Creatures of Habit

Creatures of Habit

On Wednesday nights after Bible classes, Judie and I often go to Sonic to get corn dogs as we drive home. Last Wednesday as I waited to order, the person did not say, “Welcome to Sonic. How can I help you?” Her first words to me were, “How many corn dogs do you want with your Diet Coke?” I was startled, so I ordered a large Diet Coke and two corn dogs. When I got to the window to pay, she said, “Don’t you want a Route 44 Diet Coke (it is larger than a large) like you usually get?” It is amazing we are creatures of habit. People see us, and we often are not aware of how much they observe.

habit corn dog

Are you a creature of habit? What are your spiritual habits?

Think about these Bible characters and their customary actions in their lives. Just remember that not all habits are bad. Some of them lead to great spiritual growth. How many of these actions are part of your life?

Hannah, the mother of Samuel, had a habit. She was childless and wanted so much to have a child. The Bible describes her custom. “So it was, year by year, when she went up to the house of the Lord…” (1 Sam. 1:7). There were yearly feasts for the Jews, and her custom was to go every year. We have a weekly feast. What is your custom? Is it something that is part of your life every week?

Aged Daniel had been in captivity for seventy years when his enemies laid out a plan to destroy him by getting the king to forbid any prayers other than those to the king. “Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days” (Dan. 6:10). Look closely at what is said, “As was his custom since early days.” What are your prayer habits?

Look at what Jesus customarily did. “So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as his custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day” (Luke 4:16). How much are you like the Lord?

Paul shows a great example in what he customarily did. “Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures” (Acts 17:2). What is your custom about telling others about the Lord?

How did Judas know Jesus would be in Gethsemane? “Coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also followed Him” (Luke 22:39). Do others know your spiritual customs?

Wise people should consider their spiritual customs! How wise are you?

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How is Your Spiritual Health?

How is Your Spiritual Health?

Over the past few weeks we have all had several very effective and efficient ways to stop the spread of something, emphasized to us again and again by those ‘in the know.’ Wear a mask, cover your mouth, go get tested if you have symptoms, avoid contact with those not in the same health condition as yourself, and self-quarantine to kill the transmission of the condition.

contagious

Are you contagious?

Sadly, these are some of the very same things that may have contributed to killing off the spread of Christianity over the years as well. Some may have failed to spread their Christianity because they constantly ‘wear a mask.’ That is to say, they pretend to be something other than what they are, depending on the crowd that they are in. The Bible term for that is hypocrisy (See Matt. 23). Others may have ‘covered their mouth’ instead of speaking up for Jesus at the slightest sign of resistance or differences (Matt. 10:27-33). Some others, while perhaps showing some positive signs or symptoms of Christianity, may have failed to constantly test themselves to see if their faith and example were truly as contagious as they ought to be (2 Cor. 2:9, 13:5; 1 Ptr. 1:3-9; Rev. 2:10). Still others may have made a practice of avoiding any significant social contact or interaction with those outside of Christ, hence being unable to spread the soul-saving gospel of Christ to them (Matt. 9:9-13; 1 Cor. 9:19-23). All of this, while last but not least, some Christians may have self-quarantined or left their Christian convictions and behavior behind whenever they went out, only letting them see the light of day on the occasional Sunday wherin they might have decided to attend worship (Cf. Matt. 23:14, 23, 25).

Let us all make sure going forward, that when it comes to spreading the life-giving, soul-saving, grace-laden gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, that we make it a constant and concentrated practice to NEVER: ‘wear a mask,’ ‘cover our mouth,’ ‘fail to test,’ ‘avoid contact’ (practice ‘spiritual distancing’), or ‘quarantine’ (leave behind) our Christian convictions and behavior wherever we go. Jesus’ last words before leaving for heaven? (If I may paraphrase): ‘Christianity; go spread it to everyone’ – See Matt. 28:18-20!

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Stay Out of the Darkness

Stay Out of the Darkness

It is no secret; lights shine the brightest on the darkest of backgrounds. That’s why diamonds are often displayed on black velvet backdrops. High-intensity lighting is then directed at them, which they in turn reflect to the world around them. We, as God’s people, are described in a spiritually similar manner (Matt. 5:14-16; Phil. 2:14-16). Jesus Christ, the Light of the world (Jn. 8:12, 9:5), has shone His love and grace upon and saved us, so that we in turn, can then reflect and shine His light of hope and help into the dark world around us. And let’s face it folks; the world is in a very dark place these days. Even we, as God’s chosen and elect but still human children can sometimes lose a little bit of our hope, shine, and luster, becoming anxious in these testing and trying times. And if that’s the case with us, can you even begin to imagine the despair, darkness, and devastating hopelessness of those without God and His word at this time (Eph. 2:12)?

darkness hand

Don’t be pushed into darkness, come out into the light.

That’s where we as God’s children, need desperately to come in. Brethren, NOW is the time… THE time to share with your friends, neighbors, social media contacts and everyone else you know, the everlasting help and hope that you have in Christ Jesus. I believe that more people than usual, will be more open than usual, to the hope of the gospel, due to the current crisis (Rom. 8:28). In just the past few days, I have been put in touch with two local folks seeking information through our House-to-House mail-out. I plan to send out resources to both of them later on today, including a Searching For Truth DVD to one, as well as a first Bible Correspondence Course to the other. On top of that, there is an adult family member of one of our very faithful family units here in the congregation where I am privileged to serve, who – thanks to seeds planted in the past that seem to be coming to fruition – is now seeking more answers to their Bible questions – particularly regarding being baptized into Christ – and with whom I am blessed by God to have a Bible study scheduled for later on today. Please pray for all three of these efforts.

When our first-century brethren were scattered and could no longer assemble as a congregation of the Lord’s church in Jerusalem due to the deadly danger there, what did they do? They preached the word everywhere they went (Acts 8:1-4). What happened? “A great number believed and turned to the Lord,” “And a great many people were added to the Lord” (See: Acts 11:19-24).

Brethren, our world today is completely consumed in Coronavirus darkness and desperately needing and looking for the Light we have been given. So don’t horde and hide it; have at and high-beam it! Our 2020 vision is still as clear as ever – to seek and to save the lost (Lk. 19:10; Matt. 28:18-20) – despite even this incredible darkness (Psa. 139:11-12)! God bless!

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Easter Sunday Resurrection

Easter Sunday Resurrection

Easter Sunday is a fine time to remember the resurrection of Jesus, as is every day of the year. Those who seek to remember Jesus only on Easter Sunday do not really remember Him, because Jesus wants us to remember Him every day. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:15, “and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.” You can’t do that just on Easter Sunday.

easter sunday

Do you remember Him as often as He has asked you to do so?

There are many other things that Jesus wants us to do that can’t be done just on Easter Sunday. Jesus wants us to remember his death, burial, and resurrection in the Lord’s Supper every first day of the week (1 Corinthians 11:25, Acts 20:7). You can’t do that just on Easter Sunday. Jesus wants us to take up our cross daily and follow Him (Luke 9:23). You can’t do that just on Easter Sunday. Jesus wants us to pray every day (Matthew 6:11). You can’t do that just on Easter Sunday. Jesus wants us to teach others about Him every day (Acts 5:42). You can’t do that just on Easter Sunday. Jesus wants us to be a living sacrifice (Romans 12:2). You can’t do that just on Easter Sunday.

You may be starting to get the impression that Easter Sunday doesn’t mean very much at all to Jesus. You are right; it doesn’t. Jesus does not care about your formal observance of Easter Sunday if your heart is not given to Him. Jesus said, “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me” (Matthew 15:8). Jesus knows where your heart truly is. Do you?

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Evidences of Christians

Evidences of Christians

Words obviously have definitions and it is important to use words with a full understanding of what each word means. One of the problems which has led to religious division is a failure to define words of the New Testament as they were used in the first century. One would never come to the conclusion that sprinkling is baptism if we understood that the word “baptism” in the first century always meant “to dip, to submerge.”

Christian Evidences

Are there enough evidences to prove you are a Christian?

I recall years ago when knocking doors in New Zealand that we asked the man who came to the door what he was religiously. He knew he was something but had no idea what he was. So he shouted out to his wife and asked her what he was. In the broadest sense, he might have said he was a Christian, but had no idea beyond that.

New Zealand was an amazing place in so many ways. They viewed themselves as being a Christian nation, but only 3% of the people regularly went to worship. Obviously almost no one in there sang praises to God. Few of them had Bibles and even fewer read the Bible regularly. Their absence from assemblies meant they rarely gave anything to God. The Lord’s Supper was rarely observed. There was little evidence in their lives of Christ, yet they saw themselves as a Christian nation.

If a doctor has no office, has no patients, prescribes no medicine, diagnoses no illness, does no medical exams, and receives no pay, is he a doctor? Whenever he has stopped doing those things which doctors do, he is no longer a doctor.

If a farmer plows no land, buys no seed, plants no crops, feeds no animals, never harvests anything, is he a farmer? Whenever he has stopped doing those things which farmers do, he is no longer a farmer.

Now make the spiritual application of this principle. If a Christian stops attending worship, sings no hymns of praise, never bows his head to pray with others, never gives, never reads the Bible, never sits in Bible classes or hears sermons, is he a Christian? Whenever he has stopped doing those things which Christians do, he is no longer a Christian.

Let me make this same point in another way. Suppose our government were overthrown and all Christians were put on trial. Those found guilty were immediately slain. If this were to happen, would there be enough evidence to convict you? Think about this, what evidence is there to those around you that you are a Christian? If Christianity were outlawed, would you be alive or dead.

Remember the words of Jesus: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father.” Do others know that you are a Christian?

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