To Tithe or Not To Tithe

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To Tithe or Not to Tithe

Next week our Sunday School class will be discussing Abram and Lot (Genesis 12–15:6). In the passage is the first mention of tithing in the Bible (Genesis 14:18-20). Since the last post was about giving, I thought this might be a good opportunity to talk about tithing. This is a little dangerous because I believe that many Christians struggle with the issue of tithing. I am sure that in some churches tithing is over-emphasized while in others it may be ignored completely. Giving is intended to be a joy, but many times that is not the case in the church today.
Here are a few thoughts on tithing. Both the Hebrew (ma`aser) and Greek (dekate) words for tithe mean a tenth. Did you ever wonder why God chose a tenth? In the Bible the number 10 means the whole or the entirety. The 10 commandments represent the whole law and the 10 lepers that were healed in Luke 17 represent all of mankind.
So by tithing 1/10 we are not just giving back 10% of our income to God, we are acknowledging that God is the owner of all that we possess. (Psalm 24:1)
This first mention of tithing in Genesis is about 400 – 500 years before tithing became part of the law (Leviticus 27:30-32). So the practice of tithing actually preceded the law by quite a few years.
Moving to the New Testament, we don’t see any reference to a legalistic tithe; however we see the early church giving far beyond the tithe (Acts 2:44-45) and we see Paul commending the Macedonians for their great generosity (2 Corinthians 8:1-5). Paul does state that believers should set aside a portion of their income in order to support the church (1 Corinthians 16:1-2) and giving is certainly encouraged throughout the New Testament.
So the question is: Is the tithe still relevant in today’s church? After all it was an Old Testament concept/law and we are not under law anymore, we are under grace. This is true, Praise God!
But, did you ever notice that when we move from law to grace the standard is always raised? The 10 commandments told us not to commit adultery or murder. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said that a lustful thought or harboring a hateful attitude in our heart is just as bad. Galatians 3:24 says that…”the law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ”. Could it be that the tithe is our tutor to lead us to giving?
So we don’t tithe today because of a legalistic law, we tithe because it serves as a physical demonstration of our commitment to God. It acknowledges His Lordship and His Ownership of all areas of our lives including our finances. If we believe that God owns everything and grace raised the standard from the law, then the 10% tithe could be the starting point for giving today and not the ending point.
We don’t give because the law tells us to; we give with pure motives and an attitude of worship to God and service. 2 Corinthians 9:7 says that “Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver”. We give because we love God, and the OT Tithe is a great school to lead us to cheerful giving today. – George Hutchison is a Board member of America’s Keswick and an instructor with Crown Financial
GPS – God’s Positioning System: Exodus 16-18; Psalm32; Proverbs 4
Compass Pointers: “What are believers saved from? From their former position under the wrath of God, the dominion of sin, and the power of death; from their natural condition of being mastered by the world, the flesh and the devil; from the fears that a sinful life engenders, and from the many vicious habits that were part of it. How are believers saved from these things? Through Christ, and in Christ. Our salvation involves first, Christ dying for us and second, Christ living in us and we living in Christ, united with Him in His death and risen life. This vital union, which is sustained by the Spirit from the divine side and by faith from our side, and which is formed in and through our new birth, presupposes covenantal union in the sense of our eternal election in Christ.” J I Packer
Navigation Rules: Level 1: Proverbs 5:21; Level 2: Proverbs 5:15-33 
Anchored to the Rock: “God shapes the world by prayer. The more prayer there is in the world the better the world will be, the mightier the forces of against evil …” E.M. Bounds

The End is Near

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The End Is Near…!
1 Peter 4:7 – 11
“But the end of all things is at hand…” (NKJV) What is the disciple to do? Peter, under the inspiration of God, addresses several things in this text that we should note:
(1)  “…therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.” The spiritual discipline of communication with our Heavenly Father is of utmost important in our walk with God. Do you have a specific time and place to practice the art of prayer?
(2)  “And above all things have fervent love for one another, for ‘love will cover a multitude of sin.’” Agape love is a matter of position and passion as it is not as much an emotion as a decision. This leads to forgiving others as we have been forgiven by Christ.
(3)  “Be hospitable to one another without grumbling…” The discipline of guarding the unity and love of the body is important in the perilous last days.
 
(4)  “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another…” The pastor in the pulpit is the “equipper” while all believers are the ministers (Eph. 4:11 & 12). Are you being a good steward of the manifold grace of God by implementing the spiritual gifts that He has granted you?
(5)  “…speak as the oracles of God…” The tongue is a serious weapon (James 3). How do you speak as the words that are uttered from the lips reveal what is in the heart (Luke 6:45)?
(6)  “…minister…with the ability God supplies” God has called you as His disciple to minister as light and salt in your world (Mt. 5:13 – 15). How is your testimony for Him?
 
The purpose in all of this: “…that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
Yes, the end is near…nearer than when God inspired Peter to write these words. We are closer to the end than any time in human history. Are we living like it? –Dr. Joe Olachea is Senior Pastor of Lakes Community Chapel in Medford, NJ
GPS – God’s Positioning System: Exodus 13-15; Psalm 31; Proverbs 3
Compass Pointers: Christians are not to give way to “eschatological frenzy” but to practice self-control and be active in prayer. Peter had set a negative example in his failure to watch and pray in the Garden (Matt. 26:40-41). – Edwin Blum
Navigation Rules: Level 1: Proverbs 5:21; Level 2: Proverbs 5:15-23 
Anchored to the Rock: You never know how much you really believe anything until its truth or falsehood becomes a matter of life and death to you. – C.S. Lewis

Mind Your Own Business

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Mind Your Business
“But we encourage you brothers, to do so even more, to seek to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands …” I Thessalonians 4:10-11
Yesterday I shared the above verse with you and we talked about Jonathan Sperry and how he molded a quiet life. I hope you identified some of those people in your life.
I love how Paul cuts right to the chase and gave this admonition: mind your own business! What he is really saying is “doesn’t be a busybody.”

You’ve met them. They have the spiritual gift of getting into everybody’s business and seem to thrive on it. Remember the sitcom character, Mrs. Kravitz? She was so into making sure she knew everything about her neighbors. It was almost like she had bugged their house to gain her information.

Most times we think of the women being busybodies. But I have met some men who are really good at it. They feel the need to be in the know. Sometimes they use the “how can I pray for you” to pump you for the information they hunger for.

And it doesn’t take long for us to know when we are around a busybody – sooner or later we find ourselves navigating away from them.

Paul wants us to lead simple, quiet lives and to mind our own business. It doesn’t mean we don’t care for people. But sometimes we really spin our wheels trying to keep up on things that we really don’t need to be bothered with.

Maybe you struggle with this issue in your life. Well guess what, repent. Run to the cross. And through Christ learn this principle – mind your own business. You will be much happier and maybe have more time to really care about the people that God brings across your path. – Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s Keswick
GPS – God’s Positioning System: Exodus 10-12; Psalm 29; Proverbs 2
Compass Pointers: You who have yielded so readily to your friend’s persuasion and have joined him in doing wrong, you know not how many times a very little resistance would have saved both him and yourself. You know not how many times he was hesitating already and would have drawn back altogether if you had but given him an opening to do so. You know not how often at the very time he was arguing with you, he was in reality arguing against his own conscience and might have been turned back with ease if you had not given way. Frederick Temple

Navigation Rules: Level 1: Proverbs 5:21; Level 2: Proverbs 5: 15-21
Anchored to the Rock: No one is a firmer believer in the power of prayer than the devil; not that he practices it, but he suffers from it. ~Guy H. King

The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry

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The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry
“But we encourage you brothers, to do so even more, to seek to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands …” I Thessalonians 4:10-11
I watched a really good DVD with Jan on Saturday night. The movie probably won’t get much attention, but it was very powerful. It is called THE SECRETS OF JONATHAN SPERRY … What He Teaches Them … Will Last Forever. I want to commend it to you and recommend it to you to watch.
Jonathan Sperry (play by Love Boat’s Captain, Gavin Macloed) is a senior citizen who is living a quiet life as Paul talked about in today’s verse. A widower, Jonathan goes about life living it for God’s glory.

During the movie he meets three young boys and quietly begins to mentor and teach them by the example of his own life. Using very simple, but practical situations, Jonathan teaches how to deal with difficult people, how to deal with anger, and what it means to be kind to one another despite the opposition.

As I was watching the movie, I couldn’t help but think of some of the “Jonathan Sperry’s” in my life growing up. Walt Reiman, a very unassuming man who taught our Primary Department Boy’s Sunday School class. He used stick figure drawings to illustrate his lessons, and often invited us to his house to play marbles or some other fun game. Walt Reiman led Dr. Howard Hendricks to the Lord!

Woody Adcock was a professional business man who took over our Junior Department Sunday School class. His goal was to get his “boys” to memorize Bible verses so that they could go to camp. Every one of us HAD to memorize the verses. We thought that camp was the goal, but we soon realized that what he really wanted was for us to hide God’s Word in our hearts. Little did we know then the impact that Woody’s life had on so many in the Christian business world.
Carl Shoemaker was another Christian business man who taught me how to do the Boy Scout handshake. He was the superintendent of our Junior Sunday School department. He had huge influence in the business world, yet was a humble servant who invested in our lives as kids. He and his dear wife, Gertie, encouraged and pushed me to develop my gifts, always reminding me the importance of living for and serving the Lord
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And the list could go on and on. But the thing that struck me, is that I am now at the age that these men were when they were encouraging me. Like Jonathan Sperry, we need to look for ways to mentor and encourage other young men to love and live for the Lord. This kind of mentoring is biblical. Ask yourself the question: Who can I invest my life in today? – Bill Welte is President of America’s Keswick
GPS – God’s Positioning System: Exodus 7-9; Psalm 29; Proverbs 1
Compass Pointers: It’s never right to do the wrong thing. – Pastor Dave Rittinger
Navigation Rules: Level 1: Proverbs 5:21; Proverbs 5:15-23
Anchored to the Rock: Hurry is the death of prayer. Samuel Chadwick

Seek First His Kingdom

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Seek First the Kingdom of God
James 5:2 – 3, Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. (NKJV)
In this epistle of practical Christian living James addresses several issues that are a struggle for the follower of Christ. God inspires him to speak of trials, the tongue, the danger of faith without works, and, in our text, idolatry.  

This passage is not a diatribe against anyone having possessions as there have been many in Scripture and throughout church history that God has blessed with what we would call “wealth.”  Rather, this is about the heart of those who worship their achievements over God.  In fact, much like the rich young ruler that Jesus addressed in the Gospels, these well to do hold their possessions as God. God’s Word warns them that, “you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter” – a dire warning to all who love the things of this world.
This passage ties in with chapter 1:9 – 11 which states, “Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits.”  Here is the reversal that we find in The Kingdom of God. It is those who are “poor in spirit” (Mt. 5:3) who will be exalted by God rather than those who are successful in the eyes of the world if their hearts are not right before God.
It is so easy for the disciple of Christ to lose sight of what is important. May we be challenged and convicted by the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” – Dr. Joe Olachea is Senior Pastor of Lakes Community Chapel, Medford, NJ and a regular Freedom Fighter contributor
GPS – God’s Positioning System: Exodus 4-6; Psalm 28; Proverbs 31
Compass Pointers: American evangelicals are wealthy, satiated, and at ease. So the appeal of James resounds across the centuries to our ears. We must open our eyes to the Scriptures and our ears to God…Our failure to act, says James, is a sin more grievous than we have imagined. – David Nystrom

Navigation Rules: Level 1: Proverbs 5:21; Level 2: Proverbs 5:15-23
Anchored to the Rock: “Idolatry” is the practice of seeking the source and provision of what we need either physically or emotionally in someone or something other than the one true God. It is the tragically pathetic attempt to squeeze life out of lifeless forms that cannot help us meet our real needs. – Scott Hafemann

Himself

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HIMSELF
“Christ is all, and in all!” Colossians 3:11

Last Sunday I had the privilege of speaking at a church which was a little “out of my box” in terms of worship style and form. It is a very evangelical church and the service was very liturgical and orderly.

The one thing that impressed me about the service was this – the service was not about a worship team, it wasn’t about impressing people with the latest technology – the service was all about HIM! Every Scripture read, every hymn that was sung, every prayer centered on the worship of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

A. B. Simpson, the great alliance preacher, was also an amazing hymnwriter who not only wrote the music but also the hymn texts. I came across this obscure hymn text that nails the purpose of our worship each Lord’s day – Him and Him alone.

Himself

Once it was blessing – Now it is the Lord!

Once it was feeling – Now it is His Word!
Once His gifts I wanted – Now the Giver own.
Once I sought for healing – Now Himself alone!
Once ‘twas plainful trying – Now its perfect trust!
Once a half salvation – Now the uttermost!
Once ‘twas ceaseless holding – Now He holds me fast!
Once ‘twas constant drifting – Now my anchor’s cast!
Once ‘twas busy planning – Now it’s trustful prayer.
Once ‘twas anxious caring – Now He has the cure.
Once ‘twas what I wanted – Now what Jesus says.
Once ‘twas constant asking – Now its ceaseless praise.
Once it was my working – His it hence shall be.
Once I tried to use Him – Now He uses me.
Once the power I wanted – Now the Mighty One.
Once for self I labored – Now for Him alone.

Once I hoped for Jesus – Now I know He’s mine!
Once my lamps were dying – Now they brightly shine!
Once for death I waited – Now His coming hail!
And my hopes are anchored – safe within the veil.
Refrain
All in all forever, Jesus will I sing!
Everything in Jesus, and Jesus everything!

Wow! Today is not about you! It isn’t about so much about the style or form of worship. The focus of our praise today is just one – HIM and HIM alone! May Jesus Christ be praised. – Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s Keswick

GPS – God’s Positioning System: Exodus 1-3; Psalm 27; Proverbs 30
Compass Pointers: The soul hardly ever realizes it, but whether he is a believer or not, his loneliness is really a homesickness for God. Hubert van Zeller

Navigation Rules: Level 1: Proverbs 5:21; Level 2: Proverbs 5:15-23
Anchored to the Rock: Doubtful prayer is no prayer at all. John Calvin

Scripture Navigation: Introduction

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Systematic Navigation: Introduction 

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”      2 Tim 3:16-17 (KJV) 

I am getting myself into some waters with the studying of God’s Word that just might have me going beyond knee deep. “Systematic Theology” by Wayne Grudem is a book that I have decided to spend the rest of this year with considering it is at least 1300 pages thick. Our Tuesday night men’s Bible study went through his much smaller book on the subject titled, “Christian Beliefs; 20 basics every Christian should know”. That book is a glancing look at this bigger book but it raised questions that needed to be looked at further. And since we all should be learning how to be “Navigating Life Biblically” this year, I thought it would be good for me to see how to view it systematically as well.  

Professor John Frame’s (Westminster Seminary) definition goes as follows: Systematic theology is any study that answers the question, “What does the whole Bible teach us today?” about any given topic. So what this definition would entail is to have a topic that needs to be understood and navigate through all of the Bible, collect those passages that are relevant and summarize what they teach so that we know what to believe about each topic. Charles Hodges puts it in this way, “So the Bible contains the truths which the theologian has to collect, authenticate, arrange, and exhibit in their internal relation to each other.” He goes on to add, “This is not an easy task, or one of slight importance.” Either way I do believe the whole of the Bible can speak to every need that the human condition brings up. 

The last thing we need is a disorganized theology to apply in our everyday living. We certainly don’t want to speak from the prophetic books of the Bible to address our everyday family living. I made the mistake of rebuking my son with passages from Ezekiel early in my Christian walk and totally lost him…then I lost myself. But if we were to say to someone, “the Bible says that Jesus is coming again” we can go into those prophetic books to bring a systematic point to that statement. And whether we realize it or not most present day Christians are looking at their Bible reading in a systematic way. “The Bible Promise Book” is a fine example of what I am talking about. You can go into the table of contents and look for an issue that you are dealing with and find various Bible passages that are directed specifically for that issue. 

In Hodges’ introduction to his book he writes, “It may naturally be asked, why not take the truths as God has seen fit to reveal them, and thus save ourselves the trouble of showing their relation and harmony?” Well one of the four answers he gives is quite simply, “The answer to this question is, in the first place, that it cannot be done. Such is the constitution of the human mind that it cannot help endeavoring to systematize and reconcile the facts which it admits to be true.” 

So let’s keep in mind that there may be a large number of topics out there to dive into but, as Grudem puts it, “It is Scripture alone, not “conservative evangelical tradition” or any other human authority, that must function as the normative authority for the definition of what we should believe.” We have to keep the basic reason to a systematic approach to God’s Word as a means of obedience to our Lord’s command. 

The benefits to studying the Bible in a systematic theological way can help us in three ways. We overcome those rebellious ideas that, for example, maybe Jesus isn’t coming back. It can help us be able to make better decisions on new questions of doctrine. You never know when someone has come into your church “stealthy” as a wolf in sheep’s clothes. But more importantly it can help us grow as Christians. 

The Bible frequently connects sound doctrine with maturity in the lives of Christians. It was with confidence that we find Paul speaking of “the teaching which accords with godliness” (1 Tim. 6:3) or his work as an apostle of Jesus Christ is “to further the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth which accords with godliness” (Titus 1:1). I hope you all keep on navigating as the year goes on. – Chris Hughes is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and a Freedom Fighter contributor 

GPS – God’s Positioning System: Genesis 48-50; Psalm 26; Proverbs 29
Compass Pointers: What does the Bible teach about husband-wife relationships? About raising children? About witnessing to a friend at work? What principles does Scripture give us for studying psychology, or economics, or the natural sciences? How does it guide us in spending money, or in saving, or in tithing? In every area of inquiry certain theological principles will come to bear, and those who have learned well the theological teachings of the Bible will be much better able to make decisions that are pleasing to God.” – Wayne Grudem

Navigation Rules: Level 1: Proverbs 4:18; Level 2: Proverbs 4:20-27
Anchored to the Rock: Before we can pray, ‘Thy kingdom come’, we must be willing to pray, ‘My kingdom go.’ Alan Redpath

Using Scripture to Battle Temptation

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Using Scripture To Battle Temptation
One of the tools that we use at the Colony of Mercy to teach the men to use when battling temptation is the power of using God’s Word. Jesus Himself used Scripture to do battle with the tempter when He was in the wilderness.
The men of our program memorize one verse a day during their time in the Colony. That means that at the end of the program, they have 120 verses from God’s Word tucked away in their hearts and minds.
There are hundreds of verses that you can use to do battle when you are facing temptation. And we all do – and if you don’t, please write me!!!

Stormie Omartian has a simple list to help us from her book The Power of a Praying Life (Harvest House):

When I am tempted to immorality: “This is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God.” 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5
When I am tempted to lie: “A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who speaks lies will not escape.” Proverbs 19:5
When I am tempted to disobey God: “Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of evil.” Proverbs 4:14
When I am tempted to give in to lustful thoughts: “The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, but the unfaithful will be caught by their lust.” Proverbs 11:6
When I am tempted to think that no one will know: “There is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give an account.” Hebrews 4:13

When I am tempted to go with my feelings: “He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but whoever walks wisely will be delivered.” Proverbs 28:26

Here are a couple other passages to consider for your arsenal: 1 Corinthians 10:13; James 1:14-15; 1 Timothy 6:9-10; 1 Peter 5:8-9; Romans 6:11-14.

You get the gist. The old saying is true – fail to plan, plan to fail. His Word is able to keep you and me from being another statistic. – Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s Keswick

GPS – God’s Positioning System: Genesis 46-47; Proverbs 28; Psalm 25

Compass Pointers: We have assigned the obligations of our faith to a few while keeping the privileges for us all. from Radical by David Platt

Navigation Rules: Level 1: Proverbs 4:18; Level 2: Proverbs  4:20-27
Anchored to the Rock: When thou prayest, rather let thy heart be without words than thy words without a heart. John Bunyan

Wicked Fleas

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Wicked Fleas
Proverbs 28:1 The wicked flee when no one pursues, But the righteous are bold as a lion.
I first became attracted to this verse as a boy through a twist of its actual meaning.  I would tell my friends about these horrible wicked fleas the Bible talked about.  They actually pursued people!  (In case you don’t know me, I do have a strange sense of humor, right Bill?)
Interestingly, this verse has become to me one of great spiritual insight.  I have found it to be true in so many situations that it becomes a bit fearful.  God’s truth does apply to all ages and all times and even all situations.  I have found in counseling that so many times the root of the problem lies here.
The verse teaches us that the reason the wicked flee is because they always think someone is doing the thing they themselves are doing. While they are lying in wait to attack someone, they suddenly think, “But what if someone is lying in wait for me?” and so they flee when in reality no one is there. In other words, they are lying, so they assume that others are lying.  They cheat on their spouse so they accuse their spouse of cheating on them.  They cheat the government so they think others are cheating them.  They accuse others of judging, being insincere, doing things for man’s praise, giving for personal gain, manipulation, etc. etc. when the one guilty of these things is themselves.
So many of my counseling opportunities arise because an individual is doubting what another is doing.  On further inquiry I often would find that the doubting individual is doing the very thing they accuse the other of.  I think of people who have trouble trusting their spouse, or children or co-workers.  Could it be that they themselves are the untrustworthy ones to consider.
I often talk with my congregation about faithfulness.  I illustrate the point by saying, what if I told you that I had been faithful to my wife for 22 years.  WOW, they might respond until some reflected, wait, you have been married for 23 years!  All those years crash down as worthless because we are charged to FINISH well!  By the way, I can say (to stop any rumors) I have been faithful to my wife ALL the years, month, days, hours, minutes and seconds or our marriage, at this writing almost 24 years.  My wife and I never have those times of mistrust because each of us strive hard to maintain faithfulness in and of ourselves, and so don’t have misgivings about the faithfulness of the other.
In my own life this verse reminds me to be careful in my dealings with others.  Why do I doubt the honesty of others?  Have I been dishonest with others?  Do I doubt someone’s genuineness?  Do I doubt their spirituality?  Perhaps I need to be sure of my own ground before judging another’s.
What of you “Freedom Fighter”?  When you look into the perfect law of liberty, what do you find staring back at you?  A sincere Christian who is faithful in all his dealings, or a hypocrite who does not live by the standards he imposes on others?  Are you fleeing when no one pursues?
Or the next time someone accuses you of impropriety, disingenuousness, dishonesty or unfaithfulness, perhaps you should point them to the Word and ask why they are fleeing.  Jesus is right as always when He says, “The Truth shall set you free”.  The Bible, like the flea collar for dogs,” Advantage” causes the wicked fleas to flee.  Be sure to apply daily! –Paul Ort is Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church of Egg Harbor, NJ

GPS – God’s Positioning System: Genesis 43-45; Proverbs 27; Psalm 24
Compass Pointers: I will place no value on anything I have or I may possess, except in relation to the kingdom of Christ. – David Livingstone
Navigation Rules: Level 1: Proverbs 4:18; Level 2: Proverbs 4:20-27
Anchored to the Rock: He who runs from God in the morning will scarcely find him the rest of the day. John Bunyan

All God Ever Wanted

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ALL GOD EVER WANTED
“I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy.”  (Psalm 116:1)

            I trusted in Jesus when just a child.  I was faithful through the early years but drifted in my teens.  By the time I was in my late twenties I was a drug addict.  After losing my marriage, my home, my career, my health, and my dignity, I entered a Christian rehab.  I was a long way from the little boy who walked with Jesus, but at least I knew the truth.
            A rehab isn’t where you dream of going when you’re growing up, but I actually enjoyed it.  Because I seemed happy and knew a lot about the Bible people looked up to me.  Lots of people thought that I was one of the ones that were going to make it.  I wasn’t so sure.  In fact, I knew what would happen. It would be only a matter of weeks, maybe days, and I would fall.  I always did. But I desperately didn’t want to. 

            So one night, I decided to settle it.  I spent the night in the chapel trying to give my will to God.  I surrendered all.  Again and again, I surrendered all.  I asked Him to make me an angel, or a tree, or anything that would obey him.  He’s God, isn’t he?  I remember laying there and begging him to slay me.  Hours passed and I realized that He hadn’t done a thing.  If I wanted to I could walk right out and do as I pleased.  That’s when I cried out, “Why won’t you do this?”  And that’s when I heard it.  In a voice that was not my own, God said, “Because then you can’t love me.”  Those six words changed my life.  I understood in a moment what most of the world has missed.  God wants to be loved. 

            Maybe today is a day to start over.  For all of us, I mean. (I’ve been faithfully serving God for fifteen years now.)  Maybe today we can see things as they really are.  As they always have been.  God loves you with the core of His being.  It’s something that he thinks about all the time.  It’s the way he feels inside.  Is it really so shocking that He craves your love?  It’s all He ever wanted anyway. Chris Thompson, and his family serve as missionaries in England. Chris is a dear friend and a graduate of the Colony of Mercy
GPS – God’s Positioning System: Genesis 41-42; Proverbs 26; Psalm 23
Compass Pointers: What God may hereafter require of you, you must not give yourself the least trouble about. Everything He gives you to do, you must do as well as ever you can, and that is the best possible preparation for what He may want you to do next. If people would but do what they have to do, they would always find themselves ready for what came next. George Macdonald

Navigation Rules: Level 1: Proverbs 4:18; Level 2: Proverbs 4:2-27
Anchored to the Rock: Cold prayers shall never have any warm answers. Thomas Brooks