I hate it.

Sin separates people from God.

Sin separates me from God.

Sin is what caused Jesus to die on a Roman cross.

Sin is what sends people to an eternity separated from God in Hell.

When we think about overcoming temptation and sin, it may seem like an insurmountable task.  So we give up before we ever start to fight.

The author of Hebrews talks about the struggle we have with sin:

In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. – Hebrews 12:4 (NIV)

It calls to mind a boxing match where two opponents struggle and fight and blood is drawn.  I can just picture two heavyweights going at it in the middle of the ring, toe-to-toe.  Neither opponent wants to give up and they slug it out for 12 rounds.  Blood is shed.  Bodies are bruised.  Eyes are swollen shut.  It is a battle for the ages!  It is an epic contest where there can only be one winner!

This is a picture of our struggle with sin.  You stand toe-to-toe and resist temptation and the devil.  You fight with all you’ve got!  You get knocked down but you get right back up.  You keep struggling and resisting and fighting!  Don’t give up!  Fight the good fight!  You’ve got three things going for you…

1. The crowd is on your side (Hebrews 12:1).
2. Jesus is your corner Man (He’ll never tell you, “You’re a bum, Rock!  A bum! – apologies to Burgess Meredith!)
3. The power of the Holy Spirit dwells within you and gives you victory!

You’re not alone in the struggle.  You’ve got power and perseverance on your side.  Don’t give up!  Never, ever give up!  Keep struggling and fighting and resisting sin.  Remember this one thing – when sin knocks you down, God’s grace will always pick you back up again.

What is the sin you’re struggling with the most right now?

Pray and ask God to help you in your struggle and to help you keep fighting and resisting today.

Have a great weekend!

Shawn

Then Jesus called his disciples and told them, ”I feel sorry for these people. They have been here with me for three days, and they have nothing left to eat. I don’t want to send them away hungry, or they will faint along the way.”  The disciples replied, “Where would we get enough food here in the wilderness for such a huge crowd?”  Jesus asked, ”How much bread do you have?”  They replied, “Seven loaves, and a few small fish.”
So Jesus told all the people to sit down on the ground.  Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, thanked God for them, and broke them into pieces. He gave them to the disciples, who distributed the food to the crowd.  They all ate as much as they wanted. Afterward, the disciples picked up seven large baskets of leftover food.  There were 4,000 men who were fed that day, in addition to all the women and children.

- Matthew 15:32-38 (NLT)

Jesus had compassion on the people.  He felt sorry for them.  He saw them in their helpless, hungry state and felt for them.  So Jesus did what Jesus does.  He was moved to action.  He did something about their situation and lovingly provided for their needs.

He still does the same thing for us today.  When we are in a helpless situation, He helps.  When we are hopeless, He gives hope.  When we are hungry, He provides.  He loves us and has compassion for us.  He knows that we are weak and frail.  It is in our weakness that He demonstrates His incalculable strength.  He not only provides, but He abundantly provides!  He gives us so much more than we could ever ask or hope for!

Oh that we would learn to trust Him to provide!  Oh that we would know His compassion and love!  Oh that we would sense His strength and power in our lives!  May His loving presence in your life give you peace today.

When is it hardest for you to trust God?

How does this story of Jesus’ compassion for people give you hope and comfort today?

What is one area of your life that you need to trust God with today (family, finances, relationships)?

“The time is surely coming,” says the Sovereign LORD,
“when I will send a famine on the land—
not a famine of bread or water
but of hearing the words of the LORD.
People will stagger from sea to sea
and wander from border to border
searching for the word of the LORD,
but they will not find it.
Beautiful girls and strong young men
will grow faint in that day,
thirsting for the LORD’s word.
And those who swear by the shameful idols of Samaria—
who take oaths in the name of the god of Dan
and make vows in the name of the god of Beersheba*—
they will all fall down,
never to rise again.” – Amos 8:11-14 (NLT)

One of the definitions of famine is “any extreme and general scarcity.”  When Israel fell on hard times, they would turn to God and seek His Word from His prophets.  Amos told them that a famine was coming.  Not a famine of food and drink, but a famine of the words of the LORD.  No more prophets.  No more prophetic messages.  A time was coming when God would be silent.

One of the most painful things one can give in a relationship is the silent treatment.  When you have done something so egregious to someone that they refuse to speak to you.  OH!  It hurts so much!  You crave the sound of their voice.  You want to apologize and hear the words, “I forgive you.”  But there is nothing.  Just silence.  God was going to give Israel the silent treatment and they deserved it.

We live in a very blessed time where we have access to God’s Word, the Bible, in many different ways.  We have physical books, e-books and the Bible on the internet.  Yet we seem to be living in a time of unparalleled Biblical illiteracy.  We can access God’s Word 24/7/365, but we don’t!  We have created our own famine and it is tragic!

Get in the Word!  Read your Bibles!  Spend time with God and hear Him communicate with you through His Word!  Feed your starving soul with the powerful, loving message of the Bible.

What is the hardest part of reading the Bible for you?

Have you ever felt like your heart and soul were starving for God’s Word?

How do you feed your soul?

May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done on earth,
as it is in heaven. — Matthew 6:10 (NLT)

Even on the night before He was crucified, Jesus prayed that the Father’s will would be done in His own life.

Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, ”My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done.” — Matthew 26:42 (NLT)

The problem is that I want what I want and I want what I think is best.  I want what I want NOW.  God wants me to wait for Him to reveal His plan.  I want what I think is best for me and my family.  God wants what is best for His Kingdom and His glory.  I want what I think is best for His church.  He wants me to remember that it is His church and He will do what is best for His church.  I am not God.  I do not see the big picture.  I cannot see what is coming around the bend, but God can.  What I want may seem right to me.  My will may seem best to me.  God’s will is best for me.  Now I must bring MY will in line with HIS will and wait upon the Lord.

When is it hardest for you to surrender to God’s will?

What is hardest for you – waiting for God’s will to be done or surrendering yourself to His will?

Pray and ask God to help you do both – surrender and wait.  While you’re at it, pray that I would do the same!

Have a great weekend!

Shawn

A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body;
jealousy is like cancer in the bones. — Proverbs 14:30 (NLT)

Have you ever thought of peace and jealousy as opposites?  It’s true.  A heart that is full of envy and jealousy is hardly at peace.  Envy and jealousy make us want what we do not have.  Envy and jealousy are what fuels our desires to keep up with the Joneses and the Smiths.  They create stress in our lives and keep us up at night.  They make us put work before family.  Envy and jealousy make us lose sight of what is most important.  We want the things of this world that do not last instead of focusing on the things of God’s Kingdom which last forever.  Jesus told us in the Sermon on the Mount that pagans chase after the things of earth that our Heavenly Father knows we need.  He’ll provide for our needs and take care of us each day.  He only asks that we trust Him and find true contentment in Him.  When we are jealous of those around us our eyes are fixated on their stuff.  When we are envious of cars, houses, boats and lands, we lose sight of what really matters.

When are you most envious?

Are you satisfied with what God has provided for you?

With what do you find it hardest to be content?

Pray that God will give you the power and strength in Christ Jesus to be content in all situations and circumstances.

But you, my dear friends, must remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ said.  They told you that in the last times there would be scoffers whose purpose in life is to satisfy their ungodly desires.  These people are the ones who are creating divisions among you.  They follow their natural instincts because they do not have God’s Spirit in them.
But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life.  In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love.  – Jude 17-21 (NLT)

The cure for living by instinct is to live by the power of the Holy Spirit.  When we receive God’s gracious gift of salvation, we are filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38).  In order to live by the power of the Spirit, we must surrender and submit to the Spirit’s control in our lives.  Surrender and submission are not easy.  It is a daily battle to allow God’s Holy Spirit to take control.  We are a bunch of control freaks and we want to drive the car.  When we get in a jam we’ll sing, “Jesus, Take The Wheel!”  But on most days it is a struggle to give up the control and allow Jesus to be the Lord of our lives.  So pray in the Spirit today that God will give you the power to give up control.  Pray that God will give you strength to fight your natural instincts towards sin and wickedness.  Pray that God will fill you with His Spirit and that you will surrender to His leading in your life.

One thing that I have noticed over the past few years is a growing disillusionment with the church.  People are ditching the church in favor of Lone Ranger Christianity.  This is not the way it is supposed to be, though.  The church is Jesus’ body as Ephesians 5 tells us:

…a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church.  He is the Savior of His body, the church. – Ephesians 5:23 (NLT)

I remember hearing Bill Hybels once say at a conference at Willow Creek Community Church that he believed that the local church was the hope of the world.  I think that he is right.  When the church is being the church the way Jesus intended it to be, then it really is the hope of the world.  So what’s wrong with the church?  Why are people fleeing rather than flocking?  Why are so many body parts suffering?  What has happened to Jesus’ prayer for unity in John 17?  What happened to Hebrews 10:25?

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (NIV)

It’s time to take back the church!  It’s time to be the answer to Jesus’ prayer and strive for unity.  It’s time to get back to doing church the way the early church, under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, did church.  Acts 2:42 (NLT) talks about 4 keys that ensured the success of the early church.  They were devoted to:

1. The Apostles’ teaching
2. Fellowship
3. Sharing in Meals (including the Lord’s Supper)
4. Prayer

In 2012, we must commit ourselves to these very same principles:

1. The Word of God
2. Unconditional love and forgiveness within the family of God
3. Sharing our lives with one another (not just pot-lucks, but sharing everything with each other)
4. Prayer

We can’t make it on our own, but we can do it together!  It’s still Christ’s body and it’s still holding forth the hope of the world.  Let’s recommit ourselves to making the church be what God wants it to be.

I want you to show love,
not offer sacrifices.
I want you to know Me
more than I want burnt offerings. (NLT)

We can bring sacrifices of praise and tithes and offerings to the Lord’s storehouse, but never understand what being a Christian is really all about.  Does it please God if we can sing peppy worship songs and timeless hymns, but despise our brothers and sisters in Christ?  Is God happy when we strictly tithe our salaries and income yet hate our neighbors and enemies?  Will God notice perfect worship attendance and daily Bible readings and prayers if we are not compassionate towards those who are suffering and those who are far from Him?  There is a difference between knowing God and going to church.  I believe that we need to worship corporately and be edified by teaching from God’s Word.  But if we are merely trying to earn perfect attendance certificates for our worship attendance and the message never hits home or goes to our hearts, then we have big problems.  God wants a relationship with you more than He wants your money.  He wants a compassionate heart that beats for others more than He wants your sacrifices of praise and worship.  Our giving and our praises please Him more when they flow from a grateful heart for what He has done for us through His Son.  May our gratitude overflow into our hearts and change the way we see others and give us a desire to truly know God.

Then there are sins that we have heard about but don’t even realize we are committing.  We are so focused on trying to change our behavior that we have no time for these sins.  Sins like pride, materialism, selfishness, not loving our wives or husbands or children like we should, not loving our neighbor like we should and not loving God with all of our hearts, souls, minds and strength.  These are attitudinal sins.

I was smacked right in the forehead with an attitudinal sin today while reading from Matthew’s Gospel.

God blesses those who are humble,
for they will inherit the whole earth. – Matthew 5:5 (NLT)

When pride fills us, it makes us think that we are better than we really are.  Paul wrote in Philippians 2:3b (NLT)

Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.

He then wrote in Ephesians 4:2 (NLT) “Always be humble…”

Pride is what makes me believe that my way is best.  Pride is what makes me think that I know it all.  Pride gets in the way of being like Jesus who gave up the glories of Heaven for the humiliation of Earth.  He was completely humble in His approach to others.  If we want to be more like Jesus, we need to be more humble.

My mom taught us from a very young age the priorities of life.

• God
• Others
• Self

I think that this is a recipe for humility.  Put God first.  Put others before yourself.  Take care of yourself, but not at the expense of serving others.  Philippians 2:4 (NLT) says,

Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

My prayer today is that we will not get so focused on the external issues and sins that we forget about the heart issues.  Pride is a heart issue and God cares about the condition of our hearts because it is from our hearts that everything about us flows.

Luke 6:45 (NLT) says, “A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart.  What you say flows from what is in your heart.”

Let’s face it.  We doubt.

We doubt God’s goodness.  When we doubt His willingness to provide for what we need, we are doubting His goodness.  Is God not truly good that He would withhold the things His children need?  Of course not!  God is good and He will provide what we need!

We doubt God’s forgiveness.  We think that we are so far gone and so sinful that He could not possibly forgive what we’ve done.  What kind of Heavenly Father would He be if He limited His own forgiveness of His children?  He is full of love and grace and forgiveness and He demonstrated it by sending Jesus.

We doubt God’s power.  We sometimes believe that God has “more important” things to do than to attend to the petty little details of our lives.  Oh really?  God is not all-knowing or all-powerful enough to handle what we are going through no matter how big or small?  I like what God said to Jeremiah:

Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah:  ”I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:26-27, NIV)

He is the “God of all mankind.”  Nothing is too hard for God.  No problem is so insurmountable that He cannot handle it.  No child of His is too far gone that He cannot reach him or her.  No sin, save one (Mark 3:29), is so egregious that He cannot lovingly forgive it.  We have to learn to trust Him with every aspect of our lives.  I believe that God is calling out to us each day, “Trust Me.  Trust Me.  Trust Me.”  He is good and His love is everlasting.  He is good and He will not withhold good gifts from His children.  He is good and full of grace and mercy.  He is good and His power knows no limits.  God is good, my friends.  God is good and nothing is too hard for Him.