Tag Archive | Faith

Better watch who you let scratch that itch!

Question: Some members of our new Bible study group really like that our teacher only teaches us positive and happy lessons. Should I be concerned we’re not being taught the other lessons in the Bible?

Answer: Yes. While it’s natural that most people prefer to hear things that are easier to accept or things that only make them happy, Believers must learn to listen to the entire content of God’s Holy Word. And just as Jesus Christ directed His disciples to do as part of The Great Commission, we are to study the Word to receive all of God’s teachings.

Matthew 28:19-20 quotes Jesus as saying to His disciples, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you…” (NKJV) Jesus wants us to know all the teachings of the scriptures He has left for us!

It’s important that we understand the whole of God’s Word so that we won’t be surprised or confused when things still go wrong or make us unhappy in our lives. By learning the entirety of God’s Word, we’ll know that bad things can and probably will happen to us even after we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior. We’ll learn that we still sin. That’s why we need to accept Jesus as our Savior. Since we are not perfect, we cannot save ourselves and make ourselves worthy to enter Heaven.

Many people don’t want to learn the entirety of God’s Word because then they’ll have to face the fact the Bible teaches us we must repent of our sins! We read that we must turn from our sinful ways in order to live a life that is pleasing to God. And the truth is, most people don’t want to stop their sinning. Therefore, they don’t want to hear preachers and teachers who tell them about scriptures that reveal these truths.

So instead of listening to sound doctrine, these people seek out preachers and teachers who tell them only about the scriptures they want to hear. For example, most people don’t mind being told to help the poor or that they should be kind to each other. But these same people might get upset when presented with scriptures that show they shouldn’t cheat on their taxes or have sex outside of marriage. They may not like hearing these teachings even though both sets of teachings are true according to God’s Word!

The Bible warns us there will be people like this. In fact, the Apostle Paul tells the young preacher Timothy, “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” (2 Timothy 4:3-4 NIV)

But we must not give in to those who have itching ears. Instead, we must follow the the directive Paul gives to Timothy in verse 2 of the same chapter. He commands Timothy to “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and teaching.” (NKJV)

So Christians, please remember: It’s not about if a Bible teacher’s lesson pleases us — it’s about if that Bible teacher’s lesson pleases God! Therefore, seek out preachers and teachers who present the entirety of God’s Word truthfully!

Do you have your game face on?

Aug2

Question: Not one person at my job wished me a happy birthday. This made me very angry and hurt, but I just put on my game face and kept smiling at everyone. Should I have told them how mean I really think they are?

Answer: No. In this case, it could have been many reasons for their lack of birthday greetings. Maybe they didn’t know it was your birthday. Or, maybe they weren’t sure you wanted to be recognized as being another year older. Some strict business climates today may even consider such greetings as getting too personal! Who knows!

The bottom line is that if this behavior was unusual for your co-workers, maybe you should have mentioned to them how happy you felt that day because it was your birthday. Most decent people would respond with “Happy Birthday!” If they don’t, show them Christian forgiveness and just leave it alone. Don’t let unkind treatment ruin your birthday. After work, just plan to do something special for yourself, alone or with others who care about you. Remember, as Believers, we don’t want to let the devil steal our joy!

Also, know that getting in the habit of wearing a smiling face on the outside while seething with hurt and anger on the inside is not healthy… not physically and not spiritually. Physically, you can end up with problems such as high blood pressure. This condition can develop as a result of the constant stress from holding your feelings in instead of having a healthy, God-honoring outlet for those feelings.

Spiritually, you can end up being driven to behaviors that go against the word of God! In fact, Proverbs 29:22 warns us that “An angry man stirs up strife, And a furious man abounds in transgression.” (NKJV) So, we must be careful when dealing with our anger. Our anger should not cause us to sin by bringing harm on ourselves or by causing harm to others!

Though we should have righteous anger against all the sinful behavior in this world, we must keep our reactions to them moral and not try to exact vengeance on our own. The Apostle Paul reminds us of this in Romans 12:19, “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written,’Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.” He goes on to say in verse 21, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

So, pray to God to help you deal in a righteous way with the things that cause you anger. Remember Ephesians 4:26-27 which says, “‘Be angry, and do not sin’: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil.”

And since our Almighty God is omniscient, He already knows our every thought and action even before we do them. Therefore our fake outward facial expressions cannot fool God. He knows our heart.

So, forget about putting on your game face. Learn to draw your peace and strength from God’s Holy Spirit and let His light shine through you to others!

Amen!

A House Divided

Jul1

Question: How important is having unity in the Christian community?

Answer: Unity can be very important as long as you’re united for the right reasons.

Jesus says in Matthew 12:25, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.” (NKJV) This teaching can be applied in a variety of situations from whole communities to churches, families, and even marriages. Combine this knowledge with what is revealed about Satan, the thief in John 10:10, “The thief does not come except to steal. and to kill, and to destroy. I (Jesus) have come that they may have life, and that they may it more abundantly.” Satan knows that one of the most effective ways of destroying something is attacking it from the inside out. Therefore, an important goal for every group is to stay united in living your lives to please Jesus. God, through the teachings of His Holy Word, should be the referee and final decision maker in settling disagreements and divisions whenever they arise.

How many times over the years have you heard of church congregations splitting apart when some members disagree with their new pastor? As a result, hurt feelings and bitterness can last for years. Obviously, if the church leaders are teaching that the Bible is not true or saying that Jesus is not our only way into Heaven, they are wrong. You should leave such a church and find one that teaches that the Bible is, indeed, true. Otherwise, when your Bible-believing, Bible teaching church is having some disagreements within the congregation, pray for God’s Holy Spirit to bring unity to that body of believers. You will have trouble taking the Gospel out to the world and making new disciples, as Jesus commanded in Matthew chapter 28, if the current disciples are spending most of their time fighting with each other! As a church, repent of your sins and forgive each other. Then, your church can be united in showing God’s love in a variety of ways to the local communities and beyond. Check out this minute and 35 second video by renowned Pastor Tony Evans as he explains the importance of unity in the Body of Christ. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5x1Zfd1b_8.

Also, be aware that if Satan will try to destroy the unity of a church congregation by attacking from within, he will also try to destroy a marriage or a family the same way. Far too often, we hear of marriages and families breaking apart as a result of various disagreements, or sinful temptations such as adultery, pornography, greed, and deceit. Seeing how often this happens, we need to be better prepared spiritually. Dedicate your marriage, family, and yourself to the Lord. Pray for God’s Holy Spirit to protect you, your spouse, and your family from the temptations of Satan. Pray for you all to be united in believing in and living by His Word.

Remember that God has provided us with the Bible as a manual for living life His way. So, study His Word, the Holy Bible, and follow its teachings to help keep you from being in a house divided by Satan. Instead, you will be in a house united by Jesus!

(Re-posted from my August 2013 Blog)

Helpful Links:

Focus on the Family www.focusonthefamily.com

Crown Financial Ministries www.crown.org

The Christian Broadcasting Network www1.cbn.com

World Magazine www.worldmag.com

A Family Needs a Firm Foundation

Jun12

Question: In these challenging social times, how do I help my children be strong Christians?

Answer: It’s true that traditional Christian values are being challenged from every direction. If your son or daughter attends public schools or universities, they are most likely being taught to believe ideas and ways that are contrary to God’s biblical teachings…in addition to the regular reading, writing, and math. Most parents are not aware of this. That’s why parents need to be very active in keeping up with what’s going on in their child’s school. However, the bottom line is that parents cannot be with their child every minute. Therefore, it becomes even more important that parents are teaching their children from a very early age what exactly their family believes. Proverbs 22:6 tells us to train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it. This training will be their firm foundation.

Sadly, too many Christians today don’t even know themselves what God teaches us in His Word-The Holy Bible. As Christians, we need to read and study the Bible for ourselves. Plus, it is extremely important to attend a true Bible believing, Bible teaching church. Be aware that many places call themselves a church, but they don’t even teach that the Bible is true. If you are in a church like this, you and your family need to leave NOW! Learn God’s Word! Being strong in the Lord starts with you and your children understanding that we are all sinners in need of a Savior. Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, is that Savior. Once we ask Jesus to forgive us our sins, repent, and accept Him as our Savior, we can go on to grow in our faith in the Lord! Know that we cannot strive in this world by our own strength. God gives us His Holy Spirit to guide and comfort us through this life…until we die from this world, and move on to eternal life in Heaven!

(Re-posted from March 2012)

Helpful Links:

Focus on the Family www.focusonthefamily.com

Crown Financial Ministries www.crown.org

The Christian Broadcasting Network www.cbn.com

World Magazine www.worldmag.com

Are you all talk and no action?

May17

Question: When I go along with things my friends do that I know are wrong, I feel like such a hypocrite. But should I feel this way? After all, I really don’t want them to get mad at me, and God knows what’s really in my heart.

Answer: Yes. You should feel like a hypocrite because you are being a hypocrite! You admit that as a Christian you know these actions by your friends are wrong, yet you participate with them anyway. And you are absolutely correct when you say that God knows what’s in our heart. So He knows that you willingly choose to do wrong to please your friends instead of doing the right thing to please God! (See Romans 12:9)

Too often, many Christians will say they believe and love the word of God, but then choose to act in ways that go against the teachings of God. For example, parents rightfully teach their children that lying is wrong. Then, their children hear them lying to someone – like a bill collector – or find out they’ve been lying on their tax returns. These parents are teaching their children that it’s fine to say one thing yet do the opposite.

Other examples would be when we pray to God to heal us of sickness caused by our unhealthy lifestyles or to get us out of financial debt. We rightfully say that God wants us to be both physically and financially healthy. Yet, we choose to keep overeating foods we know are bad for us and charging up our credit cards to the max with items we don’t need!

Or when Christians say they want to put God first in their lives, then in reality put Him second! This can happen, for example, when you admire your favorite celebrities and politicians so much that you disregard the sinful causes they promote and give them your support and your vote! You do this even when you know what they unashamedly support goes against the word of God! You are saying you put God first, but by these actions are actually putting them first and Him second.

Still more examples include how you treat other people. You may say that God wants us to show His love to everyone, yet you fail to treat people who look different than you with respect. Or you fail to be kind to or even speak to people you feel are somehow unworthy. You may even fail to show God’s love to members of your own family!

In all of these examples and in many others, you are talking the talk but not walking the walk! You are being a hypocrite and therefore not pleasing God!

But there is good news! Our God is full of grace and mercy! Because of His great love for us He has made a way for us to make our relationship right with Him. It starts with you accepting God’s one and only Son, Jesus Christ, as your Lord and Savior! ( Romans 10:9) Ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins, and stop being a hypocrite!

It’s true that we will not be perfect in this life — “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). But we want to take steps to keep us on the right track. We must regularly pray for God’s Holy Spirit to guide us through our days so that we make the right decisions. And we must take the time to regularly read and study the Bible so that we will know God’s word for ourselves.

So stop being all talk and no action. Start really putting God first in your life. Every day, pray to know what is pleasing to Him. Then do it!

Amen

Your secret is out!

Apr20

Question: I’m a leader in my community hiding a terrible secret. I’m addicted to pornography. I try to hide it from my family by watching it after everyone goes to bed. How do I free myself from this sinful habit?

Answer: Sadly, your addiction is shared by billions of people around the world. For example, one popular pornography site gets 42 billion visits yearly! This site includes videos of young girls being raped, trafficked, and abused! (Source: American Family Association Journal, May 2020 Edition, Page 7) And this is just one of numerous sites!

But like every other sinful behavior we try to hide, it really isn’t a secret at all. None of us can hide any of our behavior from the One who sees all and knows all – the Lord God Almighty! We’re told in 1 John 3:20, “For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.” (NKJV)

Therefore, God knows about everything from our sexual immorality to our greed and evil-mindedness (see Romans Ch. 1:18-32). He also knows the “hidden” sins of the heart– when we are “undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful…” (v.31) These scriptures go on to say that even when people aren’t actually committing these shameful behaviors themselves, they still sin when they “approve of those who practice them.” (v.32) Even many Believers fall into these sinful behaviors. (Ephesians 5:5-12)

Thankfully, God has provided us all with the way to truly be free from our sins – including pornography addiction and every other sin. That one and only way is through His only Son, Jesus Christ! Jesus died on the cross – and rose on the third day – to take the punishment of death we deserved for our sins. That’s why we must accept Jesus as our one and only Savior. We are to ask Him to forgive us of our sins. And, we are to repent (turn away) from our sins, and live our lives to please God!

Through His Holy Word, the Bible, we learn how and why we are to live to please God. We also learn the importance of praying for God’s help. By the power of His Holy Spirit, we are given the will-power and guidance we need to turn from our sins and grow in the knowledge of God’s Word.

Knowing God’s Word is very important in helping us stay strong against the evil in our lives. The Word reminds us that we can’t hide from God. Hebrews 4:12-13 says, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”

So, if you still think you’re hiding your sin, you’re not. Your secret is out to God! And know that the only way to truly set yourself free from your sins starts with accepting Jesus as your Savior and asking Him to set you free!

As Jesus, Himself, said: “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36)

Amen!

Why aren’t you talking about it?

Mar12

Question: My adult children no longer want me to talk to them about God. Should I stop bringing up the subject?

Answer: No. If you are still talking to them about any other subject, you should still be talking to them about the subject that is the most important of all! Just think how easy you give them advice you’ve learned over the years about handling money. Or, you still remind them to eat healthy and get enough rest. Isn’t their eternal salvation and living their lives to please the Lord far more important than anything else?

The final message Jesus left with His disciples was to “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I (Jesus) have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20 NKJV)

If we are to be taking the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to every nation around the world, shouldn’t our sharing include – even begin with – the ones we know and love?Just as easy as we talk to them about the latest topics in the news, we must share with them about the greatest news of all!

Understandably, when you try to speak to them about the Lord, they may try to push back against what you say. They may try to make you feel like you are old-fashioned, out-of-touch with the more “inclusive” times, or just plain hateful! Or, they might make you try to defend hypocrites or others who have sinned while serving in the church. Don’t fall into their trap! Explain the Gospel to them so that they understand that we are all sinners who need a Savior. Let them know that God’s word tells us that our one and only Savior is His Son, Jesus Christ!

Another thing they may use against you is your own sinful past. They may try to make you feel unworthy to call them out about their sinful behavior. They may even quote scripture to you. For example, they may say, “Judge not, that you may not be judged.” (Matthew 7:1) But they will not acknowledge the rest of that passage that says, “First remove the plank from your own eye (that is, ask Jesus to forgive your sins and repent of your own sins) and then you will see clearly to remove the plank out of your brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7:5) In other words, while we are not to be hypocrites, we are to call out sin as sin!

Most importantly, we must always share the Gospel in ways that reflect the love of Christ in us! We must start this early by lovingly teaching our children about God. God’s word tells us to “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)

And when they are adults, continue to encourage them to read the Bible for themselves so that they will grow in the understanding of God’s word. Also, encourage them to join a good Bible believing, Bible teaching church. This will allow them to grow with a community of fellow Believers.

And when opportunities come for you to share the Gospel with your adult children, don’t worry about their rejection or what you should say. Simply pray for God’s Holy Spirit to give you the right words to say. Don’t speak to them in anger or try to force your beliefs on them. Pray that God will open their hearts so that they will freely choose to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior!

Also, pray that they will understand that choosing a life of unrepentant sin will only lead to death – eternal damnation separated from God in Heaven! And, pray they’ll see that Jesus Christ is our Savior because He died on the cross to take the punishment we deserve for our sins. He loved us that much! (John 3:16)

So go ahead. Don’t be afraid. Be bold for Jesus and start talking!

Is your mouth getting you in trouble?

Feb8

Question: I’m embarrassed to say that my excessive gossiping at work led to me being passed over for a promotion. Any advice to help me control my mouth?

Answer: As a Believer, we always want our behavior to reflect the love of Christ. While we will never be perfect in this life, we must continuously examine ourselves so that we recognize when we mess up. Then, we are to ask Jesus to forgive us of our sins and repent! Make the decision to stop the sinful behavior. Pray for God to help you change your ways!

Remember what God’s Word tells us in Proverbs 18:21: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue…” (NKJV) We can use our words to lift others up and encourage them. Or we can use our words to tear others down and discourage them. Since we should be about drawing people to Christ, we ought to be using language that pleases God!

For example, when we go around at work laughing with others about how unattractive or unintelligent some fellow co-workers are, we know doing this is wrong. Or, you go around spreading rumors to as many people as you can about embarrassing personal troubles of others you all know. You know you are doing wrong. You know that your words are hurting others. And you know that if someone else was spreading hurtful rumors about you, you’d be very upset! “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them…” (Matthew 7:12)

On the other hand, “A wholesome tongue is a tree of life…” (Proverbs 15:4) Positive words can be very useful in helping others and promoting what is good in the sight of God. With our mouths we can pray for others out loud. We can inspire others to do their best and feel better about themselves. Most importantly, we can tell others about the saving grace of Jesus Christ!

Therefore, using our mouths to spread good words can make a big difference in the world. For example, we can tutor a child who is struggling with their school work. We can reassure a teen who is being bullied. We can pray with a friend who is in need of healing. And, we can thankfully share the Gospel!

So stop allowing your mouth to get you in trouble. Use your words for good. Pray that the Holy Spirit will help you keep your mouth in check. And most importantly, remember to regularly use your mouth to “confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2 :11)

AMEN!

Are you ready to stand?

Jan12

Question: How do I avoid being dragged into political arguments at work?

Answer: You can always try changing the subject to a more neutral topic. Of course, conversations during work time should be kept to business related topics anyway. But when some people with strong opinions want to get you on their side of a political issue, they won’t be stopped easily. It’s best to go ahead and prepare yourself for how you will respond when challenged.

But you should never let anyone bully you or intimidate you into agreeing with their positions if those positions are opposite to your own. Be aware that some of these people already know you take biblically-based positions on the issues. And they just won’t tolerate you having different beliefs. You can try reporting them to your HR department if they continue to bully you. This may put a stop to their behavior, or it may not. Try anyway since no one should be bullied in the workplace or anywhere else.

Still, times will come when Believers will be confronted about their beliefs. They’ll be accused of being haters of others and lacking intelligence. When this happens, they will do well to remember 1 Peter 3:15-16. “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that it in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.” (NKJV)

And face it. These conversations won’t just be taking place at work. Believers will have similar talks with family and friends who may not agree with our positions. Regardless of who we speak with we must stand strong for the beliefs God’s Word says are true. Therefore, we must regularly study the Bible and pray for God’s Holy Spirit to give us the words to say when we are witnessing about these issues to others.

By doing these things, you’ll be prepared to stand!

Did Jesus really say that?

Dec10

QUESTION: Did Jesus say that we should keep our religious beliefs private?

ANSWER: No. As Christians, we can’t keep silent about our faith if we are to follow the Great Commission of Jesus. Matthew 28:19-20 quotes Jesus giving this final message to His disciples.

Jesus said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. (NKJV)

Since Jesus did say this, then indeed, we are to tell others of the “Good News” of God’s Word. But, we also must remember to pray for God’s Holy Spirit to help us to know the right times to speak about our faith to others and the right times to stay quiet and just pray for them.

God wants everyone to understand that our sin separates us from Him, because He is holy, and the wages of sin is death. But because of God’s great love for us, He sent His Son to die on the Cross to take the punishment we all deserve for our sins.

Jesus rose from death on the third day and lives in heaven. If we accept Jesus as our Savior, ask Him to forgive our sins and repent, and live our lives for Him, we too, will go to heaven one day. See John 3:16.

This salvation is available to all who choose to believe it as the only way to heaven. Thank God for His grace and mercy! We must tell others of God’s great love for them. Pray that they accept His Son, Jesus as their Savior.

valclarksplace

One Christian mom's take on today's cultural issues