How can I be sad?

Ephesians 2:4-10 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved,through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Occasionally we encounter people in our lives who make a strong statement of their faith. This kind of person is unapologetic about their belief. They are firm, resolute, and unwavering. They may put some people off with their outlook on life. Yet, they do not throw their faith up in others face. But, if you ask them what they believe, you will be given the full, honest and complete story. That's just how they are. This kind of person has fully put their faith in Jesus Christ. Their life may have been easy, or their life may have been a roller coaster ride. We may not know. If you ask, they will tell you. And regardless of the circumstance they find themselves in, their faith remains unwavering. This kind of person reads their bible frequently. If you were to look at their bible you would not see a pristine bible. Rather, you would find a bible with many passages underlined. And there will be notes in the margins. Notes lovingly marked to help remember a time when they were moved by a passage in scripture. Or it may have been in response to a sermon that captured their interest. The cause for the entry may even have been a life event that took place. In the passage they may have found comfort and reassurance of the love of God. Regardless of the reason, the marks remain. And when life on this earth comes to an end, the bible is passed on to the next generation to have, to hold and to read. The bible serves as a final testament, a lesson in faith if you will, for the family member entrusted with the care of the bible. 

I have been blessed to know a few people who match the above description. They have made a lasting impression in my life. They are human, frail in some aspects of humanity, subject to failure like most of us. And they are deeply convicted that they are sinners and would be lost were it not for the Grace of God. They stand firm in the belief that it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this not from yourselves, it is a gift of God. This salvation is not by works. Their life is about what they believe. You see them stepping out is faith and service to others with full a certain knowledge that serving in love, rather than serving to rack up points, is what faith is all about. These people are saints and sinners, fully aware of their condition. And they are fully reliant on God's grace. The story of this kind of person is capture in Luke 18: 9-14 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else,Jesus told this parable: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men--robbers, evildoers, adulterers--or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." 

My friend Art Shettler passed away yesterday. His health, not his faith, failed him in the end. His simple words of yesterday to his family, the nurses and doctors say it all. "I'm going home today." Art held firm to his faith and what is shared with us in Ephesians 2:4-8 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. I will miss Art. I am looking forward to seeing him again when I too go home. How can I be sad when that is what the future holds?

PRAYER: Father, Abba, we are blessed with those You place in our lives who share their love for You and their faith in Your Son Jesus Christ so willingly. You give us these people for a time, and then You take them home. Selfishly we mourn their passing. Yet we are joyful at their return to the home that awaits when we leave this world. Help us hold onto the joy when the pain of loss seeks to overwhelm us. Let Your peace surround us and comfort our troubled hearts. This we ask in the name of Your Son Jesus Christ, Amen.

Sins Of The Flesh - Satan

1 John 3: 8-10 He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother. 

In this devotional, the last of the three part series on Sins Of The Flesh, we will discuss Satan. In our real-life drama described in “The Tempted” and “The Temptress” there was a player briefly mentioned, ‘the well dressed local gentlemen.” He was the "arranger", and the "director" of the evenings activities. He was the orchestrator of the scene that unfolded.  It was instructional to watch him play out his role.  He sat at the end of the table watching, and gently encouraging. In the pairings of older men and young ladies, he remained unattached. He was unencumbered if you will. No distractions from a female companion. He was alone in his work. When more beer or tequila was needed, he summoned a waiter. When the musicians were finished, it was his money that paid the fiddler so-to-speak.  His role was to just encourage the participants to let human nature take it’s course.  Just the right expressions, mannerisms, words& actions to accomplish the goal.  It bothers me even today, several weeks removed.  I was given this incredible opportunity to be a spectator to how sin plays out in the lives of others. I was blessed, if you will, with this opportunity to examine the players and with clarity to analyze the roles. I was given a tremendous object lesson by the experience. The sadness still lingers in my mind today. It was tragic. In many respects, I am still replaying the drama in my own mind and thinking, there but for the grace of God go I.  

When Christ enters our lives, we are forever changed. We are “God’s seed” and we “remain in Him.”  The ability to resist deliberate sinful behavior is within us because God is in us. When we stop praying for help, when we stop believing without God we are nothing, then we fall victim to Satan. Pride goes before the fall. Our foolish pride that we can handle it all by ourselves will lead us to err. It happens. But when we truly give up the old and embrace the new person we are in Jesus Christ, the circumstances are changed. Do not believe for one minute that temptation will end. If anything it may increase. But the ability to resist the lure of temptation, and to remain among those “born of God” increases. With God, all things are possible. Similarly without God many things are also possible. The difference is in the results. With God there is grace, love, and salvation. Without God there is death. It is a simple choice. Chose wisely my friends, chose wisely.

PRAYER: Almighty God, we poor sinners stand convicted. We are by nature sinful in though, word and deed by what we have done and by what we have left undone. Have mercy upon us. You sent Your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ to take on the sins of the world. His sacrifice reconciled all mankind with You. Help us Dear Lord to remember that we are the children of God. Keep our hearts and faith strong when temptation comes knocking at our door. This we ask in the strong name of Jesus, Amen. 

Sins Of The Flesh - The Temptress

1 John 3: 4-6 Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. But you know that he appeared so that He might take away our sins. And in Him is no sin. No one who lives in Him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen Him or known Him.

To continue on with my story of the older North Americans and their young escorts, there is a second side to this story to look at. While the behavior of the men in the story is without any doubt sinful, and no excuse can be made for that behavior. It is what it is. And the second part is the behavior of the young ladies. Some will say they are just trying to make a living. In some parts of the world, prostitution is a legal profession. But that would be applying a standard created by man against something God has already declared to be sinful. Prostitution is just one of many sins man has sought to justify or soften the nature of. There is one standard by which we are judged, and that is not a man-made standard. Rather, it is God's own standard. It has no allowance for interpretation. He sets it, and He judges against it. It is not something we vote to pass. Nor is it something we can alter. His standard of measure is perfection, absolute and unfailing. None of us can live up to that standard. And if we think merely living by man's standard of measure is good enough, then be prepared for a surprise. Fortunately there is one who lived a perfect life and then sacrificed that life so that all mankind could be saved. Jesus Christ is that perfect one. He alone could bear the sin of all. And he willingly took that burden on. It is our faith in Jesus Christ that saves us. He appeared that he might take away our sins. For in him there is no sin. No one who lives in Him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen Him or known Him. 

And for the prostitutes in the story, what avenue for the future is there to follow? There is the option to just walk away. It may be difficult, but in making a change there has to be a first step. I know this may be over simplifying things, but my role is to look at the spiritual side. Visiting a Pastor or Priest is an obvious next step. Receiving professional spiritual guidance and support is an imperative, not an option. And just for the general knowledge of all who are lost in sin, know that all believers are praying for all the lost sheep to be brought back to the Good Shepherd that is Jesus.

Do you have a sin issue in your life that needs to be changed? If so, please stop. Pray for help and forgiveness. Help is out there and forgiveness was already won on the cross by Christ. Accept the gift of forgiveness and move forward by ending the sin.

PRAYER: Lord we who are broken pray for ourselves and for all sinners. Our wretched condition is without excuse. We need Your help and forgiveness. Change our hearts, and the hearts of all sinners. Guide us in Your path, and guide the path of all sinners to righteousness that is found in Your Son Jesus. Help all who are lost in sin to return to the Good Shepherd. We ask this in the name of Jesus who with the Father and the Spirit are one God now and forever, Amen.