That’s My Dad

Have you ever, while casually observing a crowd of
people, seen someone that was a virtual look-a-like
to some celebrity you’ve seen in a movie or
magazine?  A few years ago, while attending a
wrestling match with my oldest son, I saw a man who
was a dead ringer for George McFly (the nerdy,
wimpy character in the movie “Back to the Future”).
At this point my son and I had already been engaged
in a conversation with another teenager from a
different school when I brought this up.  I said, “Do
you guys see that fellow down there?  Doesn’t he
look like George McFly?”  The teenager, in all
seriousness, replied, “That’s my dad.”  In an effort to
remove my foot from my mouth I could only reply,
“And a fine figure of a man he is too.”

Well, with all humiliation aside, I was greatly
impressed with the young man’s attitude about his
father.  He was proud of him and honored him in the
eyes of others.  Such a mind-set reminds me of what
Paul said in Ephesians 6:1-3: “Children…’Honor your
father and mother’” (cf. Prov. 23:22-25).  My father
doesn’t look like anyone famous that I’m aware of, but
he is more popular to me than they ever will be; and,
as a godly man, has far more influence in my life then
they ever could…and I am proud to say of him,
“That’s my dad!”

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Can You Hear Me Now

You’ve probably seen the cell phone commercials
where some fellow walks around talking on a cell
phone and saying, “Can you hear me now?”  This
reminds me of the story of an elderly man who said to
his wife, “For fifty years you’ve been tried and true.”
She, hard of hearing, said, “What?”  So he repeated
his statement.  But again, she said, “What?”  So he
yelled, “For fifty years you’ve been tried and true!!!”
She then responded, “Well, for fifty years I’ve been
tired of you, too!”

Sometimes we can hear the sound, but not hear
(understand) the message.  For example, in Acts 9:7
the men with Paul “heard” a voice, yet 22:9 says that
they did not “hear” the voice.  These men heard
something, but they did not understand what they
heard.  In a sort-of, kind-of way, this would be like
someone yelling to you from a hundred yards away.
You can hear him yelling, but you can’t make out
what he’s saying.  Yet, sometimes the inability to hear
is self-inflicted.  Sometimes we hear what we want to
hear, and sometimes we simply refuse to hear.
Jesus shows the contrast: “Everyone who is of the
truth hears My voice” (Jn. 18:37). “He who rejects
Me, and does not receive My words, has that which
judges him — the word that I have spoken will judge
him in the last day” (12:48).

Friends, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
(Mk. 4:9).

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How to Receive a Free Gift

The Bible speaks of salvation as being a free gift
from God (Rom. 6:23).  Because of this, many are
convinced that one does not need to do anything to
obtain it, for it is free after all.  But is this really true?

In the Old Testament God promised to give the
children of Israel the land of Canaan freely (Exod. 6:
4; Deut. 10:11).  They did nothing to earn it; they did
not pay God for it – it was a free gift.  Yet, in order to
take possession of it they had to prepare provisions
(Josh. 1:11); they had to cross over the Jordan (c. 3);
they had to defeat Jericho (c. 6); they had to do
battle with Ai (c. 7-8); etc.  God gave Israel the land
as a free gift, however, that did not exclude effort on
Israel’s part.  They had to DO something to receive it.

After an old farmer tore down his barn, his neighbor
inquired about the wood.  The old farmer said, “You
can have it for nothing.  I’ll just give it to you.  Only
thing is, you’ll have to come haul it away yourself.”
Was it a free gift?  Yes.  Did the neighbor have to do
something in order to obtain that free gift?  Yes.
Friends, the same is true with regard to the free gift
of salvation (Heb. 10:36).

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Working on Our Faith

Recently I wrote an article titled, “Are We Saved By
WORKS?” – in which I established that we cannot be
saved apart from works of righteousness (which I
defined as “works resulting from obedient faith”).
Hence, works of righteousness, in this sense, means
“works of faith” (cf. Acts 10:35; Heb. 11:33; Jas.
2:18).

The question that arises, however, is what about
Titus 3:5 in which Paul says that salvation did not
come because of “works of righteousness”?  First of
all, Paul was referring to meritorious works, not
works of faith (that is, we do not merit salvation; it
came as a result of divine mercy).  Secondly, in
verse 8, Paul specifically said that “those who have
believed in God should be careful to maintain good
works” (i.e., works of faith).  Because of “works of
faith” Abraham was justified (James 2:22-23); Noah’s
family was spared (Heb. 11:7); and about 3,000
Jews had their sins forgiven (Acts 2:37-41).  You
see, faith without works IS dead (Jas. 2:26).

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Got Milk?

For years the dairy industry has promoted one of
their signature products (milk) through a series of
very effective television commercials.  In one such
advertisement, after a fellow ate his fill of chocolate
cake (only then to realize he had nothing to wash it
down with), the question asked was, “Got Milk?”

The Bible refers to milk both literally and spiritually.
In fact, the expressions “milk” and “solid food” both
represent the word of God: “milk” meaning the
elementary principles of Christ (Heb. 6:1-2) and
“solid food” meaning the deeper things of God.  To
those newer to Christianity Peter said, “as newborn
babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you
may grow thereby” (1 Pet. 2:2).  Yet, just as a
newborn on milk eventually needs solid food for
continued growth; so, too, is the  Christian expected
to grow up in Christ  (2 Pet. 3:18; 1 Cor. 3:2; Heb. 5:
12-14).  However, this milk is ever needful.  As one
preacher put it, “We dine on the meat of revelation,
and wash it down with the milk of the word.”  So,
friends, “Got Milk?”

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