Dead to Sin

 

“What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?”

—Romans 6:1

I have a dear friend who, by God’s grace and his own determined discipline, has freed himself from addiction to alcohol. It wasn’t that he was a falling down drunk. But, more and more, he found his life controlled by the desire to “take the edge off” with a drink of some alcoholic beverage.

Soon, almost every waking thought was directed toward when he would be able to have his next drink. And, once he began to drink, he had a very hard time reigning in the desire for more and more booze.

But then, one day he realized he had completely lost control of his life. He fell to his knees and poured his heart out to God. He sought help through Alcoholics Anonymous. Soon, he began to sense that, with God’s help, he had regained control of his own life. Today, he has not had a drink for nearly 40 years. His life has taken on new meaning and purpose. He has accomplished a great deal, not only in his personal and professional lives, but he has accomplished much on behalf of Christ and His Kingdom.

We may not feel enslaved to alcohol and drugs, but in many ways we become enslaved to sin. The ironic part of this, for those of us who believe in the life-transforming power of the living Lord Jesus Christ, is that Christ has freed us from the bond of sin. Why, then, do we keep re-enslaving ourselves to destructive behaviors?

The Apostle Paul wrote these words of admonition, as recorded in Romans 6:1:

What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?

Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, we have died to sin. As we begin this new day, isn’t it high time we started to live like sin has no hold over us? Should we not call a halt to continuing to repeat the same sins over and over and over again?

Let me be so bold as to suggest that this new day gives us an opportunity to make a conscious decision to stop ourselves from repeatedly sinning. We can ask for God’s help, through the Holy Spirit. We can fill our minds and hearts with positive thoughts that will steer us away from those negative thoughts that drag us into sin. After all, don’t we owe our very lives to Jesus? It’s time we took a stand against the sin that we allow to plague our lives.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Soaring

 

“Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

—Isaiah 40:30-31

The Australian ministry, Hillsong, has a praise song, “Lift You Higher,” that can really hype up a contemporary worship service. Here are some the words:

You came to save the world:
To rescue me; To rescue me.
You came to give us hope:
You’re all I need; You’re all I need.

You set our hearts on fire:
It burns in me; It burns in me.
Now You awaken us:
For all to see; For all to see.

Because Your love has set me free;
Because Your love will never leave;
Because You live and die for me;
I live for You alone.

We lift You higher, Our God!
Your name be lifted higher
In everything

The heights always have an allure for us. As human beings, we look to the high places and long to soar high above everything. We envy the birds. That’s why the invention of flight has become so important to us. We want to rise above on wings that fly.

The Prophet Isaiah understood this desire and penned these words found in Isaiah 40:30-31:

Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

As another new day begins, do we intend to soar with the eagles? It’s a choice we can make right now. If we put all of our hope in the Lord, He will renew our strength. He will enable us to run and not grow weary, to walk and not faint. Let’s choose to soar!

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

We Live By Faith

 

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

—Galatians 2:20

We who follow the Lord Jesus Christ recognize that no matter how diligently we may plan out each new day, the direction of our lives rests in God’s loving hands. At any time, God may change our course along the pathway He has laid out before us.

The only genuine way to live as a Christian is to recognize that we are servants of God and must remain at His disposal at all times. This is what prompted the Apostle Paul to write these words found in Galatians 2:20:

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

As we begin this new day, let’s recognize that the life we live, we live by faith. We have been crucified with our Savior. Our life is in His hands and every aspect of who we are is at His disposal at all times.

This may sound like an enormous challenge. But actually, it is an enormous privilege. It’s a privilege that should produce in us great joy and great comfort.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Keep In Step

 

“Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”

—Galatians 5:25

Nothing stirs my patriotic heart quite as much as seeing United States Marines on parade. The precision of their formations, the synchronicity of their march, the brilliance of their uniforms, the ruggedness of their countenance—all remind me of a photo of my dad, who served in the U. S. Marine Corps during World War II. One thing about Marines: they are always in step with one another. Whether on the parade ground or on the battle field, Marines work together as one.

That is exactly the instruction that the Apostle Paul gave to the Christians gathered in the church at Galatia when he wrote these words found in Galatians 5:25:

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

We who follow Jesus need to acknowledge with great joy that we are not alone in our quest to serve the King of Kings. God has given us His Holy Spirit to lead us, guide us, protect us, and enable us in our service to Christ and His Kingdom. Therefore, we need to keep in step with the Holy Spirit as He leads us along the pathway that He has laid out before us.

This new day, let’s determine to do everything within our frail human power to keep in step with the Holy Spirit. That is the road to victory. Let’s stay on that road.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Speak Up!

 

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.”

—Proverbs 31:8

In life, there is a time to be silent and a time to speak. Sometimes, it’s hard to know which is which. I know that I especially have a great deal of difficulty remaining silent when I hear someone state something that I know is not accurate or true.

Recently, I read a public statement from a security official regarding the automatic fire sprinkler protection in the buildings that he oversaw. He stated that whenever a sprinkler actuated in a fire, it would discharge more than 80 gallons of water per minute. I was startled.

As a fire protection engineer, I have designed many automatic sprinkler systems, and reviewed the plans for many hundreds more. I know that the mathematical formula for the discharge from a sprinkler head specifies that the flow of water from a sprinkler head measured in gallons per minute is equal to the discharge coefficient of the sprinkler head (nominally 5.6) multiplied by the square root of the pressure. Even if the pressure at a sprinkler head was as high as 100 psi—a most unlikely situation in the vast majority of buildings—the maximum flow of water from a single sprinkler head would equal 56 gallons per minute.

Since the vast majority of the public water systems have far less pressure available, including the water system serving these particular buildings, I knew that the security official’s statement was gravely in error. And, I just couldn’t keep this information to myself. So, I told someone in the management of the complex about this error.

Should I have done that? Probably not. What difference did it really make? Most people wouldn’t have known or cared. I most likely should have kept that information to myself.

On the other hand, there are definitely times when we should speak up with no hesitation. King Solomon addresses one of those situations, as recorded in Proverbs 31:8:

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.

When we see someone being abused, mistreated, or greatly in need, we must speak up. All the more so we must do this because we belong to the Lord Jesus Christ. We cannot turn a blind eye to the needs of the people around us.

Is someone hurting? Then we must speak up for them and offer comfort. Is someone hungry? We must speak up for them and offer them food. Is someone in fear? We must speak up for them and offer protection. Whatever needs we observe, we must speak up and act as instruments of God’s mercy, grace, and love.

As Christ’s ambassadors, let’s keep an eye out this new day for people who need help. Then, let’s lovingly and joyfully speak up for them and offer aid to them in the name of Jesus. After all, God knew we needed salvation from our sins and willingly sent His one and only Son to die in our place. Speaking up and helping others in need is the very least that we can do to honor this magnificent God who loves us so very much.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Do You Not Know?

 

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.”

—Isaiah 40:28-29

Some say that rumors have wings like a butterfly. They flit from one possible landing source to another, blown ever onward by people’s insatiable curiosity for inside information.

“Have you heard about…” is the starting point of far too many conversations. Patrick Rothfuss in The Wise Man’s Fears records this conversation:

“I’d heard you were dead,” he declared.

“I heard you wear a red lace corset,” I said matter-of-factly. “But I don’t believe every bit of nonsense that gets rumored about.”

The Prophet Isaiah startled the people of Judah by responding with the following words to their criticisms that God seemed far away and did not hear their cries for help. Note what Isaiah said, as recorded in Isaiah 40:28-29:

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

Here is a rumor that is true and totally worth sharing. The Lord is the everlasting God. He will not grow tired or weary. No one can understand what He understands. Most of all, He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

Those words should cheer us onward, as we begin a new day. And, they are a good rumor, a true rumor, a worthy rumor—so, let’s share these words with someone today.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Unsearchable Things

 

“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”

—Jeremiah 33:3

Have you ever embarked on a database search and received a “File not found” message? In my early personal computer days, I worked using a software called dBase II. The most dreaded message any dBase II programmer could ever receive was “End of file found unexpectedly.” This message indicated that the database has become corrupted and whatever the user was searching for could not now be found.

In our spiritual lives, we will never receive a “File not found” message from God. In fact, quite the opposite is true. The Prophet Jeremiah records these words of God in Jeremiah 33:3:

“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”

When we call on God in prayer, He promises to tell us “great and unsearchable things” that we do not know. No matter what prompts our prayer of searching, God has all the answers—even for those things that others may consider “unsearchable.”

Yes, there are times when we ask something of God in prayer and we don’t receive an immediate answer that we can discern. In those times, God is asking patience of us while He works out the situation for our benefit. No matter what may happen, we have the confidence to know that, in God’s great plan for us, He will never allow something to happen that is not somehow for our benefit. This is especially true when we cannot conceive of how what is happening could possible benefit us.

God is the One who reveals the “unsearchable.” Let’s keep that in mind as we begin a new day. Knowing that God’s magnificent power is always pointed at making our lives better and more in tune with the people He wants us to become should quell our fears and doubts and give us freedom to follow His leading wherever it might take us.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

All-Heart Seeking

 

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

—Jeremiah 29:13

How much energy and persistence we put into meeting a goal often determines whether or not we achieve that goal. That’s why motivational speakers often emphasize the importance of “full engagement” in any worthwhile activity.

If we want to devote ourselves to exercise and fitness in order to overcome obesity or other physical issues that might threaten our health, we must exercise with energy and persistence. It will not do to simply stop by the gym once or twice a month. If we want to improve our understanding of some new concept or idea, we must make every effort to read and study about that subject. We must do much more than simply scanning an article or two in the barbershop’s or hair salon’s waiting room.

Likewise, in our relationship with God, we must make a heartfelt effort to seek to understand, as much as we possibly can, who God is and what He expects of us. That’s what motivated the Prophet Jeremiah to record these words of God Himself, as found in Jeremiah 29:13:

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

The term “all-heart seeking” smacks of a devotion, determination, persistence, and energy that drives us forward in our walk with God. It means we take time to read, study, and meditate on His written Word, the Bible. It means we will take time to talk with Him in prayer—not only presenting our needs, but praising Him for who He is and thanking Him for what He has done for us.

As a new day begins, let’s make a conscious choice to seek God with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength. As we apply our four human modalities to the task of following the pathway God lays out before us, we will discover that He lovingly waits to be found by us.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

What Should We Do?

 

“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.”

—Acts 16:25

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you turned to a friend and said, “What should we do? What in the world should we do?” We all tend to wonder what we should do when we’re faced with a difficult and trying situation.

The Apostle Paul and his companion, Silas, had been thrown into a Roman prison because they prayed and brought healing to a slave woman who was possessed by a spirit of divination. In other words, this evil spirit that had occupied the woman gave the woman power to predict the future. When Paul and Silas prayed and cast the demon out of the woman, her owners became angry that she could no longer make money for them. So, they had Paul and Silas arrested.

Sitting in the dark, dank cell of this Roman prison, Paul and Silas likely asked themselves, “What should we do?” Then, they did something most unexpected. Dr. Luke picks up this story, as recorded in Acts 16:25:

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.

Yes, that’s what Paul and Silas decided to do. In a moment of great inconvenience and difficulty, they prayed and sang hymns of praise to God, most likely from the Psalms. I wonder if we would have made such a choice?

As we begin a new day, let’s determine to do the unexpected when we face difficult circumstances. Let’s not waste our time worrying or complaining. Instead, let’s turn to God in prayer and sing songs of praise to Him. Those seem like much better things to do. Okay?

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Glory to the Able-One

 

“To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only od our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.”

—Jude 1:24-25

I wonder how often we consider the fact that, in every situation of life, God is supremely able. Nothing is daunting to Him. He has all power, all authority, all wisdom, all knowledge, all understanding—nothing confuses Him or causes Him to wonder if He can accomplish what is needed.

When you think about these qualities of God, they can easily boggle our minds. Apart from Him, there is no one in our experience that is able under every circumstance. No doubt, this prompted the Apostle Jude to write these words, found in Jude 1:24-25:

To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.

No matter what we may face in our lives, God is able. He is able to protect us. He is able to save us. He is able to deliver us. He is able to work out circumstances to our benefit. He is able.

As we begin a new day, let’s draw comfort from the fact that the very God who loves us with His never-failing love is also able in every circumstance of life.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

His Masterpiece

 

“For we are God’s workmanship (masterpiece), created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

—Ephesians 2:10

Whatever medium in which we work—art, crafts, calligraphy, mechanics, woodwork, database management, website development, or any other endeavor that requires creativity and hard work—from time to time we must all experience a sense of deep satisfaction at what we’ve accomplished.

I can remember many years ago, back in the very early 1980s, when IBM created the first personal computer to become adopted by many businesses, I purchased a Compaq Portable Computer. It was about the size of a professional-grade portable sewing machine. I soon bought a hard drive card for it that held a whopping 20 megabytes of storage. I also had equipped my pride and joy with a modem that operated at such a slow speed that it would hardly be able to display a webpage at today’s data rates.

I also purchased some software: Wordstar for word processing, Multiplan for spreadsheets, and dBase II for database creation. Of these three, dBase II was the most fascinating and most challenging. When the program launched, all that appeared on the screen was a single dot or period that the software developer called the “dot prompt.” It was a truly powerful database program. But, to make it work effectively, the user had to learn a unique dBase II programming language.

I well remember the sense of satisfaction I received when I began to develop some fairly sophisticated dBase II application programs. In fact, for a while, I worked at night doing dBase II programming for a computer consulting company and created several multi-layer dBase II applications for businesses.

After working for two or three months developing a particular application, I felt a deep satisfaction about the “masterpiece” that I had created. It was the result of hundreds of hours of programming and re-programming thousands of lines of dBase II code.

Imagine now how God must feel when He looks at His dearly loved children and sees the spiritual formation that is pushing us forward along the pathway that He has laid out before us. This is what prompted the Apostle Paul to write these words, found in Ephesians 2:10:

For we are God’s workmanship (masterpiece), created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Every opportunity that we take to respond with loving obedience to God’s direction in our lives brings Him great joy, for such behavior on our part is exactly what God created us to do. So, as we begin a new day, let’s take time to set a course for the day that will please God through our obedience. As we show forth His love to a needy world, we validate the work of the Holy Spirit within us. We are on display in the gallery of life. Let’s determine to learn how to be the masterpieces that God created us to be.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

He Cares For Us

 

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

—1 Peter 5:7

When someone says these words to us, “He (or she) really cares for you!”—doesn’t that create a warm and tender feeling deep inside our hearts? Of course it does. We all want to know that someone cares for us.

Love fuels all that’s good in our world. No matter how discouraged we may feel at some point in time, when we are reminded that someone cares for us, it makes our burden just a bit lighter. Knowing that we are in the forefront of someone’s thoughts and prayers, that someone has turned their heart toward ours, can give us strength to carry on, in spite of the trials we may be facing.

That’s why the Apostle Peter wrote these words to the early Christians scattered across the then-known world, as recorded in 1 Peter 5:7:

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

I mentioned this verse in concert with verse 6 just a few days ago in a blog post. I have returned to it today because the power of these few words gripped me in a special way.

To think that the God who created all things cares enough about us to cause one of His choice servants to pen these words is startling. God wants us to know that He cares for us. Not only does He care for us, but He willingly welcomes us to give Him all the anxiety we may feel.

As we begin a new day, let’s not hesitate to respond to this magnificent offer from the God who loves us with His everlasting love. Let’s joyfully give Him all our anxiety, knowing that He truly does care for us.

Perhaps this delightful rendition of the hymn written by Edward H. Joy will serve as a gentle reminder throughout this day:

 

 

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Whether in Life or Whether in Death

 

“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

—Philippians 1:21

We tend to evaluate the significance of the events that occur throughout the course of our lives by some type of rating scale. Seeing the Grand Canyon, flying in an airplane for the first time, graduating from high school or college, completing basic training in the military, starting our first job, achieving a promotion at work—whatever the event, we think about it in terms of where it might reside on a list of significant things that have happened to us. Such events, we think, help define who we are.

The Apostle Paul whittled down the scale of his life’s definition into two distinct components. Notice these words of Paul’s, recorded in Philippians 1:21:

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

“As long as I am on this earth,” Paul insists, “I am determined to put Christ first in every aspect of my life. And, when I pass from this life to the next, I know this will be a genuine gain for me.”

Paul was not trying to accelerate his departure, nor was he resisting that “graduation” day. He recognized that his role as Christ’s ambassador held the supreme position in his life. And, Paul also knew for certain that “Heaven is better than this!” as the gospel songwriter once declared:

Heaven is better than this.
Praise God, what joy and bliss.
Walking on streets of solid gold,
  in that Land where we’ll never grow old.
Heaven is better than this.
Praise God, what joy and bliss.
I’m not done with walking down here.
But, heaven is better than…
Heaven is better than…
Heaven is better than this.

As we begin this new day, let’s find ourselves in exactly the place that Paul described: that place in our lives where we live each day fully committed to Christ and His Kingdom and, at the same time, recognizing that when we graduate to heaven it will be to our great gain.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Humbly Pray

 

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

—1 Peter 5:6-7

One of the most powerful blessings that God has given those of us He has chosen to belong to Himself is our ability to come to Him humbly in prayer. He welcomes us to enter into His divine Presence and present Him with the needs of our hearts.

In commenting on the Lord’s Prayer found in Matthew 6:5-13, I once wrote these words:

“Prayer is a fundamental, cohesive, and powerful component of our relationship with God. He is not only willing to have us talk with Him, He welcomes it. He expects it. He longs for it. He waits for it. He waits for us. He wants us to come and sit with Him a while and talk with Him. We have the authority of no one less than the Son of God, Himself, telling us to come into the Father’s Presence and sit a while.”

When we come to God in prayer, we must do so with all humility. Why? Well, we must come to God humbly because He is holy. His holiness exceeds our ability to comprehend how great His holiness really is.

The Apostle Peter summed it up this way, as found in 1 Peter 5:6-7:

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

As we begin another new day, let’s remember to start our day by coming before our loving Father in humble prayer. He welcomes us to speak to Him. He longs for us to share the needs of our hearts, even though He already knows them. He wants us to speak the words of our needs to Him, so that we will recognize how needy we are and how very able He is to meet our needs.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

But, What Does It Matter?

 

“The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached.”

—Philippians 1:18

Some things in life are very important—other things, not so much. Sometimes it’s a bit of a challenge to try to decide which is which.

For example: I have many dear friends who do not fully embrace my Reformed perspective on theology. In fact, I was raised in Arminianism. But, I was moved during college—albeit at an Arminian-Holiness institution—to embrace the Reformed theology of John Calvin. The theological differences between these dear ones and me matter very little in the broadest scheme of things.

I’m not suggesting that nuances of theology aren’t important. They are important. But, when it comes to friendship and the fellowship of the Gospel, I am willing to allow those dear to me to hold beliefs different from my own.

Another example of whether differences matter or not comes when I consider certain high-profile preachers. I have mentioned in this blog before that, at a time in my life when I was being attacked within the walls of my own dearly loved church, I found comfort and healing from the words of Joel Osteen. His positive take on the power of Christ was just what my wounded spirit needed at that time in my life. And, when I would listen to the entire worship service on-line, I found the teaching portion of the service conducted by Joel’s wife, Victoria, to be theologically rich and very instructive.

Sadly, I have many Christian friends who seem to disdain, even despise, the Osteens. They do so with an outcry of “Prosperity Gospel,” as they dismiss any value the Osteens might have to Christ and His Kingdom. While the Pentecostalism background of the Osteens is very different than my own, I have come to appreciate what their positive message has done in the lives of thousands of people who might not otherwise have sought help from God through His Son, Jesus.

The Apostle Paul had something to say about such matters. Please take note of these words found in Philippians 1:15-19:

It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.

Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.

Paul is in prison for the sake of the Gospel. He is persecuted because he has taken a strong stand for Jesus. Word reaches him in prison that some preachers are preaching in an unworthy manner—that reminds me of the way some of my friends speak of the Osteens and other such preachers. But, Paul’s response is very practical. He recognizes that people might not all agree on the style or substance of some particular preacher. But, Paul quickly reminds his readers that whenever Christ is preached, it’s a good thing.

I am not an apologist for the Osteens. But, I think we do well when we remember that criticizing the preaching of one who has dedicated his or her life to serving Christ places us on dangerous ground. There is a fine line between analysis and criticism. I believe it’s better to stay away from possibly crossing that line.

As we begin a new day, in all of our reactions to what we hear in church, on the radio, on the internet, or from other sources, we need to prayerfully receive the message of God’s servants. We should be quick to affirm and slow to criticize. That, I think, is a better way.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

No Two Ways About It

 

“The way of the Lord is a refuge for the righteous, but it is the ruin of those who do evil.”

—Proverbs 10:29

We like lots of choices in our lives. At least most of us do. When we go to a restaurant, we like to see a menu that offers a wide variety of different foods. This is especially true if we host a number of friends for a meal. We like to make certain that everyone will find something that he or she will enjoy eating.

The fact that so many different manufacturers of cars and trucks have such a wide variety of models gives testimony to the fact that we like lots of choices. Brand loyalty becomes a coveted item among the marketing community. If those responsible for attracting customers can keep them loyal to a particular brand in the face of many choices, then they have met the goal set before them.

In the matter of following Jesus, there really are only two choices. Either a person will follow Jesus or utterly reject Him. You see, Jesus demands such loyalty and devotion from those who follow Him that only those enabled by the Holy Spirit can achieve success over the length of their lives. The salvation from sin that Jesus offers has nothing to do with the sinners. They can’t earn that salvation. It is absolutely a free gift from God to all those He has called to Himself.

But, once a person recognizes this gift from God, the pathway of obedience is a moment-by-moment choice that the “Christ’s-ones” must make. There is only one pathway for them.

King Solomon understood this bi-directional choice when he wrote these words found in Proverbs 10:29:

The way of the Lord is a refuge for the righteous, but it is the ruin of those who do evil.

At the beginning of this new day, let’s remember that the pathway set out before us by the Holy Spirit leads to holiness and righteousness. But, let’s also remember that among all the people who cross our pathway each day, there will be those who completely reject even the idea that God loves them and desires to have a relationship with them. We must treat such ones with kindness, compassion, and God-breathed love. And, we must also not become discouraged because of the choice they have made. It’s just the way it is.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Extending One's Life

 

“My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity.”

—Proverbs 3:1-2

If we want to know how to live longer, we should just watch television for a day. We will see numerous advertisements that proclaim they will help us live longer, fuller, richer lives. But, the truth is that none of those products can actually extend our lives one moment longer than God has already credited to our account. He, and He alone, is the One who determines the days of our lives.

However, there is something that we can do that will most certainly improve the time we have here on earth. King Solomon explained this when he wrote the words recorded in Proverbs 3:1-2:

My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity.

Good advice from a father to a son or daughter—or even more importantly from our heavenly Father to us dearly loved children—can truly make our lives more successful. Such advice will help assure that we will live long and fruitful lives of service to Christ and His Kingdom.

As we begin another day, let’s remember that obedience to God’s written Word and to the leading of His Holy Spirit is all that God asks of us. That obedience will make certain we do not forget God’s teaching and help us keep His commands in our hearts and minds.

And that, dear ones, is a major accomplishment toward which we should all strive this day and every day.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

The Laying on of Hands

 

“So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.”

—Acts 13:3

When Paul and Barnabas were selected to go forth into the lands occupied by Gentiles and share the good news of the life-transforming power of the living Lord Jesus Christ, they were set apart for this task by fasting, prayer, and by the laying on of hands. Dr. Luke records this event in Acts 13:3:

So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

We continue to use this pattern to this day. When pastors are ordained, they are often surrounded by others in ministry who then lay their hands on the ones being ordained. This practice is also followed in churches that ordain elders and deacons, too. There is something very solemn and very special about this act of the laying on of hands.

As we begin a new day, we recognize that we are Christ’s ambassadors to a needy world. Our efforts in Christ’s behalf should be bathed in much prayer. It doesn’t hurt to fast as well as pray, either, if one is able to do so. And, when sent out to do a specific ministry, we should not hesitate to lay hands on the ones going forth as a symbol of their commitment and our support.

The call to serve Jesus is a serious calling that we should not ignore. And, we should do all we can to support those who are called to special roles of service. We should also remember that we, too, are called to represent the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Appointed to Serve

 

While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

—Acts 13:2

As a follower of Jesus, do you realize that God has appointed you to serve Him? That’s right! God has chosen us to not only belong to Him, but also to represent Him, His message of hope, and His call to repentance from sin, to a very needy world around us. In fact, His call is irresistible and persistent.

Dr. Luke records these words in Acts 13:2:

While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

Just as God called Barnabas and Saul—later known as “Paul”—to serve His Kingdom, so God calls you and me to represent Him, as we make our way along the pathway of life. It is a high privilege to receive God’s call. It is an even greater privilege to eagerly respond to that call.

As we begin a new day, let’s recognize God’s call. And, let’s quickly and enthusiastically respond to His call. Let’s go forth into our world and share the good news of God’s healing and redeeming power. Certainly, there are many who need to hear about this God who loves them with an everlasting, unfailing, undying love.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

You Can't Hide Your Light

 

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.”

—Matthew 5:16

If you are a follower of Jesus and truly belong to Him, you cannot hide the fact that the Holy Spirit lives within you. No matter what you do or say, the Presence of Christ within you, by the power of the Holy Spirit, will always make your allegiance known.

The classic example of this reality is found in Luke 22:54-62:

Then seizing him (Jesus), they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.”

But he (Peter) denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said.

A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.”

“Man, I am not!” Peter replied.

About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.”

Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” And he (Peter) went outside and wept bitterly.

This proven principle, that our belonging to Jesus will always reveal itself, is a very, very good thing. Since we are Christ’s ambassadors to this troubled and needy world, it’s important for us to recognize that we will never actually fit into the mold of the secular society. We will always be on the outside. We carry the bloodstains of Jesus. His righteousness casts such a beam of holy light on us that we cannot hide our citizenship in His eternal kingdom from the world.

Jesus Himself made this very clear in Matthew 5, the passage of Scripture that Bible students call “The Sermon on the Mount.” Notice these words of Jesus found in Matthew 5:16:

You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.

As we begin a new day, we should rejoice that we simply cannot hide our light from the very people to whom we are to bring God’s illumination. And, we should recognize that we cannot successfully fit into the world’s mold. We are unique children of God’s choice. And that, dear ones, marks us in a way that we can never, ever hide.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Retaining Our Salt

 

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.”

—Matthew 5:13

Salt brings flavors alive in so many types of food. But, it takes just the right amount of salt to do so.

Imagine what it would be like if you picked up a salt shaker, shook some salt onto a delicious filet mignon and when you tasted the meat it was as if it had no salt. So, you shook on some more salt—but, still no rich taste. Once more, you shook out some salt onto the steak. Yet, when you took a piece of meat on your fork and tasted it, it still had no salty taste. It seems as if the salt has lost its saltiness.

Jesus addressed the metaphor for the effect His followers would have on the world when He spoke these words, as recorded in Matthew 5:13:

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.”

It does no good for us to serve as salt of the earth if we’ve lost our ability to season the lives of those around us. If we’ve lost our “saltiness,” how can we possibly affect the people God sends across the pathway of our lives?

This day, let’s determine to retain our seasoning ability by continuing to study God’s written Word, by prayer, and by relying on the Holy Spirit’s guidance in our lives. Truly, we want to retain our saltiness. Let’s make certain we are doing our best to do so.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

No Revenge!

 

“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies…”

—Luke 6:27

The hardest words I have ever read in the Bible are these very words of Jesus, recorded in Luke 6:27-31:

“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.”

My natural human response is, “No! I don’t want to love my enemies! I want to destroy them!”

Now, please understand, I don’t go around making enemies. At least, I don’t intend to do so. In fact, I have often said that I have not made someone my enemy. Rather, someone has chosen to make himself or herself my enemy.

In other words, I don’t make the first move to label someone my enemy. But, over the years, any number of people have chosen to make themselves my enemy. They are the ones who initiate the enemy label.

But, that doesn’t free me from Jesus’ words. And, it doesn’t free you from them either. If you are a follower of Jesus—one of His “Christ’s-ones” or Christians, then these words apply to you, just as they apply to me.

As we begin a new day, we need to determine to apply this important teaching of our Lord and Savior. I confess that I find it very hard. But, it’s a requirement for true disciples. What else can I say?

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}