Learning To Rest in God’s Faithfulness

Recently two kittens showed up at our home, abandoned. Try as we might, we were unable to find a home for them. None of us could bear the thought of taking them to the pound, which was our only option, so Mittens and Missy moved into our garage. These little fluffs of fur are sweet and lovable; some of the most trusting pets I have owned.

Our dog Teddy spotted the kitties first, when he treed one. Nice welcome to the neighborhood, I know. Teddy is a high-energy miniature doxi-poo and at first, wanted nothing more than to catch our new friends, who quickly learned to avoid him like the plague. Over time, Teddy realized they were here to stay, and accepted them, unfortunately wanting to play with them, which to the kittens looked forever like wanting to eat them.

Leaving the house this afternoon, I spotted Teddy – who was unable to leave the borders of the yard due to his shock collar – barking and staring down Missy, who with great fortitude had ended up on the far side of the boundary line. Her hair stood up and it was clear she was terrified, but she dared not move. I approached her and she trustingly came and let me pick her up, relaxing a bit in my arms. As I moved past Teddy, to return her to the safety of the garage, she began to panic. She knew I had her but she also knew the dangerous dog was jumping at her and the fear overwhelmed her gentle trusting nature toward me. She began to claw trying everything to jump out of the safety of my arms.

Wanting to calm her anxiousness, I placed her on the ground, knowing by now Teddy was just wanting to play. It did not go well. In her terror, she hissed and clawed him, completely overcome with anxiety.

Seconds later, she was safe in the garage out of Teddy’s reach and I had time to consider. As believers we rest safely in the arms of the Father, but when we encounter great trials in this life, do we continue to remain there?

When sheer terror arises, do we feel the need to flee, or continue walking by faith? We can rest assured that God is not surprised and will not leave us abandoned. If He calls us to a place of difficulty, He will give us what we need to remain faithful in it. In His will is the safest place to be. Remember dear child of God that He sees all, and knows all. He has a plan to prosper you, and He will ultimately be glorified. You can always rest in that fact.

Jeremiah 29:11 says, “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”

Embracing the Fruit of Suffering

As I read about 2 churches in the small town of Emmett, ID that an arsonist burned Saturday, it stuck me that trials are the times when followers of Jesus shine brightest. Difficulties provide opportunities to show love in very tangible ways. Others can see our faith so much better when it’s tested. A believer’s authentic faith, when enduring trials, is undeniable. As James said in James1:2-4 (ESV), “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

Perhaps this hits home more because of the suffering of Saeed Abedini. It breaks my heart to see a fellow believer, being so mistreated for Christ. And yet I see in Naghmeh, his wife, such constant faith and steadfast love for others in the midst of her own excruciating pain. What a blessing we are able to be if we will choose in our most dire situations to raise our hands to Jesus and say, “Your will rather than mine, Lord!” Others are blessed and encouraged to themselves cling to Jesus in their difficulties.

Often our trials are intended for those who don’t know the Lord as their personal savior to be able to witness a dramatic different response to pain!  When we glorify God, as Job did, during our distress, others will be drawn to Him. They will see His miraculous power shining through us, and be drawn to that light and life!

Not only does it draw others and encourage other believers when they see our hearts be right before God in times of distress; but it encourages God. Yes I really did say that. God tells us time and again in scripture that he allows trials to come into our lives to see how we will respond. Does He know how? Yes. He knows all. But there is still a very real part of God’s character that wants to see our faith lived out. And faith isn’t proven unless their is hardship.

I remember the first time the Lord spoke that truth to my heart. I did not want to hear it. I was too young spiritually to understand and I had my first disagreement with the Living God. I said, but Lord, this is what I want and it is a righteous choice, and you could make it happen, and it will just be far to painful if you don’t allow my will here. He whispered to my heart this truth, that everyone must suffer. It’s just a matter of how that will come. It is a requirement of this life, though. We ended that conversation with me still not understanding why I would have to suffer. I hadn’t been perfect, I knew that, but I had honored God, and loved Him as completely as I knew how. I was dedicated to Him when most everyone around me didn’t bother. So why did I have to have this pain. This one thing that mattered taken away? I didn’t understand then, but I do now. I can’t say that I have learned to love the idea of suffering, but I can say I have found that I love the fruits of the spirit that it always produces in those who truly love God. Patience, kindness, compassion, gentleness, peace that is incomprehensible – when we choose to hand the pain to the Lord.

I will add that there are times that suffering does not produce immediate fruit. It grows faster if you submit to the Lord willingly.

If you can’t love the suffering, and few of us can, then at least strive to see the good that comes from it. God indeed works all things for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

The greater the suffering, the more glory He will receive. Lets learn to develop a theology of suffering that in the very least embraces the changes brought about in the process. Praise Jesus!

Jesus Knows and Cares

It seems to me that God uses “unit studies” to train us; currently I am observing one of suffering.  The persecuted church, many with disease, the death of loved ones…  It is good then to know that the God I serve is not a far removed God, but one who understands each and every form of suffering intimately, and cares deeply for us in our times of pain.

Isaiah 53:3-6 speaks of Jesus, “He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

I can’t think of a single type of suffering Jesus did not personally endure.  He was rejected by those He loved, mocked, abused – beaten in fact beyond the point of even appearing human, and ultimately crucified in the most gruesome way known to the Roman world, on a cross!  

Jesus cried when his dear friend Lazarus died.  Even though He was about to raise him back to life, he still allowed Himself to feel the grief and pain of not only personally losing a loved one, but walking through the suffering with dear friends who were grieving the loss of their brother.  

But His greatest suffering must have come when he permitted every sin of the world, all at once, to come upon Himself.  He assumed our guilt.  Each of us know the suffering of wrong personal choices. Imagine being held responsible for Every Single Person Who Ever Lived’s wrong choices!  Jesus bore the whole world’s sin while hanging in physical agony on that cross.  What a burden of suffering that must have been!  And then to have even His Heavenly Father be unable to abide with Him, but turn His back.  In his absolute darkest hour.  Alone.

Our Savior is indeed well acquainted with suffering, and He promises to never leave us or forsake us.  He will walk trough every moment of pain we will ever endure, right beside us.  He will never abandon us.  We have a mediator in Christ, who is always present!  He understands our pain, and wants to carry the burden for us.  We need only release it to Him and trust Him, that in our suffering He is working good.  He has a plan and a purpose for each of us.  Perhaps it is through the sufferings we encounter that we begin to look more like the one we love, more like Jesus.

God’s Word Is True Even When The Truth Is Hard To Hear

Many Christians seem uncomfortable with the harder truths of God’s word.  If you don’t think this true, try telling a few believing friends that you have a close friend or family member who passed away, who it seemed did not have a personal relationship with Jesus. You may find yourself shocked at the responses.  God’s word says that unless we place our faith in Jesus, we will not be with Him in Heaven, but rather will be eternally in Hell. Many Christians try to say otherwise when an unbelieving loved one passes on. I can understand the desire to have everyone reach eternal happiness.  Really I can.  But our desire to make something so, does not make it so. 

Here is just a sampling of the strong statements Jesus himself made about the necessity of our faith being in Him alone!

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”  John 3:16-21

 

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”  John 14:6

“And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”  Mark 16:15

Jesus disciples said:

“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”  John 3:36

”Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son.  And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.  Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.”  John 5:10-12

“Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” John 6:68-69

“This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.  And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”  Acts 4:11-12

“Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.  If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.”  2 John 1:9-11

Judgment and Hell are inarguable Biblical truths; unless you choose to discount the very words of God and believe His Word to be errant, or thoroughly untrue; at which time, I would argue you are not a follower of the only Living God who inspired every last word of the Bible.

Some scriptures dealing with these strong concepts are:

“and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. “ John 5:29

“and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”  Revelations 20:10

“And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done.  Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.  And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”  Revelations 20:13-15

I am uncertain whether it is a lack of Biblical knowledge that leads Christians to think everyone has a decent chance of reaching Heaven.  This could be a result of years of unchecked heretical Bible teaching in our Christian universities.  Or it might be caused by a lack of personal Bible study.   Or maybe, and in my opinion perhaps most concerning, is that it may be due to a willingness to pick and choose what we personally believe in the Bible.  God’s Word is exactly that.  God’s Word!  It is never man’s position to place himself as judge of the Living God!  Even if something makes no sense to us, we cannot change truth.  If we attempt to, do we think we will escape God’s judgment??  God judges us, not vice versa! 

While researching a passage in Isaiah 3, I came across a sermon by an eastern Idaho pastor named Bob Davis. It is one of the most poignant and powerful messages I have heard in years. Please take a few minutes, listen and let God speak.  
Here is the link to blueletterbible.org’s page. Click on Bob Davis Isaiah 3-4 to stream the sermon.
http://www.blueletterbible.org/audio_video/comm_topic.cfm?authorID=27&commInfo=45&groupID=24&commTopic=Isaiah&SeriesOrder=3

Whiter Than Snow

I awoke in the middle of the night to snow falling rapidly.  The sight was so lovely; I could not make myself head straight back to bed.  It brought to mind Isaiah 1:18.  “Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.” ESV
Looking out at the perfectly white blanket, which now covered my yard, I rejoiced at the image of God’s cleansing of our sins.  The blowing snow had dusted everything, even under our covered patio.  There were no blemishes anywhere.  All was perfection.  Anything the kids and animals had left in the yard had miraculously vanished beneath the mounds of white.  Winter gardens, which had lost their loveliness, now glowed with a clean, radiant beauty.  
Psalm 51:7 says, “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”
Jesus payment at the cross for our sins cleanses us of all unrighteousness!  We are no longer our sins, but we have become His righteousness.  What a beautiful mystery!  What an incomparable gift!   

Choosing a Better Way

I look around and am discouraged with the moral state of our world.  The morality of our country is appalling!  Cities like Las Vegas are hot spots and favorite destinations of the masses.  I can hardly STAND to set my foot in the city personally!  The blatant immorality only scratches the surface of the wickedness the town encourages and they aren’t even ashamed of their choices!  “Sin City” is their chosen pet name.  “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” is their favorite slogan.  Some time ago, they spent millions of dollars advertising around the country.  I guess corrupting the blind folks who chose independently to venture their direction wasn’t enough.  They had to actually PROMOTE it to the masses.  Have they no fear of God?   Maybe they do, in some sense.  That could explain the rampant alcohol consumption; people trying to forget they will be held accountable.  Or maybe they have had such awful lives, often due to their own sins and the sins of their elders, that they are trying to numb everything out of their consciousness.

Alcoholism is rampant in my husband and my families.  Rampant!  I thank God for my parents who decided early on in their lives to avoid the stuff all together.  Dad’s decision was led by his wonderful father, a lifetime pastor, who had been a tea totting man his entire life.  In his wisdom he saw this as a way to live out his righteousness, and Dad thankfully followed suit.  About the same time, Mom wisely chose restraint, and committed to avoiding alcohol after witnessing firsthand the destruction of the demon drink.   Every one of her 5 siblings formed early addictions to the stuff; this after watching their father behave atrociously due to frequent intoxication, which led to his marriage’s demise, and the altogether absence of their father.   

My husband, who grew up in a faithless home, showed uncommon resolve at a young age.  No moral direction was given, but there were plenty of poor examples shown.  You know you have a child rearing problem when the teen is the one refusing alcohol, and getting flak from some of the family.  Keith was wise enough to see incredibly destructive patterns connected with alcohol.  I think God just opened His eyes, and I am thankful!  He realized he needed to not drink with family, and that was his motto, much to the amusement of said family.  He soon discovered he needed to not drink at all.  Thank you, Jesus!  

It’s sad to see brilliant people (I couldn’t count the geniuses in our families on one hand – as a matter of fact, I probably couldn’t with both hands) who waste some of their intellect by killing brain cells with addictive substances.  I suppose that shows it to be a true addiction.  These people are far too smart to let this happen, but bad choices early on soon became addictive behaviors that they struggle with their entire lives.   And sometimes lives are shortened.  My sister-in-law died this summer from alcoholism.  She left behind an eight year old son.  Incredibly sad!  The cause of death on the death certificate is listed as Alcoholism, and everyone in the family knows this, but has anyone stopped drinking?  No.   I wonder if her son, will be wise enough to see the drinking that goes on around him daily, and chose a better, healthier path for himself.  Or will he, like the rest of the brilliant sheep, pursue the same path that leads to destruction? 

In Matthew 7:13-14 Jesus says, “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”  He is speaking of following Him, but pointing out this is not the easy path to take.  I would absolutely agree!  It is not easy to choose to follow Jesus!  And there are days when doing so, continues to be difficult.  But I would also propose that it is in this following of Jesus that we gain true life.  Primarily, and most importantly our faith in Jesus death and resurrection as payment for our sins provides us eternal life.  This faith in Jesus then leads us to a desire to know Him, and gives us a desire to understand His will for our life.  We chose to study scriptures, and learn what He would have for us to do.  He guides us in ways that not only glorify Him, but give us abundant life here on earth.

Psalm 23 says,

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
²     He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
³     He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
    for his name’s sake.

⁴ Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
    I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
    your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

⁵ You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.

         I in no way mean to imply the health and wealth philosophy of name it and claim it.  What I do mean is that when God says not to do something, it is because He has our best interest in mind.  When He says to do something, He is protecting us.  He made us!  He knows us better than we know ourselves, and He wants what is healthy and good for us.  So as we follow Him, even though the path is hard at times, and we are guaranteed to suffer for His Name, we also will enjoy the benefit of knowing sin to be sin.  We have the gift of God’s word which leads us in all wisdom and truth.  He directs us in the way we should go!  For instance, Romans 12:9 says, “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.”  Avoidance of evil and its practices leads to life.  We are blessed to have a road map to tell us the right way!  Here is the only question: Will we live out the righteousness of God, to the best of our ability, looking to His word as a guide?  Or will we, instead, follow the masses and conform to this world we live in?  If we are wise, we will listen to Paul in Romans 12:1-2: 

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Peace and Truth

The Bible tells us to be peaceful, but isn’t it just like people to catch only part of the message?

 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.  Romans 12:18

While the Bible clearly calls Christians to be men and women of peace, it also insists that we be people of truth.  Parts of the church today are embracing heretical teachings in the name of inclusiveness, and peace.  To do so is definitely to miss the mark!

Many times it is easier to not address blatantly errant teachings, because we think by doing so we are being peaceful.  I believe many people in church leadership with good intentions have chosen to not deal head on with wrongdoing in the church, for this very reason.

Allow me to pose a question.  Does avoiding the truth really bring peace?

It is my observation that when people in authority refuse to tackle tough issues and disallow false teaching, tragic things begin to happen.  Rather than addressing it in a more administrative and hopefully private setting, before long, it becomes visible to the body of believers.  Many Christians are students of the Bible, and know falsehood when they see it.  They discern error, and themselves attempt to address it.  It can snowball and become a situation that is far more public, and thus less peaceful, than if the spiritual leaders faced it at the start.

Add to this the fact that by not addressing heresy head on, weaker, less Biblically sound believers can be led astray.  This is a terrible thing!  The ensuing chaos in the lives of people who are living in ways the Bible says not to, based on teaching they have received in the church is anything but peaceful.

Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.  Mark 9:50

But most of us are not in positions of influence in the church.  We are lay people.  We serve when we see a need, we love the Lord.  We desire Godliness.  When sin, falsehood, and things that we know beyond a shadow of a doubt are wicked are allowed to flourish in the church, what are we personally to do?

1 Peter 3:11 let him turn away from evil and do good;

let him seek peace and pursue it.

12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,

and his ears are open to their prayer.

But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

As Christians we are to look and act differently. We are to live holy lives. Not perfect, but intentional living, striving to mimic our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

I propose that we are to be people of the Word.  We are to study the Bible with intention and joy, and attempt to line ourselves up with it.  We are to prayerfully discern whether God is calling us to step up to the plate and speak truth into a sinful situation.  We are to confront, when necessary, using the scriptural directives of how this should be done.

Be salt and light to those around us, even other believers.

Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.  Mark 9:50

Notice here that we are to be salty, while remaining peaceful. It’s not either, or, it’s both!  Remember my observations that leadership sweeping sin and heresy under the rug, or at least allowing it to continue, actually causes chaos, rather than the initially perceived “peace”?  This is true for all Christians, not just church leadership and we all need to be aware of the dangers of denial.  These dangers should make us willing to stand against false teaching when God calls us to do so!

Grasp this: Truth, in love, brings peace.  False teaching brings destruction, both in this life, and possibly the next.  Falsehood  does not promote peace.

We need to guard our own saltiness.  Do we stand for truth?  Do we declare it even when those who don’t want to hear God’s word declared, say we are unaccepting, argumentative, too fundamental, or divisive?

Romans 12:9  Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 

1 Peter 3:15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.

Be respectful and gentle when God does lead you to confront.  Never do so without prayer!  Lots of it!  Never go into battle without checking with God first on the battle plan.

We can and must be loving and peaceful in confrontation, but we can not be these things at the expense of truth.  If we know of false teaching in the church and choose not to speak truth, God will hold us accountable.  “Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

Is this easy?  No.  But then, most of what God calls us to is not easy.  It is, however, good.

Let me say that there are many issues in the church that I would classify as non-essentials.  I am not talking about those points.  There is room for disagreement by people of the Word on numerous issues.  But there is no room for discussion on points of salvation.  There is no room for discussion on whether the Bible is true.  The Bible is absolutely 100% God’s word and is to be upheld.  End of story.  Believers need to be willing to fight for it.  It is fundamental to our faith.  We are saved by faith.

Praying He will guide you in all truth!

Annette Welburn

R. C. Sproul Quotes

Here are some wonderful quotes by R. C. Sproul:

“It is fashionable in some academic circles to exercise scholarly criticism of the Bible. In so doing, scholars place themselves above the Bible and seek to correct it. If indeed the Bible is the Word of God, nothing could be more arrogant. It is God who corrects us; we don’t correct Him. We do not stand over God but under Him.”
―    R.C. Sproul,    Five Things Every Christian Needs to Grow

“The issue of faith is not so much whether we believe in God, but whether we believe the God we believe in. (p.35)”
―    R.C. Sproul,    Knowing Scripture

“As the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, so the denial of God is the height of foolishness.”
―    R.C. Sproul,    Essential Truths of the Christian Faith

“I think the greatest weakness in the church today is that almost no one believes that God invests His power in the Bible. Everyone is looking for power in a program, in a methodology, in a technique, in anything and everything but that in which God has placed it—His Word. He alone has the power to change lives for eternity, and that power is focused on the Scriptures.”
―    R.C. Sproul,    The Prayer of the Lord

“God’s sovereign will is not at the whim and mercy of our person and individual responses to it.”
―    R.C. Sproul,    The Truth of the Cross

“I do not want to drive across a bridge designed by an engineer who believed the numbers in structural stress models are relative truths.”
―    R.C. Sproul,    Choosing My Religion

“Here, then, is the real problem of our negligence. We fail in our duty to study God’s Word not so much because it is difficult to understand, not so much because it is dull and boring, but because it is work. Our problem is not a lack of intelligence or a lack of passion. Our problem is that we are lazy. ”
―    R.C. Sproul

“We do not segment our lives, giving some time to God, some to our business or schooling, while keeping parts to ourselves. The idea is to live all of our lives in the presence of God, under the authority of God, and for the honor and glory of God. That is what the Christian life is all about.”
―    R.C. Sproul

“Most Christians salute the sovereignty of God but believe in the sovereignty of man.”
―    R.C. Sproul

Love the Lord Your God

We humans have a tendency to take something good, and twist it and turn it into something it should not be.  I am concerned to see a trend in some churches today which emphasizes wholeheartedly the scriptural directive to love our neighbor as ourselves.  The concerning thing is not this teaching.  Quite the contrary – if this was taught in balance with the rest of scripture, it would be excellent!  But what I see is the emphasis being put on loving people, more than on loving God.   Often church denomination and the wonderful people in the denomination become the primary focus of the worshippers.  Take this and combine it with a strong trend to discount portions of scripture and question the absolute, inerrant authority of the Bible, and I am deeply concerned.

It is possible that you have not encountered churches, denominations, or Christian universities that are no longer holding to the truth of God’s word.  I hope for your sake and the church’s health as a whole, that this is the case.  I, however, have seen many such Christian training grounds going the way of intellectuality, rather than solid faith in the Word of God.  If you have not seen this first hand, you need to be on guard.  You need to be in the word.  You need to hold firmly to the truth of the Bible, so that you will not be led astray by false teaching.  Heresy is abundant in our day and age, and very insidious because it is infiltrating Christian universities, churches, and denominations.  Those willing to stand strongly against it are difficult to find.  Perhaps if each of us nurtures a deep love for the scriptures, we ourselves will be well equipped to stand for truth.

If we say we love God, but do not believe His word to be inspired and inerrant, how can we really claim to love Him?  I hold that it is not possible to love God and not believe His word in it’s entirety.  We are saved by faith.

Let’s consider for a moment Luke 10′s accounting of a lawyer asking Jesus how to be saved, “²⁵ And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” ²⁶ He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” ²⁷ And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” ²⁸ And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”

Jesus tells the lawyer that he has properly considered and summed up the law, and that it is important for him to love both God with all his heart, soul, and strength; and love his neighbor as himself.

Let’s now look at Deuteronomy 6:4-8 where the law is given.  “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

The Bible is clear.  We are to love the Lord most!  It says to love Him with all our heart, all our soul, and all our might.  How can we possibly claim to love Him this fully if we don’t even believe in the fundamental basis of our faith, that God’s word is Truth and that God’s word is the ultimate authority.  So many churches today have walked away from this truth, and yet are still focusing on the love your neighbor portions of scripture.

Most people like the warm fuzzy feelings that accompany the idea that God loves us immensely.  The majority of people embrace the cozy emotions and well-being that come from loving others around us.  It’s mankind’s stubborn, arrogant, independent streak that often baulks at the concept of God being sovereign in our lives.  Worshiping the God of the Bible fully requires humility.  Admitting we need a savior is not easy for everyone to do.  Then try getting the majority of people to believe the Bible is correct when it talks about difficult concepts such as Hell, and personal accountability.  Some preachers and teachers find it easier to simply tickle our ears.   Some begin to question truth themselves.  Others may be intentionally leading the faithful away from the Word of God.

Actually, any Bible teacher who understands the truth of the Bible and worships God, would have to declare it.  Eternal life is at stake!  If they are not teaching absolute faith in God’s word, you can safely assume they themselves are having doubts.  Some even question the validity of scripture.  This usually starts subtly, then grows, often with terrifying speed once it is unchecked.  Faith is crucial.  God doesn’t call us to academically analyze His work on our behalf, but to embrace His atonement through faith in His son Jesus.  Once you allow yourself to question the validity of the Bible, you are on a slippery slope.  If you can discount one thing, regardless how small, you can toss absolutely anything out.  Human reason becomes more determinant that Biblical teaching.  You begin to follow a man’s teaching rather than God’s.

Joshua 22:5  “But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

Let’s cleave with all our heart to our first love, to God!  Let’s walk in His ways, not be led astray by man’s!  Choose you this day whom you will serve!  As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!

Yes, love your neighbor as yourself,  but never let your faith walk away from the truth of the Bible.  Never cling more closely to your love for your neighbor than your love for your Lord.  If you love God, you will love God’s word.  When the scriptures make you uncomfortable, watch that you are humble enough to recognize your need for change.  It is human to error, but God never fails!  He is perfect in holiness!  When we don’t align with scripture, it’s us who needs to move every time!

Hebrew 4:12 says,  ”For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

I want to let God work in my life and let His word convict and speak to me.   His love for us is vast and He has our best interest at heart!  Let’s honor our Lord first, and then the love and kindness we show our neighbor will benefit the kingdom of God, as He intends it to!

I am so thankful that God loves us enough to provide us with His holy word!

Annette