What's In The Bag? Check The Receipt

"These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so."
Acts 17:11 (NKJV)

Recently, I was shopping for groceries in Germany, and I used the self-service checkout to pay for my groceries.  As I packed up my things and started to leave, a man approached me and introduced himself as the "store detective" saying he wanted to check my receipt and groceries, to see if they matched.  This had never happened to me before, but I gladly showed him my receipt, and he checked what was in my bags against the receipt.  At the end of this, he thanked me for my cooperation and I left the store, because what was in the bag matched the receipt.

Many stores have people who might check our receipt against what we are trying to leave the store with.  People in these stores could just expect everyone else to be nice and think that no one would try to steal anything from them, but unfortunately, this is not the case.  It is a good policy to check things, whether it is groceries, some electronics purchase, or even concerning Bible teaching.  When we hear someone teaching something in a church, a special meeting, online, or even in a book we read, we should check what we have received in that teaching against what is written in the Bible. 

Acts 17:11 talks about something that every Christian should be doing; searching the Scriptures, daily, to see if what we hear is true.  In a store, someone may want to check what is in our bag against the receipt we have.  In the same way, we need to check the Bible to see if what someone else and their teaching is giving us is really in line with God's Word.  If we do not do this, we could end up with something that does not belong to us, and that would not be good.  There is good teaching, and there is bad teaching, and the best way to tell the difference is to check the Scriptures, daily.

What Do You Remember?

"Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.
I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 3:13-14 (NKJV)

Memories can be wonderful, or they might not be so great.  It is good to remember the nice trip we took somewhere, a special time with family, or some good thing that happened in the past.  But, memories of something bad that happened to us are not things we want to remember.  Memories are something we have about something in our own life, and we don't usually remember what happened to other people, unless we were somehow involved.  But if I was the only person who remembered something, then it would not be a memory shared by other people, and it would only be relevant to me.

Everyone has some memories of the things that have happened in their life, and of course, we want to remember the good things, and we want to forget the bad things.  If all someone remembered were the bad things that happened, that would not be good, it is best to leave those things in the past.  This is something that applies to everyone, and it can be especially important in the lives of Christians.  Everyone makes mistakes, but we need to move past the mistakes and not dwell on them.

In Philippians 3:13-14, Paul gave us some great advice: leave the past behind and move forward towards the goal that God has given us.  We all make mistakes, and we usually remember those mistakes in a more negative way.  And our enemy, the devil, never forgets our mistakes and he is always quick to remind us of the past problems we have had.  We need to move on, leave the past behind, ignore the devil's reminders, and remember the goodness and mercy of God.  If all we do is remember the problems we have had, it is difficult to move forward in the plan that God has for us.

Deposits And Withdrawals

"A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil.  For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks."
Luke 6:45 (NKJV)

One basic principle of banking is that you cannot withdraw more than you have deposited.  This is a very simple concept, but there are times when people somehow think that they have more money in their account than they actually do, and that creates a problem.  In the past, when more people wrote checks, you could write a check, mistakenly thinking you had some funds available, but if they were not there, the check bounced.   Today, when you make a deposit in a bank account, some of your money may not actually be available right away, so that is also something to pay attention to.

The principle of deposits and withdrawals can be seen in other areas of life, besides banking.  For example, if you have "deposited" some knowledge, wisdom, or experience into your life, then that is something you can "withdraw" when a situation arises.  This principle also carries over into spiritual things.  If we have some spiritual knowledge, wisdom, and experience that has been deposited into us, we could make a withdrawal of that for ourselves and for others.  But we cannot make a natural or spiritual withdrawal of something that has never been deposited. 

In Luke 6:45, Jesus talked about a good man and an evil man both having some "treasure" in their hearts that could be brought out.  Whatever deposits of "treasure" we make into our life are things we will be able to "withdraw" for the benefit of ourselves and others.  We need to spend time in God's Word, talking with God in prayer, and even serving in our church and elsewhere to gain deposits of spiritual wisdom, knowledge, and understanding.  As we make these spiritual deposits in our life, we will be able to make the necessary spiritual withdrawals for ourselves and others.

Warning Labels

"But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless."
Titus 3:9 (NKJV)

At different times, and in different places, we will see warning signs or labels.  We might see a sign that tells us to watch out for some animals that might cross the road, we could see a warning sign about the danger of high voltage from something, or we might see a label on a product that says it is poisonous, and it should not be consumed.  All of these warning signs and labels have something in common, someone put them there for a reason.  And, whoever was responsible for the warning sign, or label, knew what the potential danger was so that they could warn other people about those things.

There are things that can be hazardous to us in some way, but how do we know?  If a baby or small child is left unsupervised, they can do things that could be dangerous, or try to eat things that might hurt them, but normally an informed adult would know better and not do the same thing.  This is also true with spiritual things.  When someone is a young or inexperienced believer, they might do things, or eat things, spiritually, that could be harmful to them.  Fortunately, we have some spiritual warning labels in God's Word to show us what is good and what is bad. 

In Titus 3:9, the Apostle Paul warned people about things that were "unprofitable and useless," and really harmful to their spiritual health.  Paul was placing spiritual "warning labels," so to speak, on things that he knew would be dangerous for a believer's spiritual health.  Warning labels from people like Paul are good, but we all have a responsibility to know the Word of God for ourselves, and to test all things so we can hold on to what is good.  By paying attention to the warning labels we learn about through God's Word, we can avoid getting involved in the things that would harm us in our relationship with God.

Take Step 1 Before You Take Step 2

"Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?"
And he said, "Who are you Lord?"  Then the Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.  It is hard for you to kick against the goads."
So he, trembling and astonished, said, "Lord, what do you want me to do?"  Then the Lord said to him, "Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."
Acts 9:4-6 (NKJV)

Have you ever bought something at a store with instructions that said, "Some assembly required"?  Most people have done this, and when you look at the instructions, there will usually be various steps to take to assemble what you purchased.  While you might be in a hurry to get to the completed product, if you try to skip steps, you might have a problem.  It could be that by just using your best judgment you were able to successfully complete your project, but usually the best thing to do is follow the instructions you were given and do step 1 before you do step 2.

It is hard to find a true Christian who does not want to follow the will of God and do what God says.  In 2 Corinthians 5:7, it says we walk (we live), by faith.  Faith is not based on what we see or feel, but it is based on what God has said.  To successfully do the will of God and follow His plan, we have to do things His way and take the steps that He gives us, as He gives them to us, or we may end up wandering away from the plan God has for us.  We need to take the step that God gives us, and trust God's guidance in our life, even if it is only one step at a time.

When Saul, who would later be known as Paul, met Jesus on the road to Damascus, he asked what he should do.  Jesus told him to go to the city, and he would be told what to do.  This is the same way that God will guide us. God will give us a step to take, something we can do now, that will lead to another step.  Often, by taking the first step, which may be the only step we have, we will learn something or gain something that will help us in our next steps.  If we try to skip steps, if we try to figure out the next steps on our own, or we want to wait until God gives us several steps, we may miss the plan God has for us. 

What Do You Call Him?

"But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
And because you are sons, God has sent for the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!"
Galatians 4:4-6 (NKJV)

When I was growing up, I had friends from school and family members that I called by their first names.  Also, because of my parents, there were other people that I had some relationship with, they were people who I always called Mr., Mrs., or Miss. something.  Those were people I never referred to by their first name.  But as I grew older, my relationship with those people changed, and most of them told me I should now call them by their first names, that I no longer had to use the more formal title.  What I called these people changed because the relationship changed.

There are many people in the world who follow some kind of god.  In Christianity, we talk about God Almighty, and that is a correct term to use to refer to our God.  Even people who do not follow Jesus might refer to "God," but they do not have a real relationship with Him.  The good news is that once we are born again, we come into the family of God, and we are now in the position that we can refer to God as our Father!  This intimate relationship we have with God is unique to all the religions of the world, who have some god, but their god is not their father.

One of the most wonderful things about Christianity is the close relationship we have with our God.  He is not just God to us, He is our Heavenly Father.  In Galatians 4, Paul talked about how God sent Jesus at just the right time to redeem us, so that we could be adopted into God's Family.  Once we are saved, we become children of God, and our relationship with God has changed, because we have been adopted into God's Family.  Now we can talk to God, as our Father.  He is not just some powerful being somewhere, but He is our loving Heavenly Father!

Who Are You Looking For, And Why?

"The Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain;
but when he arrived in Rome, he sought me out very zealously and found me.
The Lord grant to him that he may find mercy from the Lord in that Day - and you know very well how many ways he ministered to me at Ephesus."
2 Timothy 1:16-18 (NKJV)

At one time or another, we have all been looking for someone for some reason.  Often, the reason we are looking for someone, is that they have something we need, something we want, or they know something that we do not.  Of course, sometimes we are looking for friends or family members in some place because we want to see them and reunite with them, but even when that happens, most of the time when we are searching to find someone there is a reason for it that has more to do with us than it does with them.

Most of the things we do are done for our own benefit, but in the Bible, we are told that we should really be more interested in what helps others rather than just focusing on what is good for us.  If all we do is look for people that we think can help and benefit us, we have the wrong focus.  What if we were to think about ways we could help other people and do good things for them, and what if we had something special, or just learned something great, and then we go looking for someone to share that with?

The Apostle Paul did some great things to help build God's Kingdom, and people probably wanted to meet Paul and listen to him, but how many people wanted to help Paul?  In 2 Timothy 1, Paul talks about a man named Onesiphorus who Paul said "often refreshed" him and ministered to him in many ways.  Onesiphorus was not some famous Christian, but he was someone who went looking for Paul, to help him.  What about us, who are we looking for, and why are we looking for them?  We need to be like Onesiphorus, and when we look for people, it is because we want to help them.

Retraining Ourselves

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
Romans 12:1-2 (NKJV)

Whenever you learn a skill or you are taught to do something, what you learn is based on who was teaching you.  But what if you were taught to do something, like driving a car, playing an instrument, or using a computer program, and the way you learned it was not actually the best way to do that thing?  Or what if some lessons you learned in the past are now outdated, or you moved to a different city, state, or nation?  That could happen, and the result might be that you would have to learn how to do those things differently, you would need to be retrained.

Every day, we are learning, and even relearning, how to do things.  As Christians, we are, or should be, in a continual process of being retrained to think, act, and speak the way God wants us to.  It is almost impossible not to be influenced in some way by the things of this world, church traditions, family history, or something else that is contrary to God's Word and His will.  This is why we must be growing and developing spiritually to retrain ourselves to live the kind of life that God has planned for us, and not live a life based on anything else.

Romans 12:1-2 talks about presenting our bodies to God as a living sacrifice and renewing our mind so that we are not conformed (shaped) like the world.  It is easy to think, act, and speak like everyone else, but we need to think, act, and speak according to God's Word.  This can only happen as we spend time in God's Word, spend time with God in prayer, follow the Holy Spirit, and get involved in our local church.  Retraining ourselves by lining up our thoughts, actions, and words with God and His Word is something that we should always be doing.

Light In The Darkness

"Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness; He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous."
Psalm 112:4 (NKJV)

We have all been in situations where we did not know what to do.  Whether it was a question about the future, our family, our job, or if it was a question about how to best handle a problem we were dealing with, we have all had that feeling of not knowing what to do.  Just like everyone else, I have been there too, and it is not a nice place to be.  When it seems like we are in the dark, when we do not really know what to do, one thing we can be sure of is that we are not alone.  God knows about our situation, and He wants to help us, and He will.

Our life as a follower of Jesus should be just that, following Jesus.  But what does it mean to follow Jesus and allow God to guide us in our life?  Does following Jesus mean that we always know the way that we are going, or are we walking by faith and following God's direction?  If we are following Jesus, if we are doing the will of God and being led by the Holy Spirit, does that mean we are doing our best to figure things out for ourselves, or are we looking to God, the wisdom of His Word, and the leading of the Holy Spirit to give us the direction and help we need in our life?

Psalm 112:4 talks about light rising up in the darkness for the righteous, but what does that mean?  If we are in some natural darkness, we need some light to see where we can and should go.  If we seem to be in some spiritual darkness, because we do not know where to go, or how to do what we need to do, we can trust God to give us the light, wisdom, and direction that we need.   We have to trust God and get light and understanding from His Word, and by the Holy Spirit, to do what we need to do, and not just try to figure something out on our own.  Even when it seems dark, God will give us light.

Don't Lose Your Smile

"that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
And these things we write to you that your joy may be full."
1 John 1:3-4 (NKJV)

The other day, I saw a group of young children on the way to their school.  One thing I noticed is that several of the children were talking with each other, laughing, smiling, and playing around as they walked along.  Of course, not every child was doing that, but several of them were.  As I saw these things, I thought to myself that while so many of these children are smiling, it usually happens that when the children become adults, they seem to lose their smile.  This seemed a bit sad to me, and I thought that none of us should ever lose our smile.

When we are happy, and when things are going great, we smile.  One reason we might say that children laugh and smile so easily is that they are not dealing with a lot of the things in life that we all have to deal with as we become adults.  But, as Christians, we should never lose our smile, because our life is not based on our circumstances and the things we deal with in life.  Nehemiah 8:10 says the joy of the Lord is our strength, and if that is true (and it is), then Christians should have a smile on their face no matter what the situation may be.  

In 1 John 1, the Apostle John wrote that he wanted believers to have fellowship with each other and that their joy would be full.  John made two important points here: having proper fellowship and focusing on what has been written in God's Word will help us be full of joy.  It is easy to look at life and our circumstances and lose our smile and lose our joy, but if we stay in proper fellowship with God and we stay focused on God's Word, we can have joy in the midst of the challenges of life.  Our joy, and our smile should not depend on our outward circumstances, but on our relationship with God.

Even Snails Don't Quit

"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,"
Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
Hebrews 12:1-2 (NKJV)

Recently, as I was out for a run on a trail through a forest, I saw a snail moving across the path I was on.  The snail was not going very fast, and I wondered how long it would take that snail to make the journey across the path, which was a dangerous thing for it to do as the snail could easily be crushed by someone.  But then I had another thought; no matter what, that snail is not going to quit.  That snail had a goal, and it was going to do everything that was necessary to get to the other side of the path and to where it was going.

One thing we all know is that life is not always easy, because we all face challenges.  We are all making our way through life, and hopefully doing what we can to live out the plan God has for us.  It is easy to have great ideas about what we want to do in life and how we want to serve God, but it can be just as easy to quit when things get difficult.  The real test comes when we are challenged to quit.  But rather than just quitting when things get hard, and things will get hard, we need to be committed to doing whatever it takes for us to reach our goals.  

In places like Hebrews 12, the Bible talks about our running the race that is set before us.  Our life and the things we do in our relationship with God are all a part of that race.  We must run our race with endurance, and we must never quit.  Starting a race is easy, and it is something anyone can do.  But finishing a race well is something else.  We need to keep moving forward in the race that we are running for God, and no matter how difficult it may get, and no matter how long it takes, we never quit, but we keep going until we reach our God given goals. 

Whose Directions Do You Follow, And Give?

"The former account I made, O Theophilius, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,  
until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen."
Acts 1:1-2 (NKJV)

Imagine building something, working on a project, or going to some place, and you need information to be successful in what you want to do.  Whose direction and guidance would you want to have for these things?  Would you look for information from anyone other than someone who has knowledge and understanding about what you wanted to do?  It would be foolish to ask someone about building something or about work on a project who had never done those things, and it would not make sense to ask someone for directions to a place that they had never even heard of.

At one time or another, we will all need some information and directions, and we may even be the one who is asked to give that information and those directions.  As Christians, we have the Holy Spirit living in us, and He can help us with the information and directions we need for our own life and for the information and direction we may need to give to other people.  If we are just making things up on our own, following traditions, current trends, or doing things based on what someone else has done, we may end up giving information that will only be of minimal value.

In Acts 1:2, it says that Jesus gave His disciples commandments through the Holy Spirit; Jesus was not making things up on His own or just sharing what some other person had taught Him.  In the same way, through God's Word and by the Holy Spirit, God will give us what we need to know, and what we can use to help others.  We may have some nice ideas, and maybe even a good amount of wisdom and experience, but rather than just following and giving out directions from things we come up with on our own, we need to follow and give guidance from the Holy Spirit; that is the best way to do things.

More Questions Than Answers?

"As I urged you when I went into Macedonia - remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, 
nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith."
1 Timothy 1:3-4 (NKJV)

When we have questions, we want answers, and when we don't understand something, we normally want to have that thing explained to us.  It would be very strange for us to ask someone a question, and instead of them answering our question, they only ask us a different question.  It would be very unusual for us to talk to someone about something we do not understand, or even take a class to learn about something, and at the end of the conversation or class we are more confused about that thing than we were before.

No one really wants to be completely ignorant and not know things.  There may be some things we are not interested in, but generally speaking, in life, and especially as Christians, we want to learn about things that are relevant to us and things that will help us be successful.  It would be sad to attend a church, some special meeting, or even a Bible school, and when the service, meeting, or school is over, we understand even less about what we are taught than we did before, and we actually have more questions than answers.

In 1 Timothy 1:3-4, Paul encouraged Timothy to teach correct doctrine and to avoid getting involved in "fables and endless genealogies" because those things cause disputes.  The Greek word that is translated as "disputes" here means "a searching or seeking" of something.  Paul told Timothy to teach the things that bring godly edification rather than things that just bring up more questions.  We should teach things that build people up and not confuse them, we should teach things that edify and help people rather than just leaving people with more questions than answers.

Your Results May Vary

"For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function,  
so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another."
Romans 12:4-5 (NKJV)

Sometimes when a product is advertised, and they tell you about all the wonderful things you can do with that product, they will also say something like, "your results may vary."  They are saying that you can buy their product for the intended purpose, but the results you get with the product may look different than what you saw in the advertisement.  This does not necessarily mean that something is wrong, but as you use the product, exactly what happens in your situation may be different than what you saw in some advertisement.

Every Christian is a part of the Body of Christ, and just like with our natural body, there are many different parts of the Body of Christ.  Each part is important and each part has a specific function.  So it should not surprise us when we see other believers, other parts of the Body of Christ, doing things differently than we do and even seeming to have success in some ways that we do not.  Just as we cannot compare how one part of our natural body is doing by looking at another part of our body, in the Body of Christ we all have different parts to play, and that is how God designed it.

In Romans 12:4-5, Paul explained that there are many parts in the Body of Christ, and we do not all have the same function.  If we compare our life and what we do for God with other believers, we may wonder what is wrong with us.  But we can be doing everything right and our results in doing what God has asked us to do may look different from what we see in others.  We need to understand that God has a plan and purpose for each one of us, and we need to be faithful doing what God has called us to do, even though our results in serving God may vary from what other Christians are doing.

Under Construction

"Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever.  Amen."
Hebrews 13:20-21 (NKJV)

Right now, there are two building projects going on close to where I live in Germany.  Sometimes, when I go by these places and I look at what they are doing at the construction site, I have some idea what is happening, and a basic idea of what the end result will be.  But there are other times that I look at what is happening, and I have no idea what is going on.  However, I am confident that there are building plans somewhere that the workers are following and the end result of the construction will be exactly what it was designed to be.

Often, when we are looking at some type of construction project, we do not always understand exactly what is happening, or how what is currently being done will bring the right end result.  This is also how things work in our own spiritual growth process; God is working on us, and other people, in ways we do not always recognize or understand, but God has a plan.  We all need to grow and develop spiritually, and God is the One who is working on us and in us, even when we do not see or understand what is happening.

God is working in us, developing and maturing us to help us succeed in life and to be equipped to do the things He has planned for us to do.  We don't always see or understand what God is doing, but as Hebrews 13:21 says, God is working to develop and mature us, and He is doing things in our life that are well pleasing in His sight.  We may not recognize exactly what is happening while we are under construction, but if we allow God to work in us, the end result will be exactly as He has planned, and even better than we might expect. 

Who Directs Your Steps?

"The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and he delights in his way."
Psalm 37:23 (NKJV)

Have you ever planned to go somewhere, maybe even a place you have been before, but when you think you should be at your destination, you realize that your directions were wrong and you are not where you wanted to be?  You may have had a good idea about where you needed to go, and even a good plan on how to get there, but your directions were based more on what you thought was right than actual, accurate information.  In a situation like this, if we do not check our directions, we can think we are going to the right place, but we will never get there.

We are all going somewhere in our life.  But the question is, what direction are we going and what is setting the course for our life?  There are many reasons people do things, and if we are doing things for the wrong reasons, or even if we have the right reasons but we are going the wrong way, we will end up with problems.  Sometimes Christians are looking for some "new and exciting" doctrine or a "special" meeting to make a difference in their life, but they are looking in the wrong place for what they need.  They are directing their own steps and not allowing God to guide them through His Word and the Holy Spirit.  

Psalm 37:23 talks about God directing our steps, but is it God who is really directing our steps?  Just desiring to go the right direction in life and do the right thing is not enough, we have to be sure that the course we are following is actually going to lead us to where we need to be, and we are not just on a nice path that really leads to nowhere.  If we are the one who is setting our own course in life, then we are not following God's direction and we will not end up where we should be, or where God wants us to be.  We need to allow God to direct our steps. 

If You Cease Listening, You Will Stray

"Cease listening to instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge."
Proverbs 19:27 (NKJV)

Starting something is important, but continuing with that thing is even more important.  Whether you are learning a new skill, a different language, or starting an exercise routine, getting yourself started is usually easier than continuing to do that thing.  This is the reason many people do not keep some New Year's resolution or follow through with a good idea or desire that they have.  Once we begin doing something, we must find a way to keep ourselves involved in that thing, because if we do not, we will end up far away from our original intent, and whatever gains we might have made will be lost.

Hebrews 2:1 talks about paying attention to what we have heard so that we do not drift away.  Drifting away from something can easily happen if we do not keep the thing that could drift connected to something else.  We have to pay attention to what we have heard from God in His Word and by the Holy Spirit so that we do not drift away from those things.  One way we can prevent drifting away from what is right is to continually listen to the instruction we receive through God's Word so that we keep ourselves anchored to the truth.  

Proverbs 19:27 warns us about the dangers of not continuing to hear instruction and then straying from the words of knowledge.  If we continue to hear instruction, we will not stray from "the words of knowledge," but if we stop listening, it is easy to stray off the path of the truth and get into error.  We need to be in a continual process of reading and studying the Word of God for ourselves, as well as hearing good Bible based teaching that will remind us of, and add to, the godly instruction that we already have.  If we do not keep listening to the truth, we will stray, and if we stray, we can drift away.

What's In The Well?

"The mouth of the righteous is a well of life, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked."
Proverbs 10:11 (NKJV)

Most people today only need to turn on a faucet to get some water.  But in the past, most people had to go to a well to get the water they needed.  When someone digs a well, their goal is to get some water, not just dig a hole in the ground.  It would be strange for someone to say they were digging a well, but when they finished, all you could get from the well was dirt.  Or it could be that for some reason a well might become contaminated, and while there would still be water in the well, the water drawn from the well would not be drinkable and the well would be worthless.

One topic that we see in the Bible, and especially in the Book of Proverbs is the importance of the words that we speak.  The next time you read the Book of Proverbs, pay attention to what is said about our words, our mouth, and our tongue.  These are all intending to show us the value of our words and how important it is for us to say the right kinds of words.  The words we speak can help or hurt people, our words can encourage or discourage people, and our words can lift people up or put people down.  We need to speak the right kind of words.  

Proverbs 10:11 says that the mouth of the righteous is a well of life.  But is it just because someone is righteous, because someone is a Christian that their words are automatically positive and helpful, or is it more about the content of what is being said?  As Jesus said in Matthew 12:34, it is from the abundance of what is in our heart that we will speak.  This means we must fill ourselves with good things, especially with God's Word, to be sure that what is in our well, what comes out of our mouth, will be a blessing and help to others.  What is in the well of our heart that is then coming out of our mouth?

Walking In Love - The Best Is Yet To Come

"bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."
1 Corinthians 13:7 (NKJV)

Some people have a negative view of the future, while some people are more optimistic about the future, and this can be the same with how we view others.  We can see and expect the worst in people, or instead of just thinking everyone is crazy, we can look for the best in people and have a positive view of others.  While this does not mean that we just blindly trust everyone and anyone, we do not have to automatically believe the worst about others and have a negative view of life, but instead we can look for the best, and hope for the best in people and the situations we deal with.

If we meet someone for the first time, should we automatically distrust them and expect that they will create problems for us, or should we be open to the possibility of them being a good person who will be a positive influence in our lives.  Walking in love towards someone does not mean we just accept whatever they do, but it does mean that we should be able to bear and endure whatever is going on, and we should believe and hope for the best in that person.  While we may look for the best in our friends and close relationships, that attitude should be one we have towards everyone. 

If we really care about someone, we are quick to forgive their mistakes and we expect them to do better the next time.  But should that attitude only be limited to people we love and already know?  In 1 Corinthians 13:5, it says that love "bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things".  If we are always looking for the worst in others, never expecting that they will amount to anything, then we are not walking in love. God believes the best about us and expects the best for us all the time; we too should believe the best of others, and of ourselves, expecting the best is yet to come.   

Do You Only Walk When The Sun Is Shining?

"And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart."
Galatians 6:9 (NKJV)

On most days, I will go for a walk, and depending on the weather, there might be many other people out walking, or only a few.  A while ago, it was unseasonably warm and sunny, and there was a noticeably larger number of people out walking.  Usually, I see the same people when I am walking, but on this day, I did not recognize most of the people I saw.  It was likely that some of them were only walking because of the nice weather.  Walking is a good form of exercise, but while it is a good thing to do, most people will only do it when the conditions are most favorable.

Some people have the idea that things in life, including following Jesus, should be fun, and easy all the time.  While that sounds nice, we know that it is not reality, because there will always be challenges in life.  Doing the right thing, when it is easy and there is immediate gratification, is what people want, but not everyone wants to put in the time and effort to do what is right when the reward is somewhere down the road.  We all like to do things that have less effort and more reward, but we all know that is not always the way things are.  

Galatians 6:9 tells us that we should keep on doing what is right, and not get weary when doing it, because there is a reward.  It is easy to walk in the sunshine and do what is right when the conditions are favorable.  But we need to keep on walking with God, even when it seems like the sun is not shining.  If we are persistent in doing what is right, we will move from the challenging and seemingly darker place to the victorious bright place where we want to be.  Real success comes when we are willing to do what is right, and then doing it, no matter what the conditions are. 

Having Peace In The Right Place

"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,"
Romans 5:1 (NKJV)

Have you ever been in the wrong place?  Maybe you were looking for a classroom in a school and by mistake you went into the wrong room, or maybe you were driving somewhere, and you turned the wrong way into a one-way street.  When you know you are in the wrong place, you do not have any sense of peace, but rather you feel a bit anxious, because you know something is out of place and you want to get out of there.  Being in the right place is a good thing, and being in the wrong place makes us uncomfortable.

So many Christians are trying to do the right things in their life to please God.  This is a good thing to do, if we do it for the right reason.  We need to be in the right place in our life with how we live, to please God, as the Bible talks about, but we also need to realize that we are already spiritually in the right place with God.  Through Jesus, and by our accepting His sacrificial death on the cross, we become a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), and the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21), and that means we are right with God. 

Romans 5:1 says that we have been justified, made right with God, by faith in Jesus Christ.  We are no longer separated from God by sin, we are no longer enemies of God, but we are a part of His family, all because of Jesus, and that is a place of peace.  Yet so many Christians are still not certain about their standing with God, they are not at peace, and they are still trying to do things that they think will put them in the right place with God.  But through Jesus, we are in the right place, our position with God is secure, and we can be at peace. 

Leading The Way, Or Just Pointing?

"The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you."
Philippians 4:9 (NKJV)

Once when I was in the Frankfurt airport, traveling to the USA, a woman behind me in the passport line asked about what we needed to do there, and where the security lines were.  As I talked to her, I found out that this was her first time flying back to the USA from Germany, and she was not sure what to do.  So, I explained some things, and then I encouraged her to just follow me through the airport to the gate where the flight that we were both going to take was.  Since I already knew the way, it was easy for me to help her, and she was very thankful.

To give someone directions, you could write something down, point out the direction they need to go, or explain what they should do and lead them to where they needed to go.  Any of these methods can be successful, but the most successful way would be to not only tell them or show them where they need to go, but to actually lead them there.  This is exactly how we need to do things as we follow Jesus and help others along the way.  We not only need to tell them how to follow Jesus, and "point" the way, but we should also then lead and guide them along the way. 

The Apostle Paul wrote several letters that are a part of the New Testament, and we can see from the Book of Acts that Paul was an effective speaker.  Paul wrote and taught about what Jesus did for us and how we can have a living relationship with God.  But Paul was also a leader and an example to others.  He told the Philippians to do what they had learned, received, heard, and saw from him.  We need to be like Paul, and rather than just telling others what to do, or pointing them in the right direction, we need to be a living example of someone who follows Jesus, and help lead others in the way they should go.

Billboard Christianity?

"For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God,"
Acts 20:27 (NKJV)

Billboards are usually advertisements and sometimes announcements of some kind.  But billboards are not a textbook, a complete set of instructions on how to do something, or an in-depth study of any material.  Billboards are meant to convey a simple, brief message.  If all you knew about a product or thing was what you saw on a billboard, your knowledge of that thing would be very limited, and you might even misunderstand something about that product or what is being shown you, because you only see a very small part of what is being represented by the message on the billboard.

People sometimes have problems because of their limited understanding of a thing.  If you only know a little bit about a topic, the little bit that you do know may give you a wrong impression about the entire scope of the topic.  This is also very true concerning biblical truth.  Many people take things out of context, they only have a limited understanding of a Bible topic, or they might even have a misunderstanding of something in the Bible, because they have never taken the time to really study everything God's Word has to say about that subject. 

In Acts 20:27, Paul told the leaders of the church in Ephesus that he had declared the whole counsel of God to them.  Everywhere Paul went, he talked about the plan of God, what Jesus has done for us, and how we need to live a life that pleases God.  Paul was careful to tell the people the "whole counsel of God," so that people would be well-developed, mature believers.  We too need to be sure that we are not just focusing on our favorite topic or taking things out of their context, but we need to have a good understanding of all that God has said, to fulfill the will of God in our lives, and also to help others.

Temporary Relief Or A Permanent Solution?

"They have also healed the hurt of My people slightly, Saying, 'Peace, peace!' When there is no peace."
Jeremiah 6:14 (NKJV)

Unfortunately, more than one of my teeth has needed some dental work.  And, unfortunately, more than once this dental work required several trips to the dentist.  For example, when I had a crown put on a tooth, the dentist first put on a temporary crown until the permanent crown could be made.  The temporary crown was not permanent, it was not meant to last forever.  But what if I never went back to the dentist for the permanent crown?  Then I would have had a problem, because the temporary crown would eventually wear out and I would still have a problem with the tooth.

The word temporary refers to something that will only last for a limited period of time, so a temporary solution is not a permanent one.  Sometimes, for various reasons, someone will get temporary relief for a problem they have without really solving the problem.  And in the same way, there are some Christians who are only getting temporary solutions to their problems, and they are not really making any permanent changes to solve their problem.  God has answers for us that are not just temporary, but He will give us solutions to our situations that will be permanent, life-long answers. 

In Jeremiah 6:14, we read about people who claimed to be prophets and have God's answer to a problem, but what they said did not help the situation, it was not God's answer.  Some Christians look for a new teaching, some special minister, or a big meeting to help them, but they only get temporary relief from their problem.  Through His Word, and by the leading of the Holy Spirit, God will give us real, permanent solutions to our problem.  God wants to give us more than temporary relief in an uncomfortable situation, He has life changing solutions to help us in our time of need.

Being An Influencer

"Joash was seven years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem.  His mother's name was Zibiah of Beersheba.
Joash did what was right in the sight of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest.
2 Chronicles 24:1-2 (NKJV)

There are people today who are known as influencers, and there are many more people that would like to become influencers.  Influencers are often social media personalities who have a large following of people that will buy or do things because of the influencer.  There can be various reasons that someone becomes an influencer, and often the reason is that an influencer can generate a lot of money and popularity from their influence.  It is good if someone has a positive influence on someone else, but if a person has the wrong influence on others, it would certainly be a bad thing.

In 2 Chronicles 24, we read about King Joash and how the priest Jehoiada was a positive influence on the king.  But, when that priest died, there were other people who were a bad influence on the king.  This shows how important it is to have the right influence in life and how without the right influence some people can go astray.  There are many more stories like this in the Bible that show us the influence that one person can have on another, and there are many ways we can all be a positive influence on other people today.  

Whether we realize it or not, we are all having an influence on others, and that can be positive or negative.  Of course, we want to have a positive, godly influence on other people, but is that always the case?  Are we building people up, or tearing people down?  Are we making people better with our influence, or making them worse?  We should all be a positive influence on those around us, and it starts with our having a growing relationship with God, so that we have something to positively influence others with.  We can all be an influencer today in someone's life, using what God has given us.

Reaping And Sowing?

"But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully."
2 Corinthians 9:6 (NKJV)

The principle of sowing and reaping, giving and receiving, works in every area of life.  When we do one thing, it usually results in something else happening.  But no one can just expect to receive a result of something when they have done nothing to set this principle in motion.  What we do will have some type of result, but we cannot expect to have some result if we have not performed any action.  If we want to reap a crop of corn, we have to plant corn, if we want to receive interest on an investment, we have to first make the investment.

Most Christians have heard about the principle of sowing and reaping, the idea of giving and receiving.  And usually when we hear about this in a Christian context, it is in the area of finances.  But that is just a part of how this principle works, and we should not limit our understanding of this to just monetary or financial situations.  For example, if we want to have people help us, it would be good to first look for ways to help others, if we are looking for better relationships, we need to put our best into the relationships that we already have. 

People often try to benefit from something without having previously done anything.  But the principle is that if we give, we receive, if we sow and plant, we will reap; it does not work the other way around.  Our focus should not be on just receiving, our focus should be on doing what we know God wants us to do, from His Word, as a part of His plan for our life, and by the leading of the Holy Spirit.  If we look for ways to give and invest, in every area of life, instead of just looking for ways to get and receive, we will gain and reap wonderful results.

Are You Using The Instructions?

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NKJV)

At one time or another, just about everyone has bought something that required some assembly.  Whether it was a piece of furniture, a toy, or even a smart phone or computer that did not need assembly, these things all come with some type of instructions.  Although some people ignore the instructions and they try to put something together in a way that makes sense to them, or they just try to do what they think is best, instructions are given to us for a reason, and using the instructions is going to be better overall than not using them.

The problem with instructions is that sometimes they are a bit complicated, which is a problem in itself, but if the instructions are written in a simple and clear manner, there is no reason to not follow the instructions.  But what if we think we are so smart and have such great life experience that we never need any kind of instructions?  That is sad, and it happens too often.  People sometimes wonder why they struggle and face problems in their life, and one of the reasons could be that they are ignoring God's instruction manual. 

God has given us His Word, His instructions to live the life He has planned for us, and God has also given us the Holy Spirit to help us follow the directions that God has given.  But what if we don't follow those instructions?  If we ignore God's directions and wisdom, it can lead to some big problems.  In the same way that natural instructions are given to help us assemble and use a product, God has given us His Word to help us put our life together and operate successfully in this world.  We all need to use our God given instructions.

What Did God Say To YOU?

"This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God.  And when He had spoken this, He said to him, "Follow Me."
Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, "Lord, who is the one who betrays you?"
Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, "But Lord, what about this man?"
Jesus said to him, "If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?   You follow Me."
John 21:19-22 (NKJV)

Imagine being at your place of employment and having your boss give you some work to do.  Then, instead of just going to do the work you were given, you start questioning your boss about the work that other people have been assigned to.  Or imagine someone on a sports team not playing their position but constantly going over to other players to check on what they are doing.  In either situation there will be a problem because someone is overly concerned about what another person is doing and they are ignoring their own work.

A problem that often happens is our comparing what we are doing and what we have to what other people are doing and what they have.  Too often people get very interested in what someone else is doing, rather than just paying attention to what they should be doing.  The more a person gets involved in the lives and work of other people, the less they are focusing on their own life and work.  The result of this can be that both people are doing less than they should be doing, and this will lead to problems.

In John 21, Jesus talks to Peter, telling Peter to follow Him.  But rather than just doing what Jesus told him to do, Peter asks about what John should do.  What Jesus told Peter should have been enough.  But like many people today, instead of just doing what Jesus said, Peter wondered about what someone else would be doing.  We need to focus on the plan and purpose God has for us, what God has spoken to us through His Word and by the direction of the Holy Spirit, and do that.  The question is not about what God has said or done with others, but what did God say to YOU?

Did You Earn Your Place?

"who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,
2 Timothy 1:9 (NKJV)

Having experience with something is often a requirement for employment.  When applying for a job, a person will usually be asked about their education, past experience, and any kind of training that they had which would qualify them for the work.  Getting a job that requires previous experience can be difficult if you are never able to do the work and get the actual experience.  But, even if you do not have the experience, education, or training necessary for the job, you might still be hired if someone knows you and can explain to the potential employer why you would be a good person to fill the position.

One thing that every believer needs to understand is that God has a plan and purpose for their life.  We are the Body of Christ, and we are each a part in the Body.  Just like our natural body does not have any unnecessary parts, the Body of Christ does not have any members in it that are not essential for the Body of Christ to do what God wants to do.  But, while many believers recognize that God has a plan for their life, some of these same people are still thinking that for some reason they are not qualified to do what God has called them to do. 

As Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:9, God has saved us and called us, He has a plan for our life.  God's calling and purpose for our life is not based on something that we have done, our educational background, past experiences, or any kind of training we have had.  While it is certainly true that God can and will use those things, we need to understand that it is by the grace of God that we have each been called by God to do something for Him.  We may have done many great things in the past, but God's plan for our life is based on His grace, not our works.

High Priority, Or Not So Important?

"Then He said to another, "Follow Me."  But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father".
Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God."
And another also said, "Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house."
But Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."
Luke 9:59-62 (NKJV)

People talk about having "me time," time to do things that they want to do.  There is a principle in that statement that is valid, but there can also be a problem with this idea.  Often people want some time to themselves because they have been busy, and they are looking for a break from their hectic schedule.  In reality, the problem is often not that we do not have enough time for ourselves, or other things we might need to do, the problem is how we are using the time that we have.

The world is a very busy place.  It seems like people have almost every moment of every day filled with some kind of activity, like taking care of daily needs, work, or just trying to "relax."  Our real issue is how we spend our time.  We all have the same amount of time, 24 hours a day, every day.  But it is how we are using our time that is causing us trouble.  If we take account of how we are using our time now, it is very likely that there are some things we are spending time on that are not so important, and there are things that should be priorities that we are not taking care of.

Our highest priority has to be our relationship with God, spending time with Him through His Word and prayer, and following the path and plan God has for our life.  We see an example of this in Luke 9.  Jesus called some people to follow Him, but rather than make the plan and calling of God in their life the highest priority, they wanted to do something else first, and this can happen to us too.  If we put our relationship with God and His plans first, rather than spending our time on things that are not so vital, we will find that we have the time to do what is best, and also have the time for the things we need and want to do.

Do You Already Have What You Are Looking For?

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NKJV)

Have you ever seen someone looking for their glasses, and all the while their glasses are on their head?  That person may have been distracted for a moment, and so they began looking for something that they actually have.  In the same way, if we are looking for something we already have, because we do not know what we do have, we can waste a lot of time and energy trying to find what is already ours.  For example, if we thought we had lost our glasses we might go and buy a new pair of glasses, even though we already have what we need.

Not knowing what we have, naturally or spiritually, is not a good thing.  If we do not know what we have, we might think we need to get something that is already ours, or we might think that we have to do something, when nothing is actually required from us.  In the same way, not understanding something we have, or the value of it, is just as bad.  For example, if you have something that is very valuable, but you do not realize its true value, naturally or spiritually, it would be as bad as if you did not have that thing in the first place. 

As Christians, we need to know what belongs to us as a part of God's family, and we learn about this through God's Word.  Although we do need to grow and develop spiritually, we do not have to go and find something that we are still somehow lacking to do so.  As Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, God's Word has been given to us to help us and show us what we have in Christ, what we need to believe, and what we need to do.  If we do not know about and take advantage of what God has provided for us and what belongs to us, then we might spend our time trying to find something that we already have.

Too Much Trivia?

"Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers.
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.
2 Timothy 2:14-16 (NKJV)

Trivia can be defined as facts about something, or someone, that are not well known and usually not very important.  For example, in my own life, it is a fact that so far, I have traveled with 19 different airlines.  That is something that most people do not know about me, but it is not really very important.  In your own life, when was the last time you mentioned something to someone that was a little known and possibly unimportant fact about yourself?  We usually only focus on what is relevant and really important, and that is the way it should be.

Technology is wonderful, but what we get through technology is not always so wonderful.  Today, there are many ways for us to hear all kinds of teaching and preaching, which is generally good, but unfortunately much of what is available to us is not very good.  Anyone can create a video of some kind and post it for all the world to see, and anyone can write something that is available all over the Internet, but that does not mean that it is good and worth listening to.  In fact, much of what is available is not really spiritually beneficial, and it is often more trivial than helpful.

In the letters to Timothy and Titus, Paul warned them both about getting involved in questionable teachings, obviously wrong doctrine, and trivial things that simply do not matter.  Paul's encouragement for Timothy and Titus also applies to us.  We do not need to become experts at doctrinal trivia, but we should focus on clear, biblical truth that really matters.  Sound teaching from God's Word is something that will build us up spiritually rather than just entertain us mentally.  We need to focus on major Bible truths, and not minor or questionable issues. 

A New, And Better, Year

"This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it.  For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success."
Joshua 1:8 (NKJV)

With every New Year, people have a great deal of positive expectations, or at least hope, that things will somehow improve in the New Year.  But rather than just passively hoping for something good to happen, or for things to somehow just work out, we need to be proactive and do the things we know we should be doing, and improve in those areas.  We need to see what we have done successfully in the past, understand why, and then continue doing those things, while making any necessary adjustments to be successful in the coming year.

Everyone can be more successful this next year than they were last year.  We can take "new" steps in the New Year by building on what we have been doing with God, and growing in that.  We can spend time in God's Word every day, pray more, walk in love at a higher level, as well as being more generous with our time, ability, and finances.  We do not have to find some "new" and different thing to do, but we can continue to increase in what we have already succeeded in, and add to that any other things that we might have left undone in the past.

When Joshua took over the leadership of Israel from Moses, it was a new thing for him, and in Joshua 1:8, God told Joshua how to succeed.  God told Joshua to stay focused on what the Word says, to do what the Word says, and say what the Word says.  God did not give Joshua some completely different plan, but God told Joshua to continue doing what he already knew, and to keep doing those things.  We too need to stay in God's Word, doing and saying what it says, and allow the Holy Spirit to help us fulfill God's plan for our lives.  With God, our future is bright, and that is how our New Year should be!