Category: faith

Baby John will be six months old next week! Can you have a half-birthday party? John can sit up, roll over, and eat baby food! No longer does he just drink milk; he enjoys spinach, carrots, and sweet potatoes! (he doesn’t like peas too much…)

“We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity…” Hebrews 5:11-6:1

Milk is important, but we need more. Jesus is the Son of God, born of the virgin, Mary. He lived an obedient life, He died on the cross, and God raise Him to life on the third day. The elementary teachings about Christ bring us the message of salvation. This is where we start, but where do we go next? How does a baby grow? What is the solid food?

Christ is the solid food! “I am the Bread of Life!” We never need less of Christ, so how do we get more? What could not be explained to these Hebrew Christians? Examine the preceding paragraph:

“During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.”

Since the writer taught about Melchizedek later in the letter, perhaps the solid food has to do with the life Jesus lived on this earth. Perhaps only the mature can understand the prayer life of the Son of Man. What stirred His emotions to bring forth ‘loud cries and tears’? Did He offer up prayers for a broken world? Did He weep for the lost sheep of Israel? Did He petition the Father for me and you? Can we learn to pray as He did? Why did the writer say He was heard? Perhaps only the mature can understand submission. Jesus lived in total surrender to His Father. How easy it is to talk about the Savior, but will we let Him be Lord over every area of our lives? Will we live in ‘reverent submission’?

Perhaps only the mature can understand the mysterious ways of God. ‘He learned obedience from what He suffered.’ Is He really a perfect Father? Why does He teach in such painful ways? If God chooses suffering as a part of my journey, will I run or will I persevere? And when Jesus reached full maturity… He laid down His life. The path of maturity is not found in just hearing about this One … true life is found in following Him.

“I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” Philippians 3:10-12

Let’s press on.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” Ephesians 6:10-13

Oswald Chambers wrote, “These verses are not a picture of how to fight, but of how not to fight. If you have not put on the armour, you will have to fight; but ‘having put on the whole armour of God, then stand’, says Paul. There are times when God’s servants are sent out to attack, to storm the citadel, but the counsel given here is as to how we are to hold the position which has been gained.”

The greatest thing we have gained, is Christ… and that is where me must stand. “Build your house on the Rock.” “Be rooted in Christ.” “Remain in Me.” God knows our safe Position… and so does Satan.

The strategy of the enemy is to get us to take our eyes off of what is most important. I’ve confessed how quickly ‘the important things’ have seemed less important as health comes back and the storm lessens. But are the important things really less important? And if the most important thing is that we abide in Christ and know Him as Lord and Friend, then will the enemy not try to deceive? “How ridiculous to think simply standing in Christ is most important! Don’t believe such foolishness!” And if he can’t diminish our Saviour with the voices of a fallen world, then he will attack with the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. And if he can’t cause us to sin, then he will try to knock us off the Rock by circumstances or heartache or difficulty. But in God’s armor, clothed with His power, we can stand.

“Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” Ephesians 6:14-18

“Everywhere I go I see You”, Rich Mullins sang. Sometimes we feel that way… God is everywhere we look. We understand Jesus’ meaning of “abundant life”. “By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light…”(Ex 13:21) Everywhere they went they saw Him… but then came Pharaoh and hundreds of chariots. “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt?” the Israelites cried.(Ex 14:11)

Could they not see Him? Was He there? Did the assault of the enemy take away the presence of God? Could God be trusted through the chaos? Is faith possible in darkness?

We know the story. The Israelites were delivered through the Red Sea on dry land. The enemy was destroyed. The Lord triumphed in glorious power. Worship, singing, and dancing erupted among the people of God. “Who among the gods is like you, O Lord? Who is like you – majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders? You stretched out your right hand and the earth swallowed them.”(Ex 15:11-12)

How easy it is to believe when the victory is won! “Everywhere I go I see You! I will worship You, Lord! You are my God!” But what will I do when the enemy is all around? What if I see no sign of the Lord? What if I’ve had no water for three days? What if my daily bread is getting monotonous? Will I grumble? Will I complain? Will I test Him saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”(Ex 17:7)

Jesus warns about darkness. He also gives hope. “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light.”(Jn 12:35-36) “When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.”(Jn 14:44-46)

I learned yesterday that my cousin committed suicide. Darkness seems to be closing all around my family. Pray that we may know, even now, that God is everywhere.

When I was a boy, I dreamed of playing professional basketball. Some told me I was crazy, but I didn’t want to listen to skeptics. ‘Whatever you believe you can achieve’ was the motto I liked… so I believed. For some reason, though, I didn’t achieve. That dream never came true.

When Taylor was born, I dreamed again. “My boy is going to be a professional basketball player!” When he was two years old, he could dunk on the play goal in our home! But despite those early accomplishments, I don’t think this dream is going to come true either.

A long time ago, a son told his family a dream he had: “One day you will all bow down to me.” Sounds like a pretty arrogant dream… but it came true. This dream was not fulfilled because of goals young Joseph set or because father Jacob had connections in Egypt. Joseph’s dream came true because, despite every imaginable obstacle, God brought it to pass. It was His purpose.

It was not God’s purpose that I play professional basketball. I’m confident He has greater purposes for my son and daughters. Their dreams of God are much deeper than mine. The Father has vision that is clear and precise. My vision is often blurred and imprecise, which is why stories like Joseph’s encourage me. “How does this pit fit into the dream You gave me?… slavery?… prison?… Lord, I can’t see!”

God sees… and occasionally He lets us catch a partial glimpse. One day we’ll see clearly, but until then, we please Him by walking in faith. May we believe in Him no matter how things look. May we know His heart and trust His purposes.

“I see what you can’t. I see the beginning, the end, and everything in between. When all seems to go against you, trust Me. I do not forsake my chosen ones. My solid purposes are rooted in My Son. He also trusted Me as He walked the earth, enduring every type of trial and temptation. He always kept in mind that nothing is impossible for Me. You should keep such truth in mind, too. Seek My vision and pursue My purposes and you will not be disappointed.”

“But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.” Psalm 33:11

“His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.” Ephesians 3:10-12

First, let me express gratitude for thoughts and prayers. Yesterday I got news of last week’s tests. It was perfect! God is so kind. We are so thankful…

Out son, Taylor, has become a pretty good fisherman. He not only likes to fish, he enjoys studying different strategies and techniques. Recently, he bought a two-hour video of an old Tennessee fisherman who discovered a new method of bass fishing. I chuckled as I watched Taylor soak in the instruction as Charlie Brewer and his sidekick, “Foxey”, discussed and demonstrated the art of “slider fishing”.

What if Taylor had watched the video and then just talked about it? “Dad, that was a cool video. You should have seen all the fish those guys caught. I’m glad I bought it.” Buying and watching a video was not my son’s goal! The other day, school started late, so Taylor and his friend, Jake, got up at 6:00 AM and went fishing. “Dad, it works! I caught ten bass this morning and one of them weighed 4 pounds!” (If my math teaching could only produce such excitement!)

Taylor believed that if he put into practice the things he learned, he would catch some fish. In a deeper way, Jesus often stressed this obvious truth. He knew man would be saved by grace through faith in Him, but He clearly described those who were His disciples.

“You say you follow Me? Check out your life. My family members not only hear what I say, they put My teaching into practice. Don’t be fooled by any talk that says you can please Me without doing what I say. Many will tell Me of all the great things they did while on earth, but I will say, ‘I never knew you’. Those that truly love Me, obey Me. If you have ears to hear, listen carefully then put My words into practice.”

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me you evildoers!’ Therefore anyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” Matthew 7:21-27