To Know Or Not To Know

1 Corinthians 13:12 (NIV)
Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

Too often we minor on the non-essentials instead of majoring on the essentials that we do know. When it comes to Christ's return, the major issue is not the when of Christ's return, but that we are ready for it because God alone knows the day and hour of this time. And then who can understand the Holy Trinity--God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit--all part of the one God. "Someone has said that if you fully try to understand the Trinity, you'll lose your mind. But if you deny the Trinity, you'll lose your soul."

Then there are questions about life that we simply cannot fully answer. We offer up platitudes. We make guesses--sometimes even educated guesses, but we really don't know. For example, we don't understand why good people suffer. We don't understand why bad people prosper. We can't understand why some people from a certain kind of situation become criminals, while other people growing up under the same kind of circumstances become sterling citizens. And why does God allow missionaries to be kidnapped and killed?

However, there is one thing in life that we can know --that we know that we know--and that is the answer to life's most important issue--our eternal well-being. God's Word, the Bible, assures us that all who put their trust in Jesus as their personal Savior can know without a shadow of a doubt that we have the gift of eternal life. - Dick Innes

1 John 5:13 (NIV)
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God [Jesus] so that you may know that you have eternal life.

O golden day, when light shall break,
And dawn’s bright glories shall unfold,
When He Who knows the path I take
Shall open for me the gates of gold!

Earth’s little while will soon be past,
My pilgrim song will soon be over,
The grace that saves shall time outlast,
And be my theme on yonder shore.
Then I shall know as I am known,
And stand complete before the throne;
Then I shall see my Savior’s face,
And all my song shall be saving grace. - Julia H Johnson

Have a blessed weekend,
Bill

Sacrificing At What Cost?

Samuel 24:24
"...I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing."

One day I was having lunch with a man who had a certain amount of notoriety in his life. After a time of getting to know each other, he said, "How can I help you?" Those words surprised me coming from a man who obviously already had many requirements on his time. My first thought was that I was impressed with the individual. My next thought was to wonder whether it was a genuine offer or just an effort to impress me with his humility and Christian piety. I have since discovered he was sincere.

This encounter reminded me that each of us must be willing to give to others without a motive to get anything in return. It is simply an act of serving others. Jesus said that we must consider others more important than ourselves. When is the last time you did something for another without a motive of getting anything in return?

When King David came to offer a sacrifice and pray for the removal of a plague on Israel, he was given the opportunity to make the sacrifice without the cost of purchasing the sacrificial animals.

2 Samuel 24:24-25
But the king replied to Araunah, "No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing." So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels of silver for them. David built an altar to the Lord there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then the Lord answered prayer in behalf of the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped.

David, understanding the principle of giving, said he could not offer anything to God that did not cost him something. Otherwise, it was not a sacrificial gift.

When is the last time you sacrificed for another in such a way that it cost you something with no expectation of getting anything in return? We can all give something to others, such as our time, our money, or our expertise. This is real Christianity that models the Spirit of Christ. The next time you meet with someone, why not consider how you might be a blessing to that person. Why not ask, "How can I help you?"

A WORK PRAYER
Lord God, raise up in me the willingness to give to others without wanting anything in return even at work, where the bottom line is usually measurable in some way. Amen.

Bill

Overcoming A Grumbling Attitude

Today I received a wonderful reminder from a friend. It was a good day to receive it as I have been bombarded with "issues". It helps to have a reality check during times of stress.

Philippians 4:6 (NIV)
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Colossians 3:1,2 (NIV)
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

I think that thankfulness is the key, coupled with realizing that God is Sovereign, in every circumstance, He is in control. Like Job, we need to thank Him for the good and the "bad" that comes our way. Many times trials or hard times will point us back to Him. Is God trying to teach you something through the trial? Blessings on you and yours as you Seek Him! - Charles Swindoll

Colossians 3:15 (KJV)
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

If we were thankful for everything
The way God tells us to be,
What a wonderful change in our living
We would be able to see! -Eaker

Father God, help us to keep our heart and mind focused on you. Thank you for the trials we go through, because they draw us closer to you. Amen.

Blessings,
Bill

Do You Hear Him?

“He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.” John 8:47

Jesus said that the key to being able to hear God's voice is first to be one of His children. One of the great mysteries of the universe to my logical mind is how God can communicate with six billion people on the earth at the same time. It is one of those mysteries I must let go of because my "hard drive" would crash if I had to explain and understand this before I believed and trusted in Him. It is as though God places a computer chip in each human being, and when we place our faith and trust in Him, it becomes activated. We begin to communicate with Him. Jesus says that if we are children of God, then we can hear God's voice. He further explains this relationship in the following parable:

“I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice.” John 10:1-5

The Shepherd is always representative of Christ. Sheep are representative of God's children. This passage tells us that the Shepherd communicates with His children. We are called by name and we can listen to our Shepherd's voice. There is another comforting aspect to this relationship. The Shepherd goes before the sheep to prepare the way. Jesus has already gone before us today to prepare our way.

Knowing the Shepherd and His voice allows us to have the assurance that we will not be fooled by another shepherd's voice. The sheep know His voice. It is only when we are dull of hearing that we mistakenly hear another's voice and follow it. Sin can create a poor frequency in our communication with the Shepherd. Make sure your frequency is free of static (sin) today so that the Shepherd can lead you and go before you.

Finally, distractions can also keep us from hearing our Shepherd's voice. When the sheep get entangled in the fence or wander off, they get too far away to hear the Shepherd's voice. We must stay in close proximity to the Shepherd to hear His voice. Stay close to the Shepherd today. Listen and follow. He wants to lead you.

Blessings,
Bill