Keep Working (Nov 23)

Keep about your work (that God has given you). Do not flinch because the lion roars; do not stop to stone the devil's dogs; do not fool away your time chasing the devil's rabbits. Do your work. Let liars lie, let corporations resolve, let the devil do his worst, but see to it that nothing hinders you from fulfilling the work that God has given you.

He has not commanded you to get rich. He has never bidden you defend your character. He has not set you at work to contradict falsehood (about yourself) which Satan and his servants may start to peddle. If you do those things, you will do nothing else; you will be at work for yourself and not for the Lord.

Keep at your work. Let your aim be as steady as a star. You may be assaulted, wronged, insulted, slandered, wounded, and rejected; you may be abused by foes, forsaken by friends, and despised and rejected of men, but see to it with steadfast determination, with unfaltering zeal, that you pursue the great purpose of your life and object of your being until at last you can say, "I have finished the work which Thou gavest me to do."

- Source unknown

Sustenance (Nov 16)

At times we may become weary. We may feel lacking. We may feel weak. God is there promising to be our sustenance if we trust in Him. He is Jehovah-Jireh—God our Provider.

Psalm 55:22

Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

When you are in a time of need, cast your cares on God. Trust in Him and he will sustain you. He will keep you from falling. Sometimes we worry about provision. We worry about a lot of things sometimes. When times get hard and we worry about making ends meet or putting the next meal on the table, I think we're forgetting about something. Or rather, we're forgetting about someONE. God is our provider.

Philippians 4:18-19

18 But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God. 19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

God knows when you need encouragement. He knows when you need strength to get through another day or to do something that He has called you to do. He knows when you need to hear something in particular from His Word. He knows when you need to be chastened. He knows when you need to be woken up. He knows when you need provision. He knows when you need anything. Will you trust Him? He will be your sustenance.

Luke 4:4

And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

I will trust God. He will be my sustenance.

Psalm 17:15

As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

Bait and Switch (Nov 9)

Have you ever been a victim of a bait and switch routine? A bait and switch is a deceptive way of selling that involves advertising a product at a very low price in order to attract customers who are then persuaded to switch to a more expensive product. It can happen in many ways. Sometimes once you are engaged in a sale, you will be told that the offer is no longer available and now you have to pay a different price. Or you may be told that the item is out of stock and be persuaded to get the next model up. You may find out later that the original item never was available or it was in stock but the salesman lied. Sometimes when you order something on-line, a special offer expires while you're in the checkout process and when you confirm the order, the price is different and you missed the opportunity that originally convinced you to purchase the item. It happens all the time. You can sign up for some subscription or contract, only to have the terms changed a month or two later. Companies often use introductory rates and free offers to get people to sign up for things only to find out that they won't get what they expected. Salespeople will literally tell you anything to make the sale. They will promise whatever is necessary to get you to sign on the line. They know it is easier to apologize that they were “mistaken” about the details after the sale than to lose the sale in the first place.

If you've ever been had by a bait and switch offer, you usually regret it later. You kick yourself for not seeing through the false advertising and pressurized negotiations. You wish you had somehow been able to get the offer as you expected. You wish you hadn't fallen for a trick. You no longer see the company as trustworthy and perhaps you go so far as to spread the poor reputation of the company to others so that nobody else falls into the same trap.

God has an offer on the table today. God is offering you a way of salvation and eternal life through his son, Christ Jesus. This offer doesn't expire unexpectedly. The terms don't change randomly once you've signed up. There is no hidden fine print. It's not a bait and switch routine. The source is extremely trustworthy. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

John 14:5-6

5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Hebrews 13:8

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

Don't be fooled by anything else. Jesus is the way. There is no other way. He is the same today as he was yesterday. If you hear a message about repentance, don't expect it to not apply today. There are bad people out there changing the gospel around, essentially changing the offer that God has on the table.

Jude 3-25

3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. 4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. 5 I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not. 6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. 7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. 8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. 9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. 10 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. 11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. 12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; 13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. 14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, 15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. 16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage. 17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; 18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. 19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. 20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, 21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 22 And of some have compassion, making a difference: 23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. 24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25 To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

You can trust God. He won't change his offer of salvation. But don't use that as an excuse to put off your commitment for another day. Each day you put it off you become more bitter and hard. But don't fall for one of these twisted false-gospel offers that are so prevalent today. They will be a bait and switch.

Persistence (Nov 2)

To persist is to go on resolutely in spite of opposition, importunity, or warning. It is pretty much the basis of perseverance, which is to persist in a state or undertaking in spite of counter-influences, opposition, or discouragement. So, here's my question: is persistence a good thing? Well, it depends on what you are doing or where you are going. I know many people that are quite persistent in their sins against God and other people. In fact, some people seriously persevere in disobeying God, ignoring His call, and throwing out the Word, in spite of all sorts of warnings. So, persistence can certainly be bad, but I want to look at persistence in following God. I want to look at perseverance in faith, no matter what the cost or how much opposition. Earlier this week as we were studying Ruth, I was struck with the level of persistence that Ruth had to stay with Naomi and follow her back to God's people. Naomi tried so hard to get Ruth to go and stay in Moab, but she demonstrated great persistence. I thought about these things in light of some other things that are going on and some other things that I've been thinking about, and thought that we need to take a look at persistence.

Galatians 6:9

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

2 Timothy 3:12-17

12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

I've been telling you that God is calling you and if you've listened with even an ounce of attention, you know that He is. I've been telling you to respond to His call, follow Him, and obey. Today I'm telling you to keep doing that. If you've responded to God's call, keep responding. If you've followed Him, keep following Him. If you've obeyed Him, keep obeying Him. It's called persistence. We need to follow God and persist in following. We need to trust Him today, and also persist in trusting Him every day. We need to surrender to Him and be filled with His life today. We need to persist in that every day, too. It's been said to keep on following God. Well, keep on keeping on.

1 Peter 1:13-16

13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

Acts 2:38-47

38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. 41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. 44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

So, if you've been persisting in sin, turn your ear to God and you'll hear Him calling you. He's showing you your need for Him and the glorious goodness of His heart. Turn to Him and He will make you a new person. You'll be different and you'll be following Him. And if you're following Him, persist in following! Don't quit. Don't give up. Follow Him every day! Even when times get tough or you face some opposition or persecution, persevere!