Power in the Name of Jesus

In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk…
Acts 3:6

When Peter and John left their home on that particular morning, they had no idea what awaited them on their journey. They were walking toward the temple in order that they may pray. They went with the expressed purpose of being blessed, yet before the day was over they would be the vessels God would use to bless someone else. Enter the lame man. As he lay at the gate called Beautiful, he did not realize that this would be the day he would hear the most powerful words that would ever grace his ears. Peter and John made their way to the Temple and passed by this helpless man who sought money, yet that day the men presented him with a miracle. They spoke these words to him, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” The Bible says the lame man arose walking, leaping, and praising God. This day he heard the most powerful words he would ever hear and they changed his life. What were the words that possessed such power? They were not “rise up” or “walk”. It was not the word “Nazareth” that changed his life. The words that forever altered this man’s life and eternity were “the name of Jesus Christ”. There was no power in the word “rise” or in the word “walk”. There was no power in the name of John. There was no power in the name of Peter. There was no power in the Temple. The power was in the name of Jesus Christ.

It was the power in the name of Jesus Christ that changed my life. It was not the preacher. It was not the church. It was not the drugs or the bottle. It was the name of Jesus Christ. There is power in that name. To the nation that needs forgiveness, there is power in the name of Jesus Christ. To the parents of a rebellious child, there is power in the name of Jesus Christ. To the home that is ruptured by sin, there is power in the name of Jesus Christ. For the marriage that is broken, there is power in the name of Jesus Christ. For the church that is cold and indifferent, there is power in the name of Jesus Christ. For the preacher who feels inadequate, there is power in the name of Jesus Christ. To the Christian who has given up hope, there is power in the name of Jesus Christ. There has always been power and there will always be sufficient power in the name of Jesus Christ.

Timothy's Charge

O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust…
I Timothy 6:20

I have heard the story of a young servant who was summoned to the palace of his king in the late hours of the night. It was unusual for the king to make such a request at that hour, so the servant knew the call must have been one of gravity. As the young man arrived at the gates he noticed the distressed look upon the faces of his fellow serfs. He was hurried to the king’s chambers where he found the feeble king settled upon his bed, breathing deeply, and grasping an object in his hand as if it were the key to life and death. As the young man made his way to the king’s side, he immediately recognized the object, which the king was clinging to; it was the Kingdom’s Regal Sword. This particular sword had stood for many years as the symbol of the king’s authority to the throne. As long as a member of the royal family or a trusted associate possessed the sword, the dynasty would remain. The king knew the results of losing the sword or mistrusting it to an unworthy associate. If the day came that the sword fell into the hands of the enemy, the dynasty would cease to rule. The problem facing the king was that he had no heirs, his health was failing him, and soon he would succumb to the hand of death. He knew of one person to whom he could entrust the Kingdom’s Sword. As he took hold of his young servant’s hand, he laid the sword in his grip and said something like this, “Keep that which is committed to thy trust.”

The apostle Paul whispered the same words to Timothy. He knew the day would come when he would no longer be alive to sound the warning against apostasy and blasphemy. He committed this task to Timothy and charged him not to drop the ball. Paul had deposited much into the life of Timothy and charged Timothy, not to let that deposit be voided by loose living or spiritual compromise. The same charge is being sounded throughout our generation. We are seeing the older men of God pass off of the scene. Yet, the young men who follow behind them have done everything but “keep that which was committed to our trust.” We have attempted to color the gospel a different color in order to be popular and in doing so, we have defiled that which God laid to our trust. Today, resolve to lift up high the old-fashioned gospel of Jesus Christ and “keep that which is committed to thy trust.”

The Importance of Today

Boast not thyself of tomorrow…
Proverbs 27:1

The wise man speaks a thought that no mortal man wants to ponder. It seems to be a thought that bears morbidity, yet it is absolutely necessary. This thought we speak of is living as if today is our last day. It is not natural for men and women to concentrate solely upon the events of the current day. We are wired as humans to think of tomorrow’s dealings. What will the calendar hold tomorrow? Will I have a better day tomorrow? Simply stated, it is human nature to think about tomorrow. Now before moving further, we must deal with the fact that some would take this passage to mean that they should negate to plan for tomorrow and live exclusively for the pleasures of today; this would clearly display their foolishness. The scriptures teach that a wise man plans for the affairs of tomorrow. Solomon here warns not against planning for tomorrow, but rather against priding ourselves for the certainty of tomorrow. The word “boast” in our text means to pride or to praise. He is teaching that we should not praise what actions we will do tomorrow because tomorrow may never arrive for us on this earth.

Today is the day of importance. How many have said, “Tomorrow I shall call upon the Lord and be saved,” yet tomorrow does not arrive and they exit this world unprepared for the next world? How many boast that they will pray tomorrow and yet tomorrow they awake in eternity? How many have praised that tomorrow they will go to church and yet tomorrow never dawns? How many have longed to whisper, “I’m sorry” or “I love you” to that loved one just to find that tomorrow comes too late because in the night their loved one slipped away. How many have gone to bed angry just to find their loving spouse has been chilled by the hand of death in their sleep?

Oh, my friend, if you could hear the urgency in my voice to know this very moment is all you have, then you would truly heed this warning. Let today be the day you deal solemnly with a thrice-holy God because tomorrow may not come. Let today be the day you bid your loved ones your affection because tomorrow may not come. Do not let today pass until you have reconciled with your spouse because tomorrow may not come. Oh, dear Christian, run into the arms of God with a repentant heart, because tomorrow may not come.

The Men of Kirjath-jearim

And the men of Kirjath-jearim came, and fetched up the ark of the LORD…
I Samuel 7:1

Oh, the deplorable state that the children of Israel had been living in. The armies of the Philistines had stolen the visible object that allowed the children of Israel to know that God was among them and that He was pleased with them. Now because of apathy and sin of the Israelites, the Philistines had whisked away the ark of God, which gave Israel the assurance of God’s presence, power, and protection. The absent ark not only had emotional ramifications such as fear, doubt, and despair, but also spiritual implications. For without the ark of God, the worship of the Israelites was as meaningless as the worship of the Baalites upon Mount Carmel. How foolish the children of Israel would have been to attempt to worship without the presence of God. It would have been like trying to sing a song without notes. Like trying to light candle without the presence of a wick. No my friend, it would have been impossible and vain.

The men of Kirjath-jearim were aware of the seriousness of this condition and grew tired of the apathy of their nation. The Philistines had caused a reproach upon the children of Israel and the men of Kirjath-jearim were not going to take it any longer. With one accord, the men marched with resolve to retrieve the ark of God. They were willing to make the sacrifice to retrieve the presence and power of God, which they did with rapid success. Now, some would say, these men were extraordinary men and that is the reason they dared such a task. How wrong you are. “Kirjath-jearim” literally means, “city of woods”. The men of Kirjath-jearim were woodsmen and lumberjacks. They were just common men. They were not overly educated nor overly talented. No, they simply were desperate once again for the presence of God and were willing to risk life and limb to retrieve it.

Oh, that there were some men and women who desired to see the presence and power of God upon their nation. Oh, that we would join in one accord and march into the land of the enemy and retrieve what is rightfully ours. Do not let the devil tell you that you are incapable because you lack the talent or education. God needs not the sharpest knife in the drawer. For in the hands of an omnipotent God even the dullest knife is a deadly weapon

Drawn to Duty

Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel…
I Samuel 13:19

Oh the tragedy and calamity that is found in such a small portion of scripture. Wrapped up into this one phrase is the possibility of Israel’s defeat and the reason for that possible defeat. As King Saul readies himself to make battle against the armies of the Philistines, he is given word by one of his assistants that there are no blacksmiths available for service. The coals of the blacksmiths had been extinguished. The ring of hammers against the anvils had since been silenced. No longer were there sparks of productivity coming from their tents. Why was such news detrimental to the morale of the Israelites? This halt in labor by the blacksmiths led to the armies of Israel having no swords or weapons to fight with in their battle against the Philistines. Whether or not the smiths compromised their trade to go the land of the Philistines or were forced out of their duty makes no difference because their failure to perform their job had far reaching consequences to the armies of Israel. Yes, their duty was menial, but it had great repercussions.

Oh how serious is this issue in our life. Is it not our failure to perform the small tasks on our spiritual journey that keeps us from succeeding? Are not the small foxes the ones that spoil the vine? The small failure on our part could lead to the grand failure to many in the army of God. How minuscule are the tasks of prayer and Bible meditation, yet we fail to consistently do them? These are the small foxes that ruin the life of the believer. Oh my friend let this be the day your heart is drawn to your duty. There are weapons to be made so that we can battle the spiritual powers of Satan. It is time we heat the coals of the Spirit of God and thrust the dull weapon of our life into His midst so that the process might begin by which we are made dangerous for the cause of Christ and wieldable by the Holy Ghost.

The Lamb of God

The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
John 1:29

Never has a declaration been made whereby the reader was convinced that the times had changed. Contained within this one statement written by the apostle John are three separate declarations which John the Baptist makes concerning the beloved Son of God. Contained within these three declarations is the wonderful fact that things will never be the same. So may the Lord help us a we gaze upon these truths.

The first declaration is seen in John’s words, “Behold the Lamb of God.” For century’s preceding John’s life, the prophets of old declared that the Messiah was coming. Moses declared that a Prophet would arise. David saw the Great Shepherd imminent. Ezekiel saw the wheel inside of the wheel turning about. Malachi declared that the Sun of Righteousness was about to rise with healing in His wings. And now John the Baptist declares from the shores of the Jordan River that the Lamb of God, which was prophesied to come, was now here.

The second truth proclaimed which indicated to mankind that life would never be the same is found in the statement “which taketh away.” From the Passover in Egypt, to the Sinai Peninsula, to the hills of Israel, the blood of lambs and bullocks drenched the sands of the land as it merely covered the sins of the people. The blood of those animals was insufficient to wash away the sins of the people because it lacked the power and purity of God. Oh, but now John declares that the Lamb of all lambs has come and His blood has the power to cleanse and wipe the record of their sins clean. Never again would the people have to select a lamb to slaughter because God himself had selected the perfect and premier Lamb, which was slain since the foundation of the world.

The third statement of truth is found in phrase, “of the world.” It is true that God loved the people of Israel. They were His people, called after set apart for His good pleasure. But, deep within the heart of God was a love for the entire world. Until John’s declaration, the world had been cut off from the commonwealth of Israel and alienated from their promise. But now through the Lamb of God, salvation was made available to the entire world. Bless the name of God for His precious Lamb that gave us the ability to cry with the angels, “Glory to God in the Highest.”

The Doubt of Nathanael

And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?
John 1:46

The statement here spoken by Nathanael renders to the reader the obvious opinion of the public in the day of Jesus towards the city of Nazareth. Evidently this city had become a place of wickedness, depravity, and foolishness. The city, whose name implied “the home of the guarded ones”, had become the home of the “guilty ones.” The reputation of the city was so pitiful that when Nathanael saw Jesus coming, he was immediately prejudiced against him, even though he had been informed of the goodness and glory of Jesus, because of the place which he lived. How sad it is when a place falls into sin and carries a reputation of wickedness and uselessness. But that is not the end of the story for the city of Nazareth. For what the world meant for evil, God turned for the good. When the world looked at the city of Nazareth and said nothing good can come out of it; God flipped the story upon its head. The world may say it was useless, but God knows nothing that was useless. He took Nazareth, a city that was viewed as good for nothing, and raised up the great Messiah from within its city limits.

Many times our lives are viewed much like the city of Nazareth. We are viewed as useless and good for nothing. Men look upon the shell of our lives and say, “Can any good thing come from them?” Maybe we are viewed that way because of where we were born or the family we were born into. It may be our social standing or even sinful decisions that cast the light of uselessness upon our lives. Living with this fortune is depressing and hopeless. But I stand thankful today because what the world sees as a problem, God sees as potential. There is no problem too great for our God. God can take our lives, which are full of defects, deviance, and deformities, and clean us up to make our lives a vessel worthy of His service. God answers the question, “Can any good come from that city?” with a resounding, “Yes!”

Spiritual Anorexia

I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word
Psalm 119:16


Entering the One Hundred and Nineteenth Psalm, we find the longest chapter in the holy, word of God. One would think that a psalm of this length would have many topics and stories; but they would be incorrect. The topic of this psalm is singular. It has one theme and melody; it has one purpose and goal and that purpose is to magnify the word of God. Looking at this psalm, we see more clearly than ever that the writings of the Bible are from the hand of God. How do we know? No mortal man would write a book that would condemn his lifestyle and lift up the word of a higher power. Man’s sinful pride would not judge his own heart and doom him. No, these truly are the words of God contained in the word of God.

As the psalmist writes, he casts a light upon the importance of God’s word in the life of the child of God. As I read the entire chapter, I cannot help but see the significance, yea the necessity for the believer to fill and encompass his heart, mind, and life with the scripture. Is it any wonder as to why the longest chapter in the Bible focuses on one topic, the word of God? It is no accident or coincidence. God spent valuable time exalting His word because He expects His child to spend valuable time examining the Word.

My humble question today is this, how much of your time is spent in the Holy Scripture? How much time to you take feeding at the table of God? How much of your day is spent nurturing your soul from the bread of Heaven? Can it be said of you that you are a student of the word of God? Or would it be more correct to say that you are a spiritual anorexic? Sadly, I believe many of our souls resemble the children of the African countryside we have seen on late night infomercials, bony, emaciated, and starving. We have depleted our souls to the point where we will eat anything the world feeds us. Whether it is filth or slop, we feast upon it as if it had been prepared in a gourmet kitchen. Dear friend, I beseech you as a fellow child of God to lay aside the slop of the world and go back to the table of God. Let today be the day you feast upon the riches of God’s word.

The Sights of That City

And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Revelation 21:2

I once heard the story of an old gentleman who fell asleep one night and had the most wonderful dream. As he opened his eyes he saw a majestic city spread as far as his eyes could see. The city was so bright and fair that no mortal man could have constructed it with his own hands. As he stepped closer to the city limits, he began to notice “Welcome” signs. As a well traveled man, he had seen sign saying, “Welcome to London”, “Welcome to Paris”, and “Welcome to New York.” There as he gazed upon the sign to this city, he immediately knew where he was. The sign said, “Oh, Weary Pilgrim, Welcome to The City of God.” Could this be the city he had long read about in the pages of God’s word? Was this the place his mother and father told him of when he was just a boy? Now his feet were drawn to the gates of the city like a child drawn to a shiny toy. This had to be it. This was the City of God. As drew near, the angel which stood watch at the gate said, “Welcome home, ye soldier of the cross. Enter into the joy of your Lord.” Oh, the sights of the city were memorizing. The precious stones decorated the city as the golden streets glistened off of the crystal sea.

As the gentleman walked along the streets of the city, it was not what he saw that was notable; it was what he did not see that caught his attention. He did not see streetlights, because the Lamb of God was the light of the city. He did not see any Kleenex or handkerchiefs because God had wiped away all tears from their eyes. He did not see any funeral homes or cemeteries because death had passed away. There were no bars or street corner sins because all things had been made new. He didn’t see any churches because the Lord Almighty was the Temple. He did not see any dead leaves littering the ground because the tree of life was always living. And he did not see any wedding planners because God the Father had been planning the wedding of the Lamb since the foundation of the world.

As the man awoke from his dream, he realized it was not just a dream that would fade away, but one day, his faith would become sight. For God himself is preparing a city for His people, and soon we shall rise to be with Him.

The Looking Lord

And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.
Luke 22:61-62

Here we see a dramatic end to an emotional day for the apostle Peter. He has gone from the glory of the upper room fellowship to the grief of his rejection of the Christ. Peter would have never guessed that morning that by the end of the day he would have denied the Lord and stooped down into sin’s dread sway. Now the night has come and Peter finds himself warming by the world’s fire instead of walking by the Lord’s side. This fellowship with the world leads him to do something he never thought possible. As he watches Jesus being carried through the crowds, someone looks at Peter and says, “This man was also with him [Jesus].” The apostle, fearing for his own life adamantly denies knowing Christ. Three times in the matter of a few minutes Peter does something he had never done before. His fall was swift and it was severe.

As I read the story of Peter, I am reminded of my own life and the years of my youth. How foolish I was and how tragic the end of the story could have been. How true it is that sin can take you farther than you care to go and deeper that you care to be. The most treacherous part of sin is that it can happen so fast. I recall in my own life how quickly my slide began. It started, as I was spiritually warming by the world’s fire instead of walking by the Lord’s side. I fell in a spiritual sense. It was severe and it was sudden.

If the story had ended there for Peter or myself, it would have been a catastrophe. Oh, but thanks be the God, the scripture records after the third denial of Peter, the Lord looks at him, which leads to Peter weeping and ultimately his repentance. The Lord would have been justified to destroy Peter right there on the spot, but he didn’t. Instead, Jesus looked at him with a look of compassion and heartbreak, which led to Peter’s repentance. Oh, how I am reminded of the day the Lord gave me that look of compassion and heartbreak. The day he saw me warming by the world’s fires. Much to my surprise, he just looked at me instead of destroying me. He would have been justified to kill me, but instead he loved me. And it was that look that brought me back into His arms.

What about you my friend? Have you felt His eyes peering through you like a beam of light? He is standing at the doorstep of your soul just looking. He sees you and His heart is breaking. Will you respond to His looking?

The Scars of Job

So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal…
Job 2:7-8

If men and women in our day could have looked upon the being of Job as the boils oozed with infection all over body, I’m sure our stomachs would have turned. The shear pain and agony Job went through was enough to make even the strongest man bend over in torment. Sadly, the physical pain of the boils was not all Job dealt with; he dealt with the appearance of the boils for many days. Every man that walked by Job saw his deplorable state and distasteful form. I believe it’s fair to say, Job had his share of suffering. But, thanks be unto God that the story doesn’t end there. The end of the book of Job tells of his deliverance from the very hand of God. Every thing that had been taken from Job was returned two-fold. He had twice the cattle, twice the houses, and ten more children. God also restored unto him his health. Job’s restoration was a story of God’s deliverance and grace.

There is one area of Job’s restoration that the Bible is silent about and I believe it is a purposeful silence. This silence deals with the issue of Job’s physical appearance. We remember that his entire body was covered with boils that racked him with pain. The pain and pressure from the boils was so severe that he took a broken piece of pottery and scraped over the boils in order to gain some relief. If you have ever had a boil, you can imagine some of the pain he was in. Surely after he raked over his sores, they scabbed over and most definitely left scars from the top of his head to the soles of his feet from which I do not believe God regenerated. Till the day he died, those scars bore the story of his downfall, suffering, and his deliverance. Everywhere he went, his scars told the story of God’s grace.

My friend, we all have scars. Some scars are emotional while others are physical, yet all tell a story. Yes brothers and sisters, God did permit the trial to come into your life even though He knew it would tear and scratch your body and soul. But God was not being cruel or harsh, for God knew with the tearing and cutting would come the scars. And the scars on you would tell the world the story of God’s grace and deliverance. May we praise God for the trials and storms of life, even though they leave scars. For with our scars we tell the world God’s narrative of grace, mercy, and restoration.

The Sufficient Savior

I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
Psalm 91:2


The Psalmist speaks with full assurance and confidence here as he pens these words under inspiration of the Holy Spirit. There are two expressions of sureness that catch the attention of the reader. He says, “I will say of the Lord” and “in him will I trust.” Both leave the indelible mark that the psalmist is unshaken to the fact that he can truly trust not only upon the Lord, but also in the Lord. Dear friend, as you read, do not be taken with the attitude that the psalmist was a lunatic, that he had no idea what he was talking about, or the fact that didn’t have the problems like you or I have. Charles Spurgeon gives authorship of this psalm to Moses and we know Moses was a man acquainted with burdens, sorrow, and grief like no other man. He saw the pitfalls of sin upon his people and his own life. He had known the pain of friends and family who abandon. But he still writes and says, “in him [God] will I trust.”

The Psalmist does not leave the reader inquiring as to his faith because he gives the reasons as to why he can say with full assurance, “I will trust God”. He uses three adjectives to describe the Lord. First, he says, “He is my refuge.” This speaks to the serenity found only in the Lord. God is the one who grants peace. No wonder it was Jesus who spoke peace to the storm as the waves crashed upon the disciples. He was the one who was not overtaken by the storm but rather He walked on the water. Are you worried and weary? He stands ready to be your refuge.

The author continues by saying, “He is my fortress.” This phrase speaks to the security of the Lord’s sovereignty. Oh how badly we need the security of the Lord in our day. Is there any wonder why Noah felt safe inside the ark built to God’s specifications? It was a vessel that could handle the pressures of the outside. We need to remember that God is still the solid foundation upon which our life is built. My friend, though the winds and storms are howling, we will endure because we are safely settled in the fortress of God’s power.

The last phrase used by the Psalmist to describe the Lord is, “He is my God.” This is not a phrase of identification, but rather of attribution. The psalmist is speaking to the sufficiency of the Lord. Moses could trust in the Lord because he saw the manna fall faithfully every morning. He drank from the water that came from the rock. He watched God preserve the clothes on his back through forty years of wilderness wandering. My friend, if this man of God can put his trust in the Lord, surely you can too.

The Hurting Soul Is Welcome

Then the master of the house... said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.
Luke 14:21

Never has there been a parable that so encompassed the passion, love, and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord came to seek and to save that which was lost. As the lord of this parable speaks to his servants, we can quickly see the symbolism between the lord of the parable and the Lord telling the parable. As the lord of the parable sends out his servants to invite men and women to the grand supper he is preparing, he is not partial or particular in his invitation. He simply says, Go. Go wherever the people are. If they are in the streets, go there. If they are in the lanes of the city, go there. But quickly we realize that there is something different about the invitation from this lord. He does something out of sync with the norm. His bidding is not just to the rich, but it is to the poor, maimed, halt, and blind. His mission was not to feed those who were fed, but to feed those who were hungry. He didn’t come to cover the rich, but to clothe the poor.

Oh, can we not see the love of God through this passage? The Lord of the harvest cares deeply about all men and women. He doesn’t look at the thickness of a man’s wallet. He cares for the hurting soul. He doesn’t care about the baggage a person brings with them to the feast. Emotional and physical issues are no drawback to God. If you are poor, you are welcome. If you are maimed, you are welcome. If you are halt or blind, you are welcome. The Lord of Glory bids all who will, draw near to Him. He will take your brokenness and loneliness and turn them into wholeness and companionship. He has the ability to turn your disease and sickness into wellness and health.

Also within the confines of this passage we see a mandate to God’s servants. The Lord of the parable told his servants to go where the hurting people were. Oh how often do we turn our heads from broken people in order to find a fat cat to pad our offerings? We look for the socialite who will bring notoriety to our congregation. May we turn our eyes away from the size of a man’s pocket book and turn to the need of his heart. May God show us to go where the hurting people are and may we usher them to the hospital of God’s hope.

This One Thing I Do

...but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before...
Philippians 3:13

The world we live in is fast-paced to say the least. There are bills to pay, yards to mow, jobs to work, and children to feed. In the day and hour we are in church is normally put on the back burner for most people. It goes something like this; “I’ll have life, with a side of God.” Over the years, this has become a motto and lifestyle for many people who profess the name of Jesus Christ. Until recently, men in the ministry were somewhat immune to this motto. The ministry and the service of Jesus Christ were their lifestyle. They lived to pray and prayed to live. They sought God through meditation in His word. But it seems more and more across the board that we are so distracted with the hustle of life that God has been pushed to the side. The disregard for God has become so prevalent in these dark hours that our pulpits are powerless and our churches resemble mortuaries. Something is wrong and needs to change quickly.

My mentor in the faith was and still is a man I admire. Often, during our formal meetings and even during our casual conversations he would say, “this one thing I do.” I always knew what he meant. He was reminding me that as an ambassador for the Lord Jesus Christ, I have one goal and aim. Event though there will be many distractions that come along my path, I must always remember that I have one purpose in life. Everything else is secondary to “this one thing I do.” The apostle Paul had a similar perspective on life, which is why he wrote, “this one thing I do” to the Philippians. Never did he want to forget why he was placed on this earth.

Often we stumble in our Christian walk and work. We retrace our steps to see what it was that caused the slip and many times we find that our failure was due to our losing sight of “this one thing I do.” Has God called you to sing? Then sing for His glory. Have you been called to preach? Then preach solely in the power and authority of the Holy Ghost. Have you been called to serve? Then serve with your whole heart. We were not placed here on earth to make money and build castles. God did not save us so that we could build our kingdom. We are to heed the command of Jesus when He said, Seek ye first the kingdom of God. When we are tempted to forget, may God always help us to remember, “this one thing I do.”

Take Heed To Yourselves

Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them... And then the LORD's wrath be kindled against you...
Deuteronomy 11:16-17

I am drawn to the book of Deuteronomy for in this book we find the final sermons of Moses. As he peered from his tent and looked upon the children of Jacob, he saw the failures of their past and surely he felt fear for their future. As we look around the world in which we live, we quickly see the same things Moses saw: failure and fear. Our nation is deplorable and our churches are dead. Oh how quickly things can change. Moses had the same thought for he had seen with his own eyes how quickly a nation could go from spiritual awakening to spiritual apathy. He saw how rapidly the people’s hearts were turned from worship to whining. Oh how quickly the people took to the wicked idolatry of the surrounding nations. Moses recalled how the people longed for the words of God at the foot of Sinai and forty days later they were perversely dancing around a golden calf made by their own hands. That is the reason Moses told the people to “take heed”. That phrase, “take heed” is a phrase of constant remembrance and action based on that remembrance. Every step the people took, they were to “take heed”, lest they feel into the trap of sin. Every meal they ate, they were to “take heed”, lest they took a blasphemous bite. Every transaction they made, they were to “take heed” lest they prostituted the land of promise. Oh but how the disregarded this simple command, “take heed”.

It is easy to glance over the sin of the children of Israel and brush past the command of Moses to “take heed”. It seems like such a cliché so we haphazardly look past it just as Israel did. Sadly, we are just as fickle as the children of Israel. One day, we are weeping over sins forgiven, and the next day we are full of debauchery and lasciviousness. One day we are hugging our parents simply because we love them and the next day we are cursing their name. One day we are “in love” with God and His word, the next day we can’t even be pulled from our bed in order to attend our local church. Oh yes, how often we should “take heed”. How often we should remember the consequences of past sins lest we fall into the snare of them once again. My dear friend, if only you could feel the burden which the Savior has for you. He longs for you to “take heed” of your actions. Don’t fall into the sin of Balaam. Don’t go in the way of Cain. Don’t slip into the sayings of Korah. “Take heed” of thy steps, lest you slip down the slopes of sin into the hands of the living God.

Because He Loved Me

The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people… But because the LORD loved you- Deuteronomy 7:8-9

The Bible is full of reminders to the child that is on the verge of something great. God never ushers you into something new until you have remembered the path that has brought you to where you are. Here in the book of Deuteronomy, Moses is delivering his last address to the children of Israel. The entire book is a great study as you look at the last words of this great man of God. For you can truly see what is of the utmost importance to a man from what he concentrates on in the concluding days of his life. It is no wonder that Moses makes the statement here to his recipients. He never wanted them to forget why it was that God brought them to the door of the Promised Land. It was not because they offered great military strength to conquer the land. It wasn’t because there were a vast number of them because when God spoke the promise to bring them into the land of promise, He spoke it to one man, Abraham. God did not set His face upon them because He knew they would yield wonderful praise and adoration for many years to come because the fact was God knew they would go astray to idols and false gods. Moses told them that the reason God brought us out from thence, that he might bring us in, was because the LORD loved you. It was all because of love.

Sometimes arrogance and pride come upon us like it did the children of Israel and we forget the real reason God came to us. He made the journey to your soul not because you had vast wealth to offer Him. He owns the cattle upon a thousand hills. He did not come to you because you had grand numbers to offer Him. Friend, He would have come if you had been for only person. No the truth of the matter is that God came to me and to you because He loved us. Because He loved you He walked the path to Calvary. Love was the only reason He stood silently while they stripped the flesh from His back. It was all love that held him fast to the cross. It was for love He died to set you free. May we cast our arrogance and pride at the feet of the crucified Savior and remember the only reason God does anything for us is because the LORD loved you.

The Cry Of The Crowd

But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him
Luke 23:21

There as Jesus stood, He heard the words that He dreaded to hear since the foundation of the worlds were laid. He knew they coming, yet they were still startling. As He stood there silently, he heard the chant of the crowd as they yelled over and over again, Crucify him, Crucify him! I am sure He thought in His mind, is this not the same crowds that were waiving palm branches less than a week ago? Are these not the blinded eyes that I have touched? Are these not the withered hands that I have healed? Yet, the Lamb stood silently before His shearers.

As I sit here and ponder this thought, it is easy to cast judgment upon those people that yelled, Crucify him! It is easy on this side of Calvary to see their wrong. It is easy to hurl accusations at them. It is easy to pile charges against them. But in my heart of hearts, I wonder; If I had been there that day among the crowds that stood in front of Pilate’s judgment hall watching Jesus of Nazareth being tried, what would I have said? Would I have stood up and declared Jesus’ innocence? Would I have run past the Roman guards that stood by and attempted to set this Healer free? Would I have walked down the Via Dolorosa in an attempt to give the Water of Life a sponge of water to drink? Or would I have been like the rest of the crowd that day and jeered, Crucify him! Would my voice have rung in the ears of the Savior as saying, Crucify! Would my mortal voice have spoken hatred into the ears of the everlasting God?

My heart cannot help but wonder about that as I sit here. I can but hope that I would have been different than the rest of the crowd. I shall never know. But I do know that I have been saved by His marvelous grace. I am a recipient of undeserved mercy. When my voice was raised in animosity toward the Savior, He still loved me. Oh what wonderful love that will not leave me. No wonder Paul wrote, Who can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus? It is a love that goes beyond our cry to Crucify. It is a love that forgives our past failures. Oh what love divine that saved a soul such as mine.

Is There A City Too Strong For The Lord?

From Aroer, which is by the brink of the river of Arnon, and from the city that is by the river, even unto Gilead, there was not one city too strong for us: the LORD our God delivered all unto us- Deuteronomy 2:36

As Moses is coming to the end of his life, he is recalling to the people of Israel all the victories the Lord had wrought for them. He is rehearsing these events for the sake of the new generation that will be the one to inhabit the land that God promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Moses wants to reassure this new generation of Israelites that God is more than able to escort them into the land of promise no matter how large or great the heathen inhabitants are. He assures them that there was not one city too strong for us in the past and there will not be one city too strong for you in the future. There was no enemy too strong or too bold. There was no city too impregnable or any people unconquerable. They were able to cross every obstacle the enemy threw into their path. Moses declared with confidence in his voice, there was not one city too strong for us.

Moses, the man of God was not boastful in his statement. He knew the reason why the enemies fell and the way was opened. He knew why the water flowed from the rock and the manna fell from the sky. He says, the LORD our God delivered all unto us. The God of glory was on their side. The Lord of heaven walked in their midst. He was the one that destroyed the Midianites. He was the one that delivered the heathen kings. He arranged their defeat. He organized their fall. He was the one who had the power to make the way open. Moses was careful to instruct the new generation to the fact that they could conquer the land, but only through the power of the Lord.

Have you a mountain that is too high? Have you a valley that seems too dark? Is there a river that is too rough? Do you feel your situation is too difficult? Dear friend, ask David as he stands in front of the giant, is there a city that is too strong for the Lord? Ask Elijah as he is on top of Mount Carmel, is there a city that is too strong for the Lord? Question the disciples after Pentecost, is there a city that is too strong for the Lord? My brother and sister, stand tall in the face of adversity. Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

What Does God Think?

Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward Psalm 40:5

Who can know the thoughts of God? Who can fathom the knowledge of the Almighty? The thoughts of God are not like the thoughts of man. The thoughts of God are far higher and loftier and wiser than man’s thoughts. My heart today is somewhat curious. I began to wonder the other night about the thoughts of God. My simple reflection is this, “What does God think of me?” Now, I know right now some men are scheming out grand theological thoughts and philosophies about God thoughts towards me as far as salvation, sanctification, and righteousness. But I want to be far simpler than those ideas. I wonder today, “What does God think about certain things on an intimate level?” Let us think for just a moment about, “What does God think?”

I began to ponder, “What does God think of creation?” On the days of God’s creation, He declared with a thunderous voice, “It is good”. He delighted in the handy work which He labored to form. But now after years of sin have ravaged His creation, what does He think about it? Does his heart break as he looks at the barrenness of the African desert? Does His eye fill with tears as He looks at the pollution that fills the skies over the cities of the world? What does He think of creation?

I began to wonder, “What does God think as He looks at our churches?” Is He satisfied with the work we are accomplishing or is He frustrated because of the division that splits our aisles? What does He think of the words that come from the pulpits? Is He angry at the apathy we have towards sin? Is He fuming because we fail to uphold His commandment to go into all the world. Does He look at your congregation and repent at the fact He paid such a high price for you? What does God think of our churches?

My mind was ultimately led to the thought, “What does God think about the Christian?” What does He think about you? What does he think about the testimony you maintain? What does He think when He looks at your life? Could it be said of you that you bring joy to the heart of God? Is He pleased with your attitude? Is he thrilled with your witness? Is He happy at your tone towards the hurting souls that surround you? Sadly, in the day we are living, worldliness has permeated our churches and poisoned Christians? So I leave you with this sobering thought, “What does God think when He looks at you?”

Praise Ye The Lord

Praise ye the Lord. I will praise the Lord with my whole heart... Psalm 111:1

At one point in his life, this psalmist had been to the lowest pit of life. He had rolled around in the filth of his depravity. He had floundered in the loneliness of broken relationships. He had walked through the valley of the shadow of death. He had known defeat. But this day was different. When the sun rose on this particular morning there was a different feel in the air. Instead of begging for relief, he was basking in blessing. His cup wass full and running over. The winds of time had driven the darkness out of his life and had ushered in a season of praise. He breaks out into a psalm of praise that the sweet Holy Spirit preserves in the Word of God.

He gives thanks for several things, but there is one thing that has caught my eye as I read it. He says, The works of the Lord are great. Everything the Lord does is great. When looking at His mighty work in creation you have to say, The works of the Lord are great. When thinking about His deliverance of the children of Israel from the oppressive hand of Pharaoh, you have to say, The works of the Lord are great. When giving thought to the mighty victory over the Philistine giant, you have to say, The works of the Lord are great. When thinking about the fire on mount Caramel, you have to say, The works of the Lord are great. When you think about the Hebrew boys being saved from the fiery furnace, you have to say, The works of the Lord are great. When you contemplate His feeding of the five thousand, you have to say, The works of the Lord are great. When you think about the way God sent Jesus to redeem us from the curse of sin through His shed blood on Calvary, you have to say, The works of the Lord are great.

If the Lord is great in all of these circumstances, will he not be great in your life? If He raised the dead, can He not send salvation to your family? If He kept the barrel full for the widow, can He not send bread to your table? Many times we are quick to give up on the Lord because He is not moving in our time. Remember, the works of the Lord are great. Let the Lord move your life in the direction He wants it to go in. Allow Him to have control over the things that control you. God is a great God and He wants to do great works through you. Just remember as you go through life listening to the scoffers and mockers, the works of the Lord are great. Then you can say like the psalmist, Praise ye the Lord. I will praise the Lord with my whole heart.

The Thirsty Soul

…If any man thirst, let him come unto me…
John 7:37

Take your mind captive for a moment and race it back over two thousand years ago. Go across the ocean and land in the land of Israel. Go to the heart of the land into the city of Jerusalem. Walk down the street of the city and march up the steps that lead into the temple. Push your way through the crowd of beggars and paupers who were not allowed in the inner court and tune your ear to hear the voice of the Great Teacher. Listen as Jesus begins to give the greatest invitation that has ever been given. Watch the Great Master at the feast of tabernacles as He holds up a cup of water for all to see. He looks beyond the upper echelon of Pharisees and looks to the poor men and women who are not allowed to come into the temple. He knows they are hungry. He knows their dry, parched lips long for the refreshment of water. He says with a booming voice that has echoed through time, Come unto me, and drink the everlasting waters that will quench your eternal thirst. Imagine the joy that filled their hearts. I imagine that some even jumped up in excitement and cried aloud, “I am thirsty!” “I want to sip from the well that will never run dry.”

The same call still rings from the pages of God’s word. The Savior still calls all thirsty sinners to the river that never runs dry. He is still calling parched lips to come and drink from the deep well of His love. He calls all the men and women who have wandered far too long in the desert of decision. He offers the cup of eternal life to anyone who will come. He tells all men, Come unto Me. Dear sinner, do you feel abandoned in this world of sin, Come to Jesus. Sister, have you no fountain to drink from, Come to Jesus. All who are lost and lonely, Come to Jesus. Even the Christian who feels as if they are abandoned in the desert of life, Jesus begs you to come and drink from the fountain that will refresh you. It has deep reservoirs from which it gathers its supply. Oh, want you come today?

I Believe God

Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me
Acts 27:25

I can imagine being on that ship with the apostle Paul in the sea that night as the winds and waves crashed against the vessel. Can you imagine the fear on the faces of each of the men on the ship? Try to imagine how you would have felt if you had been on board that night. Imagine the darkness that would have encompassed you on every side. Imagine the water as it rolled over the sides of the ship. Think about the rain as it poured out of the sky. It was coming down in sheets so fast that it is nearly impossible to get your breath. Now, take these visuals and begin to think about the fear that would have gripped your heart. This is what real terror is like. It is knowing that you have no help and no signs of hope.

If you were on the ship that night, you would have seen these frightened men. You would have also seen a sight that night which far surpassed all the other sights. You could have looked over that night to the side of the craft and seen an aged man, the apostle Paul. As you stare into his face, you notice something different. You notice that he doesn’t look fearful. In fact, he doesn’t even look worried. As you stare deep into his eyes you see, peace. In fact, the apostle was so peaceful that the Bible says he yelled out to the other men, “Fear not”. What?! How can this be? How could there be two reactions to the same problem. Both sides were going through a storm. Both sides were being tossed to and fro. What has happened to make the difference between fear on one side and peace on the other? What could have caused such a stark difference? The answer can be summed up in three words, “I believe God”.

Paul had been given a promise by the angel of the Lord that he was going to make it to the other side. God had told Paul that he would make it to Rome and stand before the Caesar. He had heard from the heavens that he was going to make it through. He knew he was not going down for the count because he believed God. He knew that there was not a storm powerful enough to take him down because he believed God. He was unwilling to allow his circumstance to dictate how he was going to interpret his future. He refused to allow the pessimistic attitude of his fellow shipmen to bring him down because he believed God. He had been given a promise and he was going to believe God.

I was giving this thought on the radio the other day when an older lady called the church office. She gave me her story and shared with me how much this thought had helped her. She said it wasn’t the fact that this was a new thought I had presented, but she just needed to be reminded of the fact that she needed to believe God.

My friend, I believe this is probably the same situation many of us are in. The fact that we need to believe God over the sayings and comments of the world is no new thought. It has been preached ever since the apostle Paul said it under inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Even that night on the sea, those sailors had probably heard it numerous times throughout their lives. They didn’t need to learn that thought, they just needed to be reminded of it just like we need to be reminded of it. Friend, this isn’t a thought you haven’t already heard hundreds of times, but let me say it again, “I believe God”. When the world says no and God says yes, “I believe God”. When the doctor says death and God says life, “I believe God”. When the banks turn their heads, “I believe God”. When all hope is gone, I believe God”. When the world says it is over, God will have the last word. “I believe God”.

The Storm of Sin

…The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God…
Psalm 9:17

In August 2005, the storm of all storms was brewing in the Gulf of Mexico. It was a storm that would forever change cities. It would wreak havoc upon hundreds of families. As Hurricane Katrina was churning over the warm waters of the gulf, fear was gripping the hearts of thousands as they sit in its potential path of destruction. As that overwhelming storm made landfall, it forever altered the lives of thousands. For over 1800 people, it ushered them to the doorpost of death.

As you sit here this day, there is a storm brewing over this nation. It is churning like a hurricane over warm water as it constantly gains strength. It is getting worse and worse. Soon this storm will be too large to control and will be too great to handle. Where is this storm? Is it churning in the Atlantic? How about the Pacific? Does its origins resonate from the Gulf of Mexico? The answer is, No! This storm is brewing in the hearts of men and women from coast to coast. It is booming from Washington to Raleigh. It is flourishing from Wilmington to Asheville. It is moving across the heartland of the Republic to the Canyons of Arizona. An evil is settling into the souls of millions. Wickedness is inhabiting the hearts of people all through this land. It seems there is a dark cloud of fear and turmoil that is ushering in the storms of sin.

You don’t agree? You don’t believe this is the truth? You may think I am an alarmist. You may believe I am just a pessimist. Allow me a moment to illustrate my point. How can a child kill classmates in cold blood? How can thieves murder a man in a Convenient store over a pack of cigarettes? Why would a man blow his paycheck on a pint of whisky instead of feeding his family? Why would a mother put a newborn in a dumpster just because the baby cries for milk? Friend, there is a cloud of wickedness that is on horizon and God Almighty is the only one who can stop it.

Why should we care? What difference does it make to the Christian? Besides, “This world is not my home, I’m just passin’ through!” My friend, I do agree with you on that point, but we should still worry about this storm of sin. We should care because this storm will affect our children. This storm will be a cloud over our grandbabies. Your children will go to war zones instead of classrooms because of this storm. They will learn about homosexuals instead of the Almighty Creator. They will learn how to practice safe sex instead of abstinence. Something is wrong! What will you do? Will you sound out the warning? Will you sound the alarm that the storm is coming? For you see my friend, when the storm gets here, it will be too late! Let us get a burden and pray to the God of Heaven to save us from this wave of wickedness. May this be the day we stand up and tell people about this sinful storm.

The Captain Of Our Salvation

…To make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings…
Hebrews 2:10

The fierceness of battle is something that every soldier prepares for, but very few actually look forward to. It is something they hope and pray is averted through the avenues of patience and diplomacy. When the inevitable day comes and battle commences, many emotions and thoughts quickly shuffle through the mind of the soldier. One feeling that certainly comes into their mind is the feeling of confusion. What are they supposed to do? Where are they supposed to go? Confusion and fear on the battlefield will assuredly lead to defeat and death. When uncertainty fills the soldier’s mind, and leaves him lost, all he has to do is look for his commanding officer. The ranking member on the battlefield sends out the order that takes the soldier from confusion to action because of their training. No longer does he have to wonder; now he can war. He no longer has to fear; now he can fight.

What comfort can this bring to you? Where can your heart find solace in this thought? Well, most assuredly you know we are in the battle for our lives. This is a fight we have never experienced before. No, physical warfare may not be raging in your home. You may not wake up to the sound of gun fire. You may not see the smoke from canon fire. But rest assured my friend, spiritual battle is furiously exploding all around you. We are in the fight of our lives.

In times like these, feelings of bewilderment can take hold of our heart and ultimately leave you in fear. You wonder, “What will be the outcome of this battle?” You think, “Will I make it out of this battle?” When you are engaging in the spiritual battles of faith and family, don’t let confusion be the dominating feeling. Don’t let fear grip you in the night. Look up to the Captain of your salvation. You see, He stands on the battlefield with you. He is sounding out the orders, saying, Fear Not, I am with thee. Let the peace of God keep your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. Keep your eye on the Captain and your ear attentive to His order, for then, confusion will flee and understanding will enter because He hath not given us the spirit of fear.

I like the definition for the word “captain”; it means, “a person who is at the head of or in authority over others; chief; leader”. Aren’t you glad Jesus is still in control of all things? He still has all authority and dominion. He is still in possession of the keys to death and hell. Do not be afraid just because you are in the battle. My friend, we are all in the battle of our lives. Have no fear, the Captain of our salvation sill stands with us in the battle. Now is the time we, Look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.

The Power of One

For the LORD brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel…
II Chronicles 28:19

King Ahaz was a wretched man. He was responsible for bringing a nation into idolatry and wickedness. He could have easily turned his heart toward God and shown the nation the power of God. He could have led the nation in casting down idols and images thus brining to their attention the wonderful Savior. Did he do it? No! He decided to let his wicked wife dictate what would be. He let her cold heart and pagan gods drag a nation into destruction. The choice of one man led an entire nation into destruction.

“Nothing happens in a vacuum”. I once had a college professor who said this all the time. He made reference to this statement almost every class period. What does it mean? It means that no action is void of consequences. It further means that no one person’s actions affect just that one person. You see, my decisions will affect someone else whether I want to admit it or not. You disagree? My friend, let me offer a rebuttal to your opinion. Ask the mother whose husband is a drunk if his decisions affect her. Ask the son whose parents abandoned him if their decision affected him. Ask the country if the king’s decisions affect them. Ask the daughter who would love to meet her mother, but cannot because of a drunken driver. You are not alone in your world. Your decisions have far reaching affects. What are you doing today that would leave detrimental consequences on those you love? Today is the day to change your ways while there is time.

Have you not yet been persuaded about one man’s actions? Do you need further convincing? My friend, let your mind race to the Garden of Eden. Find the lone man in the garden. Watch as he takes the fruit from his wife. Behold him as he draws it towards his lips. Now watch as his lone act of disobedience plunges the entire human race into depravity. Oh the effects of one man’s action. That one story has forever changed the eternal destiny of millions.

Are you still unconvinced of the far-reaching effects of a singular action? When I think of the actions of one man affecting others, my mind is immediately drawn to the Blessed Son of God. Just as the sin of Adam reached into the chasms of time; so did the blessed Christ’s actions reach through the ages. Oh the depth of His love for you! Oh the grace that brought His love down to man! What love and compassion found in one man’s actions! What great effects it has had on my life!

Your actions today will hurt or benefit those surrounding you. What will you chose to do? Will you continue in that action that you know is wrong? Will you continue to mire through the sin of life? Or will you chose to follow the model of Jesus Christ and decide to let holiness be the line that you measure your life against?

The Power of the Blood

…When I see the blood…
Exodus 12:13

The old song tells the story of the young Hebrew boy as he sat in the midnight hour on the appointed day when the angel of the Lord would smite the first-born. As he sat nervously, the boy rehearsed in his mind the sight of his father wiping the doorpost with the blood of his young lamb that they had killed earlier. At the time, he did not understand why his young lamb had to die. He could not fathom the reason for which his father had slaughtered the spotless lamb. He knew not to question his father’s actions so he stood there quietly watching his lamb innocently die. He watched as his father took the sharp knife and drew it across the lamb’s throat. He noticed as the blood dripped from the lamb’s neck, it did not bite the slayer. It did not refuse to die. It simply attempted to lick the wound, almost signaling to the little boy, “It’s ok”. When the angel of death passed by that night, he saw the blood and passed over. I am sure the boy thought within his heart, “What power there was in that blood”.

Dear friend, when the Christ of heaven ascended Calvary’s hill and lay upon the cross willingly, he was letting you know, “It’s ok”. He did not rebuke the lashes. He did not demand freedom. He did not condemn the world by calling legions of angels. He symbolically licked his wounds by saying, “Father, forgive them”. The God of glory accepted the blood as the ultimate payment for our sins. The angels heaven stood by thinking, “What power there is in that blood”.

Why did he do this? Why did he shed his blood as an innocent lamb? Why did he not speak up? Friend the reason is simple. He allowed the spotless blood to flow from His divine veins so that when the angel of death comes to the doorpost of our life, he will have to pass over because the blood was applied at salvation. So my brother, when you sit nervously like that little Hebrew boy wondering if the blood is still there, have no fear, for it was applied by the Holy Ghost with love and care. You can be encouraged at the fact, the blood has never lost its power. And one day when you step into the ivory palaces of Heaven, you can say with the millions, “What power there is in the blood”.

The Great Pardon

…He is near that justifieth me…
Isaiah 50:8

The story has been told numerous times of the suspected criminal as he stood before the judge. The charge had been read and the courtroom saw it as an open and shut case. The evidence was overwhelming against the suspect. Not only was there physical evidence, but there were also witnesses that stood ready to testify against the criminal. Finally the judge heard all that he needed to hear. The facts were undeniable. The testimonies were indisputable. The judge raised the gavel and slammed it against the desk and thundered out a loud, “Guilty”.

How could this be? The criminal knew he was guilty, but was there no way he could obtain a little mercy? Was there no way to receive a little leniency? What could be done? Just as the convicted man hung his head in shame and remorse, the doors leading into the courtroom burst open. The criminal turned his head to see the judge’s son walking through the door coming straight at him. Had this son come only to further humiliate? Was he going to add pain to the punishment? All at once the son took the criminal by the hand and led him to the judge’s seat. There at the seat the son looked into the eyes of the judge and said, “Father, I know he deserves death for his crimes, but father, please have mercy. I believe he has value. I believe he will be worth something. Father, I know he is guilty and his account is bleak; so Father, put his account into my folder. I have done no wrong. I have committed no crime. Let him bear my name. Let him walk with me. And as long as he bares my name, let him be justified. As long as I am by his side, let him considered acceptable.” The judge through the gavel to the bench and declared for all to hear, “Justified!”

Dear friend, this is what happened in the courtroom of your heart. You were guilty before God and were deserving of spiritual death. You had no hope. Your only plea was, “Guilty”. The charges had been levied. The witnesses had spoken. You were without defense. Then all of a sudden, the second person of the Trinity burst into your life and declared you as His possession. He gave you the change to go free. He gave you the chance to bear His name. And as long as you bear his name, you bear His record. He knew you had value. He saw you as important. When the world cast you off as a nobody, the great God of heaven looked your way and saw your potential. He reached down and saved your soul, and set you free. Oh, what a Savior.

The Joy At The Tomb

…And they departed quickly from the sepulcher with fear and great joy…
Matthew 28:8

Their sorrow was definite. Their heart was broken. Their depression was near. Just a few days before, they had watched their hope disappear as the Hope of Eternity was crucified. The man that promised to fulfill the law had died. The man that offered them eternal life now lay sealed inside a tomb. The man that once raised the dead was now unable to move because death had chained His body. But oh, what a difference a day makes! The sorrow, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary had felt just days before was all erased because of what happened that day at the tomb. Though that morning when they arose from their sleep, their hearts were heavy with grief; that night they would be unable to sleep because of the joy that filled their soul. What happened?

It was the first day of the week. As the two women were walking down the road toward the garden tomb, there was a mighty earthquake that shook the earth beneath them. Sore afraid, they rushed to the sepulcher to be sure everything was ok. When they arrived that morning, it was not the Roman guards that met them, but rather they conversed with Holy Angels. "Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay." It was those words which filled their hearts with great joy.

Dear friend, contrary to the world, the Bible is not a storybook full of fairy tales. It is the first hand account of God’s redemption plan for man that culminated at the resurrection of our Lord. Today, for a moment, put aside all the things that jockey for your attention. Put aside the bills and the job. Lay aside the repairs and the games. Think solely about the resurrection of our Lord. Think about the Christ that rose from the grave. Think about His triumph over death, Hell, and the grave.

Has you joy gone away? Are you struggling just to take a deep breath because the pressures of life have weighed you down? My friend, Jesus is still alive! He is still real! The tomb is still empty! Focus your mind upon the resurrection today. What delight there is to be found in the story of God’s redemption plan for you and me. If God has the power over death, Hell, and the grave, do you not think He has the power over your situation and heartache? Praise be to God!

The Past Is A Promise

…This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope…
Lamentations 3:21

There sat Jeremiah on the ash heap of what was once the great city of Jerusalem. A city once arrayed in glory and honor; a city that was once the sanctuary for the Spirit of glory; Once a land that all nations feared. Now Jerusalem lay burned to the ground because of the wrath of Almighty God delivered through the heathen nation. Jeremiah was heartbroken because of his beloved city. His eyes were swollen shut because he had wept the whole night through. Suddenly there was a glimmer of joy that shot across his countenance. Something had given him hope. Something had brought a thought to his heart. There was a solace. What could have given this depressed man a reason to hope for deliverance?

My friend, he remembered that God would again visit with Israel. He knew that the Spirit would again dwell among the people. He knew the Messiah would soon come to deliver them. He remembered the stories his father had told him of the miraculous Exodus. He remembered the stories of the walls at Jericho. He recalled the stories of David slewing the giant. He remembered the glory of Solomon’s temple. “The past was a promise” to the weeping prophet.

There is a wonderful song that brings this thought today. “The Whisnants” are the singers that bring this wonderful delight. My friend, How do you know that God will work in the future? How can you be sure that He will deliver you from the temptations that will face you this day? All you have to do is remember how He has always worked. Remember how He wonderfully saved you. Remember how He pulled you through the last storm you were tossed by. Remember the day when you lost all hope because the doctors walked away and there stood Jesus in the shadows with the remedy. Remember how He walked through the door just in time. If He did it before, He will do it again. Always remember, “The Past is a Promise.” If God did not fail you in the past, He will not fail you in the present. He will come through right on time, everytime!

Hope In God

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God…
Psalm 43:5

The doctor lowered his head in frustration and disappointment. He had done all he could do for the young girl, yet to no avail. The pain gripped her body like a vise’s unrelenting pressure on a piece of wood. Once filled with hope he could bring some relief to their baby girl, Mom and Dad sat helpless as the doctor had to leave. Now what would they do. Where could they turn? The experts had no answers. The hospital offered no help. The clinics held no hope. How could they live watching their daughter suffer? More importantly, how could the child live racked by so much pain? They were at their lowest point. It seemed they were literally, without hope.

As the sun set, the child drifted to sleep under the heavy sedation of the medication. Mom and dad were not as fortunate. They watched the sun sink below the horizon, seemingly taking all hope with it. That night, the only thing they could muster were a few soft words to each other and silent prayers to God. Exhaustion and fear had taken their place on the throne of their hearts.

The midnight finally arrived. Mom lay in the bed with her baby while dad dosed off and on, laying on the uncomfortable cot. Even if they had been awake, they would have been unaware of the silent stranger that visited their room that night. They never saw His mighty hand touch the sick child.

The psalmist brings familiar thoughts to us. “Why art thou cast down, O my soul?” He begged the question, “Why am I like this?” "Why can I not find relief?” “Where is my answer?” These are questions we have all asked. Maybe a bad report from the doctor brings the question to mind. It may have been a broken relationship. Maybe a child has gone astray. Whatever the case may be, the psalmist finishes the thought by answering his own question. He says, “Hope in God”. My friend, when the doctor walks away, hope in God. When fears grip your soul, hope in God. When the child screams in pain, hope in God. When money is running short, hope in God. My friend, do not give up! Even when depression comes over you, still, hope in God!

Crooked Structures

Offer the sacrifices of righteousness
Psalm 4:5

The building was almost complete. After hours of labors and thousands of dollars, the construction workers walked away from the jobsite to behold their work. They had worked day and night for many months to erect this wonderful building. The workers were filled with excitement and anticipation. They could not wait to show them their craftsmanship. They wanted him to see the artistry. Finally, they could show their work to the foreman. He would have to stamp his seal of approval upon their work before the building could be occupied.

The long awaited moment had finally arrived. The foreman arrived on site and stepped out of his vehicle. He took two steps and stopped dead in his tracks. He took one look at the building and lowered his head in disbelief. He had no idea how something of this magnitude could go unnoticed. With a tone of disappointment and sternness, the foreman stamped a seal of failure on the project without even laying an eye on the inside.

The workers were confused and outraged. How could he fail the project without even looking at the whole thing? One of the workers finally worked up the nerve to approach the foreman and ask him why he failed the project without taking a complete look. What about the wonderful carvings? He didn’t even see the vibrant colors? The foreman answered the young man, “Son, I do not question the beauty of the colors. I do not question the wonderful carvings. My problem is not with the accents of the building, but rather, it is with the structure.” He continued, “I helped lay the cornerstone that would guarantee the alignment of the building. If you had aligned your work with my specifications, all would be well. Now, the building is worthless. It will never be inhabited. It will never be enjoyed.”

The psalmist gives a grand thought. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness. The word “righteousness” means, “alignment with what or who is right”. In this case, it means “alignment with God”. My friend, how can we adorn the rooms of our soul when our spiritual structure is out of plum? Why do we attempt to paint the walls of our heart when the floor is crumbling beneath us? It is high time that we stop pretending all is well between the Lord and us? Today is the day we stop decorating and start aligning. Let this be the day you plum your life against the Cornerstone. Then, when your life is aligned with God, you can proceed to adorn you life with the ornaments of grace.

The Archer

My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up
Psalm 5:3

As the archer took one last, scrutinizing look at his target, he reached into his leather quiver for the arrow. With precision he touched the notched arrow to the bow and raised it from the ground. Once the arrowhead was pointed at its target, there was no turning back. If he chose to raise the bow, then his decision would have to be final. If the prey saw the hesitation in his draw, the game would be over. Now was not the time for him to be thinking of what he should do. Now he was face to face with his adversary.

This current situation was not one which was new to the experienced archer. The archer had thought through the process long before he took the field of competition. His decision was not made in the present. You see, it was years earlier, during the archers practice time, he decided what he would do when faced with his current situation. He knew what conditions would have to be present for the bow to be raised and the draw to be made. Accuracy and precision were only half the battle the archer would have to win. The other half of the battle for the archer was his decision not to balk when the game was on the line.

Now was the time. His practice had paid off. He knew just what to do. He did not worry about the repercussions of his actions. They were already decided. The conditions were right. The time was now. His practice had paid off. Now those long days and nights seemed worth it. Now his blood and sweat were paying the dividends he had hoped they would. With arrowhead pointed and the bow drawn, the archer released the fatal shot.

Our spiritual life is much like that of the archer. My friend, the heat of the battle is not the time to determine what you will do. This decision should have been made long before the battle started. The psalmist makes that declaration as seen in this psalm. His determination is unmistakable. He uses the definite verbs “shalt” and “will”. He wanted his people to know that his mind was made up long before the battle started. He would not shutter in war because he had solidified his standing years before. My friend, determine to stand for God long before the fiery darts of the wicked assail you. Do not be blindsided because you forgot to prepare. Today is the day you determine to succeed. This is the day your life should count for God. Yesterday is a fleeting memory and tomorrow is not promised. Today is your day of determination.

I Have Been Blessed

While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being- Psalm 146:2

Charles Spurgeon wrote in The Treasury of David, as we enter Psalm 146, “We are now among the Hallelujahs”. I would have to agree with him. At this point in the book of Psalms, we are past the troubles and trials that have plagued the men which penned the words to these inspired hymns. No more do we hear of the valley of the shadow of death. There is no more mention of the day of trouble. He has no more worries about weeping enduring for the night. Now we have come to the home stretch. We are at the point when the rubber meets the spiritual road. He is about to sum up the purpose of life and that purpose is to Praise the Lord.

I believe the Psalmist is coming to the end of his days and makes a solemn vow as he cries from his heart, While I live will I praise the Lord. He has seen what is truly important. This old man has been through the ringer. He has witnessed the high days and experienced the low ones as well. He knows how it feels to be battered by the storms of life. He has felt the betrayal of friends and family. Yet, he doesn’t mention them at this hour in his life. At this point, they are a distant memory. From this point forward the only words that will fill his mouth are words of praise. The only sounds that will penetrate his lips will be sounds of adoration. His heart is set. His mind is made up. He is going to Praise the Lord.

My friend, this is a lesson that we all need to store in the treasure chest of our heart. What happened to the people who will praise God? Paul said it best in II Timothy when he described the last day’s generation as ungrateful. But, here is my question, Has God ceased to do mighty things? Has He stopped being holy? Is He no longer righteous? No! No! No! The God that I serve is still a holy God. He is still the mighty God. He is the one who rolled back the Red Sea. He knocked down the walls at Jericho. He is the chariot of fire. He is the holy one of Israel. He is still the head of the church. He still has the power over death, hell, and the grave. He is the one who saved my soul. He established my goings. He is preparing me a place in Heaven. And one day, He is going to call me from this world of sin into His glorious presence. I have reason to praise the Lord.

What about you? Have you nothing to praise God for? Stop thinking about all the things you don’t have. Don’t worry about that home you can’t afford. Don’t fret over that car you don’t need. Focus on the blessings God has already given. Has he saved your soul? Have you been washed in the blood of the precious lamb of God? How about your family? Your friends? Think of the blessings right under your nose. Did you enjoy the food God gave you yesterday? Oh my brother, let us cry everyday of our life like the psalmist, While I live will I praise the Lord.