It's Not About You

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us (Romans 8:18).

"I kept for nearly a year the flask-shaped cocoon of an emperor moth. It is very peculiar in its construction. A narrow opening is left in the neck of the flask, through which the perfect insect forces its way, so that a forsaken cocoon is as entire as one still tenanted, no rupture of the interlacing fibers having taken place.

The great disproportion between the means of egress and the size of the imprisoned insect makes one wonder how the exit is ever accomplished at all -- and it never is without great labor and difficulty. It is supposed that the pressure to which the moth's body is subjected in passing through such a narrow opening is a provision of nature for forcing the juices into the vessels of the wings, these being less developed at the period of emerging from the chrysalis than they are in other insects.

I happened to witness the first efforts of my prisoned moth to escape from its long confinement. During a whole forenoon, from time to time, I watched it patiently striving and struggling to get out. It never seemed able to get beyond a certain point, and at last my patience was exhausted. Very probably the confining fibers were drier and less elastic than if the cocoon had been left all winter on its native heather, as nature meant it to be. At all events I thought I was wiser and more compassionate than its Maker, and I resolved to give it a helping hand. 

With the point of my scissors I snipped the confining threads to make the exit just a very little easier, and lo! immediately, and with perfect case, out crawled my moth dragging a huge swollen body and little shriveled wings. In vain I watched to see that marvelous process of expansion in which these silently and swiftly develop before one's eyes; and as I traced the exquisite spots and markings of divers colors which were all there in miniature, I longed to see these assume their due proportions and the creature to appear in all its perfect beauty, as it is, in truth, one of the loveliest of its kind. But I looked in vain. 

My false tenderness had proved its ruin. It never was anything but a stunted abortion, crawling painfully through that brief life which it should have spent flying through the air on rainbow wings.

I have thought of it often, often, when watching with pitiful eyes those who were struggling with sorrow, suffering, and distress; and I would fain cut short the discipline and give deliverance. Short-sighted man! How know I that one of these pangs or groans could be spared? The far-sighted, perfect love that seeks the perfection of its object does not weakly shrink from present, transient suffering. 

Our Father's love is too true to be weak. Because He loves His children, He chastises them that they may be partakers of His holiness. With this glorious end in view, He spares not for their crying. Made perfect through sufferings, as the Elder Brother was, the sons of God are trained up to obedience and brought to glory through much Tribulation."

-Author Unknown

Fraudulent Freedom

This week we celebrate Independence Day, also referred to as the Fourth of July. It is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.

July 4th has been celebrated with community festivities that range from fireworks, parades, concerts in the parks, water skiing shows to more intimate family gatherings and barbecues.

For many individuals who claim the USA as their homeland, it is a day to commemorate and celebrate freedom.

Freedom: the state of being free or at liberty rather than a state of being in confinement or under physical restraint, the exemption from external control, interference, regulation, etc., the power to determine action without restraint.

And to some, a way to celebrate freedom means throwing off all restraints and drinking well past an “acceptable” level. In other words, throwing off all restrictions and doing “whatever” I want.

But is that really freedom? How is going so far past sensibility in any way freedom? Isn’t the fact that you are under control of a mood-altering substance proof that you are not walking in freedom but rather in bondage?

How is fulfilling every sexual desire freedom; especially when you must get drunk to do so?

This can’t be how our founding leaders meant for us to celebrate our independence; our freedom.

The Apostle Paul said; “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” (Galatians 5:1).

Although he was referring to other bondages that the early church was adding to the Gospel message, this passage is applicable to those situations where we want to use our freedom as USA citizens to do what we want.

No, we were never meant to live in bondage, but freedom; that is why we fought the war and wrote the Declaration of Independence in 1776. We knew that we were created to be free.

We knew that we were not supposed to be held in any bondages.

“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:2)

TRUTH is what sets us free; not drugs or alcohol.

Jesus said; “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31-32)

JESUS is what sets us freedom; not debauchery.

“Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36)

We were meant to be free.

 

God has a sovereign plan and purpose for your life. But you won’t find it by numbing your senses or abusing your body. Instead, it will be by the supernatural direction of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit calls out to each of us; “Stop. Look. Listen! Wrong way! Detour! Change your direction! You’re on the wrong road  that leads to bondage; not freedom!”

God helps you go another direction and gets you back heading where He wants you to be.

The Holy Spirit has been given to help us change our minds and convict us of where we are going the wrong direction. 1 John 1:8-10 says;

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.”

Do you desire to be free, but you are not sure how to?

Let me ask you a question; has there been a moment in your life when you acknowledged and admitted your sin and then by faith received the Lord Jesus Christ? If not, you can today. Your life can be changed. Your sins can be forgiven. You can live a new life. You can have the assurance that if you died at this moment, you would go to heaven. Will you receive Him as your Savior?

My prayer is that this 4^th of July you start to walk in that freedom

Need some help: Call 1-888-NEED HIM; someone is waiting and wanting to help you and get back going the right direction.

All Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Is God a Republican or a Democrat?

Tony (not his real name) attended one of the churches that I was a pastor at. Tony had grown up in a Christian home that reflected the love of Christ. He and his siblings attended a very good Christian school. His parents raised him to love God and to follow Jesus with his whole life.

 

Tony had recently started a job working construction and I asked him how it was going. “It’s really hard to work in that environment”; Tony said; “A lot of my coworkers aren’t Christians.” And he proceeded to talk about some of the projects that he was working on.

 

I was curious what “yardstick” Tony was using to discern the coworkers’ spirituality, so I asked Tony; “How do you know that these coworkers aren’t Christian?” “Because they vote for Democrats”, Tony replied.

 

Tony had been raised with the myth that the yardstick he was to use to judge another person’s spirituality (I’m not making this up) is the Bible and “whatever Rush Limbaugh said”. Wow, I thought; I hadn’t realized that God was a Republican!

 

I did something the following Sunday from the pulpit that I am not in a habit of doing. I took up some preaching time to tell the congregation (that included Tony, his siblings, and his parents) that I was pretty sure that God wasn’t a Republican or a Democrat or an Independent NOR is He indifferent. It wasn’t intended to be a shot at Tony’s parents for raising him to believe that myth; just a chance to speak truth.

 

I want to say for the record that I vote conservative; both fiscally and morally. But, I tend to vote the person, not the party; to be honest I think both parties (all parties) have major flaws and faults. One thing I do know is that there are Christians serving in our government that are affiliated with the Republicans, Democrats, and Independents. Yes, you can be a Democrat and be a Christian.

 

I have a friend who labels himself as a Christian and he chooses to work within the Democratic Party to be a voice of reason to that party. He is one voice trying to bring the sanctity of life to their platform. God Bless him, I say.

 

The Bible says that:

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus...” (Galatians 3:28).

 

And yet, we still act as though we believe the myth that God is either a Republican or a Democrat.

 

The Bibles says;

“Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.” (Romans 13:1-3)

 

We need to trust Him to guide our government; no matter what party we choose to align ourselves with. We are fighting not against people or parties, but against spiritual forces in ALL political parties:

 “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12)

 

We need to take time to pray for those who govern our society; no matter what party we choose to align ourselves with:

 “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1Timothy 2:1-4)

 

Instead of trying to prove why God is either a Democrat or a Republican

 

In Jesus Name.

 

New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.