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Pushing the Limits of Sin

How often do you find yourself guilty of “pushing the limits” of sin in your life? Out-of-control human nature motivates each of us to see just how far we can go—how much we can get away with in this life. Our world is in a mess today because the limits have been pushed beyond the extremes.

The Bible clearly warns that eventually “your sin will find you out” (Numbers 32:23). Sooner or later, the effects for sinful choices will come in, oftentimes very hard, and payment will be required either in this life or the one yet to follow.

Consider one such incident addressed in the Bible. The story is recorded in 2 Kings 5. The prophet, Elisha, had been summoned to pray for healing for a foreign military commander by the name of Naaman who had a contagious skin disease.

Having carried out his mission, God healed the commander who then attempted to pay Elisha for his services. Elisha refused and left. But greed within Elisha’s servant, Gehazi, overcame him and he ran back to Naaman and lied in order to receive the payment Elisha had refused.

When Gehazi caught back up with Elisha, the Bible says: “Elisha questioned him, ‘Wasn’t my spirit there when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is it a time to accept money and clothes, olive orchards and vineyards, sheep and oxen, and male and female slaves?’” (Numbers 5:26 HCSB).

Then the hammer came down as Gehazi’s punishment was meted out for his sin. Elisha said: “‘Naaman’s skin disease will cling to you and your descendants forever.’ So Gehazi went out from his presence diseased-white as snow” (v. 27). Note that the punishment Gehazi received for his sin was multiplied across his family for generations to come. This still happens today.

We are living in a generation of individuals who have been brought up lacking any fear of repercussions for the choices they make. The philosophical teaching of moral relativity has pervaded our society creating an America filled with irresponsible individuals who blame everyone else for their problems and what they do and have become.

These lies have created the dilemma America finds itself in today. We are witnessing extremely elevated crime levels in our cities, horrendous acts being perpetrated against our little children, heinous sex acts and crimes being carried out across our high school and college campuses, and public school teachers sexually preying on their young students—to name only a few. We are living in a crisis situation!

Paul addressed each of us in Romans 14 in regards to humanity’s willingness to push the limits of sin. He warned everyone with these words: “For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written: As I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow to Me, and every tongue will give praise to God. So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God” (vv. 10-12).

A day of reckoning is surely coming. Payment will soon be processed before the throne of Jesus Christ for the willfully sinful acts that are not covered by the blood of Jesus. You must recognize your responsibility and accountability that will one day fall upon you.

Repent and turn from your wicked sinfulness. Turn to Jesus and accept His forgiveness and will to live a life pleasing unto God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ!

Scripture Reading: “Then I saw a great white throne and One seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from His presence, and no place was found for them. I also saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged according to their works by what was written in the books. Then the sea gave up its dead, and Death and Hades gave up their dead; all were judged according to their works. Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And anyone not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:11-15 HCSB).

Prayer: Father in heaven, I look at my life and my actions and I realize how often I push the limits. I recognize that much too often I allow my sinfulness to take control of my life leading me deeper into sin and further away from my fellowship with You. Please forgive me and help me to live within the bounds of life You have set for me. Help me to follow after You and to live according to Your Word. I love You and thank You for always being there for me…in Jesus’ name…AMEN!

The Tragic End to a Once-Great Nation!

Most every day we turn on the news only to find another major tragedy has befallen our nation. Do you ever look at the America we live in today and think back to the America that was leading the world in triumph in the late 1940s and 50s and wonder, “What happened?” How could such a great nation fall to such a tragic end in such a short time?

It began in 1963 with a systematic removal of God from America. In that year, prayer was deemed unconstitutional in the America’s classrooms and quickly removed. While George Washington had declared that: “It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible,” the powers-that-be decided otherwise.

Roughly ten years later, America’s power-that-be decided that freedom to live as one so desired was more important than a human life and abortion became legal. Since that time our nation has systematically murdered over 65 million of our own children. The mindset began to develop that human life is not that important so the taking of other human lives became an acceptable practice.

The fallout from all of this is revealed in the situation we now find ourselves in: streets filled with chaos and murder; broken homes filled with violence; terror coming at us from all directions. Why? America became self-servers. The Godly ideals and principles that had once held us up strong were obliterated from our society in the name of unconstitutionality! Abraham Lincoln warned of this crisis when he said: “The philosophy of the school room in one generation will be the philosophy of government in the next.”

The removal of God from the classroom has resulted in the removal of God from our nation. We arrived at the place to where we deemed it as acceptable for a sitting president to have an affair in our White House, lie about it and get away with it. It is interesting to note that our nation was subsequently rocked by a major terror attack, but no one took notice of God’s warning. Then, to intensify our failure before God, our nation twice elected a man to be our president who was in affiliation with those who brazenly attacked our nation—and continue to do so!

What a tragic end to such a great nation! Hebrews 10:31 tells us: “It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God!” Our nation has cast itself into the hands of the living God to be judged for our blatant, willful disregard of all that we once held in high regard.

But, the greatest tragedy in all this is the fact that the church sat back and allowed all this to happen. For so many years, the church sat back praying that God would deliver us from the evil that was overcoming our nation. The church, which at the time encompassed a huge majority of the population, did little to hinder or stop the removal of prayer. The church did little or nothing to stop the systematic murder of our innocent babies. And today, we are reaping the rewards for those decisions by what has become of our once-great nation.

The great failure came when the church fell silent and in essence failed to fulfill the command of God to: “Speak up for those who have no voice, for the justice of all who are dispossessed. Speak up, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the oppressed and needy” (Proverbs 31:8-9 HCSB). Is there any hope left for our once-great nation? Only by the mercy of God being poured out upon a truly repentant people! But, will that happen? Only you can decide!

Discovering Who You Really Are

As a Christian, it is important to discover who you really are. Who you really are is not the person who attends church weekly, teaches a Sunday school class or leads a Bible study. Who you really are is the individual that people see every other day of the week. Who you really are is the person people hear in conversation and watch in action in response to life’s situations as well as to other people. Who you really are is the person the world sees not necessarily the church!

If you seem to be confused by who the real you really is, maybe you should consider who you really should be. Jesus told His followers: “By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35 HCSB). It seems that who you really should be hinges upon the love you have towards others. The foundation to the Christian life is love—unconditional love.

The Scripture tells us: “God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love–not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins” (1 John 4:9-10 NLT). Paul magnifies that truth by telling us: “God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners” (Romans 5:8 NLT).

It was the love of the Father for us, His crowning creation, that motivated Him to provide for Himself, the necessary sacrifice to forgive our sins— the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. This is further substantiated by John 3:16: “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life” (NLT).

So, what does love have to do with who you really are? God displayed the ultimate portrait of love through Jesus Christ. If we truly love others as God has loved us, we will be driven to do anything and everything to win their hearts and minds to the Lord understanding the coming judgment and ultimate condemnation for those outside of Christ.

Your love for others will motivate you to exhibit Jesus Christ in everything you do and say, and everything you are. You will learn to carefully examine your actions and responses and carefully consider how they might affect others. You will carefully consider your words so as not to hurt anyone through what you might say.

Then, once you have discovered who you really should be, you can make the necessary adjustments so you may ultimately become the person God desires for you to be! To make an impact on the world God has placed you in; you must be the person God has designed you to be.

Scripture Reading: “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NLT).

Prayer: Father in heaven, I am not always the person I should be. My tongue has a tendency to spout out things before my mind carefully thinks them through. I go places and do things that don’t necessarily display the character of Christ. I pray for the ability to comprehend the fullness of Your love and then to live out that love in all I do. Help me to recognize how lost man is without You and to be actively engaged in showing Your love and Your free plan of salvation to others. I love You and thank You for all You do for me…in Jesus’ name…AMEN!

A Whole New You!

One of the great marvels of God’s magnificent creation is the transformation of a common worm into a butterfly. Incredibly, the ugly worm spins itself into a cocoon from where it soon emerges as a beautiful butterfly.

Far more marvelous still is the ugly, sinful man who willingly presents himself as a lost, helpless sinner at the foot of the cross of Christ. From there, he pleads for mercy and grace available only through the blood of Jesus Christ. There, at the cross, an ugly, sinful worm emerges forth as a new creation, transformed by the power of the Spirit of God through the blood of the Savior, Jesus Christ.

Paul said: “If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come” (2 Corinthians 5:17 HCSB). In Christ, you become radically transformed into a totally new creature. Paul puts it this way: “We are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago” (Ephesians 2:10 NLT). You are not a reworking of the old but a completely brand new creation, created in the image and likeness of Jesus Christ.  

In Romans 12, Paul wrote this epic passage concerning the transformation of the heart and mind of sinful humanity. He said “Brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God” (vv. 1-2 HCSB). Non-conformity to the thought patterns of this world will assist you in becoming a transformed thinker which will further result in a radically-changed believer.

It is important that we recognize as believers that: “Our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of His glorious body, by the power that enables Him to subject everything to Himself” (Philippians 3:20-21). When He appears, every follower of Jesus Christ will undergo a further radical transformation taking on the likeness of His glorious body.

The life you live today in the flesh has a tremendous bearing upon your eternity. You must continue pressing on in the faith; living in obedience to the Lord’s commands in all you do and say; always reaching forward to what is yet promised so you may one day attain the reward He has promised to all who endure to the end.

Scripture Reading: “Not that I have already reached the goal or am already fully mature, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus. Brothers, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus. Therefore, all who are mature should think this way. And if you think differently about anything, God will reveal this to you also. In any case, we should live up to whatever truth we have attained. Join in imitating me, brothers, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. For I have often told you, and now say again with tears, that many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction; their god is their stomach; their glory is in their shame. They are focused on earthly things, but our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of His glorious body, by the power that enables Him to subject everything to Himself” (Philippians 3:12-21).

Prayer: Father, I thank You for sending Jesus to die on the cross that I may have eternal life. I thank You that You saw something special in this old sinful, creature and have transformed me into a beautiful new creature. I pray that my life, my actions, and my words would always reveal my love and commitment to You. I pray that others would see Jesus shining through me. Lord, I pray for Your strength in the hard times and Your wisdom when I need an answer. Help me in all things to glorify You! In Jesus’ name…AMEN!

Who You Really Are!

How often have you allowed what others think of you to dictate who you really are? Perhaps as a child, your parents ran you down? You never lived up to their expectations? Maybe they were harsh and critical which created feelings of insignificance or of no value?

Maybe as you ventured out into the real world, you discovered people can be extremely harsh and condemning? You discovered there were always those ready to run you down and criticize everything you tried to do? The critical thoughts of others about you led you to begin to wonder who you really are.

I have some great news for you today—GOD doesn’t view you as the world views you! You are important to Him! You are His special creation. He has a plan and purpose distinct for you regardless of what others may think of you.

Consider the man, Gideon, for a moment. The Lord came to him while he was hiding out, in fear of the enemy. The Scripture says: “Then the Angel of the Lord appeared to him and said: ‘The Lord is with you, mighty warrior’” (Judges 6:12 HCSB).

Then, “The Lord turned to him and said, ‘Go in the strength you have and deliver Israel from the power of Midian. Am I not sending you?’” (v. 14). Gideon responds by sharing how insignificant and valueless he and his life are (v.15). Here you have a man who others considered worthless and of little value to society. Yet, GOD calls him “Mighty Warrior!” GOD saw Gideon for who he really was.

From that day forward, Gideon went forth as the mighty warrior GOD called him to be. He carried out great and mighty works, not based upon what others thought about him but upon who he really was in GOD’s sight.

Who you really are is not based upon what others think about you but what GOD has to say about you! The LORD says this about you in Isaiah 43: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine…you are precious in My sight and honored, and I love you” (vv. 1,4). Peter calls you: “a chosen people…a royal priest…God’s very own possession” (1 Peter 2:9 NLT).

Who you really are is based upon GOD’s thoughts about you. He loves you and you are His own! He places great value upon you, your life and the purposes He has for you. Who you really are? A child of the living GOD!

Scripture Reading: “But now, O Jacob, listen to the LORD who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, ‘Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I gave Egypt as a ransom for your freedom; I gave Ethiopia and Seba in your place. Others were given in exchange for you. I traded their lives for yours because you are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you. Do not be afraid, for I am with you.’” (Isaiah 43:1-5 NLT).

Prayer: Father in heaven, I often look at my life and wonder what good I’m doing here. People have looked down on me; they have criticized me; they have taken away any sense of value I may have ever had in myself. I often wonder why I am even here. But then I think about what You have done for me by sending Jesus to die for me. I realize You see value and potential in me. I am not what others think about me; I am what You think about me and that is uplifting. Help me to recognize my value, my purpose and Your plan for me. I love You and thank You for seeing me in a special way…in Jesus’ name…AMEN!

Guided by a Storm!

Have you ever found yourself in the middle of a treacherous storm only to discover later that God was using that storm to guide you where He wanted you to be? Perhaps the winds of indecisiveness overwhelmed you? You prayed, you read your Bible, you cried but you couldn’t seem to break out of the storm? Then, all of sudden the storm broke and you realized God had you right where He wanted you to be?

Consider Paul for a moment. He was bound up in chains headed to Rome aboard a ship to face his execution. Paul remained steadfast unto the leading of the Lord; anticipating his eventual opportunity to share Jesus with the Caesars. God had something important for Paul to do along the way. So, He created a diversion through the weather in order to fulfill His plan.

The book of Acts records this diversion in this way: “When a light wind began blowing from the south, the sailors thought they could make it. So they pulled up anchor and sailed close to the shore of Crete. But the weather changed abruptly, and a wind of typhoon strength (called a “northeaster”) burst across the island and blew us out to sea. The sailors couldn’t turn the ship into the wind, so they gave up and let it run before the gale” (Acts 27:13-15 NLT).

Not exactly the way Paul and the sailors would have liked for things to go, but God’s plan had to be fulfilled and He knew what it would take to make it happen. The storm moved in, began to batter the ship until the sailors finally relinquished steerage of the ship over to the storm.

God now had control and was able to guide them to the place He wanted them to be. The ship finally wreaked on the Isle of Malta where God was able to use Paul in a tremendous way. Paul shared Jesus with people who had never heard of him and many people were healed of their diseases.

Sometimes, we are hanging on so tight to our own life, our own situation, our own ministry that God can’t get the control He needs to guide us to the place He desires us to be. So, He sends a storm into our life to create a diversion. The storm causes us to realize we are powerless to break out on our own.

Finally, we relinquish control over to Him and realize He had something special in store for us to do that we would’ve never discovered without His divine intervention. God is doing great works in our world today. He desires to carry out some of that work through you. When you fail to recognize His guidance, He may just have to create a diversion in your path to wake you up.

Scripture Reading: “O LORD, I give my life to you. I trust in you, my God! Do not let me be disgraced, or let my enemies rejoice in my defeat. No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced, but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others. Show me the right path, O LORD ; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you” (Psalm 25:1-5 NLT).

Prayer: Father in heaven, I pray that You would help me to be sensitive to Your direction for my life. Help me to recognize when You are trying to readjust my direction in order to carry out Your plans. I don’t always know the “whys” or “how comes” but I know that You have a plan and I simply need to be willing to say “YES” as You lay that out before me. I may not always know where I am going but You do, so help me to simply place all my trust in You. Lord, I love You and thank You for guiding and directing my life always…in Jesus’ name…AMEN!