Lamp Unto My Feet

You're Not Always Right

2005-03-05T15:50:00.000-08:00

None of us like to ever admit we're wrong. Whether we are arguing with a girlfriend/boyfriend or spouse, or if it's with a sibling, or maybe we're arguing with (gasp) our parents, we never want to admit to being wrong. Even if we know we're the one in the wrong, we don't want to own up to it. We never make mistakes. Problems are never our fault. According to the Bible, though, this is an attitude that must be changed.

The first reason we need to change this attitude is because we all make mistakes. "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" (Romans 3.23). Not a one of us can say, I've never messed up, I've never sinned. We all have. For the Christian, this can be hard to grapple with. We're suppose to be different from the world. We're not supposed to do the wrong thing. Yet, sometimes we do. Sometimes we trip up. Even after obeying the Gospel, we may still make mistakes. When someone that's not a Christian (or maybe even someone that is) points our error out to us, we feel guilty and often angry. "I thought you were a Christian." It hurts to hear it. Even though we don't enjoy it, it's good that we hear it. Why?

Reason number two: we can't hide our mistakes from God. "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil." (Ecclesiastes 12.13-14). Maybe we do mess up, but no one notices. Maybe we were able to hide it. To everyone around us, we're still great people, model Christians. God still knows. He knows what we're guilty of. Not only that, but we'll be held accountable for what we've done. "But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and commiteth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die." (Ezekiel 18:24). We'll make mistakes and God will hold us accountable for them...but we're not without hope.

The third and final reason we need to admit we're "not always right" is found in I John 1.8-9: "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." God knows we'll make mistakes, but He's also provided a way for us to be forgiven. If you've never obeyed the Gospel, obey it! Salvation is easily found within the pages of the New Testament. Just do exactly as they did in that first century and all your mistakes can be forgiven (Romans 10:17; Mark 16:16; Acts 17:30; Romans 10:9-10; I Peter 3.21; Revelation 2.10). If you are a Christian, repent of your sin, ask for God's forgiveness, and ask for help to do better (Acts 8.18-24).

We're not always right. Admit it! Life will be much better once we admit our shortcomings and try our hardest to do better.

Time for God?

2005-01-23T16:50:00.000-08:00

You wake up at 7:30 a.m. You have exactly 45 minutes to get to school, and you know that the trip will take at least 15 minutes because of traffic. You now have 30 minutes to shower, pick your clothes for the day, get dressed, eat breakfast, brush your teeth, comb your hair, kiss your mom goodbye, and get in the car. You're in school for 7 and 1/2 hours, an hour and a half of that being lunch and time in between classes. You get homework in three of four classes. By the time you get out of school and take your younger friends home, it's 4:15 p.m. You're meeting a buddy at the YMCA at 5 p.m. to work out, so you do a couple of math problems, then you pack your gym bag and head out. You and your buddy exercise for an hour and half, then you clean up and head home. You walk in your house just in time to sit down for supper. There's a basketball game at 7:30 you were planning on going to and it's now 7:00. You clear the table and run back out to the school. The game lasts around two hours (you stick around a little to talk) and then you head back home for the evening. You get on the computer to IM all your pals (the ones you just saw at the game and the few who didn't go) and check some movie news on the internet. At about 10:30 p.m., you decide to finish your homework. Around midnight you get finished, so you slip out of your clothes, slip on your pajamas, brush your teeth, and hop in bed, knowing you are just 7 and 1/2 hours from doing close to the same thing again.

Hectic, huh? Adjust it for your life. You headed to work instead of school. Maybe instead of the YMCA, you had track pracitce. Instead of a basketball game you went to a concert. After making your personal adjustments, this is a fairly accurate description of an average day, isn't it? You forgot some things, though. When did you pray? When did you open your Bible and study?

"Christians" are cutting God more and more out of their lives. The Bereans might have "searched the scriptures daily" (Acts 17.11), but we just don't have that kind of time. As long as we make it to the later service at church on Sunday morning (even if we are ten minutes late), that's all God needs from us. Just come in and remind Him that we're here, and we'll be okay. Is that what Christianity is about? Is that what Jesus died for?

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matthew 6.33. Jesus said that. God's kingdom and righteousness should be the most imporant things in our lives. To most people, though, being a Christian is just something we do if we have time for it. "Hi, my name is ___________. I'm in the band, I'm president of _______, I work at __________, and I'm a Christian (most of the time)." Christian isn't just a name. Being a Christian isn't the same as being a member of the football team, or a drummer in the high school band, or an employee for a major fast food company. True Christianity is an identity: it is who you are, not something you do!

Now, as you be a Christian, it will show in the things you do (or don't do). "Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works." James 2.18. A true Christian will say no to getting drunk on the weekend, no to being more intimate with their boyfriend/girlfriend than is permitted by God's law. We need to be Christians and not just say that we are. We need to focus on being a Christian before anything else, allowing this to decide what we do and how we spend our time.

Maybe fifteen minutes of your lunch break spent in Bible study would be achievable. Since you saw everybody at the game, you could leave the computer off. We have little trouble spending an hour and a half working out, but if you ask for 30 minutes of Bible study, you're asking a lot of us. "For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come."
I Timothy 4.8. Exercising our body helps us in this life, but exercising our selves to godliness helps us in this life and in the life to come. Which should be more important to us? "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" (James 5.16b), but we have a hard time even stopping to thank Him for our food.

Maybe at the beginning of this you decided, "This isn't me." You already decided that this doesn't apply to you. Or maybe you're thinking, "He's talking about me!" We need to remember we all have room for improvement (my inspiration for this article is looking at me in the mirror). We can never be "too good" of a Christian. "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."
I John 1.8-9.

Give Me The Bible, Part Three: "That they may be one...."

2005-01-09T13:20:00.000-08:00

Jesus knows He is about to be arrested, tried, and that the people will demand His life. He knows that the testimony used to condemn Him would be from false witnesses whose stories won't even agree. He knows that He will be mocked, beaten, and spat upon, that He will have a crown of thorns put on His head, nails driven into His wrists and feet, that He will die on the cross.

He knows all of this as He goes to God in prayer. It would be an understatement to say that He was "worried." We cannot begin to imagine the anguish and anxiety. Despite all these things weighing upon Him, He prays for us.

"Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and loved them, as thou hast loved me." John 17.20-23.

That is how much He loves us. Though facing the worse death man has devised, He prayed for us, His future followers. What did He pray for, though? That we would be united so that the world would believe that God had sent Him.

Paul by inspiration of the Holy Ghost expressed the need for unity. "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." Ephesians 4.4-6. We have one Lord and He purchased one body. God desires that we be one. Christ prayed for it. Paul wrote about it. Are we working towards it?

"Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?" I Corinthians 1.10-13. When Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, he told them that they should speak the same thing and have no divisions. The religious world today certainly does not follow this teaching. "Followers of Christ" proclaim numerous doctrines, a majority of which are contradictory to the teachings of another group down the street. Congregations are founded upon the teachings of men. Is this not exactly what the Corinthians were reproved for?

With so many diverse people in the world, how can we possibly achieve the unity Paul called for? Isn't it impossible? It is very achievable, if all of us who want to follow Christ would "deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me." Matthew 16.24. If we would set aside everything but our desire to serve our Lord and Savior, we could achieve harmony. "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh to unto the Father, but by me." John 14.6. We can only find salvation in Christ. So, let's use His word and His word only!

"According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge to him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." II Peter 1.3-4. Everything we need to know for life and godliness, He has given to us. He's warned us not to add to or subtract from it (Revelation 22.18-19). If we would follow the commands given to us in the New Testament, the covenant Christ died to bring to us, without taking away from them or adding traditions of men (Matthew 15.7-9), we would be united and sure that Heaven would be our home.

Reject manmade doctrines, creeds, traditions, and rules! Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Him and Him alone. Be able to say without a doubt that Heaven will be your home because you are doing things God's way.

Give me the Bible.

Give Me The Bible, Part Two: "And is profitable..."

2004-12-19T16:40:00.000-08:00

"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 perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." (II Timothy 3:16-17)

Did you know that there have been reports that the Bible is stolen more than any other book? Clearly, people know there is something special about the Bible. Yet, if we'd actually use it, things would be a lot different. For example, people wouldn't steal the Bible (remember, "Thou shalt not steal"?). We know it is important, but we don't give the Scripture due respect.

To too many people, God is distant and unreachable. He is too mighty to care about our problems, to be touched by what bothers us. Yet, "Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted." (Hebrews 2.17-18). Jesus understands. He allowed Himself to take the form of man so that He could live and suffer like we do. We can never say, "God, you just don't understand what it is like" because He does: He's suffered more than we can imagine in our time.

To others, God is just there when they need Him. They can live however they want 364 days a year, but when they have that one bad day, they fall on their knees and call for His help. This is not a true servant of God, though. His true servant will always be there, in good times and bad. "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine." (II Timothy 4.2).

God wants us to be obedient to Him. He is waiting for us to be obedient to Him. "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." (Revelation 3.20). If we open to Him, we can be sure He is there in good times and bad. If we truly seek to be His servant, we will use His Word to guide us every day of our lives. The Bible can give us guidance through the best of times and the worst of times if we are only willing to use it.

When I'm facing hard times, let me read the Bible. "Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf." (I Peter 4.16). "Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?" (II Peter 3.11-12). If I'm having a bad day, if people are giving me a hard time because I choose to do what God wants, let me remember I can be proud to suffer for Christ. If people make me feel bad because I choose to be sober over partying, chaste instead of promiscuous, let me remember that this life will not last forever. Let me think of what kind of life I should be living since the Judgment Day is coming. The Bible can remind me of these things.

When I'm facing good times or just a regular day, let me remember, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4.13). Let me look to God for my strength. Let me check His word to see how He wants me to handle a situation. Let me consider God first in all my decisions, from the clothes I wear to the jokes I tell (I'm sure we all have room for improvement).

The inspired word of God is most certainly profitable. Let us use it all the time. Let's study to show ourselves approved. Let's look for God's answers to our problems. Let's use God's way for our life.

Whether I'm having a good day or bad, give me the Bible.

Give Me The Bible, Part One: God Expects Knowledge

2004-12-05T05:35:00.000-08:00

"Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth. The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD." (Proverbs 19.2-3)

Do we not live in a world where everything is handed to us? In high school, do students not beg their teachers for "movie days" or whine as homework is assigned? We simply do not like extra work (or work in the first place), even if it is at the expense of knowledge. Too many people allow this mentality to seep into their spiritual lives as they choose not to study the Bible.

"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, thath thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children." (Hosea 4.6)

These were God's words for the children of Israel through the prophet Hosea. They were destroyed for their lack of knowledge. They were rejected by God for rejecting His knowledge. How many of us are walking this same path to destruction?

I think it's a useful tool for each person to evaluate themselves. How's your use of the Bible?

1.) Do you study the Bible?
II Timothy 2.15- "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

God expects us to study! Can we doubt that at all? We study to show ourselves "approved unto God". We study so that we can rightly divide "the word of truth", to be sure we are always using and practicing God's Word correctly. Have you been studying?

2.) How often do you study the Bible?
Acts 17.11- "These [the Bereans, v.10] were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so."

This group studied daily! They made sure the things Paul and Silas taught them were true. How do our study habits stack up to the Bereans? Why does it matter if we study like the Bereans? They were commended ("These were more noble..."). Would God be proud of how often you study?

3.) Is "my preacher said..." good enough for you?
I John 4.1- "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world."
II Timothy 4.2-4- "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts they shall heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables."

We would live in a wonderful world if every person that said they were a teacher of the Bible honestly taught the Bible; that's sadly not the case, though. People twist the Scriptures. People add to and subtract from God's plan. We are each responsible for living the life God wants us to live. If we are misled, it is no one's fault but our own. We must be sure we know God's Word! How can we do that without study?

I hope I've been helpful to you with these thoughts and encouraged you to study and know God's Word personally. Feel free to leave any questions or comments under the comment section at the bottom of the page. Thanks, and check back for weekly updates.

Come let us reason together...

2004-10-17T15:14:00.000-07:00

"Come now, let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." Isaiah 1:18.

We live in a world that needs guidance but seems to be turning as far away from the only source of help as it can. I'm starting this page with the intent of sharing some of my thoughts on the Holy Scriptures in a way that may be beneficial to someone.

"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 perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." II Timothy 3:16.

"Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." II Timothy 2:15.

All scriptures cited, unless I indicate otherwise, will be from the King James Version of the Bible. I'll begin writing my articles soon, and write as often as my currently busy schedule permits. I'll have some biographical and contact information ready in the near future.