My Daily Pause

Blog

  • Encouragement for Troubled Christians

    This morning on Facebook, I read a general comment from one of my friends about the inconsistency of the American Christian (used here as a follower of Christ, regardless of denomination.) He made some observations that I believe were right on the mark.

    Where has the troubled Christian in America failed?
    Where has the troubled Christian in America failed?
    • There is a lot of talk about violation of rights and even “persecution” of Christians in an attempt to make followers of the false religions feel better.
    • There is a lot of confusion as to what the Lord’s kingdom is all about.
    • They have forgotten that being persecuted for Jesus’ sake is a blessing. (Matthew 5:11-12)

    If I had to pull one reason out of the air as to why this has come about, it would be because the American Christian’s Bible is left in the corner untouched. If the American Christian were as familiar with their Bible as were the people that came to this “new world”, the events of today would unfold far differently.

    • They would have better responses to a non-believer’s challenges.
    • They would not have allowed non-believers and false teachers convince them the Bible says things that aren’t in there.
    • They would be energized and motivated by the attacks of the lost.
    • They would be able to defend it with confidence.

    Jesus, Peter, Paul and James said that Christians can expect to be reviled in any number of ways and can expect blessing and reward from it. (Matthew 5:10-12, 1 Peter 1:3-9, Romans 5:3-5, James 1:2-4) The book of Revelation is all about encouragement of the Christians facing some tough times. Knowing this, the American Christian has a choice to make:

    • He can capitulate or ignore the problem and be lost with the rest
    • He can be invigorated by the trials as the passages above suggest and work harder to get the word out.

    A fully developed and fed faith gives us the hope to continue. It helps us understand what being a member of the Lord’s spiritual kingdom entails. It enables us to keep planting the seeds.

    We weren’t promised an easy path to our reward, but it is a path we need to be proud to follow.

    Daily Bible reading for September 2

    Psalm 31
    1 Samuel 20
    Daniel 3
    Luke 2:1-21

  • Take a Rest Day

    It is difficult to fit everything we need to do in our lives these days. From the looks of it, the more modern conveniences we have, the busier we get. In a 24 hour connected world, we have become a people that never truly rest.

    Just yesterday, my boss and I were in contact most of the day working on some side projects. This is supposed to be a three day holiday weekend!

    As we prepare for worship today, our challenge is to tune out the world. We are passing up our rest, but stay in the right mindset for worship! Our temptation is to let the world in through our gadgets and devices. There are some important events going on in worship that are supposed to have our full attention, but the beeps, buzzes and flashes have trained us to stop what we are doing – Even at the expense of worship to our Lord.

    It is now acceptable to bring my smartphone into worship and have it out because “my Bible is on it.” But what else is on it that might pull my attention away from the worship – if even for a second?

    Our task – our urgent task – is to snap out of the trance like state that the smartphone addiction has brought upon us. This is true not only for Sunday, but so much of the world is passing by every day while we sit in front of our devices. Friendships, family, our mates. So many flesh and blood experiences are being passed over for the digital.

    Let’s try to do it old school today. Even if only for the sake of Sunday rest.

  • We Are Wonderfully Made

    Every time I read how Luke in his narrative and Elizabeth speaking to Mary refer to the life in her womb,  I think about how they both call it “the baby.” (Luke 1:39-45)

    Baby in Womb - 14 Weeks
    Baby in Womb – 14 Weeks
    • He was not called a lump of cells.
    • He was not called a fetus or any other scientific name

    He leaped for joy when Mary, pregnant with Jesus, spoke to Elizabeth. So based on what the Bible tells us, the life inside the womb is a person and is capable of being filled with the Holy Spirit. (Luke 1:15)

    The Biblical attitude of life in the womb is that the person’s life is already mapped out and that God is looking upon him, even then. (Psalm 139:13-16)

    Baby in Womb - 17 Weeks
    Baby in Womb – 17 Weeks

    The Biblical attitude of life in the womb is that it is part of the Lord’s heritage. Further, it tells us the “fruit of the womb is his reward” (Psalm 127:3-5)

    So an open question to the world is this:

    Is that life in the womb a child or a choice?

    If you still have trouble with this question, here are some more passages to consider:

    • 1 Corinthians 12:18 – God arranged the members of the body
    • Galatians 1:15 – Paul set apart before his birth
    • Proverbs 6:17 – shedding innocent blood is something God hates
    • Isaiah 49:1 – Isaiah was named from the womb
    • Jeremiah 1:4-5 – Jeremiah was appointed a prophet from the womb

  • Build Upon the Rock

    Build Upon the Rock

    God and Especially Jesus are referred to as our rock throughout the Bible. The psalmist builds on that idea: For the righteous, he is a firm foundation (Psalm 28). In Moses’ song, he praises the safety of the rock and shows the folly of other choices. (Deuteronomy 32)

    Who Builds on the Rock?

    The challenge for us is to build and trust in the rock of our salvation, not stumble over it in spite of ourselves. Some things to remember about where we build our house from Matthew 7:21-27:

    Our choices are to build on the rock or on the sand
    Our choices are to build on the rock or on the sand
    • Not everyone that claims to follow God will be saved
    • A few “good” works will not save us
    • True faith and love in Jesus is where we begin our relationship and building our lives.
    • Building a life on Christ means obedience to him
    • Any deviation from his will transfers us over the shifty sand
    • One the edifice built on the rock will survive the wind and the rain

    The pursuit of a life build on Jesus will have great results, but dependence one’s self will result in a great fall.

    Daily Bible reading for August 30

    Psalm 28
    1 Samuel 17
    Habakkuk 3
    Luke 1:1-25

  • Credit Where There is Credit Due

    David dedicates a number of his works to praising God. In Psalm 29 he reminds us that God is the creator of all has credit due of our acknowledgement of His glory and power. There is a sense of great power, like a thunderstorm, that ends with peace and safety.

    Modern idolatry detracts from God’s place by diminishing him in favor of money, ungodly pursuits, or other people. While we may not erect shrines to pagan gods these days, we often enslave ourselves material things without thinking about it.

    Remember to recognize God’s creation in every corner of your life. Prioritize him above all else and the rest will take care of itself.

    Daily Bible reading for August 29

    Psalm 27
    1 Samuel 16
    Habakkuk 1:12-2:20
    2 Peter 3

  • False Teachers in the Church

    False Teachers in the Church

    While Peter’s first letter is about the trials to come to the church from external sources through persecution, the second letter is about the false teachers attacking it from within. He acknowledged they were already at work within the church, even ignoring what they knew through spiritual gifts. And he warned that they would keep coming (2 Peter 2:1-3)

    The Guilt of False Teachers

    Peter’s words ring true even today. There are those false teachers that would bring discredit to the word even in their lifestyle. He speaks of:

    • Heresies (2 Peter 2:1)
    • Sensuality (2 Peter 2:2)
    • Covetousness (2 Peter 2:3)
    • Defiling lust (2 Peter 2:10)
    • Ignorant blasphemers (2 Peter 2:12)
    • Adulterers (2 Peter 2:14)
    • Slaves of corruption (2 Peter 2:19)

    It is a very difficult task to teach against sins to the world when they world can point back to the church’s own sins they are overlooking.

    New Testament Warnings of False Teachers

    Peter wasn’t alone in his warnings either. There is much to be said in the New Testament about those false teachers that want to trick you out of your salvation:

    False teachers can make things look fine outside when the destruction is inside
    False teachers can make things look fine outside when the destruction is inside
    • Jesus warns of wolves in sheep’s clothing (Matthew 7:15)
    • Jesus warns of those that would lead us astray (Matthew 24:11)
    • Paul warns of grievous wolves (Acts 20:29-30)
    • Paul said it would be of huge magnitude and evil nature (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12)
    • Paul warned of leadership using their influence to influence false doctrine (1 Timothy 4:1-3 2 Timothy 3:1-9)
    • Jude warned of the trend of apostasy already arising (Jude 4-9)

    As we can see, there really is nothing new under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 1:9) We are to just keep trying to save those that will listen and teach whenever we can. If God can save just Noah from the great flood and if he can save Lot from the destruction of entire cities, then he will be able to save the last of his faithful servants at the end.

    Daily Bible reading for August 28

    Psalm 26
    1 Samuel 15
    Habakkuk 1:1-11
    2 Peter 2