But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who long for your saving help always say, “The LORD is great!” Psalm 40:16 NIV

How can anyone say anything about someone they don't know? A surface knowledge of anyone is not enough knowledge to judge anyone or make any determinations about them. Getting to know people on more than a passing greeting, level is how we determine our level of knowledge of others.

Although some may read a bible, go to church on a regular basis, sing in the choir, usher on the usher board, serve on the trustee or deacon board or pulpit committee or even preach in the pulpit--unless there is a thoroughly, intimate knowledge of God and how He wants us to live, we can't say much about Him and tell the truth.

When I listen to some people talk about Jesus and then every other word falling from their lips is profanity, I have to wonder--do they really know Him? I've even witnessed people do all manner of evil and then say, "Thank You, Jesus!" I'm confused. Why would anyone thank Jesus for them not getting caught in doing evil? People can do this because they don't know Him. If they really knew Him, they would be ashamed of the evil they do.

And then there are those who think they know Him because of their parents' relationship or affiliation with a church. Really? They think affiliation with a church or well-known pastor makes them know Him. They think their association puts them in a position to say, "I know the Lord!"

What I've learned through the years is that no matter which church I attend, what role I played in the church, or how many messages I preach--none of that puts me into a right relationship with God. It is having an experience with God--one in which He makes Himself known, leaving no doubt as to who He is and what I mean to Him--that brought me into a personal, intimate relationship with God. So when I say, "The Lord is great," it's because I have seen Him working on my behalf. I have known Him to move mountains out of my way and I have heard Him speak to me--on a consistent basis--guiding me along the path He established for me. Oh yes, I know Him!

Because of His love for me, I discovered who I am in Him and do all I can to live for Him, since He loved me enough to die for me. He loved me before I was born and the discovery of Him praying for me in the Garden of Gethsemane changed my life and my attitude about living a life to please Him. How great is our God! He didn't wait for me to put in an appearance to love me, or me to shout and dance in church; He loved me before my mother and father, before their parents and before their parents--from the beginning of time--He loved me, and no demon on earth or principality in the air, will ever make me doubt Him.

Now, how many people can truly say, based upon their personal knowledge and experience, "The Lord is great?" Where are they who can truly proclaim His goodness and promote others to live for Him? Now is the time for every born-again Believer to make themselves know and make His greatness known so others can say, "The Lord is Great!"

Why Jesus Said, "Keeping His Commands Shows Our Love For Him!"

"If you keep my commands, you remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commands and remain in His love." (John 15:10 NIV)

This entire segment in the 15th chapter of John is Jesus talking, most of the 16th chapter and all of the 17th chapter which is His prayer (I'll expound on that later). The point I'm making here is that Jesus had a great deal to say and the only way ANYONE can know that is by reading "all of His Word" and not just selected phrases that appear to justify a person's behavior. If I was to take the time to expound on every verse noted of Jesus speaking, I'd have more to write than time to write since I probably won't live that long.  I have chosen the selections used to make a point--to refute what groups of people are saying that Jesus just said, "love" and "don't judge." I know when they say such things, they have no clue as to who He is or His purpose in our lives. 

But getting back to His teaching--using the analogy of the vine and branches, something the disciples walking with Him, understood and so would most gardeners. It's about relationships that grow, with correction and instruction.

John 15:1-9

v.1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.

v.2 He CUTS OFF every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he PRUNES so that it will be even more fruitful,

v.3 You are already clean because of the WORD I have spoken to you.

v.4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit UNLESS you remain in me.

v.5 I am the vine; you are the branches, If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; APART from me you can do nothing.

v.6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers, such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and BURNED.

v.7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

v.8 This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, SHOWING yourselves to be my disciples.

v.9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.

Walking with Jesus--in the spirit--since He is no longer physically here walking with us--means that we demonstrate our love for Him, by keeping His commands (obeying His Word) to love God and love one another. Of course, in order for anyone to understand this, they must be in relationship with Him--accepting His love and knowing who He is and how He wants us to live.

It's not enough to accept God's unconditional love--if we truly love--we know that love is reciprocal--we must love Him. If we love Him, we must be willing to accept the occasional pruning, His correction, so we'll become more like Him. If we reject His correction and instruction, we reject His love and risk missing spending eternity with Him.

I'm not a gardener, but I have rose bush in my back yard that for some reason, has a mind of its own. The branches dry out and break off and when I have the time, I cut them back to a spot where I can tell there is still life (green on the outside and pulpy on the inside). No matter how much of the branch I end up cutting off, they grow back and roses blossom. As long as I prune off the "dead" part, this rose bush will live.

When God uses His messengers--then and now--to correct people about their behavior, He's trying to cut off the DEAD part (the rebellious part) so we can have life and blossom under His guidance. Teaching His Word in truth, not selectively distorting it, is about a love relationship--not judgment as some believe. Actually, I don't believe they think we're judging them, they just need something to say in an attempt to justify their opposition to living according to God's Word. Deep down, they know--that sin is killing them on a daily basis and if they will not heed righteous instruction, they will die off and nothing will be left of them in the earth.

When people know they are wrong--they are quick to justify their actions--as we can see with lawsuits, false claims of discrimination against those who will not support a celebration of sin. And now, the great oxymoron of them all is the production of the "Queen James Bible" which removes any reference to homosexuality as a sin. If they didn't know they were in sin, they would have had no need to "re-write" the bible. The very production of the book demonstrates they KNOW they live in sin, but they want to "feel" better about it.

People have been "adjusting" The Word for generations--so much so that not many even know which translation is right. I can tell which translation is right--THE ONE IN WHICH GOD HAS REVEALED THE TRUTH OF HIS WORD TO EVERYONE IN RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM. An experience with God, reveals who He is and how we are to live. We don't need a book to validate us--we need to know truth to grow and bear much fruit. For the Believer, the experience with Him, leads us to insight and revelation and He'll show us which Bible speaks Him.

If we truly love Him, we make no excuses and choose to live right because our desire is to please Him, not people or our flesh.

More about what Jesus said and why, next time.

How We Know!

"But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him." (I John 2:5 NLT)

Someone recently asked me a question--"How can I be one of the many (who make it to heaven)?"

The question was in response to a post I had made regarding the "numbers" John saw as he related them in Revelation--144,000 and the number none could count. The reference to the 144,000 is for the remnant of the Chosen nation who obey God and the rest of us.

How do we know--we are included in that number? We know we are included in the number by our obedience to Him.

In the first part of this letter, John reminds us that Jesus became the atonement for our sins and if we say we love Him, we must obey His Word. We cannot claim to love God if we do not know Him. We get to know Him by reading His Word and understanding the work on the cross. If we do not know The Word or understand or reject the work on the cross--we deny and reject Him!

Knowing The Word, understanding and accepting the work on the cross and obeying Him is how we know we are living in Him and if we are living in Him and for Him to His glory, we know--we make we are one of the number of many.

If we claim to love our spouses or our children or even family--and yet haven't gotten to know them--how can that statement be true? Some might say we love our children and family simply because--they are. But let's go back to the "dating" event that led to marriage. Most people take their time to get the know the person they are dating and contemplating marriage. When people get married and have not truly gotten to know who it is they are marrying, the marriage eventually falls apart, unless some serious work is done to save the marriage.

How do we know? It's not enough to just say, "I love you" and then move to the next level without knowing what it is you love about the person. In counseling couples before they marry, I caution people to look at the situation from a futuristic perspective--at least twenty years ahead. I encourage their commitment to the relationship rather than just the person because we won't always "like" the person or what they do, but if we are committed to the relationship--we'll work to save the relationship. If a person is willing "to work" to save a relationship, then they know--they love.

Are we willing to work on our relationship with God through obedience to Him? If we are, then we know we'll be in that number!

For All The Judges!

Who are you to judge me?

So what if I don’t know the songs you know.

Do you know the song that I sing continually in my heart in praise of Him?

So what if I don’t go to the church you attend.

Do you know what time the Holy Spirit and I meet every morning?

So what if I don’t shop where you shop.

Do you not see the righteousness that He has clothed me with?

So what if I don’t give as much as you do.

Did you not know that obedience is better than sacrifice?

Before you attempt to judge me—get to know me—and know, what I do—has nothing to do with you, but everything to do with Him.

Now, judge that!

Straight from the heart of this child of the Most High!

To Whom Do You Belong?

Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness” (2 Timothy 2:19 NIV).

On life's journey, we are assailed with many things, turned in many directions, influenced by various spirits in people to the degree that some--never determine who they are or to whom they belong. We are familiar with such adages as--"birds of a feather flock together," and "a man is known by the company he keeps," and "if it quacks like a duck, it must be a duck," but we do we really understand the implications?

When we look at Paul's instructions to Timothy, we understand that Timothy was up against some people who attempted to undermine who he was. Apparently, there was much discussion and disagreement over "words" (more likely the interpretation of such) and Paul told him, don't argue over words, study to make sure he knew what he was talking about and to not let those who had "turned from the truth" influence him in any way. And then, Paul reminds Timothy that God knows those who are His and whoever confesses belonging to Him, must turn away from wickedness (doing those things influenced by evil).

We who confess to having a relationship with God--must understand the implication--not only to those who have a common confession, but for those who do not. There is probably nothing more discouraging to someone who "doesn't really know Him, yet" to hear those who proclaim they do--arguing over words or rituals or traditions that mean absolutely nothing if God is not in it. Jesus warned us that, "we have made the Word of God of no effect because of our traditions."

The disparity comes to the forefront when people really do not know to whom they belong. They can tell in the blink of an eye which church they attend (or are members); they can tell someone the pastor's name; they can even tell what the church believes; they can tell when they were baptized, but when asked about having a personal, intimate relationship with God--they stutter. When asked how often they read, meditate or study The Word--they hesitate. They can quickly parrot what others have said about something, but have no knowledge of their own.

When people read the bible for themselves, they would know--"The Lord's Prayer"--the model given to the disciples, was not meant to be prayer for all things at all times. If that was true, then Jesus would have prayed it when He was in the garden, just before He was arrested. And the same people who repeat this prayer as a mantra, wonder why God is not hearing or responding to them. They do not know that God's response to us in prayer is based upon a sincere conversation with Him and our faith in Him, not a repetitious monologue. If people had read John--they would have discovered what meaningful prayer entails.

The real problem is--not knowing to whom they belong. If we belong to Jesus, then our behavior and our associations must be indicative of that relationship, rather than a relationship with worldly people who do not know Him!

Sometimes, Thinking Hurts!

Writing, as a process, is thinking.
Thinking, random thoughts or focused ones,
Sometimes leads to deeper thoughts.
When I think, I write.
When I write, I think.
Some days, my thoughts are clear.
Some days, my thoughts are cloudy.
I can look at the sky and think about God.
I can look at a newborn and think about God.
I can look at flowers and small creatures and think about God.
I can look at an ocean and think about God.
I can look at a mountain and think about God.
Then, I look at what our society is and think,
How did we ever get so far, from thinking about God?
Does God want us to kill and rob?
Does God want us to hate for no reason?
Does God want us to abuse children and the elderly?
Does God want us to sit back and do nothing--
Never speak of the evils of this world and who's behind them?
When we speak, do we speak Truth as God sees Truth?
Or do we speak, a politically correct truth that has nothing to do with Godliness?
When we lie, do we not understand that lying is the influence from Satan?
When we kill and destroy people or property, do we not see Satan's influence?
When we hate people--for no other reason than they are different,
Can we not see Satan's influence?
If our relationship with God is right, we'll think as He instructed,
And seek to help those in need and take care of families.
If our relationship with Satan is maintained,
We shall soon cease to exist, since his goal is to destroy mankind.
With all that is going on in the world,
With all the thoughts that bombard my mind,
Sometimes, thinking hurts.
But then, I write, and write, and write.

God help us to align our thinking with Yours that we might do what You would do in any situation, guided by love.

Who Believes Us?

"Who has believed our message?  And to whom is the arm of The Lord revealed?" (Isaiah 53:1)

When I think about what Isaiah was saying about himself and the other true prophets of God, I can't help but think we are still where they were--who believes us when we tell them about the goodness of God?  Who has God really revealed Himself to that any should believe?

Although I may sound a bit redundant (I'm sure I've said this before), knowledge of God doesn't come through religious doctrine; it comes through relationship with Him.  If we don't have a relationship with God, how can we truly tell anyone else about Him?  What could we say anything good about Him if He is not active in our lives?  Can we convince others to believe God (not in Him) by quoting scriptures?  I think not--if that was all it took many more would believe Him.  Can we convince others by where we attend worship services?  Not so--especially since so many churches are under the gun because of evil influence, starting from the pulpit and inclusive of those standing at the door.

No, the only we can convince anyone to believe God is by sharing what He has done for us and through us and that can only happen when we are in relationship with Him.  When we have a relationship with people--especially with those we care about--we seek to do things to please them.  When they care about us, they seek to do things to please us.  If everyone's needs are considered and provided for through us or for us, we maintain a good relationship with that person.  The same is true of God.  When we have a relationship with Him, we want to please Him and when we please Him, He said, "I'll give you the desires of your heart" (Proverbs 37:4 paraphrased). When people see us living our lives as "living epistles" they may just believe our message.  It's not so much what we say about who we are as it is about how we conduct ourselves; especially among the unbelieving.  Has anyone believed your message?

Beginning today, let's live the message-the good report--that Jesus saves, delivers, heals, forgives, and lives on the inside of us and watch Him reveal Himself to others.  Hallelujah!  I thank God for saving me!

An Everlasting Love!

"...I have loved you with an everlasting love.  With loving-kindness have I drawn you" (Jeremiah 31:3).

The Prophet Jeremiah reminds us that God has always loved us and with His love He has drawn us to Him. 

Have you reminded anyone lately that we love them?  Are we trying to draw others to Christ with loving kindness?  Or are we driving them away with our own frustrations and condemnations that people once attempted to use on us?

If our mission is to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus, we cannot do it with criticism, condemnation, and being full of self-righteousness.  We all have flaws and imperfections and we all need God's love in our lives to keep going.  Don't make being in a relationship with Christ so difficult that none want to get know Him or be in a right relationship with Him.  Love them to Christ, just as He loved us into fellowship with Him.  He set before us an example of love, let us work towards developing that love and sharing it with others.

Love to love you!