today believe they are Christians because they believe in God, but aren't because they haven't repented and turned to obedience. They are believers but not transformed believers. Perhaps you wonder how then, are people on their death beds who become Christians truly saved? They have done nothing. Like the thief on the cross they have no works. Our Lord knows the heart. He knows that if that person were to live they would have works. They would have been obedient. He also knows when someone is only saying the words in hopes of saving their skins. Again, God knows us like no other. How Obedient Are We? When Abraham was called to offer up Isaac as a sacrifice, he did not question God but just obeyed. His obedience was a direct result of his faith. What area of our lives are we holding back from God? How far does our obedience go? Do we tell God, in so many words, I will go this far but no farther in my obedience? Do we want "cheap grace" or do we understand how costly His grace really is? At the very least our obedience will cause us to be a stranger in the world . We will be unlike those around us and because of this we will be ridiculed and considered odd. Our obedience could cost us our families, it could cost us our jobs, it could cost us the "respect" of the world. Our love, our mercy and our forgiveness should be so different from the world that people have trouble understanding us. Why don't these people seek revenge? Why don't these people want to be powerful and important? Why don't these people just "go along to get along"? Everything about us should shout that we are followers of Christ. What Does Obedience Cost? Dietrich Bonhoeffer was killed by the Nazi's in a concentration camp in World War 2. His crime was speaking out against them. Bonhoeffer knew what obedience to God's will might cost him but that did not stop him. Costly grace calls us to follow Christ wherever that takes us, cheap grace requires nothing from us. What will obedience cost us? Will we sacrifice everything for our Lord?

As if the Sermon on the Mount was not difficult enough for many of us to fully grasp, our Lord gave concrete examples of what a life lived for Him would look like in the verses that follow in Matthew chapter five. In verses 38-42 He gives four examples of what a Christ centered life meant. An Eye For An Eye He begins by reminding His Jewish audience of the Old Testament command that punishment should be an " eye for an eye " (Matthew 5:38). Today this seems harsh, but this command was given to keep people from harsh and unfair punishment. The death penalty shouldn't be used for stealing as an example. Punishment should be appropriate to the crime, not excessive. But then Jesus says things have now changed . He begins by saying, " But I tell you.. .". More will be expected of His followers. Heaping Coals Of Fire Showing love and compassion to our enemies, will as Proverbs 25:21-23 tells us, " heap coals of fire on his head ". In other words, when we return evil with good, we make the evil doer feel guilt and shame. Those Christians who were martyred for their faith in the early days of the church walked into the Roman coliseum not cursing and screaming at their guards but praying for them. This is the kind of love that brings your enemies to their knees. This is love that only comes from God. Turn The Other Cheek The first example Jesus gives us is what we often hear referred to as " turning the other cheek " (Matthew 5:39) First a little background on the customs of the time. To strike someone on the right cheek was done with the back of the right hand. It was done to people of inferior social status. The left hand was not used, as it was considered "unclean". The left hand was used for certain "unclean" practices. So when someone turned the other cheek the only way to strike them was with your fist, this was reserved for those of equal social status. The person doing the striking now had a dilemma; strike with the "unclean" hand or strike the person again with the right hand implying equal status. Why Do We Offer The Other Cheek? The turning of the other cheek was not done so that a Christian could just be taken advantage of or treated like a doormat, but instead to show that the only way to be struck was to be treated as an equal. Even more important, was the command to love our enemy (Matthew 5:44). If our enemy struck us, then instead of seething with rage while offering the other cheek, we should be praying for them as we have been instructed to by Jesus. Why we don't respond with violence is the most important aspect of this command. Getting Slapped In The Face Today we may not have people coming up to us and slapping us very often, but metaphorically, an insult can feel like a "slap in the face" as the expression goes. How do we respond? Do we plot our revenge? Do we wait till we can go tell others of what the person did to us? Or instead, do we pray for that person. Do we offer forgiveness to them? My Tunic And My Cloak? The second example Jesus gives us is an enemy who sues you for your tunic. Jesus tells us to not just give the enemy your tunic but also your cloak (Matthew 5:40). Some understanding of clothing in Jesus's time helps us understand this. The cloak was an outer garment. The tunic was your inner garment. The tunic was sometimes sued for as collateral for a debt. If I gave you both of my garments in effect I would be naked. Someone who took you to court for your tunic probably would not want to be seen as forcing you to be naked. The shameful act of forcing someone to be naked would make your enemy look bad to say the least. Going The Extra Mile The third example was to go a second mile when we have been forced to go a mile (Matthew 5:41) . In Jesus's time Roman soldiers could require someone to carry something for them for a distance of a mile. Think of Simon of Cyrene who was required to carry Jesus's cross. They weren't allowed to force them to carry something further. By going the extra mile that person was potentially getting the Roman soldier in trouble. Shaming Our Enemies When someone who opposes us, an enemy as Jesus says, and requires us to do something against our will, how do we react? Do we fuss and fume, complain, tell others about our injustice or do we again, pray for our enemies, the ones who despitefully use us? Love would have us do more than requested. Doing good shames our enemies (Romans 12:20). Give To Those Who Ask Our last example is giving to someone who asks and not turning away someone who wants to borrow from you (Matthew 5:42). This requires us to depend entirely on God. Jesus doesn't say to determine the person's worthiness first. Jesus doesn't say to determine if they are an enemy or a friend before you give. Jesus says simply to give. The person who wants to borrow is not supposed to have a credit check done before we make the loan. We aren't supposed to get character references first. Overcome Evil With Good In these examples, Jesus shows us how to " overcome evil with good " (Romans 12:21). These aren't examples of weakness. They are examples of strength, examples of courage without violence. We are to show love with our actions . Jesus lets us know that He will be the one to judge evil. It is our duty on this earth to show love, compassion, and forgiveness to all. Jesus says He sends us into the world as sheep among wolves. Therefore we should be " wise as serpents and harmless as doves ." (Matthew 10:16). This passage gives concrete examples of how we can do this. Who Do We Love? In Matthew 5:46 Jesus makes one of the most profound statements. He says this, "For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? " Who do we love? How do we show that love?

Peter, the Lord's disciple, was a fisher of men. The Lord had much to teach Peter and Peter learned much about what it meant to truly love and follow Jesus. He grew in grace and knowledge. Are We Listening? At the transfiguration, Peter was anxious to ' do' something. In his fear Peter offered to build shelters for Jesus, Elijah and Moses. How odd that Peter would suggest something that, in effect, puts Jesus on equal terms with those great men of the past. (John 17: 1-9) Especially odd because Peter had previously told Jesus that he knew Jesus was the Son of God. (Matthew 16:16) The response of God was for them to listen to His Son. Aren't we much the same? We often want to do things for God, but in our hurry we fail to listen to Him. Walking On The Water Peter was the only disciple that came to Jesus on the water. Was Peter rather proud of his relationship with Jesus? Did he think it would be easy to walk out in the midst of the storm? As we all know, when his eyes left Jesus's that is when he sank. It must have been a little humiliating to Peter to realize that his faith was not as strong as he assumed. (Matthew 22: 14-23) Peter Denies Jesus At the last supper Peter tells Jesus that even if everyone else denies Him he will not. He tells Jesus he will lay down his life for Him. (John 13: 37-38) Still Peter is convinced that his faith is greater than everyone else's. Of course we know what happens. Peter wasn't alone in that courtyard. In fact another disciple was who got him into the courtyard. But Peter was the one who denied ever knowing Jesus. (John 18: 15-17) Peter would eventually lay down his life in martyrdom for Jesus, but only after he had learned some hard lessons about himself. Peter Recognizes Jesus After the resurrection we see Jesus telling the dejected disciples where to cast their net to catch fish. When they do, Peter recognizes Jesus and, in his excitement, jumps in and swims to shore to be met by his beloved Savior cooking breakfast for him. Enthusiastic as always, Peter recognizes His Savior and rushes to Him. (John 21: 1-14) Peter Becomes A Leader Following this, Jesus tells Peter his responsibility will be to tend, care for and provide spiritual food for Jesus's sheep (his followers). Peter assures Him of His love and then Jesus tells him how Peter will meet his death. (John 21: 15-19) Peter has grown in his faith. He has come to realize his dependency on Jesus. He is ready to become the leader that Jesus needed. The First To Preach After the coming of the Holy Spirit in Acts chapter 2 we see Peter boldly proclaiming the message of Christ. (Acts 2: 14-41) Through his words and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit 3,000 people believed that day. He was the first to proclaim the message of salvation to the people. Later in Acts 10 Peter is the first to preach to Gentiles. The Lord instructs him that the Good News is not just for the Jews but for the whole world. His obedience to the Lord opened the faith to everyone. Grow In Grace And Knowledge In 2 Peter 3: 17-18 Peter says this, "You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen." Peter reminds us to " grow in grace and knowledge" of Jesus. This was his life. A life that grew, matured, listened and obeyed with love. Not a life without failings, but a forgiven and Spirit filled life. Peter reminds us that God can use us in incredible ways if we keep our whole being focused on Jesus. And how He uses us brings Him the glory, not us.

Don't be deceived. Oh how easy it is to lie to yourself. James knows this. What a blessing to go to church and hear the Word. What a blessing to learn about Jesus. What good does it do anyone though if all we ever do is hear. If someone is a Christian what does that mean? Do we attend church once a week, listen to a sermon, sing some songs and go home, unchanged and unaffected in any real since by our worship? Obedience Better Than Sacrifice Many times in the Old Testament, God made it clear that worship in name only, sacrifices without a loving heart, were meaningless. Burnt offerings in the temple accomplished nothing if the supplicant did not have true faith. A faith that leads to obedience. As we learn in I Samuel 15: 22, " Obedience is better than sacrifice. " Do Not Deceive Yourself In the New Testament, Jesus reminds us of the same thing. How easy it is to go through the motions of worship without any true faith. True faith requires us to 'do' something. Biblical love is not just a warm fuzzy feeling toward our fellow man but Biblical love requires action. We must show people our love. James tells us in chapter one verse twenty-two , " But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." To know if we are deceived, we need to ask ourselves some honest questions. What do I do with what I hear and read on Sunday? If the answer is little or nothing then maybe I am lying to myself about what I say I am. God Speaks It is certainly important to hear what the Lord has to say. God speaks to us. We know this because the Scriptures tell us so. How He chooses to speak to us is up to Him. He speaks through the difficult times we have in our lives. "Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word. You are good, and do good; Teach me Your statutes." Psalm 119: 67-68 Most definitely the Lord speaks through His Word. The scriptures reveal much to us and continue to as we grow in faith. "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness," 2 Timothy 3: 16 God speaks to us in prayer, if we will listen. Be still and quiet before the Lord. Let Him bring to mind scriptures or songs that direct you. Hymns and songs of praise are another way the Lord speaks to us . Music moves the soul and praising God lets us feel His presence and hear His word to us. In 2 Chronicles 20:21 Jehoshaphat faces a huge army and what does he do? "...he appointed those who should sing to the Lord, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: “Praise the Lord, For His mercy endures forever.” God heard the praises and God destroyed Jehoshaphat's enemy. God speaks to us through those sent to minister to us. They may be a preacher, a teacher, a book, a devotional, or a Christian friend. So many examples of this exist but one is in Exodus 18 when Moses's father-in-law gives Moses some excellent, godly advice on how to take some of the burdens off of his shoulders. Sometimes God even uses people who are not Christians to tell us things we need to hear. In 2 Chronicles 35 we read about the faithful King Josiah who failed to ask God about whether he should attack Pharaoh Necho. The Pharaoh warned Josiah that he had no quarrel with him. He warned him not to attack, but Josiah didn't heed the warning and as a result he lost his life in an unnecessary conflict. I remember clearly ignoring a warning that I knew was from God, even though it came from someone who wasn't Christian. The end of that situation was not good. God also speaks to us through His creation and the majesty and awe that it creates in us. Because of this we have no excuse not to hear and know God. "For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, " Romans 1: 20 God speaks through dreams to some of us . There are many recent firsthand accounts of Muslim people becoming Christians after they had a dream about Jesus. The God who once spoke to Balaam through a donkey can certainly speak to us today in any way he chooses. When God Speaks, What Do We Do? So God speaks and we listen, but then what is our action? How do we respond to the words we have heard? Do we obey ? Jesus himself says in Luke 6: 46, "“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?" Is that how we hear God? Do we hear Him and then ignore what we just heard? Jesus repeats this idea again in Luke 8: 28 when He says that the people who hear and then do the word of God are His mother and brothers. So we don't just hear the word - we do it! We love, we forgive, and we serve . Don't deceive yourself!

A man and woman, very much in love, were married. Both cared for each other's needs, both sought forgiveness when they wronged one another, both were thoughtful and both sought only the best for the other. Slowly, very slowly, things began to change. Since each one knew that they were loved they started to take each other for granted. They grew a little lazy, a little sloppy, a little complacent about their relationship. They didn't always say "I love you", they didn't always apologize for small wrongs, they didn't always remember to be thoughtful. He thought, "She knows how much I love her." She thought, "He knows how much I care." Until one day they woke up and realized that they didn't anymore. That is what complacency can do to a human relationship. What does complacency actually mean? It means a feeling of smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one's achievements. It means you are so self-satisfied that you see no need to try harder. Complacent About God What does being complacent do to our relationship with God? The church at Laodicea in Revelation chapter 3 is an example of a complacent church. The people weren't bored with God, but then they weren't excited either. The people felt like they had it all. They were financially comfortable and in their world, money bought happiness, or so they thought. God tells them though that things are not the way they perceive them to be. He tells them they are " wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked ". God's solution is for them to be zealous and repent because if they don't, the ones that He loves, He " rebukes and chastens ". Are We Zealous? To be zealous is to show great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or objective. Are we enthusiastic in our pursuit of a better relationship with God? Do we show great energy in pursuing a holier life, a fruit filled life for Jesus? Are we desperate for Jesus ? How many people do you know that you could actually name that act like this? Without repentance we can't properly seek a holier life. Without repentance there can be no true zeal. In the story at the beginning of this post the young couple was an example of zealousness for each other. They wanted a good relationship, one that would last, and so they worked energetically toward that goal. As time passed though they became self-satisfied. They had a good marriage and it would always be that way, or so they thought. They forgot how much effort they put into each other in the beginning. Like the church at Laodicea they felt that they " had need of nothing. " In Deuteronomy 8: 11-14 it says, "Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery." and then in verses 17 and 18 we read that people may say to themselves that it was their own power and strength that produced this wealth. They are reminded that it is God who gives us the ability to produce wealth. The chapter continues to say that to forget God, to bow before other gods (sometimes we try to make ourselves god), has a price. Like nations in the past, if you continue in your disobedience and complacency, you will be destroyed. Focused On Self Complacency has a lot to do with self-satisfaction. Notice that self seems to come up a lot. We live in a society today totally focused on self. What makes me happy is the only important thing. That people notice my accomplishments. That people applaud me and my talents, m y money, and my abilities. Zephaniah 1: 12 says this about complacency, "At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish those who are complacent, who are like wine left on its dregs, who think, ‘The Lord will do nothing, either good or bad.’" (NIV) Is this us today? Have we so forgotten the Lord that we believe He will " do nothing "? In verse 17 we find out what happens to those who were complacent. Zephaniah tells us that Gd will bring a terrible distress on people. He says their blood will be poured out. The Complacency Of Fools Proverbs 1:32 (NIV) says very concisely, " the complacency of fools will destroy them ". Complacency leads to destruction. In Luke 12: 13-21 Jesus tells the parable of the rich fool. He has it all and he wants more. He is all about partying and enjoying his riches. But then... God tells him he will die and what will happen to all of his stuff? What does it profit him to have riches for himself but none of the riches of God? As Matthew 6: 19-21 points out, the treasures of Heaven are not destroyed by moth or rust and can't be stolen by thieves. We Need Zeal What we need is the fervor, the energy and excitement, the zeal of a young person in love. They don't care what other people think. They will get down on one knee in front of a crowd and vow their everlasting love. Would we make a vow like that to our King in front of a crowd? Do we seek our Lord with all that is within us? Is our one desire to serve Him faithfully? The spiritually poor, blind and naked church at Laodicea; money had become their God. They were so self-reliant they forgot the One who gave them life everlasting. They had become foolish . Only God provides our real needs. Jesus says they are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold and He will vomit them out. But to those believers who repent and are zealous He promises they will share in His kingdom. Today, as then, Christ calls us to repentance . He calls to a zealousness for things of His Father. He calls us to show the world what a life devoted to Christ really means.

After Elijah's great victory over the prophets of Baal, Queen Jezebel sought to kill him. Elijah ran from Queen Jezebel. Elijah, in a moment of weakness, seemed to have forgotten who it was that had given him the victory over the prophets of Baal. He forgot God was by his side and could give him victory even over Queen Jezebel. He felt hopeless. He found himself alone in a mountain cave. But in the midst of his fear and loneliness we read these words in I Kings 19: 11-12, " The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper." Elijah Had Given Up Hope Even the mighty prophet of God, Elijah, had low moments. He had come from a " mountain top experience with God ", as we often call those victorious moments in our faith journey, to cowering in a cave. Elijah looked for hope . But God had not left Elijah, Elijah had run from God. Even in those low times God was close to Elijah; so close Elijah could hear him in a whisper. Elijah was touched by the small word from God, so much so that he covered his face. God does not need to shout to show His power or his love. Remember he created the world with just a word. Elijah Was Not Alone Elijah proceeded to explain to God that he felt like he was the only one left who was loyal to God. How often do we feel like we are the only one who is faithful? God gently explained to Elijah that there are 7,000 others who had not bowed to Baal. Because we can't see faithful followers of Christ doesn't mean they aren't there. God told Elijah that he should anoint Elisha as a prophet in his place. Was it Elijah's fear that caused God to replace him? Run And Hide We can't run and hide from God. He seeks His lost sheep and He will find us. He speaks to our hearts, lovingly and gently. He doesn't shout. He wants us to listen for Him. Each of us is important to Him beyond measure. Listen To The Small Voice In today's world there is noise everywhere. It truly seems as though the world is trying to drown out that still, small voice that speaks to us. Find time in your daily routine to just be still and listen to that gentle whisper. Turn off the noise and tune into the words that God is whispering to you. God had a job for Elijah and He has a job for us. Listen intently to the sound of soft stillness where God teaches us. Listen to the small voice. Let His words comfort you in the midst of loneliness and despair; let them guide you and give you a hope for tomorrow.

I attended the funeral today of a godly woman who served her church for decades. It was obvious she had touched many lives for the good. As I was listening to the service I kept noticing one of the stained glass windows in the church of a clam shell, perhaps it was symbolic of baptism, but I was reminded of Matthew 13: 45-46. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it." The Pearl Of Great Price What is Jesus teaching us in this parable? Something the woman, who served her church and others, for so long knew well, that possessing heaven is worth whatever it takes. Heaven is more valuable than any material possession we could possibly own. The cost was high for us to attain Heaven. For God, the cost was the death of His Son on the cross. The cost was Jesus bearing the sins of the world for us so that we could one day live with Him in Heaven. Seek The Kingdom Of God The merchant in Matthew 13 was seeking, actively looking for valuable, beautiful pearls. Are we seeking God? When we cry out to God He will hear! When we seek God earnestly we will find Him according to Deuteronomy 4: 29. In Luke 12: 31 Jesus tells us to " seek the kingdom of God ". Acts 17: 27 it says that He is not far from each of us. That which we seek is not far. Sometimes we feel God is so far from us but He isn't. How earnestly do we seek to find Him? And when we find Him do we recognize His value? Sadly some don't seek Him at all. Psalm 10: 4 says the wicked don't seek him. It says in their pride they think there is no God. Most people, even people who never attend church or practice Christianity, will say they are probably going to Heaven. People know it's the sort of place that you want to go to when you die. Few people would proudly proclaim that they are going to the "other" place. But have these people truly sought God? Have they really searched for the pearl of great price or are they just pursuing a hope, wishfully thinking? The man who possessed the beautiful pearl of great price had something immeasurably valuable and he knew it. He had seriously searched for it. It was not to be taken for granted. It was something that few others had. Something that he would not want to lose. Something he had to give up a lot to obtain. What Will We Give Up? What would you and I be willing to give up to attain Heaven? Would we give up selfish seeking after our own will? Would we give up family or friends if God asked us to? Would we give up our lack of forgiveness? Would we give up our unloving spirit? "Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ" Philippians 3: 8 Do we count all things loss to obtain the knowledge of Christ, to obtain Heaven? Paul says he counts the things he has lost as rubbish, garbage, in his eyes compared to the value and worth of Christ. And when finally we come to the end of our journey, the end of our life, and we see our blessed Savior in Heaven , then will we praise God for what we gave up for the possession of Heaven. We know that whatever we had to give up, God's Son gave up much more. He paid the highest price. What, then, is our loss compared to our gain of eternal life through Christ? Lift Your Eyes Toward Heaven The dear soul whose funeral I was at today had a favorite hymn and a small part of it says this, "Lift your eyes toward heaven and believe the One who holds eternity And when you don't understand the purpose of His plan In the presence of the King, bow the knee" We all need to lift our eyes toward Heaven, toward the pearl of great price, and bow the knee. The Pearl of Great Price - Carol Plafcan The pearl of great price I so longed to see. My Savior had promised With Him I would be. Worth more than gold, Worth all t'was lost, Was the beautiful pearl, Bought with great cost. With Him in Heaven, My one true home. I worship before The one on the throne. I bow the knee And give Him praise, Thanksgiving for The One who saves!

Charles Spurgeon wrote that at the age of 15, "... that trumpet of conviction, which aroused my soul to think of eternal things, sounded a resurrection note to all my sins; and, oh, how they rose up in multitudes more countless than the sands of the sea!" (C. H. Spurgeon Autobiography:1 The Early Years [Banner of Truth]). This great conviction that Spurgeon felt at such a young age led to his conversion and eventually to his becoming one of the greatest evangelists of his time. Convicted By The Holy Spirit John 16:8 says that when the Holy Spirit comes, He will convict the world of sin. Conviction here does not mean just knowing what is right or wrong. Conviction doesn't mean feeling bad about what you have done. The Greek word for convict is 'elencho,' which means "to convince someone of the truth; to reprove; to accuse, refute, or cross-examine a witness." The Holy Spirit is like a lawyer who convinces a jury what is true. He quite literally accuses us, refutes our excuses, and reproves us, meaning He reprimands us and makes us question our actions by showing the truth to us. Absolute Truth What is the truth? Today, many say there are no absolute truths. They claim that tolerance replaces truth. Oddly, the only absolute truth they believe in is that we must all be tolerant of everything a person decides to do. They believe that no one's truth is more valid than someone else's. Supposedly, they believe that if I think rape or incest is okay, then it is truly okay for me. How absurd! Our very nature, inside our souls, lets us know when things are not right. Universally, people believe that starvation, pain, and evil are not good. We don't each have individual truths. We recognize real truth even if we don't admit it. Jesus Is The Truth In John 14:6, Jesus says quite plainly that He IS the truth, He IS the life, and He IS the way to the Father. He says that the path ONLY goes through Him. There is no other way, no other life, no other truth that leads to God but Him. We Need A Savior The truth is that we need Jesus. We need a Savior. When we see and recognize our need for Him, we can be open to receive our Lord's grace. His unmerited forgiveness can become ours. Knowledge of sin is not the same as conviction of sin. Knowledge of sin doesn't change us; conviction does. Are We Selling Jesus? Too often in our modern churches, we are 'sold' Jesus—the gentle, loving Jesus who never talks about hell, who forgives without repentance and supposedly promises us a wealthier life in this world. When I asked Google to tell me the best way to sell a product, it was a little unsettling. Doesn't the following sound like many of our modern churches' 'pitch,' so to speak? Highlight the product's benefits Create a sense of urgency Use emotional appeals Coming To Christ We don't, or shouldn't, come to Christ because we want an emotional crutch. We shouldn't come to Jesus because we want a better, easier life. We don't come to Him because those around us are coming to Him. We come to Him because the Holy Spirit stirs us and convicts us of our great need for a Savior. We sorrow for the sin that separates us from God. The Life We Should Be Living We need to be saved because we are slaves to sin. We are condemned except for God's love and mercy. As Paul tells us in Ephesians 2: 4-5, "But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)," Ephesians 2:5 I give thanks that God's mercy and love has made me alive with Christ. To live with Christ means to have eternal life with Him forever. We need to be saved to live the life we were always supposed to live—a life of love and service to others. Live Righteously Paul continues in verse 21 and says, "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." God wants us to live a righteous life, one that is pleasing to Him. The only way we can do this is through Christ. We have no righteousness. John 17:19 says we are justified by imputed righteousness. Imputed righteousness means we have been justified by the obedience and righteousness of Christ, who was put to death on a cross for us. We can't minimize our sin. We can't think of it as just some troubling misbehavior. Our sin is the cause of the death of the Son of God on the cross. With Jesus we can live a purposeful life. Live Abundantly Jesus says that He came so we could have an abundant life. Too often, you and I think abundant refers to money or things, but that is not what Jesus means. The word abundant in Greek is 'perisson,' which means more than you expect, beyond measure. A life lived for Christ is one that has meaning, purpose, joy, and is eternal. The abundance that we experience is a spiritual abundance, not an abundance of things. Sharing Jesus According to 2 Corinthians 5:18, "He has committed to us the message of reconciliation." Our task on earth is to share the good news that has been given to us with others. We are to be a light to the nations. When we share this news, the Holy Spirit will convict those who hear of the truth of Christ. We don't just bring a message to them of a way to a happier life; no, we bring a message that Christ's grace freely pardons those who believe in Him from the eternal punishment for their sins. Responding To The Holy Spirit The response to the conviction of the Holy Spirit should be to see our need for a Savior and turn to Him. We come to Christ freely, of our own accord, sensing our unworthiness for such a great love that would send God's only Son to die for us. Thank you, God, for such a priceless gift.

Have you ever worked so hard to achieve a goal only to have it blow up in your face? You got that promotion only to realize that now you work twice as many hours per week. You married that great girl or guy and found out they weren't so great. You got that degree you have been wanting only to find out that there's almost no jobs available. These are examples of laboring in vain. “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.” Psalm 127:1. When we labor in vain it means that all of our efforts to do whatever we are doing will be fruitless because God has not built our house. We have not allowed the Lord to direct our paths. Unless The Lord Builds The House But how does the Lord build a house? This is obviously not referring to a literal house but a figurative one. The word house in Hebrew is, 'bayit', which has a whole range of meanings, from a literal house, to a home, to a state of mind. Creation itself is a house built by the creator. To have the life that God has planned for us we have to follow the Lord's direction and have His protection. Unless the Lord builds the house, our plans are for nothing. The Lord Watches Over Us Psalm 127:1 also talks about keeping what we already have. The guard that watches over our lives, and even our country, has to be God or we guard things in vain. It is God who protects us. It is God who guards us. The successes we have in our lives, building or guarding, are ultimately meaningless without God. "What does it profit a man," Jesus asks, "if he gains the whole world but loses his soul?" (Mark 8:36). A Life Without God Building a life without God is a frightening thing to think of. A marriage without God, children who don't serve God or careers without God, may succeed in a worldly way but are all destined to fail. True success is living a life that pleases the Father and fulfills His purpose for us, starting with acknowledging Him as Savior and Lord. Jesus is our perfect example of success. In John 17:4 when He prays to the Father, He says that He has "finished the work which you have given Me to do." Building In Vain There are signs that many young people today are building in vain. So many young people have abandoned the Christian faith or never had it to begin with. In 2019 Pew Research said that of older Americans over 80% say they are Christians while of those in their 20's, only about half claim to be Christians. Today's young people suffer staggering rates of depression and suicide. The rates seem to rise every year. If these statistics are true, it seems that a lot of young people may be laboring in vain to build their lives. The builders of the Tower of Babel are examples of people who labored in vain. The Tower was an example of a seemingly wonderous structure. What could be so bad about building a tower that reaches to the Heavens? But God was not in it (Genesis 11) and so the nations were scattered. But what does it look like to build with God's direction? Labor That Is Not In Vain Noah built an ark for a rain that seemed to never come and went on to save humans and animals from total destruction. The reason is because God was in it. It was with His plan and direction that the ark was built (Genesis 6-8). Eric Liddell won an Olympic Medal in 1924 in running, but gave everything up to be a missionary in China where he would eventually die. This was God's plan for Eric Liddell's life. God absolutely has a plan for each of us. Jeremiah 1:5 tells us that even before Jeremiah was formed in the womb he was set apart as a prophet by God. David says in Psalm 139:16 that God had ordained all of his days before he was even born. Jeremiah was not set apart as a king like David, and David was not set apart as a prophet. Both tasks are honorable and in both, God could be served; but both Jeremiah and David had specific tasks that God had ordained for them. Paul encourages us in 1 Corinthians 15:58 when he says that we should always abound in the work of the Lord. Abound means, “being abundant or plentiful, going beyond, or producing or existing in large quantities.” The reason is because that labor "is not in vain in the Lord." If our work is directed by God then it will not be in vain. Our path in life needs direction from God. In Proverbs 3:33 we are told that the home of the just is blessed by God. A blessed home is a life built by God and not by ourselves. Wisdom Builds Our House Psalm 24:3 speaks of wisdom and says that "by wisdom a house is built." Proverbs 9:10 says that wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord. To begin building our house, our lives, and not to build in vain, we need to acknowledge that we need the wisdom of God. We need to have a proper fear of the Lord. We have to build and work diligently, but with the direction of God. As 2 Timothy 2:15 says, "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." We may have some wonderful plans for our life, but if God has another plan for our life, then ours will not be successful. Our success is not measured in the ways the world measures success. We won't necessarily be wealthy. We won't necessarily lead a life of ease. Our success is different. God expects our success will be for His Kingdom. We have to pray and study the word to understand God's will. We need to pray for wisdom. We need to actively seek His guidance. If we don't, we will be building in vain. God Directs Our Paths Finally, in Proverbs 3:6 Solomon explains that if we acknowledge God in everything we do, "He shall direct your paths". Acknowledging God means submitting your whole life to Him, recognizing who He is and His authority over us. We trust God, knowing that He knows what is ultimately the best for us because He loves us, and He is always faithful and true. Who will direct your paths? Who will build your house? As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord! Amen and Hallelujah! Enjoy the beautiful song, If the Lord Builds the House, by Hope Darst