"Sin's A Big Deal"

"For the wages of sin is death." Romans 6:23a

When it comes to the subject of sin, we tend to be "flippant" about it. We take it lightly. We act as if it isn't a "big deal". We seem to have the attitude when we sin that- it's just a little sin, God understands, it will be all right, God will look over it.

We may have a causal attitude about sin, but as far as God is concerned sin is a "big deal".  Sin is a big deal or else the punishment for it would not be so great. God is a just God and because He is, when He administers punishment for a "crime" it is in direct proportion to the degree of the crime. If sin isn't a "big deal" then why is the punishment so great- death, hell, eternal separation from God.

Sin is a big deal to God because it took the sacrifice of His only begotten Son in order to pay the ransom price for our sins. It took the shedding of blood. It took the cross. The death of Jesus as the "Lamb who takes away our sins" was no little matter to God.

We have to change our attitude about sin and see it the way God sees it. If I committed a crime and was taken before a judge to face the punishment for my crime, it won't matter how I feel about what I did. I might think that it is not a "big deal". What will matter though is how that judge sees it. It will all be up to him. The sentence will be passed from his perspective, not mine. One day we will all stand before the Judge of the universe and the only thing that will matter is how He sees it.

Have a great day. Sin may not be a big deal to us, but it is to God.

For further reading:
Ezekiel 18:4
1 John 2:1-3
Romans 5:19
Genesis 2:17

"Change"

"My son, fear thou the Lord and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change." Proverbs 24:21

For some time now the "buzz" word and cry has been for "change". We hear its cry ringing throughout our nation, the global community and even within the church. The desire to change comes naturally because we were created as beings who were designed for change. From the time that we are born until the time we die, we will be in a constant state of change- our appearance changes, our age changes, our maturity level changes, etc.

Change is not always a bad thing, sometimes it is needful. Sometimes change is neither good or bad- it isn't necessary but it is just something that we desire. Then there are times when change is bad and can be detrimental to us and those around us. This morning I want to address "change" as it relates to the church. If ever there was a day in which things are changing in the church it is now. The music is changing, the way we dress is changing, our activities are changing, the way we conduct services is changing. Is all of the changes we see happening bad? Not necessarily. But on the other hand, it is when it goes against the Word of God. For example, the church is changing by ordaining homosexuals to serve as pastors. This change is clearly in disobedience and rebellion against God.

Outside of the changes that are obviously in opposition to God's word and holy standard for His church, how do we know if the areas of change that we are moving into is actually a "good thing"? The answer is simple- does this "change" bring you closer to the Lord? Does it cause a holy fear and awe of God to rise within you? Does it bring you to repentance over the hidden sin in your life? Does it cause you to desire a deeper relationship with the Lord? When Jesus came to earth, He made some changes. He changed the way people worshipped God. Worship went from the killing of animals to worship that was in spirit and in truth. He changed the way to the Father- no longer through the priest and sacrifices but through faith in His sacrifice on the cross. The greatest change was in the covenant- He gave us a new one. A covenant that was not written on stone, but now written on the tables of our heart. All the "changes" Jesus made drew us closer to the Father.

Again, we have to ask ourselves, as a church and individually - is this a change that will bring me closer to Him? Not all change does. Some changes only feed our selfish desires, the lusts of our flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. So which is it doing?

Have a great day. Change is not always bad- as long as it is drawing you into a deeper, more surrendered relationship with the Lord.

For further reading:
John 14:6
Hebrews 7:11,12
Colossians 2:13,14
Philippians 3:21
2 Corinthians 3:2

"I Don't Understand"

"Mine eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me?" Psalm 119:82

How often have we wondered and said the same thing the Psalmist did-- "When will You help me, Lord?". Sometimes it seems as if His help is far away or as if it will never come. I am sure Joseph felt this way when he was in the pit, Potiphar's house and the prison. Surely these question went through his mind on more than one occasion- Have You forgot about me, Lord? Will Your promise ever be fulfilled in my life? Is this all there is? Where are You? Why is this happening?

These question are common to all of us especially when we are in situations that we don't understand. We are at a disadvantage, humanly speaking, because we can't see past the moment or into the future; we can't see the whole picture behind what is happening; we can't see past the natural into the eternal. Therefore, the questions are always present. But having said that, I should also say that on the other hand when we face these times, we also have an advantage. The advantage is that though we don't understand, we can still have peace. "My peace I give to you". (John 14:27)

We have access to the peace of God that passes understanding when we are going through trials and difficulties. We aren't totally at the "mercy" of our inability to understand what is happening to us. Not understanding is often worse than actually going through the situation. The questions plague us and we reason within ourselves that if we could just get an answer it would seem to make it easier to bear.

Some things we will not understand until we get to heaven. But whether we understand or not we can still say, "It is well", because the peace that God gives to His children can and will overshadow the questions and lack of understanding if we will draw from it.

There will always be things that we go through that we may not understand at the moment, or ever understand, but the peace of God will be there for us. It will be like a blanket on a cold winter's night. It may still be cold, but under the blanket you'll be warm and comfortable. The questions may still be there, but your heart and mind will be established in peace.

Have a great day. We will always have questions because we will always go through things that we don't understand, but God's peace is available to bring comfort even when we don't have the answers we want. His peace will be our answer.

For further reading:
John 14:27
Philippians 1:2; 4:6-8
Psalm 29:11
Colossians 3:15
2 Thessalonians 3:16

"Think About What's Above"

"Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth." Colossians 3:2

This verse is pretty plain, to the point and easy to understand. Set our affections, which in the original text means to set our minds or thoughts on things above- or in other words, "think about what is above and not on what is here below."

Most of our thought life is consumed with the cares of this life. We spend our time thinking about tomorrow, the future, our jobs, our problems, our financial situation, what we will eat and drink, what other people think about us and what we are going to do next.

Let's look at what this verse is saying to us:
"Set your affection/thoughts"... To set yourself to do something means there is a deliberate action involved. You don't just "happen" to think about the things above, you must make yourself and discipline yourself to do so.

"Set your affections/thoughts"... To set your mind means to become firm, solid, or permanent, as mortar, glue or cement. It doesn't mean we occasionally think about the things above, or just when we are in church, or only when we need help. Our thoughts about the things above should not be passing, momentary thoughts only but permanently set on the things above.

"... on things above..." What is above? The eternal; the abiding place of God; the Kingdom of God; heaven; the place of God's rule; our future home if we have accepted Jesus as Savior and are following Him as Lord.

"...above, not on things on the earth." Our thoughts should be focused above- on a higher place- not on a lower one. Am I saying we should never think about what we are doing or have to do here on earth? Of course not. But I am sure we spend too much time consumed with the daily affairs and tasks of this life without regard or thought to what is above. What is above is eternal and what is here below is temporal. We need to be setting our thoughts on what is eternal, because this being temporal means it is temporary- and it could be gone tomorrow.

Have a great day. Where are you setting your affections/thoughts? On things above or on what is here below?

For further reading:
Matthew 6:25
Luke 21:34
Romans 12:2
Philippians 4:5-8

"Snaky Area"

"Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?" Genesis 3:1

When my granddaughter was a little girl, she was at my house and we were playing with her bouncing ball outside. A couple of times the ball rolled into an area that was around some taller grass. When this happened, she would tell me, "You, get it, that's snaky". We have lots of snakes in our part of the country and evidently her mother had taught her to be careful of certain areas around the yard that are grown up with weeds and grass because they are "snaky" areas. (This means that they are good places for snakes to be and hide.)

The Bible refers to satan as a serpent/snake. He likes to "hide" in certain places waiting for us to get within a close enough distance for him to "strike" at us. That being the case, we should have the same kind of spiritual awareness that my granddaughter has physically. When we see a "snaky" area, we should stay away from it or turn and go in another direction.

Let me clarify what I mean. Those "snaky" areas are areas of temptation where the devil would like to deceive us or entice us into partaking in order to destroy us. Eve was in a "snaky" area- in the presence of the tempter. She should have turned and gone from that spot instead of staying there and engaging in conversation with the "serpent". The end result-- she was "bitten" by his lies and disobeyed God.

We don't have to fear the devil. We have power over his powers through Jesus. The greater One lives in us. But that doesn't mean that we should stay where it is obvious that he is. Joseph was in a "snaky" area when being seduced by Potiphar's wife and he ran from that area. When Jesus was in a "snaky" area while in the wilderness, He took out the sword of God's word and "chopped" the serpent up.

We need to watch out for "snaky" areas- those areas of temptation, the snares and traps the enemy has laid for us- and when we see them either pull out our "sword" ready to destroy his lies or look for the way of escape that has been provided for us out of the temptation and take it.

Have a great day. Watch out for those "snaky" areas and stay away from them.

For further reading:
Genesis 3:1-6
1 Corinthians 10:13
Matthew 4:1-10
Luke 10:19
1 John 4:4