FINALLY YOU BELIEVE

Then his disciples said, “At last you are speaking plainly and not in parables. Now we understand that you know everything and don’t need anyone to tell you anything. From this we believe that you came from God.” Jesus asked, “Do you finally believe? But the time is coming—in fact, it is already here—when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
 
John 16:29-33
 
It took the disciples a long time to get it. There is scripture that indicates that some; Thomas for example, did not fully get it until after the crucifixion and resurrection. Three years had passed since Jesus called them to follow Him. Three years they had sat under His teaching. “Jesus asked, “Do you finally believe?””
 
For me, I grew up around family who believed and walked in their faith. Still it took me a long time to make what I witnessed personal. I can see in my spirit Jesus saying, ‘Finally you believe!’, when I asked Him to come into my life and save me.
 
What about you? Did it take a long time for you to believe? For some the path to salvation comes quickly and is easy. For others, they struggle with the decision. It matters not how long it takes. What is most important is that a decision is made to invite Jesus into your heart. Have you made that decision or is Jesus still waiting and asking “Do you finally believe?”

THE OTHER SIDE

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
 
Psalm 100
 
The flip side of depression is thanksgiving. In contrast to the psalm from today’s devotion (Psalm 88), another psalm writer (Psalm 100) has another view … the other side. Both sides exist. I would never want to make light of anyone’s depression. The seriousness of a depressed spirit is so very obvious as you contrast these two passages of scripture.
 
Our prayer today is for all those suffering from depression. May God lift their spirit so they may rejoice in thanksgiving.
 
We also pray a prayer of thanksgiving for those who have recently completed their Walk to Emmaus. May the men (#73) and women (#74) of these Walks continue to experience that burning in their hearts from being in the presence of Jesus (Luke 24:32).

FALLING DOWN, GETTING UP

The path of the upright leads away from evil; whoever follows that path is safe.
Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.
It is better to live humbly with the poor than to share plunder with the proud.
Those who listen to instruction will prosper; those who trust the LORD will be happy.
 
Proverbs 16:17-20
 
How many really great athletes have you seen fall down? If you have watched the 2006 Winter Olympics coverage the past few days you have seen plenty. Figure skaters, snowboarders, speed skaters, and skiers have all taken tumbles. Have you ever seen a professional quarterback trip over his own feet as he takes the snap and steps back to pass or the major league baseball player clumsily stumble out of the batters box after laying down the perfect bunt? We have all probably witnessed this phenomenon is some fashion. The very best in their sport take a fall.
 
Is it because of pride or haughtiness that they fall? Maybe so ... maybe not.
 
One thing we can learn from these great athletes is that they get up, dust themselves off and get back in the game.
 
What about when we fall in our spiritual walk? What do we do when we stumble over sin? How about following the athlete’s pattern?

1. Get up … stop sinning.


2. Dust yourself off … confess your sin and ask God for forgiveness.


3. Get back in the game … don’t give up on yourself and don’t give up on God!

TRAILS OF SERVICE

Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of how the churches are getting along. Who is weak without my feeling that weakness? Who is led astray, and I do not burn with anger? If I must boast, I would rather boast about the things that show how weak I am. God, the Father of our Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows I tell the truth.
 
2nd Corinthians 11:28-31
 
I asked you a couple days ago, “What have you done for the Lord lately?” The context of the question was to get away from looking at self (What have you done for me…?) and looking at Christ. I concluded with the thought, “Only what you do for Christ will last.”
 
It is only right to point out that when you do for Christ you can expect many trials (2nd Corinthians 11:16-27). Probably you will never experience trials such as the Apostle Paul did but you can expect that Satan will oppose your efforts to do good in the name of Jesus Christ. Despite all the buffeting Paul experienced his heart for the church, for the things of Christ, never faltered.
 
In recounting his many trails, Paul praised God because he knew he could have never come through those trials in his own strength. Paul pointed to his weakness rather than his strength. It was only God who enabled Paul to be an overcomer.

THE FLOCK

Jesus replied, “I have already told you, and you don’t believe me. The proof is what I do in the name of my Father. But you don’t believe me because you are not part of my flock. My sheep recognize my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. So no one can take them from me. The Father and I are one.”
 
John 10:25-30
 
By a negative statement, Jesus declares, “…you don’t believe me because you are not part of my flock.”  The positive of that statement would say, ‘Those of you who do believe are part of His flock.”
 
Do you believe that Jesus Christ is who the Bible says He is? Do you believe He is the Son of God? Do you believe that He died on Calvary’s Cross and on the third day rose again? Do you believe that He died for the sins of the world? Do you believe that He died for your sin?
 
Those of you who do believe are part of His flock.
 
You may be a part of a local flock (church) and practice many other things. Churches and denominations, open in Jesus name, are diverse in their beliefs, practices and styles. The bottom line is do they believe Jesus is who the Bible says He is? Are they part of THE FLOCK?  Arguments over minutia and differences in style are not important. Jesus says, “My sheep recognize my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” Do you believe? Are you one of the sheep in HIS FLOCK?

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR HIM LATELY?

During supper, a woman came in with a beautiful jar of expensive perfume. She broke the seal and poured the perfume over his head. Some of those at the table were indignant. “Why was this expensive perfume wasted?” they asked. “She could have sold it for a small fortune and given the money to the poor!” And they scolded her harshly. But Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. Why berate her for doing such a good thing to me?
 
Mark 14:3b-6
 
The question is not, “What have you done for me lately?” The question is what sacrifice have you made for the LORD? What service have you done for someone else? What gift have you given for the building of God’s Kingdom?
 
Only what you do for HIM will last!

WONDERFUL REFRESHMENT

“Friends, I realize that what you did to Jesus was done in ignorance; and the same can be said of your leaders. But God was fulfilling what all the prophets had declared about the Messiah beforehand—that he must suffer all these things. Now turn from your sins and turn to God, so you can be cleansed of your sins. Then wonderful times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will send Jesus your Messiah to you again.
 
Acts 3:17-20
 
Would you like the recipe for wonderful refreshment?
 
“… turn from your sins and turn to God…”
 
When life is crashing in all round you and you can do nothing to change it, look to the scripture for the solution. Examine your life for that obstacle you have allowed to come in and block you from the presence of the Lord. It could be business, priorities out of order, or sin. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you identify your obstacle and turn from it.
 
When you “turn from your sins and turn to God…” you will find yourself in “wonderful times of refreshment” because you have entered into “the presence of the Lord.”
 
I praise God for the wonderful refreshment I received this past weekend on the Walk to Emmaus and I thank God for all of you who prayed for us.

PUTTING IT ON THE LINE

Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. And as Christ’s soldier, do not let yourself become tied up in the affairs of this life, for then you cannot satisfy the one who has enlisted you in his army. Follow the Lord’s rules for doing his work, just as an athlete either follows the rules or is disqualified and wins no prize. Hardworking farmers are the first to enjoy the fruit of their labor. Think about what I am saying. The Lord will give you understanding in all these things.
 
2nd Timothy 2:3-7
 
I was watching the Olympics one night this week and observed one of the award ceremonies. The gold, silver and bronze medal winners were standing on the platform, the flags of their countries were being raised and the national anthem of the country of the first place winner was being played. The TV camera zoomed in for a close-up of the gold medal winner and you could see the tears in his eyes as he looked at the flag. This Olympian was an athlete who had put it all on the line for his country. All the hours, days, and years of training was paying off. His country … his team was being honored because he had worked hard, followed the rules and won the prize.
 
The soldier … the athlete … the farmer … all have something in common. They put it on the line for others. Jesus came and put it all on the line for us when He died on the cross for our sins. As a Christian, are you working hard, following the rules, putting it all on the line so that others might see Jesus?

THE MATH OF GOD

May God bless you with his special favor and wonderful peace as you come to know Jesus, our God and Lord, better and better. As we know Jesus better, his divine power gives us everything we need for living a godly life. He has called us to receive his own glory and goodness! And by that same mighty power, he has given us all of his rich and wonderful promises. He has promised that you will escape the decadence all around you caused by evil desires and that you will share in his divine nature.
 
2nd Peter 1:2-4
 
In the King James Version, verse 2 reads, “Grace and peace be multiplied unto you…”

Thus our topic for today … the math of God.
 
The grace and peace of God begins at the Cross. When you trust Jesus for your salvation, identify your sin condition with His sacrificial death, you have all the grace you need to go to heaven. You can also have the peace of mind to know that your eternity is secure.
 
The Apostle Peter, in describing the math of God, tells us that grace and peace can be multiplied as we “come to know Jesus, our God and Lord, better and better.”  We do that in the same way we get to know any person or topic better. The more you spend time with a person, the better you get to know them. The more you study a subject (reading, researching, and digging for the truth), the better you are able to effectively share that subject with others. The more you listen to that person, the better you will understand the message they are speaking to you.
 
If we apply all these (special time, study, meditation) to our spiritual life in Christ, our grace and peace will be multiplied.

THE SECRET IS OUT

God has given me the responsibility of serving his church by proclaiming his message in all its fullness to you Gentiles. This message was kept secret for centuries and generations past, but now it has been revealed to his own holy people. For it has pleased God to tell his people that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. For this is the secret: Christ lives in you, and this is your assurance that you will share in his glory.
 
Colossians 1:25-27
 
By God’s plan, for a time there were things within the Jewish faith; the Old Testament; the foundation of the Christian religion; which were kept secret. In the temple, again at God’s direction, there were worship practices conducted behind the veil and only the priests were allowed to enter the Holy Place. When the time was right, God sent His Son Jesus, the Messiah, to save mankind from sin condition and pay the sin debt. When He was crucified on Calvary’s Cross, the veil in the temple was rent from top to bottom. Access to the Holy Place was forever revealed to all, Jew or Gentile, who would trust in Jesus. Through Jesus we have access to the LORD God Almighty. There are no longer any veils or secrets which keep any man or woman from the throne of grace.
 
The secret is out. “For this is the secret: Christ lives in you, and this is your assurance that you will share in his glory.”
 
Prayer Request: Please pray for the pilgrims who will attend the upcoming Walks to Emmaus in Central Mississippi. The men’s Walk #73 will be this weekend (Feb. 16-19) and the women’s Walk #74 will be next weekend (Feb. 23-26). Also pray for the team members who will be serving on these walks. Click on http://www.centralmsemmaus.org for more information.

GOD'S VALENTINE

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
 
John 3:16
 
Valentine’s Day is a day when we express love to each other. It may be expressed (on different levels of course) between spouses or co-workers. It could be a family member or a casual acquaintance. Maybe it is a classmate or a life-long best friend. Whoever it is, this day will be filled with expressions of happiness, companionship, friendship, relationship, joy and love. Just maybe this Gospel Pearl will remind you of someone who you want to make one of these expressions to … someone who really needs to hear a word of love today.
 
God sent His Valentine to us over 2000 years ago. He sent His Son to die on the cross because He loved us. God’s desire is that you and I will return that expression of love to Him by placing our faith in Him; believing that His Son died on the cross for our sin; confessing our sin and believing that Jesus is the One who paid our sin debt; trusting Jesus as the only way to reconciliation with the Father; and being reconciled to one another.
 
Have you sent your Valentine to God? It only takes a prayer.

HEALING RELATIONSHIPS

So put away all falsehood and “tell your neighbor the truth” because we belong to each other. And “don’t sin by letting anger gain control over you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a mighty foothold to the Devil… Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of malicious behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
 
Ephesians 4:25-27, 31-32
 
Mending a broken bone is relatively straightforward. If it is a minor break (a hairline fracture), protected and left alone, it may heal itself. If there is a major break the care of a doctor is required. After the bone is properly set, placed in a cast and given time, the break will heal.
 
It is not always so straightforward with a broken relationship. Even for the most minor offenses, hardly ever will leaving the situation alone truly repair the relationship. Communication, talking through the situation without “bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words and slander”, is required.
 
For those severely broken relationships, the care of the Divine Physician is required. For the break to be properly set, His Word is the pattern. His Spirit is the cast which can hold your relationship together, while you allow time for your injury to heal. Placing your faith in the Divine Physician, there is no break which He cannot heal, in His time.

FINDING YOUR PLACE

Now all of you together are Christ’s body, and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it. Here is a list of some of the members that God has placed in the body of Christ: first are apostles, second are prophets, third are teachers, then those who do miracles, those who have the gift of healing, those who can help others, those who can get others to work together, those who speak in unknown languages.
 
1st Corinthians 12:27-28
 
Growing up, often a major challenge is finding out and figuring out where and how to fit in. The desire to be a part of the ‘in crowd’ is strong and can lead to behavior which feels wrong, looks wrong, has bad consequences, is just plain wrong.
 
That same challenge exists as we grow in our spiritual walk with the LORD. We want to know where we fit in the Body of Christ. In looking for our place we ask questions like, “LORD, what do you want me to do?” or “How can I serve You?”
 
In finding your place, one thing you can do is look at the list the Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian church. Which of these fits with your natural skills and abilities? What do you like and do well? Focus on that and see how you might use those gifts to serve God.

STEPPING OUT IN FAITH

The LORD told Joshua, “Today I will begin to make you great in the eyes of all the Israelites. Now they will know that I am with you, just as I was with Moses. Give these instructions to the priests who are carrying the Ark of the Covenant: ‘When you reach the banks of the Jordan River, take a few steps into the river and stop.’”
 
Joshua 3:7-8
 
In faith walking, the first steps are the most difficult. Imagine stepping into a fast flowing river during the season when the waters are high, when the banks are overflowing. God’s instructions were only “…take a few steps…” After the priests had taken those firsts steps of faith, God stepped in and did the rest. The waters were again parted, just as they had been for Moses, and Israel was able to cross the Jordan on dry ground.
 
Is God calling you to the edge of the Jordan River and instructing you to show a little faith in Him? A family decision … new career … a mission opportunity … a new relationship … an investment … a church home … a service commitment. Whatever your Jordan River, God is there to step in and part the waters. When you respond to His call, you can have faith that He will provide the dry ground. Go ahead, step out in faith, “…take a few steps…” and see God’s handiwork.

BE READY

“Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left. Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left. So be prepared, because you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. “Know this: A homeowner who knew exactly when a burglar was coming would stay alert and not permit the house to be broken into. You also must be ready all the time. For the Son of Man will come when least expected.
 
Matthew 24:40-44
 
Today’s scripture describes what will happen in the last days, when Jesus returns. In Matthew 24, Jesus was speaking to His disciples on the Mount of Olives prior to His crucifixion. They didn’t understand all He told them then, and even today, we don’t know exactly how things will roll out in the last days. These things have been argued throughout the history of the church. Surprise … Surprise! Jesus says right here, “…you don’t know…”
 
What we can know is what Jesus said we can know.
 
“Know this: … be ready all the time … the Son of Man will come…”
 
Ask the Holy Spirit to help you honestly answer this question. If Jesus came back today, are you ready? The time to be ready is right now “because you don’t know what day your Lord is coming.”

WRONG CONCLUSION

“What things?” Jesus asked. “The things that happened to Jesus, the man from Nazareth,” they said. “He was a prophet who did wonderful miracles. He was a mighty teacher, highly regarded by both God and all the people. But our leading priests and other religious leaders arrested him and handed him over to be condemned to death, and they crucified him. We had thought he was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel. That all happened three days ago. Then some women from our group of his followers were at his tomb early this morning, and they came back with an amazing report. They said his body was missing, and they had seen angels who told them Jesus is alive! Some of our men ran out to see, and sure enough, Jesus’ body was gone, just as the women had said.”
 
Luke 24:19-24
 
Instead of watching all the Super Bowl pre-game shows this past Sunday, I re-watched the Will Smith movie “Independence Day” for the ‘um-teenth’ time. Do you remember the scene near the end, they have flown the crashed spacecraft back to the mothership, uploaded the computer virus, are ready to blow up the mothership with the nuclear bomb set with the 30-second delay? The only problem is their escape craft is being held by the mothership and they can’t get away. Will pulls out his victory cigar and lights it, figuring that they will blow up the mothership but will not escape to tell about it. Wrong conclusion! As soon as they deploy the bomb, their spacecraft is shaken loose. They are free to escape before the bomb explodes. Will cries out, “It ain’t over ‘til the fat lady sings.”
 
For the disciples, they came to a wrong conclusion. The life story of Jesus did not end at the crucifixion. He is Messiah and He did rescue Israel and all mankind from the bondage of sin. He did rise from the dead with all power over Satan in His hands.
 
“It still ain’t over …” Jesus is coming back again. Don’t let the problems and circumstances of your today lead you to a wrong conclusion. Jesus is Messiah and He has set you free!

NO VOICE

The heavens tell of the glory of God. The skies display his marvelous craftsmanship.
Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known.
They speak without a sound or a word; their voice is silent in the skies;
yet their message has gone out to all the earth, and their words to all the world. The sun lives in the heavens where God placed it.
 
Psalm 19:1-4
 
The worker complains when he or she has no voice in the decision making. The spouse is upset when they have no voice in the financial decisions of the family. Even the church choir member wants to have a voice in the selection of the music, the musician or the director. Many of us have experienced situations when we had no voice and it usually did not sit well with us.
 
The heavens have no voice, yet each day they sing out praise to Almighty God. Psalm 150:6 says, “Let everything that lives sing praises to the LORD!” There may be situations where we don’t have a voice but praising the LORD is not one of them. Are you using your voice to praise the LORD? And when you don’t even say a word (like the stars), does your life sing praises to His name?

THE SHADOW

Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
This I declare of the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I am trusting him.
For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from the fatal plague.
He will shield you with his wings. He will shelter you with his feathers. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
 
Psalm 91:1-4
 
Where can “the shadow of the Almighty” be found?
 
To use one of those theological terms that describe the character of God, He is omnipresent. Webster’s dictionary says the prefix ‘omni’ suggests everywhere. To say that God is omnipresent is to say that He is everywhere present at the same time.
 
Ok, but what about His shadow? For a shadow to be cast light is required. You never see a shadow at night or in a dark room. When the sun is shinning, you will find shadows all around you. When you trust Jesus Christ, God’s Son, He who is “…the light of the world…” (John 8:12), gives you all the light and life you need. The Son’s light casts the Father’s shadow.
 
Psalm 91 is known as a soldier’s prayer. On the battlefield, in the Father’s shadow, they are protected. That same shadow is available when you battle with situations in your home, school, community, city or even church. Wherever you are, when you have the Son, you can “find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.”

THAT WHICH LASTS

We are confident of all this because of our great trust in God through Christ. It is not that we think we can do anything of lasting value by ourselves. Our only power and success come from God. He is the one who has enabled us to represent his new covenant. This is a covenant, not of written laws, but of the Spirit. The old way ends in death; in the new way, the Holy Spirit gives life.
 
2nd Corinthians 3:4-6
 
The Gospel artists “Commissioned” sang a song in the late 1980’s titled “Only What You Do For Christ Will Last”. I couldn’t find the lyrics but just the title makes the point which the Apostle Paul puts forward in 2nd Cor. 3:5. We cannot accomplish anything of real lasting value in and of ourselves.
 
Think of something really great that you have done. Was it really done all by yourself or did you have some help? Maybe it was a parent that gave you a work ethic, a teacher who inspired you to study, or a counselor who talked with you and helped you decide on a career path. Maybe it was a pastor or Sunday school teacher who helped you embrace the concepts of right and wrong, fairness, justice or faith.
 
Ultimately it was God who created you, Jesus who died for you and the Holy Spirit who lives in you that makes it possible for you to do what you do. “I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength.” – Philippians 4:13.

HONEY

Again I say, don’t get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights. The Lord’s servants must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone. They must be able to teach effectively and be patient with difficult people. They should gently teach those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will believe the truth. Then they will come to their senses and escape from the Devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants.
 
2nd Timothy 2:23-26
 
I have probably shared my grandmother’s quote with you before. I think it is worth revisiting from time to time. She sure did.
 
“You can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar.”
 
I quickly admit that there are times when sharp words or a rough tone of voice are required. I (and my grandmother) contend with the Apostle Paul that the more effective approach is to “…gently teach…” Your arguments are much more likely to help someone to “…come to their senses…” and have a change of heart if that argument is delivered in a non-quarrelsome manner.
 
Use more honey. Save the vinegar for only when it is an absolute necessity.