Month / January 2011

by In Light Of The Cross

Luke 22; Eternally Saved

I am writing today from the beautiful Tampa Bay area.

Luke  22:39          And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him. 

 22:40    And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. 

 22:41    And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, 

 22:42    Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. 

 22:43    And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. 

Many times over the years my heart has been comforted by the passage below from The Desire of Ages. When my heart is broken because it appears evil is winning, I remember the angel assuring Jesus and the rest of us, that Satan will be defeated and not just a few, but multitudes will be saved, and I love the emphasis on eternally saved.

The angel came not to take the cup from Christ’s hand, but to strengthen Him to drink it, with the assurance of the Father’s love. He came to give power to the divine-human suppliant. He pointed Him to the open heavens, telling Him of the souls that would be saved as the result of His sufferings. He assured Him that His Father is greater and more powerful than Satan, that His death would result in the utter discomfiture of Satan, and that the kingdom of this world would be given to the saints of the Most High. He told Him that He would see of the travail of His soul, and be satisfied, for He would see a multitude of the human race saved, eternally saved.  {Desire of Ages, p. 693}

by In Light Of The Cross

Luke 21; What if I Gave All?

I am writing today from the beautiful Tampa Bay area.

Luke 21:1 And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. 

 21:2       And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. 

 21:3       And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: 

 21:4       For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had. 

Many years ago, one Christmas season, a good friend of mine’s daughter was having her 12th birthday. I feel sorry for people whose birthdays fall around Christmas, because they seem to get lost between the cracks. So I gave her a card and some money. In the meantime our church was sponsoring a family who had a couple of sick children in the hospital. My friend told me her daughter gave all of her birthday money that year to that family.

I remember when I was about four or five, a family came to our church who had just had a house fire. My parents were giving them some furniture, while their little boy watched me ride around on my tricycle. My dad came up to me and told me he did not have anything to play with. I had never seen this boy before, but I just hopped off my tricycle and gave it to him. A few days later, a friend of mine with two tricycles gave me theirs.

Giving is so easy when you are a child. I am asking God to help me mature as a Christian this year, but when it comes to giving, make me a child again. Here is one of my favorite songs by Ray Boltz. What if I Gave all?

by In Light Of The Cross

Jesus Wept;The Bible and Human Emotions, Lesson 2

I am writing today from the beautiful Tampa Bay area.

Here are my thoughts on this week’s SS lesson. You may also download the SS Lesson to your android phone.

For I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.  Philippians 4:11

One thing I have noticed is, anxiety is relative. The “A” student fears he may make a “B” while the “B” student fears he may make a “C”. In 2008 I was afraid the Tampa Bay Rays would lose the World Series, while the year before, I was afraid they would lose 100 games. Today I get anxious if I run off and forget my cell phone at home. 15 years ago I did not even have a cell phone to forget at home. I talk to young people who are scared they may never get married. I am 45 and have never been married while enjoying life. With thinning hair I am afraid I may go bald. Meanwhile, my bald friends go about their merry lives.

In today’s economy I worry about losing my job, while I have friends who have been out of work over a year now, but by God’s grace, have never missed a meal or lost their home. With my parents being in their mid ‘70s now I fear I may lose them one day, while I have friends my age who lost their parents long ago. By God’s grace, my friends continue making the most of their productive lives while looking forward to the resurrection. I have observed that everything I fear may happen to me, has happened to other people already, and by God’s grace they have survived and even thrived. Even if death comes my way, I have an older Brother in Jesus, who was dead and is alive again!

I have learned not to be anxious, because after all, all those wonderful things that I am afraid of losing I don’t deserve to have anyway. Who am I to have, when there are so many more worthy than myself who have not? While in Peru on a mission trip, we spent the night at the Lima airport when our flight was cancelled. It did not bother me, when I considered that there were people more worthy than myself who had no bed that night either. What had I done to deserve a bed to sleep in? Nothing!

In this life, worry, fear, and anxiety, have not earned me a single bite to eat or thing to wear. They have not put a roof over my head, but God’s grace has provided all those things.  And what’s more, when it comes to the next life, I am told by Jesus, “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:32

Worry, fear and anxiety are legalism! They are the works of the flesh that we use to replace God’s grace. When you receive God’s grace you don’t have to worry, fear or be anxious anymore. You can be content in any and every situation. Even today, many people are content, while in a situation you fear you may be in one day. They are content by God’s grace. Grace and contentment will never be earned by worry, fear and anxiety.

by In Light Of The Cross

Luke 20; Spies Who Dress Like Sheep But Really Are Wolves

I am writing today from the beautiful Tampa Bay area.

Luke  20:19 And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them. 

 20:20    And they watched [him], and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor. 

Do you believe Satan uses these same tactics today? You better believe he does! He will use wolves in sheep clothing who pretend to be sincere, to get you to open up to them so that they can report what you have said, and hopefully twist your words and malign your motives to destroy the work you are doing for God.

While it is true that no weapon formed against God’s people can prosper, and that the enemies of truth can do nothing but advance the truth, Satan and his spies can still cause some headaches along the way. This is why Jesus warns us, “Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.” Luke 12:3    And remember Jesus said that before there were cell phones and Facebook! Solomon in his wisdom advises, “ Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.” Ecclesiastes 10:20

  The last time I performed a baptism at church, when I changed into my robe, I did not want to leave my wallet with my clothes, so I gave it a friend to watch for me. While I would never dream of anyone in the church taking my money, there was still only a handful of people I felt comfortable leaving my wallet with. While I assume many are trustworthy, there are very few that I will put in a position where they need to prove they are trustworthy. Many of us have friends all over the country. If we must talk about a problem that is sensitive and needs secrecy, it may be best to share it with a friend who is way outside the picture rather than one who is close by. They will have less opportunity to let it slip to the wrong people, and they may even be able to give us a better neutral objective view point on the issue. Of course we have a friend in Jesus, who we can trust with all our secrets, and in reality He is the only one who can help us anyway. Also remember, evil spies cannot twist words that were never spoken.

by In Light Of The Cross

Luke 19; Jesus Does Not Overlook Anybody!

I am writing today from the beautiful Tampa Bay area.

Luke 19:2 And, behold, [there was] a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. 

 19:3    And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. 

 19:4    And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him: for he was to pass that [way]. 

 19:5    And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. 

 19:6    And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. 

 19:7    And when they saw [it], they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. 

 19:8    And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore [him] fourfold. 

 19:9    And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. 

 19:10  For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. 

What I love about this story is how it reminds us that Jesus does not overlook anyone, no matter how small, no matter how sinful. Contemplate for a moment the perception of Jesus. He saw the widow secretly putting in her two mites. He saw Nathaniel simply praying under a tree. In a huge crowd he felt a woman brush his shoulder. He saw Zacchaeus hiding in a tree.

  Jesus knows us individually, and is touched with the feeling of our infirmities. He knows us all by name. He knows the very house in which we live, the name of each occupant. He has at times given directions to His servants to go to a certain street in a certain city, to such a house, to find one of His sheep. 

     Every soul is as fully known to Jesus as if he were the only one for whom the Saviour died. The distress of every one touches His heart. The cry for aid reaches His ear. He came to draw all men unto Himself. He bids them, “Follow Me,” and His Spirit moves upon their hearts to draw them to come to Him. Many refuse to be drawn. Jesus knows who they are. He also knows who gladly hear His call, and are ready to come under His pastoral care. He says, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” He cares for each one as if there were not another on the face of the earth.  {Desire of Ages, p. 480}

by In Light Of The Cross

Luke 18; The Pharisee and Publican

I am writing today from the beautiful Tampa Bay area.

Luke 18:9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 

 18:10    Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 

 18:11    The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men [are], extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 

 18:12    I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 

 18:13    And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as [his] eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 

 18:14    I tell you, this man went down to his house justified [rather] than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. 

Who do you identify with most in this story? Pride is so deceitful. A couple decades ago, I actually sat and listened to a lady brag to me about how humble she was. She had no idea what exactly she was doing. A few years later, I was visiting with a family who thought they were being perfectly humble by telling me that nobody is perfect, and then emphasizing , “NOT EVEN US!”  We all are tempted to take pride in our humility, if that even makes sense. This is why we need to ask Jesus to anoint our eyes with eyesalve so that we may see. When we see ourselves the way we really are, we will, like Paul confess that we are the chief of sinners.

It was the publican who went away justified. “ What is justification by faith? It is the work of God in laying the glory of man in the dust, and doing for man that which it is not in his power to do for himself. When men see their own nothingness, they are prepared to be clothed with the righteousness of Christ.”  {Faith I Live By 111}

It would be well for us to spend a thoughtful hour each day in contemplation of the life of Christ. We should take it point by point, and let the imagination grasp each scene, especially the closing ones. As we thus dwell upon His great sacrifice for us, our confidence in Him will be more constant, our love will be quickened, and we shall be more deeply imbued with His spirit. If we would be saved at last, we must learn the lesson of penitence and humiliation at the foot of the cross.  {Desire of Ages 83} 

“When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.”

–          Isaac Watts – When I survey the Wondrous Cross