Why Would God Change a Man’s Name

There is only one man in the Bible who is described as the friend of God. He is mentioned over 300 times in the Bible, but the first sixty times he is mentioned, he is called by a name that does not represent the place God intended for him to occupy. His first name, Abram, means “a high father” or “an exalted father.” God did not see him that way so He gave him a new name, Abraham, which means “a father of the multitude” or “a father of many nations.”

The Jewish nation failed to see the significance of the name and made him the “exalted father” of the Jewish nation. They felt that they were above all people simply because of the fact they were his descendants. Such is the classic example of those who see themselves as a super race, one far above all others. The fact that they were chosen by God to accomplish His purpose was not evidence that they were “saved” any more than when He used Pharaoh or Nebuchadnezzar to accomplish His purpose. The Jews were not truly children of God because of their birth.

This becomes abundantly obvious when one reads the New Testament. Those approved by God were not those who possessed the blood of Abraham but those who possessed the faith of Abraham. Paul spoke of the promise of God which was made to “those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all” (Rom. 4:16). There it is. Abraham is not the “exalted father” of a particular race, but he is the father of those whose hearts are filled with the faith in the heart of this patriarch. Thus the next verse emphasizes this by saying, “As it is written, I have made you the father of many nations.”

So the one thing which truly matters is that we have the faith of Abraham. When God called “those things which do not exist as though they did,” Abraham embraced these non-existent things. God promised him that he would have a child and then waited for 25 years to fulfill that promise to Abraham. Paul said, “He staggered not at the promises of God” (Rom. 4:20, KJV). The later translations say, “He did not waver . . . but his faith was strengthened.” Instead of faith weakening and doubting, the opposite happened. Time only served to increase his faith.

Fellow Christian, how is your faith? Is it growing? Do you have more confidence in His promises now than years ago? May God help us to realize that since faith comes from hearing His word, we must feed our faith. May God help us to have the faith of the man who is the friend of God. Could anything be more important than this?

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What Does Your God Look Like?

How do you respond to tragedy? How do you determine moral issues like abortion, sexual perversion, divorce and honesty? How do you decide how to treat your enemies and those who mistreat you? It all depends on the concept you have of God. When you think of God, how do you view Him?

If we think of God as a myth, our view of life will be so different from those who believe He is a reality. The meaning of life is often seen as being limited to the brief time we live on this earth. Those who see Him as a myth often adopt a hedonistic philosophy expressed by the ancient Greeks as, “Let us eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die.” There is no hereafter and there are no laws governing them.

If we think of God as a reality who has little concern about mankind, then we will be filled with despair and helplessness when confronted by the events in our lives. There is no help from above and we are left alone to deal with adversity. We are forced to live a life of uncertainty and doubt and life has little meaning. He may exist, but there is no help!

If we think of God as a tyrant, then our lives will be governed by fear of failure. To please Him we must live a life of perfection, for while He may be just, His justice will never be tempered by mercy. The one-talent man, who hid the money entrusted to him, dreaded the return of his master and cowered in fear of having to give an account of the use of that money. There was no joy in his life, only fear of accountability.

However, if we think of God as one who is intimately connected with us and our lives, then our lives take on new meaning that others simply cannot understand. We have a peace which passes understanding and moral decisions are not determined by our own wisdom. We do not react impulsively when dealing with others who do us wrong, but our response was determined long before their evil action. We look at marriage so differently, for it is God’s gift to us from the One who ordained it and governs it. Our view of the unknown future, even death, cannot be comprehended by those who do not share this view of Him. He has His hand on the helm and we are sure that the best is yet to be and whatever comes can never kill our hope.

We must think of God as He really is and that understanding can never be gained without spending hours and hours inside the book He has given us. Read it. Read it often. Meditate on it. Determine that you will not just know facts about God, but that you know God! God is great! God is good! God is love! Know God and you will understand life!

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Can You Play Violin

Someone once asked Leonard Bernstein, the celebrated orchestra conductor, “What is the hardest instrument to play?” He immediately replied, “Second fiddle. I can always get plenty of first violinists, but to find one who plays second violin with as much enthusiasm or second French horn or second flute, now that’s a problem. And yet if no one plays second, we have no harmony.”

I know so very little about orchestras, and I do not know if there is any position like a “third violinist,” but if there were it must be an even more awkward position to occupy. There is a man who played “third fiddle” in the Bible extremely well and we need to strive to be like him.

However, before discussing him, let me tell you about one of his brothers, James. The brother was not one of the original apostles, but following the death of James, son of Zebedee and brother of John, this James became a great leader in the church. When the angel delivered Peter from Herod’s prison, the apostle made certain that this James was informed of his deliverance. This James was one of the chief spokesmen in the discussion they had over circumcision in Acts 15. It was his wise counsel which became the basis for the decision they made. He was also one of the chief advisors to Paul when he returned to Jerusalem after his third missionary journey. Imagine growing up in the shadow of such a great leader of the church. Yet our “third fiddler” had such a brother.

How could this man be the one who played the third violin when it was obvious that James must have been the first violinist? The truth is that, as great as James was, his older brother was “first violinist” because James’ brother was Jesus. Can you imagine James having such a great brother who was not only part of the church, He was the one who built it! James knew how to play second fiddle!

Then, who is this man who played “third fiddle”? It is Jude, the brother of James and the brother of Jesus. Now imagine that you are Jude and you have been selected by God to write one of the books of the Bible. The book’s purpose was to identify and confront false teachers. Would you not have thought it wise to remind your readers that you were the Lord’s brother? Would you not have wanted to let others know that what you said was authoritative because Jesus was your brother?

Look at his opening words, “Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ and the brother of James . . .” What a man! He knew how to play “third fiddle.” God give us more men in the church who know how to do this!

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Casey Anthony’s Biggest Mistake

This article has nothing to do with the guilt of Casey Anthony, who, in the view of most Americans, got away with murdering her daughter, Caylee. When the “Not Guilty” verdict was read last week, there was an overwhelming reaction of disdain and a resounding cry for justice for Caylee.

The rage came from the evidence presented by the prosecutors of a young mom who had little love for her child. The child was “in the way” and kept her from having a lifestyle characterized by partying. The attorneys portrayed her as a self-centered, self-seeking mom, who viewed being a mother a burden no one should have to bear.

When this evidence was seen by the millions who were captivated by the broadcast of the trial, it was widely believed that the only justice which would fit the crime was for Casey to be found guilty and either sentenced to death or at least life imprisonment. The image of Caylee’s last hours involving chloroform and perhaps suffocation using duct tape burned in their memory and cried out for justice.

Without commenting on whether Casey was guilty or innocent, there is another matter which many Americans should seriously consider. Turn the calendar back to that time when Casey first discovered she was pregnant. Assuming the attorney’s presentation to be true, she would have had no desire to be a mother. The pending birth of little Caylee would demand a change in Casey’s lifestyle. The new baby would simply be in the way. Because she was a self-centered, self-seeking mom, being a mom would force her to stop being a party girl.

However, at that time there would have been an easy “solution.” When Casey discovered she was pregnant, all she had to do was visit a clinic where little Caylee could be broken into pieces inside the womb, sucked out with a vacuum and flushed down the drain. Then this self-centered young lady could continue partying and enjoying the “good life.”

You see the mistake Casey made was the timing of the aborting of Caylee’s life. Had she aborted Caylee’s life three weeks before she was born, it would have been legal and the millions would have justified her action! Her mistake was one of timing!

What is wrong with this picture? America wake up! How hypocritical is it for our nation to defend the right of abortion so that one’s lifestyle is not altered by a child, yet rise up in arms when it is done after the birth? Caylee was Caylee in the womb! No one has a right to abort the life of a child!

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Another Marshall Keeble Story

When the Bible discusses the death of Abel it uses the phrase, “He being dead still speaks” (Heb. 11:4).  Those righteous ones who have departed leave behind many treasures, and through them they speak to us.  Perhaps no one in my lifetime has had the impact of Marshall Keeble.  His parents had been slaves, and our dear brother grew up in deep poverty and with limited formal education.  Through his preaching over 40,000 were baptized into Christ, and “Keeble stories” abound of his life and unique way of presenting the gospel.

A recent issue of Gospel Advocate has an article about him written by Amanzo Jones.  I grew up hearing this dear brother, and my life has been enriched by hearing the many details of his life.  This article relates a story I had never heard.  Let me share it with you so you can see the power of truth.

Brother Keeble was once scheduled to conduct a meeting in a community where large crowds were expected, but the only building large enough to accommodate them was a large denominational church.  Our brother sought permission to use the building.  However, when the pastor agreed to the use of the building he gave one stipulation.  Brother Keeble was not allowed to mention baptism. Everyone was so amazed that this great man would agree to this, and no one could believe that Marshall Keeble was going to do something he had never done—preach the gospel without mentioning baptism.

When the meeting began, the house was packed, and everyone waited to see what would happen, including the pastor who sat on the front pew.  Our brother took his text from Acts 2:38 and said, “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and do that thing that your pastor told me not to tell you, everyone one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall received the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

Every time our brother quoted other scriptures about baptism, and there were many of them, he substituted the phrase used above (or a similar one) for the word baptism.  Finally the pastor said, “Go on and tell them, Pastor Keeble.  Go on and tell them.”  When the revival ended large numbers had been baptized including the pastor and many of his church.

Brother Keeble died forty-three years ago, yet he still speaks to us.  His down-to-earth presentation of truth has never been equaled.  He lives in the heart of those who heard him.

When you are gone, people will tell stories about you.  Think about this!

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