Walk Worthy of the Lord, Fully Pleasing to Him (Colossians 1:10)

Some of the Bible’s most intimidating phrases are: "worthy of God" and "worthy of the Lord" and "worthy of the gospel" and "worthy of the calling." Why do those phrases scare us?  In my opinion: it’s the unspoken pronoun “you” that causes our concern.  The bottom line is we don’t feel worthy.  By our actions we AREN’T worthy.  Yet, worthiness is an expectation God seems to have of us.

Deep down we realize that we are anything but worthy.  We might even feel hopeless, IF we don’t understand where our worthiness comes from.  Here’s how we often think: For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. …Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. (Romans 7:18-25)

See, our struggles are no surprise to God. He made us and loves us and desires to draw us to Himself.  My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:1-2)  This word, “propitiation,” carries the basic idea of appeasement, or satisfaction, specifically towards God. It’s the principle that Christ, by enduring the cross, satisfied God’s demands of justice for our sins.  

THIS is the only way our “walk” could EVER be considered “worthy.”  But you ARE worthy if you’ve appealed to God through the blood of Jesus and you are walking…you’re actively moving toward God…following Him.

-Darrell

Bringing Them In and Laying Them Before Jesus

“Jesus is here, and He is healing many!” People all over began to exclaim as word spread about the presence of the Lord.  For one group of friends, their thoughts quickly shifted to their paralyzed friend.  This was their chance to really help him.  But it would not be easy.  The crowd would be dense and desperate, but they might never have another chance like this.  So, one by one they began arriving at their friend’s home with hopeful looks and determination that they would finally see this good man made physically whole.

In their excitement, they each grabbed a corner of the man’s bed and lifted him, carrying him to the place where Jesus was.  As expected, the crowd was overwhelming.  There was no line, just a mob of people pressing against the door to the house.  The paralytic sighed, “I want to thank each of you for trying to help me.  I don’t want you to feel bad that it would be impossible to get me through this crowd.”  The friends’ eyes met above the man and a moment of silence is interrupted by their reassurance, “You will see Jesus tonight and you will be healed.”

They picked up some rope and tied it to the corners of the bed.  Some of the friends climbed up on the roof while others lifted the bed over their heads and handed it up.  Once they were all on top of the house, they began removing tiles and digging through until the hole was big enough to lower the bed and their friend down to the Son of God.  Jesus surprised them all when he showed that the man’s greatest need was not to walk, but to be forgiven.  Then, he looked at the man and said, “Rise, pick up your bed, and go home.”  Their excitement and gratitude spilled out of the home as everyone cheered and rejoiced.  He would no longer be known as the paralytic, but as the one who was forgiven and healed by Jesus himself. (see Luke 5:15ff.)

Is your mind shifting to a friend who needs to see Jesus?  If you believed that your friend’s greatest need could be satisfied by Christ, would you drop everything and do your best to carry her to Him.  Can Christ be seen in you?  Is your love for your friend and for the Lord evident in the importance you place on them?  Bring them in and lay them before Jesus!

--Darrell

Reconciliation

When I was a tweenager, my cousin, Brint, carried a poem around in his wallet.  I believe his was “Still Here,” by Langston Hughes.  Naturally, I decided I should find a poem of my own to carry around and before long, dad printed one in the church bulletin.  There was no profundity in my choice, but God has used that poem many times in my life to shake me awake to the reality of sin, peel me off the floor after I’ve been broken, and warm my heart when darkness loomed heavily.  I’ll leave the poem here for you and hope that it brings you closer to The Father:

“Reconciliation”  By: Owen Cosgrove

Sin cried out, "I'm sorry!" Grace answered, "I forgive."
Wrong said, "I deserve to die." Love said, "Repent and live."
Guilt said, "I am torn inside." Truth said, "Confess and be made free."
Life said, "I am heavy laden." The Lord, "Come to me."
The weary said, "Where can I go? With evil's burdens sore?"
God said, "My child, obey My word, and live forevermore."

-Darrell

God Cares

The Bible says, “Cast all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (I Peter 5:7).  This is such a warm thought, but it’s easier said than done, isn’t it?  Of course, when we can find it within ourselves to let go and trust in the Lord, it just brings all sorts of blessings.  We can be sure that He tends to our physical needs when we are seekers of His kingdom (Matthew 6:33).  We can be sure that He guards us in a spiritual sense when we are willing to obey Him and submit to His care (I Peter 5:7; Matthew 11:28-30).  And we can be certain that He will bring with Him to heaven those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).

You aren’t alone if you fret over the cares of this world.  How will the contents of my bank account get me through this month?  What if my health is failing?  You can count one these trials to come.  However, by “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith,” we should be able to keep from becoming consumed by these discouragements.  (Hebrews 12:2-3.)  Paul said our “light affliction,” which only lasts for a moment helps to build for us an exceeding and eternal weight of glory (II Corinthians 4:17).  Therefore, let us turn those worries into joy for the hope that is set before us.

Each day the devil tries to connive, scheme, and trick each of us into the dreary depths of sin.  The picture he paints is one of beauty and endless pleasure, but the reality that lies beneath is an ugly and gruesome sight.  At times temptations seem unbearable, but be sure that our God is faithful and will always leave for us a way of escape when overwhelming desires come knocking (I Corinthians 10:13).  In all our spiritual trials, there is one who is constant, unchanging, and who will always be there to protect us from the death Satan brings.  Look to our almighty God and Father when anxieties are highest.

Let's strive to live in such a way that when the end comes we will be able to say, “I did my best to obey God, and then I trusted in Him to do the rest.”  He most certainly will keep His promises.  Have faith and know that God cares about you.

----Darrell

Have you met Cornelius?

            In Acts the tenth chapter, we read a wonderful story about a man named Cornelius.  He was not a Christian yet, since the Gentiles had not received the gospel at that point.  But he was described as a centurion who was God-fearing, devout, upright, a generous giver, prayerful, and “well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation” (Acts 10: 1-2; 22).  Cornelius was a great example for his household, his community, the people of God, and even all people two thousand years later.  He was a man who lived the kind of life every Christian should live.  What can we learn from Cornelius?

            The story of Cornelius teaches us that there are great men and women in our world that are trying to obey God.  What if your neighbor is like Cornelius?  I’ve heard Christians talk about reasons why certain people “would not be responsive to the gospel even if they were taught.”  But even though the Bible teaches us that the way to heaven is difficult and there will be few who follow it (Matt 7:14), it also teaches that we are to spread the gospel to all people without partiality (Mark 16:15-16). 

            Cornelius’s story also shows that if there is a non-Christian’s prayer that God will answer, it is a genuine prayer of one who is trying to “feel their way toward [God]” (Acts 17:27) and who desires to obey Him as Lord (Acts 10:31).  God will not save a person based on prayer alone (For example, Saul of Tarsus prayed and fasted 3 days and nights and his sins were not yet forgiven – Acts 9:9,11; 22:16), but sincere prayers for help in finding the will of God will be heard.

            Finally, this story teaches us that water baptism is a command of God that must be obeyed.  Even though Cornelius’s case involved a special encounter with the Holy Spirit (like had only been seen one other time in Acts 2), Peter still commanded Cornelius and his household to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.  God expects the same reaction from people to day when they are ready to make Him Lord of their life.  A sad ending for a person like Cornelius would be that they look for Jesus, hear what he expects from them, but are unwilling to move on what He asks of them. How have you responded when God has answered your prayers?

----Darrell Powell 

On a Walk with God

 Picture a child following her parent.  She wants to follow, but her little legs sometimes must take 2-3 steps for her daddy’s one.  She wants to follow, but gets distracted and takes her eyes off him.  She strays off the path or stops.  She wants to follow, but gets tired and has to rest.  Now, her daddy knows all these things are likely to happen.  He’s seen it over and over because he has lots of children.  So, when she can’t keep up, he slows down.  When she rests, he waits for her to get up and start walking again.  When she gets distracted, he sometimes calls out to her to show her where he is and what direction she needs to go.  Keeping in step with her father takes constant effort for the little girl. But the thought of leaving her behind never crosses her daddy’s mind.  He will always be there.

Is it just a coincidence that God calls Himself our Father?  Surely He knows just how we would struggle when trying to walk with Him.  He asks us to walk in the light with Him (I John 1:7).  He tells us that we aren’t capable of successfully directing our own steps (Proverbs 3:5-6).  He wants us to have even more confidence in Him than a little child has in her daddy.  He tells us to have so much faith in Him that we walk by faith in Him, not by our own sight and understanding (II Corinthians 5:7).  So, when we think about keeping in step with God, it'll please him if we remember how deeply He wants us with Him.  His desire for us is much like a father’s desire to protect and sustain his child. 

The part for us to dwell on is that we, the children, have to keep wanting to be with God, the father.  When a child decides she knows better than Dad, sometimes she heads out on her own path and leaves her father behind.  Someone reading this is thinking, “I’ve left my heavenly Father behind.”  But He’s never far from any of us (Acts 17:26).  When you reach for Him, He will be there.  And, He will even slow down when you stumble.

----Darrell Powell

The Thickening Darkness

Darkness.  It was upon the face of the deep before God spoke the universe into existence (Genesis 1:2). Then God separated the light from the darkness (Genesis 1:4). Soon, darkness came to represent more than just the lack of physical light.  Darkness would now describe the lack of spiritual light and indicate a separation from God Who is the Light.  Samuel wrote: "For you are my lamp, O LORD, and my God lightens my darkness. (II Samuel 22:29) God's will is that we live in the light, in righteousness (I John 1:7). But at times, the thickening darkness can envelope our spirits and smother us as a heavy blanket.

            Solomon described people "who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness "(Proverbs 2:13).  Would anyone really choose darkness over light? Are there those who "call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!" (Isaiah 5:20)? But the truth is that each of us was once full of darkness.  We were living in the "domain of darkness." (Colossians 1:13)  But God has "called us out of darkness into His marvelous light" (I Peter 2:9).  

            You may feel encompassed by darkness. Dark thoughts or a dark past, but there is a light that overpowers the darkest of places.  Jesus Christ has "come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in [Him] may not remain in darkness." (John 12:46) The darkness in your life and the darkness that dwells in you can become bright like the sun by the power of the Son!  Jesus sent Paul to preach to the Gentiles (us) "to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.' (Acts 26:18)

            Now, "The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light (Romans 13:12).  The darkness of the world and of the devil, do not win! "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 15:57) It's time to stop being afraid of the dark and love and live in the Light!

----Darrell Powell

The Christ Life

“Arms stretched out wide, barely hanging on to life, and left to suffer on His own.”  He came to serve and save the entire world, but somehow ended up alone.  He calls us to walk a vertical life...one aimed toward Him.  Perhaps that seems a little less demanding and more deserving when we think about  the road He walked alone so that we would never have to take even one lonely step.  “Because of all the blood an tears He shed, we never have to know that kind of loneliness.” (from Never Walk Alone—Brian Free)

The “Christ life” is possible because of Jesus.  It wouldn't just be lonely, but it would be impossible to succeed without Him.

This life I’m speaking of is a beautiful and precious gift Christians enjoy.  The joy isn’t always obvious.  In fact, some days you really have to dig deep to see the real life that’s “hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3).  It’s in this hope that our lives truly begin.

Real life is hidden.  Real happiness isn’t usually found lying around for us to accidentally stumble upon.  It is found in Christ when we decide we “cannot keep on sinning because [we have] been born of God” (I John 3:9).  It’s found when we go the extra mile to serve others and make bold stands for Christ.

I know there are so many things that block our view of real life.  There are negative, hateful, and prejudiced people.  There are societal pressures to conform instead of transform.  Then, we stand in our own way when we decide to focus too much on any one aspect of life in Christ.  It’s easy to get so burdened with details of faith that we neglect important matters like “justice and mercy and faithfulness” (Matthew 23:23).  When I’m tempted to get tunnel vision, I need to be reminded that our lives shouldn’t just be about Christ.  Christ should BE our life! “When Christ WHO IS YOUR LIFE appears...; ...To live IS Christ…” (Colossians 3:4; Philippians 1:21 emp. Added).

Which direction is your life taking you?  Don’t let anything or anyone keep you from the life with Christ in God.  It is the only life with hope and promise.

——Darrell Powell

Stained Glass Masquerade

Is there anyone who fails? Anyone who falls short of the purpose and life God wants for us…that He asks us to live? Now, let me clarify…I’m not talking about the failures and struggles that are easy to admit. Many of us, with good intentions, readily admit that we struggle with the “socially acceptable” sins. I’ll vaguely fess up to having problems with gossip, bitterness, wrath, maybe the occasional impure thought, greed, pride, and even hatred.  But we are still understandably reluctant to confess to one another that we are in a tough fight against some really ugly temptations.

Do you ever wonder if you’re the only person who feels small/inadequate? Especially when you attend a worship assembly. Maybe you are thinking everyone else seems so strong, and that they’ll soon figure out that you are an imposter? So, in reaction to this fear/feeling, we tuck our struggles neatly away…out of sight. We put barriers around our weaknesses and we smile to hide the hurt we feel.

But wait! Jesus said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” (Matthew 5:3-4) I can’t help but feel that we are short changing one another in this area. If we are blessed when we acknowledge how spiritually poor/lost we are without Jesus…but we cover up the parts of our lives that humble us the most, how do we receive the blessing? If we are blessed when we mourn, but we hide the parts of our lives that cause us to mourn spiritually…how can the rest of the body comfort us?

That’s what we are, right?  Different parts of the same body. “If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.” (1 Corinthians 12:26-27) The rest of the body should mourn with us when we mourn, but they can’t if we never provide them with the opportunity by sharing our struggles with each other. “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” (James 5:16)

The body of Christ IS a loving body. It is a merciful, forgiving body. Jesus sent Paul to preach to the Gentiles (us) "to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith...” (Acts 26:18) And if you are tormented and concealing your imperfections with a grin, know that healing begins when we step into the light.

----Darrell Powell

(Title and some thoughts taken from the Casting Crowns song, "Stained Glass Masquerade.")

Pursue Peace

            Paul said in Romans 12:18, “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.”  While Paul surely meant to convey the idea of being at peace with others, it seems that there is more to it than that.  Notice the phrase that he used: “live peaceably.”  One Psalmist said, “…seek peace and pursue it.”  (Psalm 34:14.)  Living peaceably means we are seeking peace always.  Being a peacemaker (Matthew 5:9) is more likely to happen when we are living peaceably. 

            Many times I’ve read Romans 12:18 and concentrated on the first half of the verse – “If it is possible, as much as depends on you.”  It's true some folks won't let you live in peace, but that does not free us from the responsibility of seeking peace.  This means, I should avoid speaking evil against those who make peace illusive. (I Peter 3:10)  We should never cause disputes or quarrels, but this still does not mean that we will not be the objects of persecution. 

            “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”  (II Timothy 3:12.)  It is a certainty that the righteous will be afflicted, yet we must still pursue peace.  Jesus said, “But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.  If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also.”  (Matthew 5:39-40.)  Maintaining peace can be downright hard, and God knows exactly how much we are capable of doing to achieve it. Could you be doing more?

            The prophet, Zechariah, said, “Love the truth and peace.”  (Zechariah 8:19.)  To keep peace, a person has to love peace.  Jesus would certainly have acknowledged that there are some who do not even like peace.  But as Christians, we should show the world our love for God’s peace.  Do you promote peace among your classmates, your co-workers, and your family?  Do you strive to keep peace in the body of Christ?  “And if it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably.”  “Though it be but barely possible, labour after it.”  (Adam Clarke’s Commentary.)

----Darrell Powell

Movies Without Language or Scenes

       Growing up, my big brother and I had funny ways of describing the content of movies.  If we wanted to watch a particular film, we would appeal to our good parents by saying, "I don't think this movie has any language in it!"  And my brother might add, "And it doesn't have any scenes in it either!"  Wow, a movie without any language or scenes in it...sounds great.  Of course, we were claiming it had no foul language or inappropriate scenes.  It's a good thing for children to be concerned about the content of TV and movies, especially in a world where said content is dominated by immorality.  On a positive note, I want to tell you about an option for those who desire more control over the content of the movies they watch.

            ClearPlay is a company that provides families with a couple ways to completely remove unwanted parts of movies watched at home.  Their services allow you to filter out foul language (including vain references to God), nudity, sexual content, vulgarity, violence, and more.  It is also customizable, with settings that adjust from no filter up to a high filter that should block out all of any given category.  For instance, in watching a movie like Saving Private Ryan, one could set the filter to edit out all profanity, but leave a level of violence since the film is a depiction of war.

            By visiting www.clearplay.com, you can choose from two options, depending on your preferred movie watching format.  The ClearPlay Player lets you view Blu-Ray disks and DVD's.  For $299.00 you can get the player and 12 months of their filtering service.  Then, for those who prefer streaming their movies, for $79.99 per year, you have access to the ClearPlay filters on all movies you rent or purchase from Google Play (though the company is working on partnerships with other venues like Netflix and Amazon).

            Many of us learned as children the Proverb, "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." (Proverbs 4:23)  Not everything we watch may corrupt our hearts, but with options like ClearPlay out there, why wouldn't every Christian want to take advantage of the extra protection. 

----Darrell Powell

If I Could Put Time in a Bottle

"Trouble we suffer will bring us a tremendous and eternal glory, much greater than the trouble. For we fix our attention, not on things that are seen, but on things that are unseen. What can be seen lasts only for a time, but what cannot be seen lasts forever" (2 Corinthians 4:17-18).

God created time. Though it sometimes seems as if our calendars, mobile devices, and alarm clocks do, it is actually God who controls time. All those tools can do is measure the time as it passes.

God created time and he uses it to direct and guide us into walking with Him. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths" (Proverbs 3:5-6). While we tend to think in terms of days or  weeks, God wants us to get our eyes on eternity.

Speaking of time, where does God want us to be in 10 years? We won't be able to name a city, state, and country, but there are things we can be sure of.  He wants us to be further from the devil and nearer to Him in 10 years than we are today (James 4:7-8). What should our priorities be if we want to get to where God wants us to go? Getting there is about making the "small" right choices that get us closer by the day. The road to heaven isn't paved with big events or programs, but with humility and service to our loving God.

Time is just a temporary tool God is using to bring us into eternity. What if you only have ten years to live? Would you set your priorities differently? But here's the tough question: What stops you from setting them like that now?

Time moves faster than we think. When I married my Jamie almost 13 years ago, I thought, “Wow, how am i already old enough to get married? Where does the time go?” And now, in what seems like only a passing moment, we have a 6 and a 3 year old.

So, what will you do with the rest of the time that God gives you with your family?

What about the time He is giving you to serve Him?

----Darrell Powell

Before the Sun Sets

We don't enjoy thinking about physical death.  And we all deal with things in our own ways.  Some use humor, while others refuse to address the topic at all.  I guess one of the best parts of being a Christian the hope that death isn't the end...in fact, it's the beginning of something better.  Like Paul wrote, “to live is Christ” (Philippians 1:21).  And if we are walking in the light, then “to die is gain.”  The most beautiful sunset isn't just one that is pleasing to the eyes.  A sunset that marks the end of a day spent giving your all, now that's something to celebrate.  What will you do before the sun sets for the last time on your life? 

            Moses said it right, “The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away” (Psalms 90:10).  Time is precious, partly because none of us knows how much we have left.  But we were never meant to live here eternally.  “What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.”  So, we ought to live our lives with the attitude that, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that” (James 4:13-15). 

            One sure thing about life is that it will end, so, why place hope and trust in anything in this world?  Where are you storing up your treasures? “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, ²⁰  but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matt 6:19-20). 

            Hope.  Do you have it?  Christians can take comfort in these words: “…Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on…that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!" (Revelation 14:13). 

----Darrell Powell

He was Happy to Die

Jamie told me recently about a conversation that she and Eden, our almost 3 year old, have almost daily.  It usually starts with a frowny little girl saying, "I'm sad that Jesus died on da cross." Then, she will brighten up as she states, "But He was happy to die."  Then, Jamie prompts her by asking, "Why was He happy to die?"  To which Eden replies, "Because He wants us to go to heaven to live with Him forever."  Little reminders like these make it easier to understand "unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:3) It doesn’t make sense, does it? The perfect, all powerful God of heaven disrupted the ideal nature and the calm of His heavenly home to create…people. But, why? Why did He make us? Why does He love us? I have wondered how much I could possibly ever love a person who had helped cause the death of my child, yet God does just that. “But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom 5:8) Even though He knew we would fail Him. He knew we would struggle to live like we love Him. He created us, and He sacrificed His ONLY Son for us.

            Love is the only answer that makes any sense…and even that idea stretches greatly my capacity for love. You see, we are made in the “image” of God. (Gen 1:26) He made us like Him in various ways. To fathom God’s desire to make me, I think back to my own desire to become a father. I certainly knew my children would, at some point, let me down. Even in their innocence, they don’t always make my life easier. But I chose fatherhood so that I could LOVE my children.

            This is the explanation that God gives for making and loving us unconditionally. “Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, ..” (Heb 12:2) We are His joy. Providing us with a chance to be saved is what caused our Father in Heaven to create us, and it is precisely what held Him to the cross.  He truly was "happy to die."

           

 

----Darrell Powell

Apathetic Christian

Things that matter...that we will be proud to have accomplished...take time and work.  To succeed in the important areas of life, we need interest, heart, enthusiasm, and eagerness.  Emerson said “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”  Don't expect to achieve many lofty goals if the determination within you doesn't move you to act persistently.

The line between enthusiasm and apathy is very fine, and it's amazing how quickly and often we jump over it and back again.  I like to daydream that there are hundreds of careers or lifestyles that I would be happy in.  I imagine that in another life I might have sailed the seven seas, been a trapper/tanner/falconer in Alaska, or joined my countrymen and women at arms in the military.  But I'm DOING what I have passion for.  I'm not any of those other things because I was and am most interested and eager to minister to young people and their families.

So, where would you honestly say your level of zeal for Christ is taking you?  If you applied that same amount of heart to even your favorite hobby, how proficient would you expect to be at it?  We have heard the verses: "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness..." (Matthew 6:33, etc.).  But, we also know that it's a daily challenge to lay aside everything else that vies for the number one place in our hearts (Hebrews 12:1).

Apathy wars against the thoughts and intents of the heart.  Indifference is one of the great weapons the deceiver wields in offense against the pure hearted.  Don't be convinced that your valiant enthusiasm isn't needed in your journey to be with God for eternity.  The heart that is in you now is more powerful and important than the successes or failures of your past or future.  Give that whole heart to God.

----Darrell Powell

When I Pray for Guidance

            Most of us have prayed that God would help us make the right decision or give us direction in certain situations.  You may have prayed the simple prayer, "Lord, I don't know what to do. Please help me!"  Sometimes two choices seem equal and we just wish God would shed some light on which one would be better.  What do we do when we face something like this, and what can we hope God will do to aid us?

            David wrote in Psalm 31:3, "For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name's sake you lead me and guide me;" (Psalms 31:3)  We are used to thinking of God as a guide.  He guided men like Noah, Abraham, and Moses in special, miraculous ways.  He guided the apostles, even breathing His words into their mouths and pens so that His Word could be written and preserved.  And we are familiar with the idea of His guiding us today through that word. 
            Knowing the source of wisdom when we are making decisions is important, but it's also reassuring to know that God can endow us with wisdom when we just don't know what to do or even what to pray.  James wrote, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him." (James 1:5)  I need wisdom often...wisdom that I can't specifically request because, well, I lack the wisdom.  And God promises he is capable and willing to bestow it.  James did give some details about the wisdom God gives.  He said, "But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere." (James 3:17) 

 The One who created the minds and hearts of humans knows exactly what is best for us at all times.  When we can't put our finger on the exact thing we need to do at a given moment, it's ok to trust in our heavenly Father to guide us in a pure, reasonable direction.  So, walk in the light with God, and when deciding the direction you should go seems hazy, pray for heavenly wisdom and walk by faith.

----Darrell Powell

Be Authentic

Be authentic!  Real, true, and bona-fide are a few synonyms for this word that is commonly spoken.  But, finding examples of authenticity in our surroundings isn't quite so easy, especially when we're looking for authentic people...or authentic Christians.  Our Lord talked about those who are inwardly something different than they appear outwardly, calling them hypocrites.  So, what is an authentic Christian.

             A true Christian is not one who never makes mistakes.  If you feel that you may not be an authentic Christian because of your past, or because of current temptations that you're struggling with, listen to what God says: "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." (I John 1:8) And, "My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." (I John 2:1) "Walking in the light" includes occasionally stumbling in sin. But we can depend on our Savior to cleanse us from "all unrighteousness."

            An authentic Christian loves the light and has no reason to hide in darkness.  "But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God." (John 3:20)  Mama always said, "You show your true colors when no one is looking." What's great about an authentic Christian is that whether they are home alone or in the auditorium of the church building, they are the same person.

            Perhaps the most beautiful part about a genuine, true Christian is that our dark deeds can be illuminated and then healed by the Light.  "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins..." (I John 1:9)  God's grace makes hiding sin obsolete and detrimental.  And, the body of Christ, His church, is meant to be a safe haven and an island of rest in the midst of a broken world.  Therefore, we're encouraged to "confess our sins to one another." (James 5:16)  We can be authentic, though full of flaws, and still be made pure in God's sight.  Are you hiding?  Come to the Light and be free from darkeness.

----Darrell Powell

The Propitiation for Our Sins

Let’s be honest.  There are some words in the Bible that we read, and maybe that we’ve read over and over, that we do not know the meaning of.  I John 2 contains one of the more commonly over looked words, and it’s such a shame because the word carries such weight.  John is concluding a section about the continual forgiving power of Christ’s blood and he says “I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” (I John 2:1)  Then, he writes that Christ is the “propitiation…for the sins of the whole world.” (vs. 2)

The beauty and depth of this word, “propitiation,” is so profound.  The word carries the basic idea of appeasement, or satisfaction, specifically towards God. It’s the principle that Christ, by enduring the cross, satisfied God’s demands of justice for our sins.  The penalty for sin is death. (Romans 6:23)  But Jesus chose physical death SO THAT we wouldn’t have to pay for our own souls with OUR spiritual death.

Here are two things this means for followers of Christ. One, it means that JESUS already did the one thing that would appease the wrath of the Father, and nobody or nothing else is needed or acceptable in order to accomplish that.  When a person is converted to Christ (Acts 3:19), submits to His will (James 4:7), and chooses to strive to “keep His commandments” (I John 2:3), he is simply accepting the atonement that the Savior has already provided. You, nor anything that you do, can “atone” for even one single sin. 

Two, Christ as our propitiation means that God loves us. And if He loves us, we should love one another. (I John 4:9-11)  In fact, it’s our love for one another that “perfects” God’s love in us (4:12) Most of us know that the second greatest command is to love one another as we love ourselves.  This desire for us was at the pinnacle of why Christ sacrificed Himself for us.  Are you making Him proud by the way you treat others? God taught us mercy by paying for our sins Himself.  It’s our turn to reciprocate that love by loving one another.

----Darrell Powell 

The Older Son

When one who has been lost is found, there is always rejoicing...right?  If we could all love as purely and forgive as completely as our heavenly father this would be the case.  But we can't, so sometimes other feelings rob us of rejoicing over a brother's return from the "far country."  Jesus' third parable in Luke 15 is often referred to as the Prodigal Son, but it's also about the older son who was just as confused as his brother about what living in the Father's house really meant.

When the younger son left, demanding "the share of property that is coming to me," we're not told about the initial reaction his older brother had.  But if his later attitude is any indication, it may have been that he looked on judgingly and thought "Just what I thought he'd do."  He may have even been envious, thinking "Here I am slaving away, and he gets out of serving Father AND gets his inheritance early!"

To be sure, the younger brother was choosing death, as far as his relationship to the Father was concerned (v. 32), and his forgiveness would require that he leave his sinful life and come home.  This falls right in line with Paul's inspired words, "...how can we who have died to sin still LIVE in it? (Romans 6:2 emp. added).

But let's not pretend it is always easy to rejoice with others.  The older brother was angry that his little brother had wasted his inheritance, come to his senses, and returned home to live again.  His anger stemmed from jealousy. (v. 29)  But here's the problem with jealousy and selfishness: " For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice." (James 3:16)  Our heavenly father is ALWAYS happy when His children come back to Him, and He wants us to feel that same joy. Are you the prodigal who is estranged from the Father and need to come home? Or are you the elder brother who needs to realize that your faithfulness hasn't earned you an extra ounce of God's love. His love for the faithful and the lost is so great that He gave Jesus to die for us.

----Darrell Powell

Never Alone

We're never alone.  It's easy enough for us to say, and I know a great number of us realize it in a deep, reassuring way.  But to pretend that it's always fully evident and obvious that God is with us when we live in a fallen and, at times, treacherous world, can be a stretch, depending on whom you ask.  The honest among us recognize that feeling God's presence can be more challenging to souls that have seen a greater portion of the darkness of this age.  Yet, experiencing that darkness is sometimes just the thing that unleashes the overwhelming light of our Creator.
A song I love begins, "I waited for you today, but you didn't show.  I needed you today, so where did you go?  You told me to call, said you'd be there.  And though I haven't seen you, are you still there?" It isn't shameful that some cry out like this.  King David opened his heart to God and cried, "How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? (Psalms 13:1) David who had seen the mighty works of God in a way that we may never experience had moments when he felt God resided some distance from him.  That being said, David concluded, " But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, because he has dealt bountifully with me. (Psalms 13:5-6)
What's the point? God's presence and nearness is evident to those who take the time to really look.  But there is nothing debased and inherently evil about people who are struggling to see him.  The song began above continues: "I cried out with no reply and I can't feel you by my side, so I'll hold tight to what I know: You're here, and I'm never alone.  And though I can't see you, and I can't explain why I've such a deep deep reassurance you've placed in my life.  We cannot separate, cause you're part of me, and though you're invisible I trust the unseen."
There's comfort in knowing "He made from one man every nation of mankind ...that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us," (Acts 17:26-27)  We're never alone.
----Darrell Powell