You can't serve both...

"Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ." - Galatians 1:10

The Sunday that I was being considered for the role as pastor at my first church, a young believer asked this question: "Do you serve God, or man?" The Next year Bob Dylan wrote the song "Gotta Serve Somebody". The issue is thought provoking and life directing. As Jesus said in Matthew 6:24, "No one can serve two masters"

Paul faced quite a dilemma with the churches in Galatia. The believers had initially trusted in the finished work of Christ for their salvation, but now there were false teachers that sought their allegiance. These teachers were winsome and convincing, teaching a works salvation. They were seeking the approval of their own circle of peers and were determined to increase their followers. Paul sought the approval of the Lord alone and was simply saying, "No one can serve two masters"

There is no safer path than the one that follows the Lord alone. Do you seek the Lord's approval in every decision you make? Is His will the most important thing in your life? Serve the Lord and you will never go astray. Remember, "No one can serve two masters"

Be a Hero!

"Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the LORD delivers him in times of trouble. The LORD will protect him and preserve his life; he will bless him in the land and not surrender him to the desire of his foes." - Psalm 41: 1-2

As children, we read the stories of heroes; those who came to the rescue of the downtrodden and abused. They would arrive just in time to deliver from the most terrible treatment and become the heroes of the day. TV programs followed suit for some years with weekly adventures of individuals who could be contacted when no one else would help. While we love to read about heroes, is it possible that we could be someone's hero someday?

David wrote about heroes when he said, "Blessed is he who has regard for the weak". Even the Lord is interested in those who, in his name, will reach out to help those in need. Jesus put it in these words, "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy" (Matthew 5:7) Yes, if you are willing to hear and follow the Lord's call, you too can be a hero.

Has the Lord put someone in your circle of life that is weak and in need? Is there some little way that you can show them mercy and kindness? God honors those who have regard for the weak. Mercy is a key that often opens the door of the soul to the gospel. Be someone's hero today.

After the Storm...

"When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, 

but the righteous stand firm forever." - Proverbs 10:25

Consider the providential hand of God as he protected and delivered the righteous: Noah and his family delivered from the flood, Lot and his girls delivered from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, The people of Israel delivered from the plagues of Egypt and the waters of the Red Sea, or David delivered from the hands of Saul. In each case, the storm swept by, the wicked were gone and the righteous were left standing.
The words of prophecy tell us that there is a storm coming. Joel depicted it in this way: "Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy hill. Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the LORD is coming. It is close at hand... The LORD thunders at the head of his army; his forces are beyond number, and mighty are those who obey his command. The day of the LORD is great; it is dreadful. Who can endure it? (Joel 2:1, 11) Yet, there is hope for the righteous in the words of Revelation 3:10 "Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth."
Throughout the pages of history, God has delivered his people and the wicked are gone. My friend, the storm is coming without fail, are you living in the very protective hand of the Savior? "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand" (John 10:28).

Where is your Hope?

“Show me, O LORD, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life. You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man’s life is but a breath. Selah  Man is a mere phantom as he goes to and fro: He bustles about, but only in vain; he heaps up wealth, not knowing who will get it. “But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you." - Psalm 39:4-7

Museums are such fun and quite thought provoking. As I grew up on Long Island, we would often visit the Vanderbilt Museum in Centerport. We would explore the artifacts of another time, full of great wealth and unbridled pleasures. But at the end of the tour, we would re-enter the real world. The Vanderbilt years were legendary, but in the passage of time they were a mere handbreadth, leaving behind only the shadows of life long ago. Where is their hope today?

David wrote these words so many years and generations ago. His breath has ceased, but his memory is timelessly held in the pages of Holy Writ. His life's message lingers with a spiritual impact on all who will read with the eyes of faith. David left behind more than a museum of artifacts. He entrusted to us his most significant discovery for the brevity of life... "But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you".

Stop! From time to time, be still and know that He is God. Your life is fleeting my friend, so be most thoughtful about what you heap up and how you bustle about. Look for the Lord and find your hope in Him.

Stay focused...

"First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men." - 2 Peter 3:3-7 

Some time ago news headlines announced that the remains of Noah's Ark have been discovered 13,000 feet up a Turkish mountain -- according to a claim by a group of Chinese and Turkish evangelical explorers. From the first announcement, scoffers came out of the woodwork. The comments range from the flood being nothing more than a myth to the whole discovery concept being a "crock". The world is filled with more manmade theories and less belief in God than ever before.

Peter wrote about our days prophetically and spoke of those who would "deliberately forget". He reminded us that God has intervened in his world with past judgment and one day he will do so again. By the Word of the Lord, destruction will come upon scoffers and unbelievers who choose to forget God.

Christian friend, don't be troubled by scoffers and critics that deny the Lord and his marvelous works. Remember that God's timing is not ours, "But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day." (8)  Just stay focused on your own walk with God in this godless world and consider, "Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming." (11-12) 

Are you Distressed?

"... and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard) — if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment." - 2 Peter 2:7-9

The movie "Gone with the Wind" came out in 1939. This film brought an explicative to the silver screen before the ears of the public for the first time and with it came great distress from Christians. Seventy-one years have passed and profanity on the big screen and television has become regular fare. Sadly, Christians aren't so distressed anymore. As the world has drifted farther from moral absolutes, the Christian community has followed... not far behind. Where is our distress?

Lot was a man of mixed allegiance to God. His choice to live "near" Sodom, and eventually "in" Sodom is a story of spiritual slippage at its worst. But, Peter recorded that Lot never lost his righteous sensitivity that was tormented by the lawless deeds that he saw and heard. Lot was never disconnected from the Lord, and before judgment fell, God delivered him. Lot was surrounded by evil, but he persevered as a "righteous soul" and he was distressed.

We live in an age of great evil and unrighteousness. Our country murders children in the womb without any sense of guilt. We see the lifestyles of the first chapter of Romans surrounding us every day. We know that in time, God's judgment will fall and he will deliver his own. But while we wait for his coming, will we slowly accept and tolerate the Godlessness around us or will we remain a "a holy nation, a people belonging to God" (1 Peter 2:9) and be distressed?

Reminders...

"So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things." - 2 Peter 1:12-15 

I stood with six men that I had known for years and found myself unable to remember the name of one of my friends. My mind went totally blank. The memory is a tricky thing at times and in the best of health we can have a loss that totally frustrates us. Spiritual truth is easily forgotten was well, no matter how long we have known the truth. We all need regular reminders if we are to be firmly established.

There are times when we are tempted to seek the "new" and "unique" at the cost of leaving the old paths behind. Peter knew that the old truth was the life changing truth that is timeless. He also knew that we all need reminders and he was totally focused on the ministry of remembrance. He wanted to leave behind a solid foundation as a lasting legacy.

Why should we revisit Scripture reading year in and year out? Why should we sit under the preaching and teaching of the same Biblical truths on a weekly basis? The fact is, that we all tend to forget and we need to remember spiritual truth if we are to be firmly established. Never hesitate to remind yourself and others of spiritual truths that will change your life for the better.