Proverbs 27:10:
Do not forsake your own friend or your father’s friend…
There is a real tendency to disregard the advice and wisdom of the previous generation, your father and his friends. Often each generation looks at the next and thinks they don’t need the previous generation. The thinking can be “I’m young, I have my own friends You want to believe you are young, you have your own friends and fresh sense of values and have need of no one else. Solomon warned us this was not a good attitude. We can all have friends our own age, but we cannot fail to glean from the wisdom of those who are older. Why reinvent the wheel? There are certain areas of life which always change. You dress different than your parents and you drive and live in a different style of car and home than they did. Yet, certain things never change. Faith in God has come down to us through the ages and should never change. Moral and family values also should never change and this wisdom can be gleaned from our parents and grandparents generation. In fact, keeping a few friends around who are older than you, from a different generation, helps to keep you young. You forget that age is not determined by the number of years or number of wrinkles. The attitude of an older person can make them young. And, the attitude of a younger person can make them old. So, keep some friends from all ages and do not forget to stay friends with your father’s friends.
The book of James tells us not to doubt. If we do, we are like a wave in the ocean tossed back and forth. What a great description for doubt!
Doubt is different from unbelief. Unbelief has made up its mind and is settled. Doubt looks at both sides and wavers back and forth. James tells us a wavering man will not receive anything of the Lord. The only good thing about doubt is there is still hope.
Faith stands on one side and unbelief on the other. Unbelief is the opposite of faith. Faith has made up its mind to believe God’s Word. Unbelief has made up its mind to reject the Word of God and go with the symptoms, circumstances or emotions. Doubt stands in the middle and looks at both sides, not sure what to do. We all have had moments of doubt. We have looked at the promises of God and then looked at the symptoms in our body. We might have even remembered others with the same sickness or problems who were prayed for yet, they did not come through. Should we trust God when others have failed? Doubt is tossed back and forth between God’s promises and the circumstances.
How do we stop doubt? Make up your mind God’s Word is sure despite what you see, feel or think. Once you have made up your mind to trust God fully, doubt is defeated and unbelief is gone. Faith in the promises of God will bring the answer.
There has been a lot of rain in Oklahoma the past few weeks. I have begun to thank God for the rainbow reminding us the world will never again be destroyed by water. There sure are times it feels like destruction is around the corner.
A number of years ago in Bible School, I heard my instructor talk about the cumulative effect of small amounts. He told us God was so good to send the rain one drop at a time and the snow one flake at a time. What if three inches of rain fell all at one time? The destruction would be incredible. Thank God it comes one drop at a time. Think of what it would be like if ten inches of snow fell at one time. It too would bring great destruction. God is so good to send snow one flake at a time. Yet, the cumulative effect is staggering.
Enough raindrops falling can bring great floods. Enough snowflakes can cause an avalanche. It is greater for God to send prosperity to us a little at a time instead of all at one time. We have seen the stories on television of those who have won millions at one time and lost it within one or two years. God knows it is better to send prosperity, and all of His blessings, a small amount at a time. The Word and God’s promises are learned, “here a little and there a little.” The financial return comes, “first the blade, then the ear, then the full corn in the ear, thirty, sixty and a hundred fold”. Once the full effect comes in, God’s blessings can be handled in great amounts.
It all boils down to this: God knows what’s best for you. Trust Him! He will always do it right!
This morning I was ordaining a staff member to a new position over our children’s ministry. Although it was sealed with a document, a certificate of ordination, I commented that ordination is really a call of God. Our piece of paper and ceremony only recognizes what God has already done. He has called them and separated them into the ministry.
That is so true in all areas of the Christian life. Water baptism does not save a person, but is an outward ritual recognizing what has happened already in the person’s heart. Water baptism is an outward sign to people that the person has already been saved. Oil cannot heal a person but is an outward point of contact, a symbol of the Holy Spirit, speaking of the healing work of Jesus on the cross. I lay hands on a person and anoint them with oil because Jesus has already taken on Himself their sickness and disease.
Many people like to take communion daily. There is usually a controversy over what elements should be used, whether real wine or grape juice. It really does not matter. The important issue is not what elements, or if it is taken daily, but in the fact that we remember the cross and the work of Jesus. Jesus said of communion, “this do in remembrance of me.” The heart issue is the most important, not the accuracy or frequency of the ritual.
Why not make this day a day to get your heart right with God. A sold out Christian is what the world is waiting to see. Then, if you take communion, attend church today or do anything else that has the appearance of spirituality, it will be filled with much more meaning. It will truly be an outward indicator of what is in your heart, a love for the Lord Jesus.
We are told in two verses of Hebrews eleven, the importance of faith in our life. In verse one, we are instructed that faith is the substance of the things we hope for and the evidence of the things we do not yet see. In verse six we are taught without faith it is impossible to please God. We are to believe that He exists and is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
We are taught two things in verse six: Faith is for the present and future. If we believe God exists, He exists now. He will take care of us through any situation we are going through. He is NOW, an ever-present help in time of need. I like to think of present tense faith as trust. This is the kind of trust which produces peace in the middle of a storm. We can sleep on the promises of God like Jesus did.
The second kind of faith spoken of in verse six is faith for the future. I refer to faith for the future as anticipation. What God has done for us in the past and is doing for us today gives us anticipation for what He will do for us in situations yet to come. Anticipation causes us to rejoice before we even enter into the land He has given. Anticipation rejoices in the promises given. It has not even come to pass yet, but our shouts of praise can go to God now.
You can be confident today knowing God will take care of you today and tomorrow. He will take you through the present situations and those problems which are yet to come. You have nothing to fear!
Archives
2008 -
August,
July,
June,
May,
April,
March,
January
2007 -
December,
November,
October,
September,
August,
July,
June,
May,
April,
March, February, January
2006 - December, November, October, September, August |
