Man With A Mission

    "Among them that are born of women there has not arisen a greater than John the Baptist."
                                                         Matthew 11:11




The prophecies about his life started some seven hundred years before he was ever born. This is how the prophet, Isaiah, described him, "A voice of one who cries: 'Prepare the way of the Lord [clear away the obstacles]; make straight and smooth a highway for our God!' Every valley shall be lifted and filled up, and every mountain and hill shall be made low; and the crooked and uneven shall be made straight and level, and the rough places a plain. And the glory (majesty and splendor) of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it"
(Isaiah 40:3-5).

For the four hundred years preceding his birth, God sent a spiritual famine to the earth. This meant that no word from God would be sent or heard. This famine would cease when God sent the forerunner to the Messiah, who is known as John the Baptist.

He was born to aged parents named Zechariah and Elizabeth. They were a priestly family from the Levitical tribe, which also made John a Levite. The apostle, Luke, said of Zechariah and Elizabeth that "they both were righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless" (Luke 1:6).

This meant that his parents would have reared him under the strict code of the Nazarites (Numbers 6:1-21) and they did so somewhere in the barren region that extended between the Jordan River and the Dead Sea. This wilderness, as well as the strict Jewish ordinances, paved a path of solemnity that would shape his soul and thinking. God would use these to fashion John the Baptist into his role of preparing the way for the Redeemer of the world.

There must have also been a balance in this strict upbringing. His parents would have also seen the love and mercy of God because He had miraculously healed their barrenness and had given them the child that their hearts so desperately had longed for. Interestingly, John's name means "Jehovah is gracious".

Life was simple and focused for John the Baptist. His clothing was made from camel's hair and his diet consisted of locusts and wild honey. Living in obscurity for all the years preceding his ministry enabled him to grow in his relationship with God and to really know what God was calling him to be and to do.

When he started his ministry, it rapidly grew in popularity. Many people began to believe that he was the Messiah- a fallacy which he quickly refuted. He said, "You yourselves are my witnesses [you personally bear me out] that I stated, 'I am not the Christ (the Anointed One, the Messiah), but I have [only] been sent before Him [in advance of Him, to be His appointed forerunner, His messenger, His announcer]'" (John 3:28).

He was a forerunner, a messenger, and an announcer. As a forerunner, he continually pointed people to Jesus as the perfect Son of God that takes away all our sin. As a messenger, he preached about the coming kingdom of God and the requirements of citizenship, including: confession, repentance, and reformation. He taught that as an act of obedience all believers should be baptized. As an announcer, he warned of God's ultimate judgment and the importance of being sincere in our faith.

He was fearless because of his deep-rooted faith. While it was not customary to address or confront the leaders during that time because of harsh repercussions, John the Baptist had no qualms about speaking truth to both the political and the religious leaders of that day. In fact, that is what ultimately cost him his life.

Nothing could deter him, though, because he was called, set apart, and willing to lay down his life for the sake of the Gospel. He was on a mission and that mission was to be a "preparer" and to challenge others to do the same. He was equipped to do this because he had spent his days "preparing the way" (Matthew 11:10) for the coming of the Lord.

His path was not an easy one. Daily, he faced opposition, doubters, and mockers. The Pharisees scrutinized his every word. John answered their questioning by saying, "I [only] baptize in (with) water. Among you there stands One Whom you do not recognize and with Whom you are not acquainted and of Whom you know nothing. It is He Who, coming after me, is preferred before me, the string of Whose sandal I am not worthy to unloose" (John 1:26-27). His faith was steadfast.

Not only was his faith unwavering, he also walked in great humility. When Jesus first asked John the Baptist to baptize Him, John's first response was to decline. He said, "It is I who have need to be baptized by You, and yet You come to me?" (Matthew 3:14).

"But Jesus replied to him, 'Permit it just now; for this is the fitting way for [both of] us to fulfill all righteousness [that is, to perform completely whatever is right]'"  (Matthew 3:15). When Jesus spoke these words to him, offered in true humility and obedience to the Father, John complied.

John the Baptist's primary goal was to introduce others to Jesus and to teach the importance of living a repentant life and living in holiness. He modeled for us today the importance of taking our lives and ministries seriously, knowing that one day we will be held accountable. The emphasis is always on pleasing God and not being swayed by the opinion of others. Perhaps this is why he received the ultimate compliment from Jesus, saying that he was the greatest man ever to live.

When we see the impact of John the Baptist's ministry and the fact that Christianity still flourishes thousands of years later, we know that he accomplished the mission that God gave to him. It is my belief that he was so successful because of an inherent belief that he possessed. He said, "He [Jesus] must increase, but I must decrease. [He must grow more prominent; I must grow less so] (John 3:30).

John the Baptist truly understood the times he was living in, who Jesus is, and who he was in Christ.
He was wholly devoted and committed to his calling and was able to point others to the First Coming of Christ. He allowed God to complete the sanctification process in his life so that he could become a light bearer in the very dark times in which he lived.

Our calling as believers is no different today. We may not hear them as loudly or as clearly because of all the distractions we let in, but that does not detract from their significance. We stand on the precipice of the Second Coming of Christ in a world that is no less dark than it was in the first century. Like John the Baptist, we get to choose what we will devote our lives to. If we choose to be committed, set apart, and obedient to the Lord, we will be prepared for His return. And, if we are prepared, we can help others to be, as well. This is how we can emulate the man with a mission!


"This man came to witness, that he might testify of the Light, that all men might believe in it [adhere to it, trust in it, rely upon it] through him. He was not the Light himself, but came that he might bear witness regarding the Light."
                                                                                                                                       John 1:7-8

Timidity Transformed

                           "What could we accomplish if we knew we could not fail?"
                                                      Eleanor Roosevelt




For seven long years Israel was oppressed under the tyrannical reign of the Midianites. Their homes were plundered and their harvest was consumed. Fear was palpable amongst the Israelites because of the cruelty and savagery of their enemies. In fact, many of them hid in caves just so they could remain sheltered from the large company  of those who wanted no less than their destruction.

And, in a cave is where we first meet Gideon. He was threshing wheat in a winepress so that he would not be discovered when the Angel of the Lord appeared to him. What the angel spoke to him certainly seemed laughable given his circumstances. But, God saw something in Gideon that Gideon could not see in himself. The angel said, "The Lord is with you, you mighty man of [fearless] courage" (Judges 6:12).

Immediately, Gideon began to question the character and faithfulness of God. He said to the angel,
"O sir, if the Lord is with us, why is all this befallen us? And where are all His wondrous works of which our fathers told us, saying, 'Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?' But now the Lord has forsaken us and given us into the hand of the Midian" (Judges 6:13).

This was not Gideon's finest moment. However, it was the moment when the reality of Gideon's present and past truths collided with God's future plans. Truly, it was a sobering moment of human frailty being challenged by an Almighty God. And the truth was, that even a visible manifestation of God was not enough to quell Gideon's doubts and insecurities at that time.

Thankfully, God understands our weaknesses and patiently gave Gideon the repeated reassurances he sought. His timidity was transformed by the presence, empowerment, and assurances that his loving Heavenly Father gave to him.

It was during this encounter with God that something inside of Gideon was stirred. While God was stirring his soul, faith began to rise up against his fear. Unfortunately, faith was not the only thing that bubbled up. So did Gideon's insecurities.

There were two main insecurities in which Gideon grappled. The first was the fear that God wouldn't be faithful. After all, he could not reconcile the fact that God was supposed to be with them and yet so many hardships and sufferings had occurred. His logic screamed that there was no way God's plan could ever work, as well as those nagging thoughts that God might not really do what He said He would do.

The second insecurity was the fear that he was just not good enough. Gideon said, "Oh Lord, how can I deliver Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house" (Judges 6:15). His descriptive words of himself were the "weakest" and the "least". His truths clashed with the truth that God was still determined to use this unsure, insecure, and fearful man to accomplish the impossible.

All Gideon could see, however, was his own ineptitude. S.J. Robinson said, "There was nothing particularly special about Gideon; he was an ordinary young man, from an inconsequential family. And, he was living through a traumatic period in Israel's history, doing what he could to survive."

God answers all of Gideon's insecurities with a one liner. He said, "Surely I will be with you" (Judges 6:16). This was the only thing Gideon really needed to understand. This is because God does not call the brave; He makes brave the called. Whenever God speaks, it is through the resurrection power of Christ.

Apparently, there was still some trepidation inside of Gideon's heart. This is when he asked God to grant him an impossible sign. When God complied, he asked for another one. And then, oh yeah, another one. God graciously responded to Gideon's reluctance.

There was a transition in thinking and a growth in faith that finally allowed Gideon to begin to focus more on God's ability than on his own inability. He had to realize that it is our very weaknesses that become the best conduit for God's strength. His weakness plus God's strength would be exactly enough to obtain victory.

When we really trust that God is with us, all doubts and fears are stayed. We recognize that He is our: Deliverer, Redeemer, Source, Strength, Security, Provider, Defender, and Righteousness. When He calls us He will equip us for the task.

The caveat is that sometimes the way forward with God actually takes us backward. Imagine the slingshot. This is the path (and the test) in which God took Gideon.

God told Gideon to go conquer his enemies. The problem was that there were approximately 200,000 Midianites and Amalekites, but Gideon only had an army of 32,000. To add insult to injury, God did the unthinkable. He told Gideon that his army was too big.

First, God chose to reduce Gideon's number by eliminating the soldiers who were trembling. That knocked out 22,000 men. Then, God told the remaining 10,000 men to drink from the pond. Gideon was allowed to keep the men who cupped their hands and drank water out of them. That only left Gideon with an army of 300 men!

Fear and idolatry were the disqualifying factors. The men who knelt down at the water would have been men who were accustomed to bowing down to worship Baal. What they practiced in private would ultimately be made public by the hand of God.

The weapons God had Gideon's army use were quite unconventional. They were to bring trumpets, pitchers, and torches. They blew the trumpets loudly, smashed the pitchers (to make a loud noise), and held high their torches. This so confused their enemies that they turned on one another and destroyed themselves!

God gave Gideon the victory as he allowed God to transform him and draw him closer to Himself. Gideon began to understand that courage is not the absence of fear; it is doing God's will in spite of it. When he began to see God's presence as bigger than his circumstances, he grew in confidence  that God would never leave him or forsake him.

When he trusted that God's love is perfect in intensity, constancy, sufficiency, and sovereignty, fear began to melt away (1 John 4:18). God is on our side and He is in control, even when it looks like evil is winning. With God's perfect love within us, we never have to fear. This is how our timidity is transformed and God can use our lives in extraordinary ways!


"God is preparing His heroes. And when the opportunity comes, He can fit them into their places in a moment. And the world will wonder where they came from."
                                                                                                                                    A.B. Simpson

The Good News Of The Gospel

"Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the Lord, and He will have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon."
                                                                                                                                    Isaiah 55:6-7




There were several knocks at the door. They were quiet and gentle at first, but then they grew louder and more frequent. The sleeping man tried at first to ignore the sounds and he pulled the covers in further over his head. The knocking continued, and the sleeping man grabbed a pillow to try to muffle the noises outside. After a period of time, however, the weary man grew to understand the persistence of the One who stood outside his door.

It wasn't that the man really wanted to deny entrance to the One who was knocking at his door. It's just that the timing felt inconvenient to him. He preferred to sleep a little longer and perhaps open the door tomorrow. When it was light outside. When he wasn't so tired. When it felt more convenient.

This was the mindset of the people in the church at Laodicea. Jesus told them, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears and listens to and heeds My voice and opens the door, I will come into him and will eat with him and he [will eat] with Me. He who overcomes (is victorious), I will grant him to sit beside Me on My throne, as I myself overcame (was victorious) and sat down beside My Father on His throne" (Revelation 3:20-21).

John MacArthur describes this verse as follows, "Christ was outside... and wanted to come in- something that could only happen if the people repented. The invitation is, first of all, a personal one, since salvation is individual, but He is also knocking at the door of the church, calling the many to saving faith, so that He may enter the church. If one person (anyone) opened the door by repentance and faith, Christ would enter that church through that individual.

Christ's offer to dine with the repentant church speaks of fellowship, communion, and intimacy. Sharing a meal in ancient times symbolized the union of people in loving fellowship. Believers will dine with Christ at the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:19), and in the millennial kingdom (Luke 22:16, 29-30). Dine is from the word "deipneo" , which refers to the evening meal,
the last meal of the day. The Lord Jesus Christ urged them to repent and have fellowship with Him before the night of judgment fell and it was too late forever."

Jesus is the One who pursues us and loves us with a love that is beyond our comprehension. It is our human nature that resists and rebels because we "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). But, even in our sinfulness, God still loves us passionately. We are told that, God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).

God made a way for us through His most precious commodity, His Beloved Son. He didn't make a way for us through angels or by our works. There is nothing we can do to add to the finished work of Christ. It cannot be bought through our religiosity, or our sincerity, or our morality, or our philanthropy. God's path of salvation comes through the righteousness of Jesus Christ alone.

We can only receive this gift through our faith in Jesus. Ephesians 2:8 says, "For it is by free grace (God's unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving] but it is the gift of God."

Not only do we open the door of our heart, but we also are convicted of our sin and recognize a deep desire for righteousness and doing what pleases God. D. Martyn Lloyd Jones says, "Repentance means that you realize you ae a guilty, vile sinner in the presence of God, that you deserve the wrath and punishment of God, that you are hell-bound. It means that you begin to realize that this thing called sin is in you, that you long to get rid of it, and that you turn your back on it in every shape and form. You renounce the world whatever the cost, the world and its mind and outlook, as well as its practice, and deny yourself, and take up the cross, and go after Christ."

God offers us a beautiful exchange for our sin. While it is true that the "wages of sin is death", it is also true that "the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23). The choice is clear: we remain in our sin and spend eternity in hell or we receive God's gift and spend eternity with Him. When we choose His gift, His grace covers all our sin, no matter how egregious or copious they may be. God's provision for our sin is lavish and poured out in the abundance of His love.

God's way of salvation is neither difficult or complicated. His intent was to save us from danger and from destruction.  It all comes down to what we believe in our hearts. It is understanding that "whosoever" believes in Him will be saved and that it is solely based on what Jesus has already done for us. God's heart is that "all men would be saved, and come to the knowledge of truth" (1 Timothy 2:4) Then, we humble ourselves and trust in His mercy.

Our actions will follow these beliefs. Romans tells us that, "If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes (adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Christ) unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. The Scripture says, 'No man who believes in Him [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Christ] will [ever] be put to shame or be disappointed.' For everyone who calls upon the Name of the Lord [invoking Him as Lord] will be saved" (Romans 10:9-11;13). We can trust God's Word for the assurance of our salvation.

We do remember, though, that our salvation came at a great cost. Jesus endured physical pain and carried all the weight of our sin upon Himself. He was separated from the Father and endured the divine judgment that you and I should have received.  Because crucifixion was the most shameful way to die, Jesus not only bore our guilt, but He also bore our shame.

Like the sleepy man who had Jesus knocking on the door, it is time to awaken and arise. It is time for revelation into the places of our lives that need redemption. It is time for us to take a spiritual inventory and ask God to shine His light into the parts of our lives that are not in alignment with His will.

Jesus shed His blood just so that you and I might become a part of God's family (John 1:12). All He asks in return is that we do the Father's work on earth, share the Gospel with others, and live our lives to please Him. He promises to provide us with all we need to do these things. Considering what the cost of our salvation is, the Gospel really is Good News!


If you trust that Jesus died for your sins and that you will receive new life through Him, pray this prayer to express your repentance and faith in Him:

Dear God,
I know that I am a sinner. I believe that Jesus died to forgive me of my sins. I now accept your offer of eternal life. Thank you for forgiving me of all my sin. Thank you for my new life. From this day forward, I will choose to follow You. In Jesus' Name I pray."

If you made a decision for Christ today, Congratulations! You are now a child of God. Please share your decision with a Pastor to discuss the next steps of discipleship. God bless!!!

Waiting, Hoping, and Expecting

"Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord."
                                                                                                                                Psalm 27:14




Every second seemed like an eternity. The coldness and dampness of the prison cell permeated every cell of their bodies, while the darkness hung like a shroud that was waiting to engulf them. It seemed as if all their dreams had been aborted, even the dreams that God had given to them. Their vision seemed clouded and it felt like all was lost. They swallowed past the lumps in their throats, not really knowing what else to say to one another.

Surely there was a plan. There had to be. The confusing aspect of their predicament was that Paul and Silas had found themselves on the fast track to prison not because they had done something wrong, but, ironically, because they were obeying the will of God (Acts 16:16-40).

It was not a surprise to them that Satan had tried to hinder their witness in Philippi, but when they were stripped and beaten and whisked off to jail, it sure appeared to them that their mission was over. Thoughts must have raced through their minds, as well as a myriad of questions. As they surveyed their treacherous surroundings, a miraculous thing occurred.

In His mercy, God began to comfort Paul and Silas and pour out His grace upon them. In fact, He poured out so much grace that a song began to burst forth from their lips as they lifted their hearts to praise God, despite their dire circumstances. The melodious tune grew louder and stronger as they offered up their sacrifice of praise.

It was a sacrifice because it is much more difficult to praise during our darkest moments, especially in the midnight hour of our soul. Charles Spurgeon explains it this way, "Any fool can sing in the day. It is easy to sing when we can read the notes by daylight; but the skillful stager is he who can sing when there is not a ray of light to read by.... Songs in the night only come from God; they are not in the power of men."

They prayed and they worshipped and they waited. They understood that "the Lord is good to those who wait hopefully and expectantly for Him, to those who seek Him" (Lamentations 3:25a). Even though the hours grew long, the hope and expectation inside of them rose up.

For a period of time, they could not move out of their circumstances. Their feet were shackled, so the best they could do physically was to stand still. Though they desired to escape their prison cell and to be free, they opted to wait for God to move and expect that he would be glorified in their midst.

Charles Spurgeon describes the posture of standing still. He says it is to "keep the posture of an upright man, ready for action, expecting further orders, cheerfully and patiently awaiting the directing voice; and it will not be long ere God shall say to you, as distinctly as Moses said it to the people of Israel, 'Go forward'."

Waiting on God can occur passively or it can occur expectantly. A passive person will sit around and hope that something good happens, but then quickly becomes bored when they don't see anything happening. Passivity is not what God calls us to.

An expectant person believes that the answer from God is coming. Each day they awake they believe that God will show up in a mighty way. Their eyes are on Jesus, and they trust in His principles, promises, purposes, and power.

Their focus is on who God is and what He is doing. They are actively seeking Him, praying for wisdom, and trusting in His goodness. They understand that "the Lord longs to be gracious to [them]; therefore, He will rise up to show [them] compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for Him" (Isaiah 30:18).

The Old Testament Hebrew word for "wait" is Qavah. It means "to bind together, as in twisting strands to make a rope". It is my belief that these strands represent what we can do while we wait. The more of these strands that we add to our lives, the stronger we will be as we wait for Himto do what only He can do.

Here are the strands of our lifeline:

1.) PRAYER- As we pray continually, God infuses His power into them to change the things inside
                       of us that need to be changed
2.) PROMISES- As we declare God's promises daily, He infuses His power into them to provide
                           encouragement to us
3.) PRAISE & WORSHIP- As we praise and worship Him, He infuses His power into them so that
                                            He is magnified and our fears and worries are diminished
4.) THANKSGIVING- As we thank Him for prayers already answered and in advance, He infuses
                                      power so that we have eyes to see what He is doing "behind the scenes"
5.) SEEKING GOD- As we pursue the privilege of knowing Him, He infuses our pursuit with
                                   His power so that we can bring Him glory
6.) OBEDIENCE- As we do the next right thing, He infuses them with His power to provide us
                              with the confidence that we are His children
7.) SUBMISSION- As we submit to His authority, God infuses His power to provide grace,
                                transformation, and blessing


When these stands are woven together by the power of the Holy Spirit, we can stand against all the weapons and lies of the enemy. We will be wise to his schemes and we will not succumb to them. We will stand strong against all opposition and hindrances.

Disappointment and discouragement are the weapons of choice that Satan uses while we wait. Softly, he whispers the lies that "God is not for you" or "God will never answer your prayers". These, however, could never be further from the truth. When we really know and trust God, we realize that our disappointments merely set the stage for God's appointments.

For Paul and Silas, God's appointment had to do with the salvation of their prison guard. Despite his physical freedom, he was really the one that was imprisoned. When Paul and Silas prayed and praised, God responded by shaking the foundation of the prison so hard that the doors opened and their shackles were removed. They could have immediately fled, but Paul understood God's mission and plan and they remained to minister to the guards.

Like Paul and Silas, our "suddenly" will come too, but it will come after a period of waiting. The question is never "if" we will wait for God; the question is "how" we will wait for Him. My prayer is that we will wait with hope and expectation, knowing that His goodness and faithfulness transcends all our circumstances.


"If the Lord Jehovah makes us wait, let us do so with our whole hearts; for blessed are all they that wait for Him. He is worth waiting for. The waiting itself is beneficial to us: it tries faith, exercises patience, trains submission, and endears the blessing when it comes. The Lord's people have always been a waiting people."
                                                    Charles H. Spurgeon

His Signet Ring

             "Faith sees the invisible, chooses the imperishable, and does the impossible."
                                                    Vance Havner




In certain ancient cultures, a king who wanted to mark or secure a document with his seal used his signet ring. The wax was softened and the king would press his ring firmly into it. When the wax hardened, it would become an unbroken seal that bore the mark of the king.

The signet ring had both value and significance. It was used to prove authority, identify possessions, and to "sign" official documents. The king's seal ensured the personal guarantee of the king. The seal and the signet were chosen, unique, and used for noble purposes.

Biblically, the seal and the signet were used as a metaphor of obtaining God's honor and authority in the earth. Since God is the King, the Bible gives us examples of people being compared to signet rings. There are examples of signet rings being removed from God's finger, such as Jehoiachin. And, there are examples of people being fashioned into a signet ring to be used for God's purposes, such as Zerubbabel.

Interestingly, both Jehoiachin and Zerubbabel were members of the same family. Another interesting fact was that their lineage would ultimately usher in the first coming of Christ. One was disqualified and one was sealed forever by the hand of the King.

Jehoichin was a descendant of David. He was coronated as king of Judah when he was eighteen years old. Unfortunately, he was so wicked that the prophet Jeremiah prophesied against him. Through Jeremiah, God spoke and said, "'As I live,' says the Lord, 'though Jehoiachin, son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, were the signet ring upon My right hand, yet I would tear you off'" (Jeremiah 22:24).

The reason God removed Jehoiachin was because he did not obey His statutes and refused to repent. Therefore, he had become utterly useless to the purposes of God. Because of this, he was succeeded by his uncle, even though it was documented that he had at least seven children who were next in line to sit on the throne of David.

Zerubbabel was the grandson of Jehoiachin. While he did not sit on the throne, he led the first group of Jews home following their Babylonian captivity. This is what God said to Zeubbabel, "'In that day,' says the Lord of Hosts, 'I will take you Zerubbabel, My servant, son of Shealtiel,' says the Lord, and will make you [through the Messiah, your descendant] My signet ring; for I have chosen you [as the one with whom to renew My covenant to David's line],' says the Lord of Hosts" (Haggai 2:23).

Working with Joshua, Zerubbabel was used by God to rebuild the Second Temple in Jerusalem. Through him, God reinstated the Davidic line and renewed His covenant with David. Zerubabbel was also given the rare distinction and encouragement of being referred to as this triad: servant, son, and signet ring. According to Peter Ackroyd, Zerubbabel was a "royal representative of God".

Today, when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we, too, are sealed. The book of Ephesians explains, "In Him you also who have heard the Word of Truth, the glad tidings (Gospel) of your salvation, and have believed in and have adhered to and relied on Him, were stamped with the seal of the long-promised Holy Spirit. That [Spirit] is the guarantee of our inheritance [the firstfruits, the pledge and foretaste, the down payment on our heritage], in anticipation of its full redemption and our acquiring [complete] possession of it- to the praise of His glory" (Ephesians 1:13-14).

We are chosen and we are sealed and we are in covenant with God. The Holy Spirit seals all those who are in Christ, which is God's guarantee that believers are owned by Him and secure in Him. It is His sealing that separates believers from this world and from their unholy past.

If we look closely at the Davidic line, we find that David's family tree might have been cut down. There certainly were plenty of wicked and apathetic kings that could have justified doing so. Yet, God's desire was to cause a "branch" to grow up from the stump to become the Ruler of the nation (Isaiah 11:1; 53:2).

This King is named Jehovah Tsidkenu, which means "The Lord Our Righteousness" (Jeremiah 33:15-16). This name can only be applied to Jesus. The apostle, Paul, explains, "it is from Him [God] that you have your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom from God [revealed to us a knowledge of the divine plan of salvation previously hidden, manifesting itself as] our Righteousness [thus making us upright and putting us in right standing with God], and our consecration [making us pure and holy], and our Redemption [providing our ransom from eternal penalty for sin]" (1 Corinthians 1:30).

When we put our faith in Jesus, His righteousness is put into our account and we are declared righteous before God (Romans 3:21-5:11). This is called "being justified by faith". As we cooperate with the Holy Spirit, we are fashioned for service in His kingdom on earth and become His earthly representatives.

We are living in the days preceding the Second Coming of Christ. The Old Testament story of the Jews returning to their land after the Babylonian captivity is a foreshadow of the great world-wide regathering that will occur in the last days. This is when "He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other" (Matthew 24:31).

Our job now is to become useful in the Hands of our Creator. It is to daily remember our covenant with Him and that His number one priority is to reach those who do not yet know Him. Our goal should be to bring as many other people into eternity with us as we can. Allowing the Holy Spirit to flow freely through our lives will make this happen. The additional perk is that just maybe we could enter into heaven known not only as a son and as a servant, but also as His signet ring!


                                               "O What can I give to the Master,
                                                 The One who from sin set me free?
                                                I'll give Him a lifetime of service
                                                To thank Him for dying for me."
                                                                 K. De Haan

Better Vs. Bitter

"Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many."
                                                                                                                               Hebrews 12:14-15




Once upon a time there was a married couple who were abundantly blessed: spiritually, in their family, and financially. They knew God's hand was upon their lives and their loved ones and they found great comfort in this knowledge. That is, until the bottom fell out of their world.

In one single day, their lives careened out of control. The result was the funeral of all ten of their children, dramatic financial loss, and a painful illness that was so extreme that the husband cried out to God to take his life. The name of this husband was Job, and his wife's name didn't even get mentioned in God's Word.

Now, I am not one that would throw any stones at Job's wife, even though this is the stuff that causes many a bad wife joke.  However, there are many theologians who have. Augustine labeled her as "the devil's accomplice". And, Calvin identified her as "a diabolical fury".

The quote that she is famous for is not an enviable one. After seeing her husband in excruciating pain and wiping his sores with broken pottery, she cried out in raw emotion. She exclaimed, "Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die!" (Job 2:9). This was not her finest moment.

Yet, per usual, there may have been more to her story. Just try to imagine the shock and grief of a mother who witnessed the death of all ten of her children in a moments time. Then, imagine transitioning from being the wealthiest family in the world to becoming a bankrupt, homeless beggar? All the while, she is trying to take care of a gravely ill spouse in such indescribable pain that he despaired even for his life. This was one day in the life of Job's wife.

At this point, it had to have been easier in the short-term to withdraw and become bitter. It would have been much more costly to engage in the shock and terror of their present circumstances and to refrain from blame. No blame to God or to each other.

This passage in the book of Hebrews contrasts our two possible choices when life throws us a harsh curve ball. The positive response is to: pursue peace and reconcile all relationships, seek after holiness by removing sin from our relationships, and to extend God's grace, love, mercy, and tenderness to all people involved since we recognize just how much God has forgiven for us. We also realize that how we sin against one another is actually against jesus, Himself. In this we become conduits of God's goodness, even in the midst of the most difficult of situations. This is what Job chose to do.

His wife, however, did not. (Oh, how I wish this situation was reversed!). Even though both people had experienced the same tragedies, she fell short of the grace of God and allowed a bitter root to spring up. This created a bitter infection of her heart and soul that inevitably affected those around her.

They were the same circumstances and yet vastly different responses. There are two scenarios that typically result in bitterness. The first one is that we believe that something we deserve has been taken from us. The second one is that we believe that something we don't deserve is given to us. Both of these beliefs create an environment for bitterness to grow.

To put it more succinctly, either we will respond in obedience or we will sin in our pain. This is where it gets complicated, though, because it would never be truthful to say that a victim is the guilty person. They are not. Yet, there is clearly a path of obedience that will allow God's grace to cover the wrong incurred. This path prevents victims from seeking compensation for their pain. Choosing grace will prevent a root of bitterness from growing.

Bitterness is deceptive and seductive. Before we can even blink, we become enslaved when we allow bitterness, anger, resentment, and a critical spirit to begin to permeate everything and everyone. The book of Deuteronomy admonishes us to "make sure there is no root among you that produces bitter poison" (Deuteronomy 29:18).

According to Dr. Crawford Loritts, there are recognizable signs of bitterness. They are as follows:
          *recruiting others to take up your offense
          *anger (excessive; always under the surface)
          *unhealthy, unbalanced confrontation (shooting a canary with a cannon)
          *obsessed with a hurt or issue (looking for opportunities to vent)
          *fear and flight (passive-aggressive)
          *Can't face the person who hurt you

Ultimately, bitterness gets ingrained into our personalities. This results in sudden, unpredictable manifestations that are destructive. This infection is highly contagious and requires a quarantine if the person refuses to repent.

This poison steals, kills, and destroys. It steals our joy, our health, and eventually gives way to delusional thinking. If left unchecked, it will undoubtedly take our lives. The destruction is incalculable because it can prevent Christians from knowing fullness and freedom in Christ and might even indicate that we are not saved.

If there is a root of bitterness, the answer is always repentance. We can dig it out and confess our sins, knowing that God is just and faithful to forgive them (1 John 1:5-10). This will give us eyes to see God's hand at work, even in the midst of pain. It also enables us to receive His comfort and guidance when we need it the most.

We don't get to always choose what happens (or doesn't happen) to us, but we do get to choose whether we will then become a judge or a forgiver (Ephesians 4:31-32). Forgiving forges the way to take the opportunities God places before us.

We experience peace by resolving conflicts as they occur and pursuing peace in all our relationships. We never pay back evil (Romans 12:17-21), but, instead choose to bless those who have hurt us. Replacing good in the stead of evil propels a trajectory that glorifies God and extends His Kingdom on earth.

It is God's desire for us to be clean and pure vessels with clear consciences. We can choose true reconciliation even if the other person refuses to accept it. We can forgive and refuse to be defined by our hurt or our pain. We can refuse to become bitter.

Our lives and our destinies are too important to squander for momentary indulgences the way that Esau did. His one decision prompted a lifetime of regret that he never conquered. He never allowed God's grace to cover the consequences of his action.

It is much better and more fruitful to accept our challenges, receive God's grace, and witness God moving in mighty ways. In the end, God will redeem, renew, and restore all that concerns us. In the interim, we choose to be better and not to be bitter. And.... live happily ever after!


"Love alone makes heavy burdens light and bears in equal balance things pleasing and displeasing. Love bears a heavy burden and does not feel it, and love makes bitter things tasteful and sweet."
                                                                                                                               Thomas a Kempis

Sure-Footed

         "You have given plenty of room for my steps under me, that my feet would not slip."
                                                              Psalm 18:36




Faith can falter in the event of a major crisis and when the trials that abound seem relentless. At times, it can feel as if the world around us is closing in like a never-ending vise grip. This tight squeeze can continue its pursuit until it feels like your lungs are compressed and even the breath we take seems inadequate. Ironically, while human nature may tend to pull back from God, it is only faith and trust that will lead us to victory.

In this world, it is highly probable that at some point we will experience an earth-shattering, heart-breaking, soul-testing life event. These are the moments that we wonder if we can survive such our circumstances? And, if we do, we wonder if life can ever be the same?

These are the emotions that David felt when he penned the eighteenth Psalm. Thankfully, he is recalling how he felt right after God had given him victory over all that had risen up against him. He remembered God's divine protection as He hid David in the rocky cliffs when he fled from Saul and then from his very own son, Absalom.

There had to have been moments when David felt unsteady or unsure. Maybe there were even moments when he thought his foot was slipping. Yet, because of the tender intimacy he shared with his Heavenly Father, he tethered himself to the Rock, which became the sure foundation for his soul.

David learned that the Rock must be greater than the trial he was facing. Even when his life was in grave danger, he was confident when he cried out to God. He knew that divine intervention would sufficiently protect him and deliver him from all that would seek to destroy his life. He was compelled by the Word of God, not by his circumstances.

God taught David how to be sure-footed. According to the Oxford dictionary, the definition of sure-footed is "unlikely to stumble, slip, or fall; confident and competent". Throughout the course of David's life, he would learn that even in the darkest of times that he could be confident that "he would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living" (Psalm 27:13).

God's purposes prevailed. It was God's plan to train David's hands for war because he had been created to be a warrior.  Progressively, David would fully realize the impact this would have upon his life.

Throughout this Psalm, David identified seven military metaphors to paint a picture of God's love. He referred to God as his Rock (foundation of stability and protection), his fortress (high place of refuge and defense when under attack), his deliverer (Savior in the day of evil), his Rock (different word that means strong defense), his shield (deflects the enemies arrows and swords), the horn of his salvation (power in battle), and his stronghold (God's care for his servant).

All of David's life had been preparing him to be a valiant warrior. Even as a young boy, he fought off predators of his sheep and learned how to be vigilant both day and night. God developed wisdom and patience in him, as well as teaching him where to focus his efforts and prayers. David would later utilize every one of these skills when he became king of Israel. He was uniquely qualified for the job because he had been uniquely trained.

Ultimately, God brought David out of his tight squeeze and into a spacious place. He rewarded him because he refrained from evil, kept God's laws, and allowed God to fully shape his character. David was faithful and humble which enabled God to exalt him.

Rejoicing inevitably ensues when God rescues and rewards us. God subdues our enemies and saves us from all that would seek to ensnare us. Additionally, He causes us to succeed.

But, with God, there is even so much more than that! Psalm 18 tells us that God: renewed David, energized him, encouraged him, empowered him, equipped him, and enabled him. He also completely restored him and all aspects of his life.

Even while David waited for God to move on his behalf, God kept the light inside of David burning bright and caused his life to flourish. He gave him divine strength and strategies day by day. God sustained him, even during his most difficult moments.

Step by step, God was his light and his salvation. He was his sustainer and his hope. He was his very present help in times of danger. He led and guided him through treacherous times and He never left him or turned His back on him.

Consequently, David did not slip or fall backwards even though his circumstances may have enticed him to do so. Instead, he continued to march forward to the destiny that God had for him, despite any obstacles or distractions. As David continued to rely on his Heavenly Father, God made David's foot sure on the path to victory.


       "He makes me as surefooted as a deer, enabling me to stand on mountain heights."
                                                         Psalm 18:33