february 11 i fought the law

 I fought the law.  And I won.  Well, not exactly.  But, kinda.  You see the policeman was wrong and I was right.  How often does that happen?  My wife and I enjoy cruising in our Polaris Slingshot.  It is built as a motorcycle trike.  Two wheels up front.  One wheel in the back.  Steering wheel.  Two bucket seats.  Five on the floor transmission.  The State of Texas classified it as a “autocycle.”  As such adults don’t have to have a motorcycle endorsement on their drivers license nor do they have to wear helmets.  Back when this happened if you crossed the border into Louisiana the endorsement and helmet were both required.  I always am careful to obey the laws.  Well, most of the time.  At any rate it was a beautiful sunshiny day, and we were out having fun.  Then I got pulled over by a policeman.  Pretty lights.  (Unless they park behind you when you pull over.)  I knew I had not broken any laws, so I wondered what he wanted. He explained I was breaking the law because we weren’t wearing helmets. Now the Slingshot had only been legal in Texas for a short time.  I knew he was wrong.  I explained that in Texas adults don’t have to wear a helmet.  Then he said that I needed a motorcycle endorsement.  I showed him mine and told him the endorsement was not necessary in Texas. Then he said my wife needed a helmet unless she had a motorcycle endorsement.  She does.  That stopped him.  I tried to explain that helmets and motorcycle endorsements are not necessary in Texas for adults.  He argued that I was wrong.  Finally, I just asked him for my ticket.  I knew it would be dismissed when I went before the judge.  Said he, “Oh I’m not going to give you a ticket.”  I asked if I could go and he said yes. I did not let him upset me.  (Too much)  He just had the law wrong.  I get plenty of things wrong.  We all do.  The Bible teaches us to respect the policeman who enforces the laws of our land. Romans 13:4  For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.  It would have done no good to get upset with this policeman.  I was humiliated sitting there on the side of the road, but humiliation is good.  Occasionally.  Guard your tongue and temper. James 3:2  For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.  Be kind when others are wrong.  You will undoubtably be wrong again about something in the future.  Be kind.  Forgive.  Don’t let the ignorance of others cause you to sin. 

 I love you more than life.  A prayer I frequently pray is “Lord, I love you more than life.  I love you more than death.  I love you more than anything in between.”  His command to us is to love Him supremely.   Deuteronomy 6:5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.   I cannot honestly tell you I love the Lord as I should.  If I did, I would never be a glutton.  Or exceed the speed limit.  Or neglect the ministry I am equipped to do.  Or lust.  Or covet.  Or be deceitful.  Or have an unforgiving spirit. Or, or, or.  I could painfully go on and on, but it is too painful to confess I am not the Christian example I should be.  If you have arrived, I am happy for you.  Pray for me that I can be as holy as you are.  I still have a long way to go to be like Jesus.  So, whereas I cannot say I love Him as I should, I can also say I love my Saviour more than life, more than death, and more than anything in between.  You see I love life.  For the most part.  I enjoy so many things. Caressing my wife.  Being with my family.  Preaching.   Friends.  Ministry.  Writing. Driving.  Eating.  Snorkeling.  Riding my motorcycle.  In general, I love life.  I am so glad I am right with God.  Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus.  Do you trust Him too?  Then I can honestly say I love Him more than death.  Actually, I look forward to graduation.  I hope I can walk across the stage, (cross over that lonesome valley) with a smile on my face looking forward to seeing my Jesus.  I purpose in my heart to live for Him till I die but I am fully aware that I am capable of failing miserably if I do not discipline myself. I have a tough time keeping this old boy in line.  Death for the Christian is something to look forward to.  No more demons.  I started to say deacons but that wouldn’t be nice.  No more sickness.  No more pain.  No more separation.  No more of the misery this world is so capable of producing. Death instantly brings the Christian into the presence of Jesus. 2 Corinthians 5:8  We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. So, I love the reality that someday I must leave this present body.  Revelation 22:20 … Even so, come, Lord Jesus. Beam me up Jesus. I long to be with you.  I love all in between.  Even sickness.  I try to thank the Lord when I am sick because the majority of the time I am well.  In all things give thanks.  Do you love Him Supremely?  He gave His all for you.  Will you give your all to Him? 

 Keep them a little bit hungry.  A few years ago, I realized why our cats prefer my wife’s company over mine. When they were hungry, they showed affection (begged) to the one who fed them.  Now I feed them.  I get much more affection than I did in previous years.  I don’t neglect them on purpose, and they never miss a meal, but they let me know when they are hungry. It’s nice to be loved.  Our Heavenly Father wants us to show our affection to Him.  After all Jesus has redeemed us off of Satan’s auction block and adopted us into His family.  Galatians 4:5  To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.  Many of us tried to impress God by obeying His law in the Bible.  The only problem with that is none of us have kept all of His law.  We have all failed.  Jesus paid the penalty for our sins so when we repent and seek Him, He will save us.  He purchased us.  Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.  When redeemed we are adopted into His family. John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:  Many Christians today do not have to pray for our daily bread.  Matthew 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread.  I would like to be financially independent.  I still have to ask Jesus to supply our needs.  If I were financially secure, I may have the tendency to pray less.  To depend on Him less.  To serve Him less.  To not rub up against Him and purr in a spiritual sense. He promises to supply all we need if we put Him first.   Matthew 6:31-34  Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32  (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34  Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.  Are you seeking His will more than anything else in your life?  Our days to serve Him are numbered.  Please don’t waste them.  Ephesians 5:15-16  See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16  Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.  Do you need to love Him, serve Him and praise Him more?  Today is a good day to do it. 

 Valentines Day.  The story is a Christian named Valentine performed wedding ceremonies for Roman soldiers in secret against the kings wishes in the 3rd century.  Also, on February 14th in another year he sent a “love letter” to a girl he was in love with while in prison.  He was reportedly beaten, stoned, and beheaded because of his secret support of Christian marriages.  Today many in our society remember this as a special day to send love letters and give gifts to our sweetheart. The Bible speaks often about love. Jesus said: John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.  Do you realize that Jesus laid down His life so you could be saved?  He considered you His friend.  What a friend we have in Jesus.  How could a sinner such as I be loved to the degree He would call me His friend and die on the cross for me?  And you?  How do we deserve such love?  The answer: we don’t.  John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  Everlasting life.  What a gift.   Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. What manner love.  1 John 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. None of us can understand God’s love.  We can repent and accept it.  Or we can reject it and perish.  I choose to repent and receive it.  That made me a child of God.  John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: How unworthy we are. How wonderful He is.  How we should hurt for and pray for those who haven’t accepted His love.  If they only knew what they are missing. We are commanded to love one another.  John 13:34-35  A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. Do you love your church?  If you love the Lord, you will love your brothers and sisters in the Lord. With Jesus in your heart be rooted and grounded in love. Ephesians 3:17  That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, The deeper your roots grow in the Rock of Ages the more love will abound in your heart.  Love the unlovely.  After all Jesus loved you when you were unlovely.  I think I’ll take a minute and praise Jesus and thank Him for loving me.  Will you? 

 A fishy god.  The Philistines worshiped Dagon.  The statue had the head and hands of a man and the body of a fish. They rejected the God of Israel.  Paul tells us: Romans 1:21-23 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23  And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.   And among the images they worshiped was this fishy god. The Philistines in battle captured the Ark of the Covenant from Israel.  This wood box overlaid with gold was sacred.  The ten commandments, part of Aaron’s rod that budded and some manna were in it.  The top had two angels made of gold facing each other.  This was the mercy seat.  The Philistines put their “trophy” in the house of Dagon.  Early the next morning Dagon had fallen down with his face to the earth.  They set him back up.  I am so glad I don’t have to help my God get back up.  He never falls.  Yet He helps me when I fall.  The next morning not only was Dagon face down in the dirt, but his hands and head were cut off and only the stump was left.  1 Samuel 5:4 And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold; only the stump of Dagon was left to him.  Our God is a jealous God.  He instructs us to have no other God but Him. Exodus 34:14 For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God: Soon after this the Philistines sent the Ark back to Israel.  But they still worshiped Dagon.  When King Saul died in battle the Philistines fastened his head in the temple of Dagon. 1 Chronicles 10:10 And they put his armour in the house of their gods, and fastened his head in the temple of Dagon. Then years later after Sampson fell in sin Dagon was praised for giving them victory over the Israelites.    Judges 16:23-24 Then the lords of the Philistines gathered them together for to offer a great sacrifice unto Dagon their god, and to rejoice: for they said, Our god hath delivered Samson our enemy into our hand. 24  And when the people saw him, they praised their god: for they said, Our god hath delivered into our hands our enemy, and the destroyer of our country, which slew many of us. Shortly after God empowered Sampson to bring the house down killing more in his death than in his life.  Put Jesus first.  Things are just things.  Our relationship with Jesus is forever.  Have you trusted Him? 

 Stand or sit?  I had been introduced as the guest speaker for a revival service.  I had expressed my appreciation for being invited to preach that night.  I had asked them to open their Bible to the Scripture where I was going to preach. As I began my sermon, I read the first verse. All of a sudden while I was reading that verse there was loud commotion as all the people sprung to their feet.  It became obvious they were accustomed to standing up while the Bible was being read.  After I read the first verse, I told them they could sit back down. I was ready to explain that verse before moving on to the next verse.  I was hoping they would not stand each time I read a verse because they would be worn out by the end of the service.  Should the congregation stand during the reading of the Bible? Or is it okay to sit during the reading of the Word?  Different strokes for different folks.  What sayeth the Bible?   Nehemiah 8:5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up:  We see the worshipers in Jerusalem stand while Ezra read the Bible to them.  So, it certainly is Scriptural. However, verse 6 tells us they did something else.  Nehemiah 8:6  And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground. The same people who stood for the reading of the Word also lifted their hands, bowed their heads AND worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground. That is not an everyday occurrence in most churches.  Another example of having their face to the ground is 2 Chronicles 20:18  And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the LORD, worshipping the LORD.   The point I am trying to make is there are many different ways to worship our King.  You don’t have to stand just like you don’t have to lay on the floor. However, there are some people who think, “If you don’t do it the way I am accustomed to you are not as spiritual as I am.”  Then pride comes in.  Some churches have open communion.  Others have closed.  Some churches stand for 30 minutes to sing.  Others remain seated for most of the song service.  Some people believe in “irrestible grace” and others believe “whosoever will may come.”   Be careful that you don’t become spiritually proud.  Our Lord uses many different styles.  Show mercy not judgment.  Matthew 7:2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. Worship the Lord with joy in your heart without condemning those who worship the same Lord differently. 

 Stand up!  Classroom lessons in the Army Basic Infantry Combat Training were difficult to endure.  A room full of soldiers.  In the heat of August in El Paso, Texas.  No air conditioning. After lunch. Physically exhausted.  It was common for someone to nod off.  A Drill Instructor would quietly make his way so as to stand directly behind the sleepy recruit.  Then he would lean down and shout in his ear, “STAND UP!”  The poor trainee would jump to his feet at attention.  The trainees in the rows in front of the sleeper would not be aware the command was for this one soldier.  So, all the rows in front of him would jump to attention. This was comical for the troops behind the Drill Instructor. But then the troops behind the Drill Instructor realized they were the only ones in the room not standing.  So, they stood up too.  A preacher had a deacon who slept every Sunday in church. Very quietly the pastor whispered, “All of you who want to go to Heaven, quietly stand up.”  All the congregation stood up.  Except for the sleeping deacon.  When the people sat down the preacher whispered, “All of you who want to go to hell…STAND UP!!!”  The startled deacon jumped up. The congregation began laughing at him. He  looked around and said, “Well preacher I don’t know what we are voting on, but it looks like you and I are only ones for it.”  Stand up. Let’s look at some Bible verses that talk about standing.  1. You cannot stand up against God.  Some Jewish men looked into the sacred Ark of the Covenant. 1 Samuel 6:19-20 And he smote the men of Bethshemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD, even he smote of the people fifty thousand and threescore and ten men: and the people lamented, because the LORD had smitten many of the people with a great slaughter. 20  And the men of Bethshemesh said, Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God?...  You may mock God, the Bible, and God’s children but when you stand before Him you will bow in reverence. Isaiah 45:23 … That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.  God says:  Job 41:10 … who then is able to stand before me? 2. We should stand up and praise God. Nehemiah 9:5 Then the Levites… said, Stand up and bless the LORD your God for ever and ever... 3. We are to stand up for truth.  Ezekiel 22:30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none. 4. We are to let no man worship us. Acts 10:26  But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man. Be humble and meek.  Will you stand on God’s Word?  Stand faithfully till He calls us home. 

 The pearl. Wikipedia tells us  “All shelled mollusks can, by natural processes, produce some kind of "pearl" when an irritating microscopic object becomes trapped within its mantle folds.”  “It is thought that natural pearls form under a set of accidental conditions when a microscopic intruder or parasite enters a bivalve mollusk and settles inside the shell. The mollusk, irritated by the intruder, forms a pearl sac of external mantle tissue cells … to cover the irritant. This secretion process is repeated many times, thus producing a pearl.”  Reminds me of turning lemons into lemonade.  Life throws many irritants at us. How do we respond?  Jesus was often irritated by his enemies.  He told them the truth.  Even though it eventually killed Him. He was kind. (Most of the time.)  He didn’t argue with them after He stated the truth.  He let them live in their spiritual blindness if that was their desire.  May we stand up for the truth even though it is not popular.  The irritant within the mollusk is covered with a pearl sac.  Offenses are sure to come.  May we look to our Lord to help us with our struggles and have wisdom as to how to deal with them. While valuable down here pearls will be gates in the new heaven.  Revelation 21:21  And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold… How beautiful Heaven will be.  Jesus also tells us: Matthew 7:6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. Do not expect unbelievers to understand and enjoy the spiritual pearls we believers enjoy.  They scoff at His second coming. 2 Peter 3:3-4 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4  And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.  State the truth.  Don’t argue or try to force feed.  Accept the fact they can’t understand.  Pray for their salvation.  Jesus also tells us about a merchant who found one pearl of great price. Matthew 13:45-46  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: 46  Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.  It is true that when God’s Spirit is leading you to repent and receive Christ you should put aside every other thought and seek Him while you can.  He is the greatest pearl you can ever discover.  However, if you will, consider Jesus the merchant.  He finds a pearl and gives all He has to get it.  That pearl is you.  He loves you so much.  You are so precious to Him. Will you make Him as precious to you?  www.heretheword.com   
   
 
 
   

  The Shot.  Many of us old timers have a round scar on our arm where we were vaccinated against smallpox when we were in elementary school.  I can assure you I was not willing to have the shot. I had no choice.  Mean parents.  Mean school. My how I cried.  Of course, the vaccine may have saved my life but that made no difference to me back then.  The sugar cube polio vaccine was much better.  Through the years I have had many injections.  The Army.  What a nightmare. We walked naked in a line with medics on both sides jabbing us as we moved forward every few feet in the arms and in our hips.  What a nightmare. Again, I had no choice.  I volunteered. I still hate needles.  Let’s consider an infant.  He doesn’t understand the injection is for his own good.  All he knows is the person he trusts the most is allowing someone to jab him and inflect pain.  It’s the law.  A good law.  One of our great-grandsons has a rare disease which has required him to have blood drawn many times in the past few months.  I hurt for him.  He doesn’t understand.  How I wish I could take the needles for him.  Our lives have many unpleasant occurrences.  Sometimes we don’t appreciate the things Jesus allows in our lives.  At least I don’t.  Yet He is Lord and He knows what is best.  It is my responsibility to present myself at His service and yield to His leadership.  Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.Jesus suffered for my sin more than I can ever even imagine.  He loved me. As unlovely as I was.  As unlovely as I am.  He loves me.  He loves you.  He foretold through David 1000 years before it happened that He would be forsaken by the Father. Psalm 22:1 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?This prophesy was fulfilled in the year 33 A.D. when Jesus was on the cross.  Matthew 27:46  And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Jesus knew my sins, and your sins would kill Him.  The just for us the unjust.  When God the Father saw the pain our sin caused Jesus the Father actually looked away because it hurt Him so.  But Jesus arose.  Alive today to save those who hear, believe, repent, and call on Him for salvation.  He endured indescribable agony to redeem us.  May we faithfully follow Him till we graduate to Heaven And may we not complain in the meantime.  www.heretheword.com
 
 

 The tug of war.  Picture a long piece of rope being tugged by opposite teams to see who is the strongest.  Simple clean fun.  (Unless the losing team is dragged through a mud puddle).  Then it’s more fun.  Life is full of struggles.  Good verses evil.  God is made fun of by some for allowing evil to exist.  The Creator wants man to decide to love Him.  So, He gives us a choice.   You and I face temptations every day that remind us that the struggle is real.  Will we control our temper?  Will we turn the other cheek when insulted?  Will we control our thoughts?  Our appetites?  How about our tongue?  God says if you can control your tongue, you can control the rest of your body.  James 3:2 …If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.  God’s Holy Spirit lives in the heart of every born again Christian. Ephesians 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love. God’s Holy Spirit empowers us to resist temptation.  Satan’s dark powers are constantly waring against God’s will for our lives.  The battle is real.   Ephesians 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.Even angels wrestle with the powers of darkness.  Jude 1:9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. Moses was disobedient to God. Told to speak to the rock Moses struck the rock. Numbers 20:11 And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also. This temper tantrum cost him his ticket into the Promised Land.  Later when the Lord killed Moses Michael the archangel was sent to bury him.  The devil wanted the body.  Possibly to display it so the Israelites would pray to it instead of God.  Can you imagine praying to the dead?  Michael and the devil contended over the body of Moses.  Tug of war?  In a sense.  Finally, Michael did that which you and I should do.  He turned the struggle over to God saying, “The Lord rebuke thee.”  There are struggles you and I cannot win.  We must turn to Jesus and ask Him to handle our problems. He has the answer.  1 Peter 5:7  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.Do you trust Jesus enough to let Him bring you to victory?  And when He does give you victory, be sure and praise Him and give Him the credit.  He careth for you.  www.heretheword.com