Christ-like Love

 

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church…”

—Ephesians 5:25a

You wouldn’t think that husbands would need to be told to love their wives and how to love them. And yet, the Apostle Paul, an unmarried man, had observed enough interactions between husbands and their wives to feel he must offer these words recorded in Ephesians 5:25-26:

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word...

Husbands, love your wives with a completely self-sacrificing, selfless love. What could be clearer?

More than a decade ago, a famous theologian and professor retired early from his position at a southern seminary. He was at the top of his profession and had many more years in which to contribute to the lives of hundreds of pastors and Christian educators. Yet, he turned his back on the fame and success that he had earned through diligent study and much hard work. He retired so that he could stay home and care for his wife of 40 years, who had been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s Disease.

Many marveled at his decision. After all, he could have placed her in the memory unit of a personal care facility. Yes, that would cost a great deal of money. But in fact, if he would divorce her, the state would pay for her care.

He told his colleagues at the seminary that his wife had sacrificed for many years to pay their bills while he made his way through graduate school, so he could become a professor. He was not going to abandon her in her time of need.

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her …”

Husbands, the instruction is clear. So, do it.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Thursday, July 21, 2016

_{Copyright © 2022 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Truth-tellers

 

“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.”

—Jeremiah 17:9a

Have you ever known someone who seems to have all the answers, then later you learn she or he is a liar? When this person talks or answers questions, he or she seems smart, witty, engaging, and genuine. But you learn, sometimes through a painful experience, that this person has lied over and over again. It is just such a person that the Prophet was writing about when he penned these words in Jeremiah 17:9-10:

The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?

“I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.”

Have we always told the absolute truth? Do we change the facts to suit our own selfish needs? Do we hold back helpful information simply for our own purposes? God knows our hearts. He wants us to speak the truth at all times. And, He always knows when were being truthful or telling lies.

More and more, in this desperate age, we need to be people who always tell the truth. God, the most important person in our life, always knows whether we are speaking the truth or lying. So, let’s determine to have clean hearts and minds.

The Holy Spirit eagerly waits to help us be truthful. Accepting His help is a very wise thing to do.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Wednesday, July 20, 2016

_{Copyright © 2022 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Think Humbly About Who We Are

 

“Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought…”

—Romans 12:3b

One of the delightful experiences with children is to watch them develop their sense of “self.” As they grow from toddler-hood, they begin to fantasize about who they are. Little girls may think of themselves as princesses, or mommies, or teachers. Little boys may think of themselves as firefighters, or police officers, or cowboys, or superheroes. But, as children grow into adults, we hope to observe some reality settling into their sense of self.

In their teenage years, some boys see themselves as invincible sports heroes with a sense of being arrogantly entitled and some girls see themselves as deeply unworthy and learn to draw their sense of self from the boys who date them. In both cases, their sense of self has become harmfully distorted. Good and loving parents can help teens keep a proper perspective on their sense of self—a perspective that is realistic and well-balanced.

As believers in Christ, we must know who we are in order to properly relate to others. That’s why the Apostle Paul penned these words in Romans 12:3:

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.

As Paul suggests, we must learn to use sober judgment when we think about who we are. On the one hand, we are sinners, separated from God by our sin. On the other hand, before the foundation of the earth, God chose us to belong to Himself. He loves us and sent His one and only Son, Jesus, to die in our place, in order to pay the penalty for our sins. God raised Jesus from the dead to give us victory over death.

So, our true identity rests in Christ. We are chosen, forgiven, and in the process of being made holy. Let us remember all through this day that no matter what anyone may say about us, our identity in Christ is secure. He gives us our true sense of self. And that, dear ones, is absolutely amazing!

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Tuesday, July 19, 2016

_{Copyright © 2022 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

The Only Name That Matters

 

“ The Lord will be king over the whole earth.”

—Zechariah 14:9a

When I was a child, I very much liked having something exciting to which I could look forward. Perhaps it was a special holiday. Or, maybe it was a time of vacation. Or, perhaps it was a visit from some special friends or relatives. Whatever the event, I would mark it on the calendar. Then, every day I would look at that mark and imagine how much fun that event would be.

As believers, we can look forward to that glorious day when our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, will return. The Prophet wrote these words in Zechariah 14:9:

The Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name.

A great day is coming. It’s a day to which we can look forward. We won’t be able to mark it on a calendar. But, we can still look forward with eager anticipation. On that day, we will celebrate as never before. Our Great King will have returned. His Name will be the only name that matters.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Monday, July 18, 2016

_{Copyright © 2022 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

They Hate Us!

 

“Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations.”

—Psalm 90:1

Here in the United States, we Christians have come to a startling awareness of late that many other people actually despise us. It’s a startling awareness. But, it’s also a reality that Christians in other parts of the world have lived with for a very long time. We should not be surprised, nor should we become “cry babies” about this. We are, however, allowed to feel sad about it.

The people who despise us do so because they reject our beliefs. We who follow the Lord Jesus Christ believe that the Holy Spirit inspired the authors to write the Bible, that the Spirit has preserved God’s written Word, and that the words in Scripture mean what they say. The individuals who hate us include some other so-called “Christians,” who do not necessarily believe in the inerrancy of Scripture, or accept the interpretation of Scripture to which we hold.

In our current culture, it is not only “not cool” to take the Bible literally, it is a reason to despise and reject those who take do believe the words of the Bible are literally true. It is especially painful to realize that people we love and care about reject us because we believe the Bible means what it says.

The Psalmist knew what it was to feel such rejection. He also knew what it was to seek comfort from the One who would never reject him. Notice the words of praise that he writes in Psalm 90:1-2, 4:

Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.

We “Christ’s-ones” are already a minority. Yet, God asks us to remain faithful—faithful in our sincerely held beliefs, but also faithful as instruments in this world of God’s mercy, grace, and unfailing love.

God calls us to respond with love toward everyone who despises, hates, and rejects us. With the hard-realized humility that comes from knowing that we are truly and only despicable sinners saved by God’s grace through Christ, we need to wrap our firmly held beliefs in a blanket of God-breathed love. In these troubled days, this is a challenge to which I pray we will rise.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Friday, July 15, 2016

_{Copyright © 2022 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

The Surrendered Life

 

“For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.”

—Matthew 16:25

We tend to hold very tightly to those things that we want to preserve as a part of our lives. It’s a natural tendency. Who can blame us?

We may have worked very hard to achieve a particular goal. We’ve invested a great deal of time. We may have invested a great deal of money. We may have made serious sacrificial choices.

Once we have the fruit of whatever goal we’ve pursued, we’re certainly not going to let go of that fruit. And yet, to achieve an even higher goal, we must hold everything we have in an open hand. Jesus instructs us thusly in Matthew 16:25:

For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.

In order to become fully obedient followers of our Savior and Lord, we must surrender every aspect of our being to Him. We must let go of every quality that defines our very being and allow Him to mold us into the people He wants us to be.

I’ve shared this gospel song before and it’s most appropriate in this context.

All to Jesus I surrender.
All to Him I freely give.
I will ever love and trust Him.
In His Presence daily live.

I surrender all. I surrender all.
All to Thee my blessed Savior;
I surrender all.

As we begin another day, let’s truly surrender all we are and all we have to the God who loves us and who waits patiently to take our surrendered lives and use us for His glory.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Thursday, July 14, 2016

_{Copyright © 2022 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

No Grudges

 

“Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge…”

—Leviticus 19:18a

People notice how we believers in the life-transforming power of the Lord Jesus Christ behave toward others. That’s why we must look to God’s written Word to know how to live. Today’s message comes to us from Leviticus 19:18:

“Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.”

This message could not be any clearer: no grudges—only love. People in our ever-darkening world seem intent on drawing lines in the sand and daring others to cross those lines. Such behavior must not become a part of our lives. Instead, the love God has placed in our hearts must overcome our natural tendency to hold a grudge. So, this day, let us determine to set aside any grudges we may have and instead allow God’s love to fill our lives.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Wednesday, July 13, 2016

_{Copyright © 2022 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

No Hiding

 

“Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?”

—Jeremiah 23:24a

Growing up as teenagers, before the dangers of smoking were known and so well publicized, it was common for young men and women to hide their fledgling efforts at becoming smokers from their parents. All over the small city where I grew up one could find groups of teenage kids smoking in their hiding places.

In those brazen days nearly 70 years ago, “coming out” meant telling one’s parents—nearly everyone had both a mom and a dad—that one had taken up smoking. Sometimes parents were shocked and dismayed. More likely they already knew from evidence that kids simply couldn’t hide.

All throughout the history of mankind, people have tried to hide their sinfulness from a loving God. Adam and Eve tried to hide their sin in the Garden. But God already knew they had disobeyed the one command He had given them (see Genesis 3).

One of the many aspects of the God who loves us and chose us to belong to Himself is that we simply cannot hide from Him. He has tagged us with a divine GPS. He always knows where we are and what we are doing. He watches over us with loving and tender care. God speaks through the Prophet in Jeremiah 23:24:

“Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?” declares the Lord.

“Do not I fill heaven and earth?” declares the Lord.

We should take great confidence in knowing we cannot hide from God. As we begin a new day, let us rejoice that He watches over us with His loving eyes.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Tuesday, July 12, 2016

_{Copyright © 2022 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Safe in the Storms of Life

 

“But the Lord is faithful…”

—2 Thessalonians 3:3a

Have you ever felt threatened by the circumstances into which you’ve gotten yourself? I am not a particularly brave person. I work hard to avoid danger. At least I usually do. Here’s one example:

Once, when I was a young teenager staying for a week on Lake Chautauqua in western New York state, I joined three of my friends to travel by boat several miles up the Lake to the Chautauqua Institution for an evening concert in the large amphitheater. As soon as we boarded the small 14-foot runabout for the trip back to our cottage, it began to storm. The wind blew, lightning filled the sky, and a heavy rain washed over the boat. I was terrified. All I could think of was Jesus and His disciples crossing the Lake of Gennesaret (Sea of Galilee) in the famous storm recorded in Mark 4:35-41.

I prayed. I sang hymns. I thought we would all drown. But, obviously, we made it safely back to the cottage.

Every one of us faces storms, as we travel through life: health issues, relationship issue, financial issues, work issues, church issues, and so forth. God is always right there with us during these storms. The Apostle Paul wrote these words in 2 Thessalonians 3:3:

But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.

When Satan tries to destroy us by bringing storms our way, God will protect us. He will hold us safely in the hollow of His mighty hand. We can face the storms in our lives without fear. God is always with us. He will protect us and see us safely through those storms that come our way.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Monday, July 11, 2016

_{Copyright © 2022 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Have You Not Heard?

 

“The Lord is the everlasting God…”

—Isaiah 40:28b

Sometimes in life, we become so busily engaged with whatever we’re doing that we miss an important piece of information. Please let me explain.

I began hanging out at the radio station in my hometown when I was 12 years old. By the time I got my driver’s license at age 16, I was eager to help in any way I could.

One day the chief engineer of the radio station asked me to run an errand. He had ordered some parts and asked me to drive to get them and bring them back to the station. I was thrilled that I could help.

I headed out for the electronics wholesale store. But, when I got to the store it was boarded up and empty. It had obviously moved and I had no idea where.

This was before the days of cell phones. I had to find a pay phone. Then, I had to find someone who could give me change for the lone dollar bill I had in my pocket.

When I called a friend who I knew worked at the store, he was very surprised. “Haven’t you heard?” he said. And then, he proceeded to tell me the new location of the store. Though my intentions were good—I wanted to please the chief engineer and obtain the parts he needed—I had failed to confirm the location of the electronics wholesale store’s new location.

Yes, sometimes our busy days crowd out very important information—information that is critical to our well being. The Prophet Isaiah writes, with more than a little incredulity, that his audience—including many of us—have missed some very important news. Here’s what he wrote in Isaiah 40:28-31:

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.

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.

This is very important information about the God who loves us with His everlasting love. We must not only receive this news, we must always remember it. God is the source of our personal renewable energy. He gives us a restarting jolt every time we need it. So, let’s begin this new day with joy in our hearts, knowing that an inexhaustible source of supernatural energy is at our disposal.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Friday, July 8, 2016

_{Copyright © 2022 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Watched Over

 

“The Lord will keep you from all harm…”

—Psalm 121:7a

The very first time I ventured out to ride my bicycle from my home to my grandmother’s house—a distance of about four miles—I was about ten years old. It was a much safer time for kids back in 1957 than it is today. I spent a lot of time riding my bike in the neighborhood, but I had never ridden quite so far from home.

I had discussed the route I would take with my dad. I had chosen mostly side streets to avoid as much heavy traffic as possible. I confess that while I very much wanted to prove my independence, I was also a little scared about any dogs I might encounter along the way. You see at age six while I was walking home from school, I had been attacked and bitten by a rabid dog. After enduring the dreaded rabies shots in my abdomen, I had a real fear of dogs. Nevertheless, I launched out on my adventure and, in due time, I arrived at my grandma’s house.

A few minutes after I arrived, my dad walked through the door. I was glad to see him, but more than a little puzzled. As he talked to me about my journey, I began to realize that all the time I pedaled my way across the city, my dad had discreetly followed me in his car. He had allowed me to experience this new adventure, but he was watching over me the entire time. So it is with our heavenly Father. The Psalmist wrote these words in Psalm 121:7-8:

The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

God gives us the freedom to launch out each new day onto the pathway of life. We get to choose the route we will take. He offers guidance in His written Word—the Bible—but we make the decision as to whether or not we will obediently follow His direction.

As we proceed through each day, God lovingly watches over us. He knows where we are at all times. He anticipates our needs and stands ready to rush to our aid.

Yes, while God may allow us to learn critically important lessons along the way—He even lets us taste the consequences of our wrong choices—we are never out of His sight. We cannot hide from Him. God watches over us. And that, dear ones, is a very great blessing, indeed.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Thursday, July 7, 2016

_{Copyright © 2022 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Resting in the Shadow of God

 

“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.”

—Psalm 91:1

When the toils of life overtake us, we need a quiet and peaceful place to rest and recharge. No better place exists than in the shelter of God’s abiding love. The Psalmist understood this when he wrote these words in Psalm 91:1:

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

We need to ask ourselves this day, “Where do we abide?” Do we abide in God’s shadow? Do we find our shelter from the storms of life in His mercy, grace, and love? That’s where we belong. That’s where we can find true rest and peace. That’s where we can find genuine safety and protection.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Wednesday, July 6, 2016

_{Copyright © 2022 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Real Gain

 

“What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?”

—Mark 8:36

In Helen Kromer’s and Frederick Silver’s now classic Christian musical from the early 1960s, “For Heaven’s Sake,” one of the female characters sings a lovely ballad entitled “Aim for Heaven.” The message of the song has deep roots in Scripture. The chorus ends with these words: “Aim for heaven and earth will be thrown in.”

That message contrasts starkly with our current secular culture that urges people to “get all you can and can all you can.” Said another way, our culture insists that people should “focus all your effort in life on grabbing for yourself everything you are able and then hold on to it tightly.”

But in sharp contrast, our Savior—the Lord Jesus Christ—instructed His disciples, and thus us as well, with these words recorded in Mark 8:36:

What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?

We believers need to become “heaven-focused.” Yes, in the midst of doing our best to obediently follow our King’s assignment while we’re here on earth, we must not lose sight of the fact that heaven is our true home. This day, let’s begin to live as citizen’s of God’s eternal Kingdom—faithful in the tasks He has given us—with our minds and hearts accepting the reality that, when our work on earth is done, the best of everything awaits us in heaven.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Tuesday, July 5, 2016

_{Copyright © 2022 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

The Best Gift

 

“If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

—Luke 11:13

As a young child in elementary school, I remember waiting with eager anticipation for the arrival in early November of the Sears’ Christmas Catalog. I would spend hours looking at the many pages of toys trying to decide which toy I should request as my one Christmas gift.

We were like many middle class families in those post-World-War-II days. We had extremely modest means. It was a real sacrifice to buy gifts. I had learned never to expect the kind of showering of gifts that children seem to receive today. One gift—one carefully chosen gift for which to study and compare and dream about and finally to humbly request. Then, the wait until Christmas Day began.

In our home, the gifts were a relatively minor part of Christmas. We spent far more time talking about and celebrating Jesus’ birth. Our Savior is born—God with us. But always, in the back of my mind, as I sat looking at that Sears’ Christmas Catalog, was the hopeful expectation that on Christmas Day I would receive the gift I had requested.

Jesus understood the importance of the very best gift His disciples needed, if they were to go out and help change the world. That’s why He spoke these words, as recorded in Luke 11:13:

“If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

This day—because the Holy Spirit dwells within us—we, too, can go out and help change the world in behalf of Christ. The Spirit leads us and guides us. He helps us and protects us. He makes the way laid out before us passable, no matter what barrier Satan tries to place in our pathway.

Let us humbly thank God for this very best gift of His Holy Spirit. And, let us go out into our world ready to help defeat the evil that strives to destroy it.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Friday, June 24, 2016

_{Copyright © 2022 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Words to Dads

 

“ Fathers, do not exasperate your children…”

—Ephesians 6:4a

Did you ever read a verse of Scripture and wonder what incident prompted the writer to write those particular words? Please let me illustrate with this example:

I spent the bulk of my career as a fire protection engineer developing procedures for other fire protection engineers to follow, and then training them in those procedures. As a part of that responsibility, I had the privilege of serving on a number of Technical Committees of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), developing various codes and standards that were part of the National Fire Codes^™.

I can look at various sections of the codes and standards that I helped develop and tell you exactly which fire or explosion prompted a change in the language of the code or standard, in order to promote greater safety for the protection of life and property.

Thus it is with Scripture. God has often chosen to give us very apparent clues as to why the Holy Spirit inspired a particular writer to pen the words recorded in Scripture. In other cases, we have no idea what prompted the particular section of God’s written Word.

I suppose my experience as a fire protection engineer writing codes and standards is why I wonder what incident prompted the Apostle Paul to write these words recorded in Ephesians 6:4:

Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Did Paul have an event in his formative years regarding his own father? Or, did Paul observe certain behaviors in some fathers that the Holy Spirit then used to inspire Paul to offer this sage advice? Or, did Paul have some other experience that the Holy Spirit used to prompt Paul to write the instruction that Paul gave to fathers?

Fathers have a huge responsibility in shaping the lives of their children. That’s one reason we should be greatly alarmed at the rising birth rate among unwed women in certain segments of our population. Every birth where there is no father present in the household puts that child at a unique risk.

Has the church where you worship undertaken the task of helping fatherless families by providing some godly male influence in the lives of such children? If not, why not? And, do your pastors and Christian educators promote sexual purity before marriage to the young people in your congregations as the best, most responsible, and most godly way to live ?

These are all things to consider as we strive to be Christ’s ambassadors to a troubled world. Spiritual formation always has practical applications. We dare not ignore them.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Friday, July 1, 2016

_{Copyright © 2022 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Sing to God

 

“ Sing to God, sing in praise of his name…”

—Psalm 68:4a

One of the things we believers can do that absolutely delights God is to sing to Him. We can sing songs that praise Him and tell everyone who hears us that God is great and that God is good.

For years, I have tried—usually without success—to encourage pastors at the churches where I have worshipped to find one of the attributes of God that ties in with the pastor’s sermon for that week. Then, to make that attribute of God the theme for that week’s worship.

Using an attribute of God as a theme for worship helps make the entire worship service a solidly cohesive unit, as opposed to a worship service made up of unrelated individual parts. With a well-thought-through worship theme based on an attribute of God drawn from the sermon, the worship service becomes tightly focused and will tend to draw those who attend into the very heart of what the pastor wants to convey. It also reminds the worshippers of the very qualities that God possesses.

Frankly, as I stated above, I’ve not had much success convincing pastors of the merits of this plan. But, I hold out hope that someday I will come across a pastor who will see the genuine value in my suggestion. I do know that I have the Psalmist on my side. Consider these words from Psalm 68:4:

Sing to God, sing in praise of his name, extol him who rides on the clouds; rejoice before him—his name is the Lord.

Whether we consider ourselves talented singers or not, we can all lift our voices in praise to God. In so doing, we acknowledge who He is and how important He is to us. And that, dear ones, is a very good thing, indeed.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Thursday, June 30, 2016

_{Copyright © 2022 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Compassion Based on Fear

 

“…the Lord has compassion on those who fear him…”

—Psalm 103:13b

In Scripture, the word “fear” is used in two distinct ways: “to be afraid” and “to demonstrate respect.” This latter usage seldom appears in our day-to-day language. But, it predominates in Scripture, particularly when we read the phrases: “fear God” or “fear of the Lord.”

This respect is born from a realization that the person or object that we “fear” has awesome power. Please let me share this illustration:

In the winter of 1968, I traveled with four other officers from the Houghton Fire Department to Elmira Heights, New York, to take delivery of Houghton 2-Truck-1 or 2T1. This was a Ward LaFrance fire truck—as opposed to a “fire engine”—equipped with a 65 ft. High Ranger aerial platform, a 1,000 gallons-per-minute Hale pump, a 300-gallon water tank, 212 ft. of ground ladders, and 1,000 ft. of 2 1/2-inch fire hose. It also had 150 ft. of quick-attack 1 1/2-inch hose arranged in a Mattydale-style hose bed and 150 ft. of one-inch booster hose on a motorized-rewind reel. It was powered by a 500 hp gasoline engine with an Allison HD-70 automatic transmission. It was ten-feet wide and 46 1/2-feet long. It cost $78,000—remember this was 1968.

The duties of Training Officer for this new rig were added to my duties as fire marshal and engine company captain. I had to teach other department members how to use this magnificent new rig.

At first, everyone on the fire department wanted to learn how to drive this monster and operate the aerial platform. But, after a few minutes behind the wheel, some said they “feared” this rig and probably would prefer not to drive it. They weren’t afraid of it hurting them. No, they were filled with awe and respect at it’s power. After all, whenever you turned a corner, the turning wheels were ten feet behind you—a very different experience from driving a car or a normal truck.

So, “fear” can mean “deep respect born out of an understanding of awesome power.” This helps us comprehend the words of the Psalmist found in Psalm 103:13:

As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;

Surely we “Christ’s-ones” have deep respect for the awesome power of God. As a result, God has great compassion toward us. May this day in our lives be marked by God’s overwhelming compassion and unfailing love. And, may we rejoice with great thanksgiving that we belong to Him.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Wednesday, June 29, 2016

_{Copyright © 2022 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Joy Makers

 

“The father of a righteous child has great joy…”

—Proverbs 23:24a

As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we do not obey God because we think we can earn points with Him. Christ has already paid the penalty for our sins on the cross. Because God has chosen us to belong to Himself, our entrance to heaven is secure—as secure as His love for us.

We obey God because we love Him. The fruit of our love for God is obedience to His written Word and to His revealed will. By obeying God, we show Him that He is more important than we are. What He wants is more important than what we want. Obedience is an act of selflessness. We don’t obey God intentionally to benefit us. We obey God as a sign of our devotion to Him.

Now it is true that our obedience to God does bring benefits into our lives because His way for us is the best way. But, the impetus for our obedience is born out of our love for Him. King Solomon also reported an added benefit from our obedience when he wrote these words in Proverbs 23:24:

The father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him.

Our obedience brings our heavenly Father joy, just as obedience brings joy to an earthly father. Let’s determine to show our love for God today by obeying Him. And, let us do so knowing our obedience brings Him joy. Let’s become “joy makers”!

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Tuesday, June 28, 2016

_{Copyright © 2022 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Truly Devoted

 

“Be devoted to one another in love.”

—Romans 12:10a

As “Christ’s-ones”—Christians, or believers in the life-transforming power of the Lord Jesus—we literally have brothers and sisters in Christ scattered in all the corners of the world. Imagine how wonderful it will be in heaven to get to know all these fascinating family members.

Right now, we have the joy of relating, in compassion and love, to these dear ones, as we strive through prayer and financial gifts to support each other in spreading the good news of what God has done in our lives through His Son.

You see, we have both a great privilege and a significant responsibility to work in concert with other believers to fulfill the Great Commission recorded in Matthew 28:16-20. That’s what the Body of Christ—His Church—is all about.

When we talk about “His Church” with a capital letter “C,” we’re talking about all believers in every corner of the world, no matter with which denomination they may have identified. In God’s eyes, we are a single force set aside by Him for His purpose: Eastern Orthodox, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Messianic Jewish, and every single combination, split, division, and subgroup. In order to faithfully serve God, we need to think ever-more-globally about our calling as believers.

But, I’m certainly not suggesting we simply lay aside our distinctions. Just as the Triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—represents the perfect example of diversity in unity, so we, with our numerous denominations, can remain diverse in our parsing of Christianity, while remaining perfectly unified as “one in Christ,” determined to serve Him with all our hearts, minds, souls, and strengths.

So, let me suggest that, during this week, we focus on showing our oneness in Christ to our fellow believers, and, thus, to the world around us. The Apostle Paul urges us, in Romans 12:10, to:

Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.

The needy world around us absolutely must see us Christians as totally united in our devotion to Christ and to each other. I know we can do this. Yes! I absolutely know we can!

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Monday, June 27, 20166

_{Copyright © 2022 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Exalting America

 

“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people.”

—Proverbs 14:34

As we celebrate the anniversary of the birth of our great nation, I feel a nearly overwhelming sense of shame at what our once amazing nation has become over the course of my lifetime.

Yes, we remain the greatest nation on earth and there is no other country where I would prefer to live. But, we have more and more lost our way. Even people who call themselves Christians have largely become so enamored of the culture that they have abandoned their heretofore deeply held sense of right and wrong.

I will soon celebrate my 75th birthday. As I look back over the years of my life, I am appalled at the downward spiral our nation has taken. Today, we are more divided than at any other time in my life.

Not only do we have deep philosophical differences with regard to how the government should rule our nation, the political climate has become horribly rancorous on both sides of the political spectrum. At every turn, the government intrudes more and more into our lives. It takes away our freedoms and makes us victims of foolish and soul-weakening policies.

In the name of helping the less fortunate, we have created an underclass that has little motivation to rise above their dependence on the government for help. Instead of giving those in need a hand up, we are miring them under the weight of government handouts that leave them with utterly no incentive to strive for a better life.

Gross sin abounds in our nation to such an extent that is almost unimaginable. The unwed birth rate has become astronomical. Sexual deviation has been declared normative. Mental illness of a wide variety of presentations has become celebrated as normal. Not only do people cheat and lie with regularity, the government itself has become the biggest cheater and liar of all.

God has been kicked out of the public square. Our nation that was founded on Judeo-Christian values has tried to re-write history to cover its departure from the very principles on which it was founded. King Solomon could have been writing about the United States of America when he penned these words found in Proverbs 14:34:

Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people.

In the midst of our wretched condition, I still retain the hope that God will withhold His judgment yet a little longer and send a great revival to our land. I pray each day for His mercy on America.

But, we who belong to Christ need to examine our own hearts and repent at the same time that we pray for God’s mercy for our nation. Where we have turned from righteousness in our own lives, we need to return to God. We need to ask God to fill our hearts and minds with His love.

We must love God with all four human modalities: heart, soul, mind, and strength—emotional, spiritual, intellectual, and physical. We must love our neighbors with same intensity of love with which we love ourselves.

If we allow the righteousness of Christ to fill our beings, perhaps then we will once again become salt and light in this deeply troubled nation. At least that's my prayer on this day of the anniversary of our nation’s birth. Will you join me in this prayer?

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Monday, July 4, 2016

_{Copyright © 2022 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Glory Declared

 

“The heavens declare the glory of God…”

—Psalm 19:1a

Some people assert there is no God. They look around and all they see seems to them like the result of some grand accident.

When we “Christ’s-ones” look around us at the marvels of creation, we see the creative hand of the triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Image of God within us gives ready testimony that the God who loves us has created all things.

The Psalmist stood in awe at God’s creative work when he wrote these words in Psalm 19:1-2:

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.

A high school classmate of mine went on to graduate from the U.S. Air Force Academy and become a pilot during the time period at the end of the Viet Nam War. In a newspaper interview for the hometown newspaper, he tried to describe what it was like to fly a jet fighter plane. He used the phrase “surrounded by the hand of God.”

As we take off into this new day, let us rejoice that we are truly surrounded by the hands of the God who loves us with His everlasting love. And, as we look at all He has created around us, let us rejoice in knowing that we belong to the One who has created everything in the heavens and on earth.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Thursday, June 23, 2016

_{Copyright © 2022 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}