~Malachi 3:6a For I am the LORD, I change not;
The same God who created the heavens and the earth is the same God who will judge mankind at the end. The sins of the Old Testament are still considered sin in the New Testament. As well, they are still sin today. Don’t deceive yourself.
~Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
~Proverbs 4:14-15 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
~Romans 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
~2 Timothy 2:23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.
~Titus 3:9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.
If you do not want to get in trouble with the law, you do not hang out with law breakers. If you do not want to be counted amongst those co-workers who are lazy, you do not mimic their actions. By avoiding trouble makers, one stays out of trouble. By avoiding those who can cause us to stray from what God’s Word teaches, we “keep” ourselves separated.
~James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
The Psalmist had a special relationship with his God. It seems that he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that God would hear him when he cried out to Him.
~Psalm 3:4 I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.
Can you say this of your relationship with God? Do you absolutely know for certain that God is hearing you when you cry? If you cannot, then you are practicing religion rather than nurturing a relationship with your Heavenly Father. Think on this for a bit. A child never questions whether his father hears his cries. So stop and meditate on your relationship with God. Do you have one?
Gleaning Gold
~1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
Nuggets of Truth
I was recently discussing God’s wondrous creation with a blogging friend. I recently visited Alaska and was able to tour this beautiful land. Each moment was spent gazing at God’s handiwork. The ultimate artist painted vistas that a mere camera could not capture! My eyes filled with tears when I beheld the majesty of Mt. McKinley, North America’s tallest mountain! Again, I wept when I saw my first bald eagle nestled in the tree top. I was then filled with awe when I witnessed a baby humpback whale playfully demonstrating its strength and gracefulness for almost half an hour in front of our boat.
As a child of the Creator, I appreciate God’s handiwork and give Him the glory and the praise! Our Heavenly Father has blessed us by giving us such beauty to behold each day. When we see this beauty, it is our opportunity to glorify Him and praise Him for His wondrous love for us!
However, to the unbeliever, God’s creation will convict their unbelief. The Bible states that the unbeliever will be without excuse when they stand before Him and claim that they “didn’t know God existed.”
~Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Refining the Gold
Just gazing at a sky filled with starts will cause the heart to wonder. I like Ray Comfort’s statement to atheists:
Everything cannot come from nothing!
God honors a soul that sees creation and wonders if there is a God. Romans 1:20 tells us that mankind is without excuse because nature itself speaks of Him. Therefore, God will see to it that this soul has the opportunity to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
When the unbeliever chooses not to believe in God, he is accountable for disregarding even nature, God’s creation. What will the unbeliever say when he stands before Christ?
~Romans 14:10b …for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
Gleaning Gold
~Proverbs 20:6 Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
Nuggets of Truth
Faithfulness – today’s definition of this word is so diluted compared to what Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary states:
1. Fidelity; loyalty; firm adherence to allegiance and duty; as the faithfulness of a subject.
Faithfulness’ definition is dependent on the lifestyle of the person to whom it is directed. For example, a person may be a faithful employee but be unfaithful to his spouse. This person cannot apply the true definition of faithfulness to his life. In my lifetime, I have seen faithfulness dwindling. People use to be faithful in going to church, in reading their Bibles, in telling others about Christ, etc.
True faithfulness is rare. However, there are many who will boast of their faithfulness. Being raised a religious catholic, I was one of those who boasted of my faithfulness. However, when I was made new in Christ, I discovered that true faithfulness produces humility. God knows if we are truly faithful or not. If we are, it is evident in our actions – we do not need to boast of it.
~Proverbs 25:27 It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.
Refining the Gold
Just how faithful are we as children of the King of Kings? Do we give up easily when the tough situations of life arise?
1 Corinthians 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
Our faithfulness can be achieved because God is faithful! Knowing that God is faithful brings peace to the believer. There is no need for worry, no need for concern, no need to think on things that have yet to happen. God wishes to fulfill His plan through us.
~Deuteronomy 7:9 Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;
Knowing God’s faithfulness helps the believer to rest assured that we can proceed in the path that He has set before us without concern. All we have to do is be found faithful! We are not to be faithful in our works leaving our relationship with the Lord to suffer. This is not the same thing. Works are good but not at the expense of our relationship with God. I hope that makes sense to you. As a “faithful catholic,” I did good works believing that this would enhance my relationship with God. However, I did so at the expense of my relationship with Him.
Now that I am born again, I must be faithful to Him and nurture my relationship with Him, just as any child would nurture his relationship with his parents. As I seek Him and His will for my life through the Word, through His man, etc., I am nurturing that relationship. This faithfulness in our relationship will be evident in my actions. I do not need to boast of it – it will be self evident.
Examine yourself – why are you doing good deeds? If you are truly born again and are a child of the King, it will be automatic – no need for boasting here. However, if you are doing good deeds because that is what is commanded of you by your church, then you will not be found faithful by the Judge of all. You will find yourself lacking when you stand before Him at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
Richard Bennett, former Roman Catholic priest, has put together an excellent chart that compares what the Word of God says and what the Catholic church teaches. You will need Adobe Reader to view it.
Just because a church has been around for a long time does not make it right. We must be able to compare its teachings with God’s Word. There must be a measuring stick of some kind that tells us whether or not we are being deceived. We cannot act like an ostrich and put our heads in the sand for one day we will all stand before God to give an account.
~Romans 14:12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
Gleaning Gold
~Isaiah 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
Nuggets of Truth
I am so thankful that I received the garment of salvation. Prior to my salvation, I had the coverings of sin. But now, according to Isaiah, I wear a robe of righteousness provided by Jesus Christ, Himself! Why do we need a robe of righteousness, you may ask? We can only come before God in holiness. We all know that everyone of us has sinned and is born with a sin nature. None of us are good enough to come before a Holy God!
It has been this way since Adam and Eve. Here they were already able to be in God’s presence. He walked with them in the Garden of Eden! Instead, they chose to sin and, therefore, gave up the privilege of sweet communion with the Lord. In fact, they tried to cover their bodies with clothing made by their own hands. But was the Word teaches us, this was not sufficient – it was not enough.
~Genesis 3:7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
This is where God first teaches us on this topic. God has to be the one to provide the “clothing” for us. The first mention of shedding blood is mentioned in the Word for this very reason. God made Adam and Eve coats made from animal skins and clothed them. Blood had to be shed to make these coats.
~Genesis 3:21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
God used this account to teach us. Through the Old Testament, Jewish law pointed towards Christ’s work on the cross. The New Testament points back to the cross and teaches us today how we, too, may have this covering. Prior to salvation, we desperately try to dress ourselves our own way. We think that by doing good deeds, going to church, giving money to the poor, etc., will be enough to balance our lives. We cannot come to God dressed in our own works of righteousness, my friend. Isaiah tells us exactly what our righteousness appears as to God.
~Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
God is the one who has to be the one to provide our covering! We cannot do it for ourselves. Our church cannot be the one to provide the covering. Our good works cannot provide the covering. As with Adam and Eve, God has to be the one to provide our covering!
Christ taught us in Matthew about what happened to those who tried to enter the king’s son’s wedding with their own clothing. The man did not take the wedding garment which was provided for the guests and required to go to the wedding. Notice what happened to this man who tried to enter in with his own garment.
~Matthew 22:12-13 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Refining the Gold
The Book of Revelation tells us that we will be attending a marriage supper like that the one that Christ taught us about in Matthew. That marriage supper is coming, my friend. Christ’s bride will be clothed in white raiment – white because we are covered by Christ’s righteousness, not ours. Christ is our righteousness.
~Revelation 19:7-8 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
Gleaning Gold
~Psalm 40:4 Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
Nuggets of Truth
Like the Sermon on the Mount where Christ gave us the Beatitudes, this verse begins with “Blessed is.” Whenever I see these words, I pay attention. I want God’s blessings, don’t you? Today’s verse encourages us to trust in the Lord. Furthermore, in so doing we shall be blessed.
I realize that this is easier said than done – especially when a believer is going through an extremely difficult trial. However, when we trust the Lord during our trials, we are not busy worrying. Trusting God is an action of the heart. We acknowledge that the trial is beyond our control and not one ounce of effort on our part is going to change things. Once we relinquish our worries and leave the unknown to God, peace follows.
God promises to direct us no matter how complicated or impossible our trial seems to be. With this, He provides this wonderful peace that goes beyond comprehension. The believer no longer has to struggle with life but has the Creator at His side directing him along the way. The Master fulfills the well-known Proverb and provides His child with comfort and peace.
Refining the Gold
No matter how difficult life gets, and it will get harder, we know that our God walks alongside us. As the wonderful piece “Footprints” points out, there are even times when He carries us due to our weariness. We must build on this trust after each trial. We must look back at the previous trials and see God’s hand at work in our lives. When we do this, we can see just what He brought us through. This reflection will build our trust in Him.
To the young believer, I encourage you to make these two verses your life’s verse. As daily problems and trials come your way, apply these verses. Repeat them and ask the Lord to guide you. Pour out your heart to Him and tell Him that you don’t understand and you don’t know what to do. God will provide peace in the midst of the storm. The more the young believer applies these verses to his life, the more he will turn to the Lord immediately with all his burdens and trials!
~Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
~1 Peter 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
George Pickett, who had known Lincoln in Illinois, years before, joined the Southern army, and by his conspicuous bravery and ability had become one of the great generals of the Confederacy. Toward the close of the war, when a large part of Virginia had fallen into the possession of the Union army, the President called at General Pickett’s Virginia home.
The general’s wife, with her baby on her arm, met him at the door. She herself has told the story for us.
” ‘Is this George Pickett’s home?’ he asked.
“With all the courage and dignity I could muster, I replied: ‘Yes, and I am his wife, and this is his baby.’
” ‘I am Abraham Lincoln.’
” ‘The President!’ I gasped. I had never seen him, but I knew the intense love and reverence with which my soldier always spoke of him.
“The stranger shook his head and replied: ‘No; Abraham Lincoln, George’s old friend.’
“The baby pushed away from me and reached out his hands to Mr. Lincoln, who took him in his arms. As he did so an expression of rapt, almost divine tenderness and love lighted up the sad face. It was a look that I have never seen on any other face. The baby opened his mouth wide and insisted upon giving his father’s friend a dewy kiss.
“As Mr. Lincoln gave the little one back to me he said: ‘Tell your father, the rascal, that I forgive him for the sake of your bright eyes.’ ”
~by: Charles W. Moores, Good Stories for Great Holidays
~Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
I was very excited because I had just received a FedEx package containing the front cover for my first and only book, which, hopefully, will be coming out soon.
I telephoned my wife and then I drove to the pizza parlor where she was working so we could eat lunch together. When I arrived I sat down in one of the far back booths with my clear, bubbly, fat free, fizzling, no-caffeine Sprite, and waited for her to finish the few tables she had left, before we could eat.
As I sat there I was looking out the large plate glass window and I saw a man about thirty years old walking across the parking lot carrying a pizza box, which he had just purchased from one of the mini markets across the street. He walked into the restaurant, went directly to the counter where he got a large cup of water and then he walked to the back of the restaurant, where I was sitting, and sat down at the table across from me, to my right.
I watched him as he laid his large dirty paper bag of clothing down on the floor and then tried to straighten out the wrinkles so that it did not look so bad. Then he took a napkin from the metal container, unfolded it, and wiped his dirty hands. Then he took another napkin, placed it on the table and neatly laid his silverware onto it. The fork to the right side of the napkin and then the spoon and knife on the other side.
There was no doubt that this man was homeless and in need a bath, in the worst way. He had not shaved for several months. His hair was extremely greasy, as was his skin, and his clothing would have caught fire from the stench if someone had lit a match near him.
He reached over and slid the one small slice of pizza out of the box and laid it onto the napkin and very slowly, very carefully, he began to eat the small meal, taking very little bites.
I sat there watching him out of the corner of my eye and was wondering how someone could buy a slice of pizza from one store and then have the nerve to bring it into another restaurant and sit there and eat it.
The dingy fellow finally finished his meal and he did something that I will never forget.
He picked up the box, turned it on its corner and slid the few remaining pieces into one far corner of the box. Then he wet his index finger and began to try and pick up the small crumbs that were left in the corner of the box. I could see his eyes roll back into their sockets, as he closed his eyes and bent his head backwards, trying to really enjoy a few tasty crumbs that were left from that one small slice of pizza.
The muscles in my neck and jaw began to tighten and my eyes began to burn and water up.
Oh, how much it hurt me to look across that dining room and once again see myself as I was thirty-eight years ago. To be cold, and hungry. To be dirty and have no one to help me, or no one to care about me. No one to love me and no one to care if I lived or died. No place to go to wash my filthy clothes, which had become hard, coarse and rough against my skin. No soft warm place to sleep and no place on this earth to be safe, when darkness fell. How much it hurt me to see myself again at thirteen years of age.
He tilted that small box to the side just as I had done many many times when I lived on the street. Eating everyday from garbage cans and dumpsters and bathing in the gas station washrooms. I will never forget what that extra special moment felt like. Just making sure that I savored every last little morsel of food, even if it was from a garbage can, so that I could sustain my life for just one more lonely day on the face of this earth.
My wife finally came and sat down across from me. I immediately turned my head to the side, got up from the booth and I walked to the waitress station to put my plate onto the plastic kitchen cart, so that she would not see the tears in my eyes. I did not know what to do and I didn’t know what to say. I felt so lost and so helpless. I did not even know how to act.
Most of my past life had always been just like what I was now seeing in front of my very own eyes. Identical to that young man who was now sitting right in front of me, and it all came back to me in a flash.
I grunted and coughed a bit, trying to clear my throat and get myself back together.
Just then my wife was standing behind me and she said, “Roger, go get that gentleman some pizza”.
I did not say a word but walked directly to the counter and got four large slices of pizza and some dessert. Then I walked back towards the man. I sat the pizza down on the corner of the table in front of him and said, “We will be throwing this away very shortly. I thought you might like to have a few pieces”.
He never looked up at all, but looked directly down at the table. I did not stop at all but walked around behind him so I could return to the waitress station.
As I passed him, I reached out and touched him on the back, just one time, very softly with my hand, just as I wished someone would have done for me thirty some years ago.
I hope that man knows that someone, someplace, cares about him as a human being. I don’t know for sure what all those beatings did to me in that orphanage and that reform school. But I am so thankful that this “little orphan bastard” never forgot what it feels like to be down, out, dirty and hungry.
~by: Roger Dean Kiser, Sr., Source Unknown
