Historical Posts
The Integrity of the Poor and the Perversity of the Rich
People may be classified into two categories: rich and poor. We may be tempted to view the rich as snobbish, haughty, and proud. The poor we might see as as humble, caring, and loving. Those who are rich might think their riches excuse their behaviors, whereas those who are poor usually take responsibility for their actions. Consider how the wise man says this is viewed before the LORD (Proverbs 11:1-6).
The poor walks in his integrity. I have often heard integrity defined as, “what one does when no one else is around.” Notice how the wise man talks about righteousness and integrity. Elsewhere in Proverbs, the poor is described as having integrity (Proverbs 19:1; 28:6). Sometimes being without things helps one appreciates the things one has. Paul taught the Philippians that he knew what it was like to be without, and he knew what it was like to have too much. In whatever state we are in, we should be content (Philippians 4:11-12).
The rich is perverse in his ways. To be perverse is to be “bent, crooked, or twisted.” It describes someone living in moral error. Here in our text the wise man uses terms like “pride, unfaithful, perverse, and wicked.” Some people think having riches would be the best thing in this world; however, this world and all its riches do not last forever (1 John 2:15-17). Remember that an appearance of a life of physical luxury does not always reveal a hidden life of perversity.
The wise man says, “Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than one who is perverse in his lips, and not a fool (Proverbs 19:1).” Also, “Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich (Proverbs 28:6).”
Either rich or poor, we must be content! Remember, “The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, but the unfaithful will be caught by their lust (Proverbs 11:6).” God will care for those who are faithful to Him, and righteous before Him.
Content by Richard Dillon
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Prophet Without Honor – audio
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Many times people get discouraged when no one listens or responds to the gospel.
They think they are the ones who could do a better job. I can remember preaching my first sermon; I expected someone to walk down the aisle to the front during the invitation song. You can imagine my disappointment when no one did.
Even Jesus had a difficult time when in Nazareth.
When Jesus came to Nazareth (where He grew up), he marveled at the people’s unbelief! In fact, He could not do much except lay hands on a few sick people and heal them (Mark 6:1-6).
Imagine even the Son of God teaching, and many were offended at Him!
They knew who Jesus was because He grew up there. They knew His family, work, and education. Therefore, they had their doubts about Him. Jesus finally moved on to other mission fields.
Saul of Tarsus had problems at Jerusalem.
Ananias had just baptized him, and immediately he went to Jerusalem to join the disciples. However, they knew of his efforts to destroy the church and were wary. Barnabas went with him and declared what all the Lord had done for him (Acts 9:26-31). When all were comforted, the churches began to grow.
Sometimes the gospel is preached but not heard or obeyed.
However, it remains our responsibility and duty to preach it (1Timothy 4:2-5)! Sometimes we may be more effective outside our own territory, as were Jesus and Paul!
Let us not become discouraged, but seek a way to be effective in the Lord’s kingdom!
Content by Richard Dillon
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God Does Answer Prayers
Ever prayed a prayer you didn’t really think God would answer?
Why do we do that?
Maybe it’s because we’ve focused so much on what God doesn’t do that we forget about what he does.
“Well,” we think, “I know he created the world and parted the Red Sea and raised Jesus from the grave, but now . . .”
I’m not suggesting God is still resurrecting people, but I wonder if perhaps we ought to focus more on his might and power and less on all the reasons why he won’t do something.
When we’re struggling, James tells us to ask God for wisdom to see his hand at work.
Then he adds this:
But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (James 1:6-8).
Another translation says, “But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt” (NIV).
Or, “But he must ask in faith without any doubting” (NASB).
Maybe that passage convicts you as it does me.
It reminds me that I ought to pray with confidence in the power of my God.
It helps me remember that God really listens to me, that he cares about my needs, my wants, my struggles.
And he can answer.
He can work in incredible ways to bring about what’s best for his children, and we ought to believe that he still does that.
Today, let’s focus on believing in the God to whom we pray.
Let’s ask him to convict us of his power and strength.
Let’s talk to him, fully believing that he will answer and accomplish his will in us.
Remember: the God we call Father is the same God who spoke the world into existence. Surely he can find a way to do whatever it is we need him to do.
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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Help! audio
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Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise (James 5:13).
I suppose we’re more likely to obey the first part of that verse than we are the second. It’s easy to let all of life’s stresses cause us to forget our need to praise God for everything good. If we’re not careful, talking to God can be more like a 911 call – something when do only when we find ourselves in a difficult spot.
Talking to God, though – praising him – ought to be what we do in every situation.
When we’re hurting or sad, we pour out our hearts to him.
When we’re joyful – when he’s blessed us – we praise him.
James recognizes that life has its ups and downs.
We’ll have problems like everyone else; when we do, we pray about it. But we should also recognize that God gives us so many joys.
What’s right in your life today?
Can you hear the birds singing outside? Perhaps you’ve already taken a walk in the cool springtime air this morning. God’s blessings surround us, and most of us have quite a few things to smile about.
A soft bed and a comfortable house. Water to drink and food to eat. A job that supports our families, healthy kids, faithful friends, a stable, peaceful country.
And most of all, of course, we’ve got Christ. Even if we have problems, which we do, nothing can dampen the fact that we’re forgiven.
Saved from sin. Washed in the blood. Justified, sanctified, and soon to be glorified.
So today, take time to praise.
List the blessings God’s poured into your life, and thank him for every single one of them.
But especially thank him for giving you hope in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior.
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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The Presence of God – audio
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I can’t imagine what it’ll be like to be in God’s presence, but I’m pretty sure it’ll be the best thing about heaven.
- What will it feel like?
- What will he look like?
- What will it be like?
I want that, but I’m not ready for it yet. People can’t be in the presence of God, not actually, not yet. We couldn’t survive it.
Whenever God revealed himself to people in the Bible—even in some kind of limited way—he spelled out the things they must do to be ready . . . and not die.
After the Israelites left Egypt, God met them at Sinai to give them his law, but he couldn’t just “come down” and talk to them. He told Moses to consecrate them for two days, let them wash their clothes, and be ready the third day. And then he put limits concerning how close they could come to the mountain where God would reveal himself. Get too close and die. Break through the barrier to try to get a glimpse of God . . . and die. It was a serious matter.
That’s the way it’s always been. We can’t come close to God because of our sins. We’ve got to be cleansed to enter God’s presence.
That’s why verses like this one are fascinating: “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you” (James 4:8a).
Us? Close to God? How?
Through Jesus, of course. He cleanses us, makes us holy, and grants us access to God.
Remember the temple’s veil being torn in two pieces during the crucifixion? That veil had always symbolized a barrier between sinful people and a holy God. When Jesus died, he tore the barrier down.
But what James puts right after he tells us to draw near to God is interesting: “Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he will lift you up” (James 4:8b-10).
We still don’t come to God flippantly.
He’s forgiven us, but that does not mean we stop repenting. He’s declared us righteous, but we still acknowledge our sinfulness.
We are reminded of that weekly when we come to the Lord’s Table. We don’t deserve to commune with Christ, and it’s incredible that he lets us sit and eat and drink with him.
But as we draw near to him we remember.
We remember the ways we’ve sinned against him. We remember the times we lost focus and said something wrong or did something sinful or thought something impure.
And so we draw near to God, but not without remembering what it cost to give us that access.
One day, when we receive our glorified bodies, we’ll draw near to him with no barriers at all.
No sinful flesh, no broken vessel. We’ll bask in his immeasurable holiness and light.
That’s the day we’re all waiting for.
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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David’s Prayer is our Prayer – audio
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David’s prayer in Psalm 86:14-17 can apply to us today. He was concerned about the proud and violent men, and rightfully so. The wise man said these are some of the things that God hates (Proverbs 6:16-19). These things even happened to Jesus, and imagine how God felt when His only Son died for us.
As David acknowledged, God is “full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.” That is why God allowed Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. He loves us, and made it possible that our sins can be removed. In order to do that, though, we have to obey Him. He is the truth (John 14:6), and we can be saved if we follow Him.
David prayed that mercy and strength would be given him. This prayer was answered! God is rich in mercy, evident by sending us His Son (Ephesians 2:4-5)! Likewise, our strength is found through Christ (Philippians 4:13).
As David concluded his prayer, he requested a sign for good so that those who hated him would see it and be ashamed. Imagine how people feel when they realize who Jesus is and what He has done for their sins by dying on the cross! Are we not ashamed? Remember, godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation (2 Corinthians 2:10)! God indeed helps us and comforts us, just as He has done to David.
Content by Richard Dillon
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Valuable, Important, Forgiven – audio
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Text: Colossians 2:11-13
We are all valuable to God.
We are all important to God.
We are all forgiven by God in the same way.
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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Peter’s Doubt – audio
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Text: Matthew 14:25-31
Peter is often criticized for his lack of faith.
Earlier, he did struggle to believe in the Lord. He saw Jesus walking on the water and asked to come to Him. Jesus told him to come, and he began to walk on water. However, he became afraid of the wind and began to sink. Jesus then caught him and said, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt (Matthew 14:25-31)?” Doubt can easily creep into our minds and cause us to second guess ourselves.
As our faith grows, doubts should fade and fade away.
Peter needs credit because later his doubt did fade away. After Jesus’ ascension, Peter had a vision of unclean animals let down from heaven. Naturally, they were unclean and Peter knew he was not supposed to eat them. A voice from heaven said, “What God has cleansed you must not call common (Acts 10:15).” As he wondered what this vision meant, the Spirit told him to go with men to the house of Cornelius “without doubting.” We are told Peter got up and went with them, which led to Cornelius’ salvation (Acts 10:17-23).
Just as Peter learned not to doubt God, so should we.
Living the Christian life is not always easy. We often struggle with trials and temptations that test our faith. When we need God’s help through these times, we should not doubt at all that He can help us.
James encourages Christians to “ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind (James 1:6).”
We can rise in the hope that God will help us, or sink in despair, struggling for our spiritual lives.
Will you have faith in God?
Content by Richard Dillon
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Being Prepared in 2014 – audio
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As the new year begins, many people have made new year’s resolutions.
Have you made yours? As children of God, there may be some things we could do better. Consider our text: 1 Peter 3:15-17. Let’s focus on three things that Peter encourages Christians to do.
Be ready to give an answer (1 Peter 3:15).
Peter encourages Christians to show why we believe what we believe! Many times we are asked about our faith, but how often can we steer someone to the right place in God’s Word for an answer?
When Jesus was faced with temptation by the devil, he often said, “It is written (Luke 4:4-12).” He knew what His Father wanted Him to do, and so should we!
Paul taught Timothy the importance of studying God’s Word (2 Timothy 2:15), which we can all do better this year.
Peter teaches us to “desire the pure milk of the word, that we may grow thereby (1 Peter 2:2).”
Have a good conscience (1 Peter 3:16).
The Hebrew writer wanted to have a good conscience, and asked others to pray for him in that regard (Hebrews 13:18-19). It should be our goal to have a clear conscience before God and live honorably before Him.
Be prepared to suffer for doing good (1 Peter 3:17).
Jesus Christ is the perfect example for suffering for good. Many people persecuted Him, and He even died on the cross for our sins. If we are to follow Him, we need to be prepared to stand up for the truth when others oppose us.
Paul taught the Philippians, “For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake (Philippians 1:29).” Similarly, Paul told Timothy: “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution (2 Timothy 3:12).”
We know that this coming year will bring tests of our faith in Jesus Christ.
Let us be prepared to give an answer for our faith, stand before God with a good conscience, and even suffer for doing good when necessary. May God bless us all as we serve Him this year!
Content by Richard Dillon
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He Who is Not Against Us – audio
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Copycat.
When I was much younger, people would try to be like me and I would try to be like them.
Sometimes, someone was similar to me without even trying; of course, I was similar to others whether they knew it or not. If someone tried to be like me and I didn’t approve of it, I would think of him as a “copycat.”
Copycats would not necessarily do bad things, but would certainly be annoying to the person they were copying.
Imagine seeing people you did not know doing good deeds like you do.
If someone were to have a similar lifestyle, you may know that they are Christians. Just because they speak and act like you, does that mean they cannot do those things?
Consider Jesus’ disciples.
They told Jesus that they witnessed someone casting out demons in His name, but forbade him because he did not follow them.
Jesus then explained to them that it was okay for someone else to do something in His name. “He who is not against us is on our side (Mark 17:40).”
If we all do something in the name of Christ, we are working on the same side!
There should be no conflict when we do things in the name of Christ (Colossians 3:17; Matthew 28:18).
Therefore, we should be encouraged, not discouraged, to know that there are others working for the Lord!
Content by Richard Dillon
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Do as I Say, Not as I Do – audio
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While doing errands last week, one employee said, “no cell phones allowed.” Soon after uttering these very words, she pulled out a cell phone and proceeded to check her own facebook. In other words, she seemed to say, “do as I say not as I do.”
Jesus described the scribes and Pharisees in the same way. “Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do (Matthew 23:3).
In contrast, Jesus is always consistent!
Luke told Theophilus the things that Jesus “began both to do and teach (Acts 1:1).”
What Jesus told others to do, He did Himself.
He set an example for us to follow (1 Peter 2:21).
Are we following Jesus’ example? Are we consistent?
Are we showing the world the pattern of Christian living?
Let us put into practice every day of the week what we teach on Sunday and Wednesday.
Content by Richard Dillon
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Unapproachable Light – audio
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Introduction
Have you ever been disturbed by being in a dark room, and suddenly the light switch is turned on? Is the light so bright that you squinted your eyes until they adjusted? Have you ever been in a room that is too bright?
Imagine for a moment what an “unapproachable light” would be like.
Body
I. Text: 1 Timothy 6:15-16.
Paul describes Jesus Christ’s appearing to Timothy. He says it will be in His own time first of all, and that that He alone has immortality. Then, Paul describes Jesus of “dwelling in an unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power.”
II. Christ’s appearing will be manifest in His own time.
Jesus taught the disciples that no one knows the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man will come again (Matthew 24:36-44). Therefore, we must always be ready!
He illustrates this in the parable of the ten virgins (Matthew 25:1-13).
Our lights must always shine to glorify God (Matthew 5:16).
III. Christ dwells in an unapproachable light.
Daniel described the nature of God to Nebuchadnezzar: “He knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with Him (Daniel 2:22).”
John says of God through Christ that He is light and there is no darkness in Him at all; therefore, we should walk in the light as He is in the light (1 John 1:5-7).
IV. No man can see or has seen the light where Christ dwells.
Jesus explained that no one has seen the Father but who is from God (Himself). Thus, only Jesus has seen that light.
He is more than man; He is the Son of God! Also, it is interesting that Jesus’ face “shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light (Matthew 17:1-2)” on the Mount of Transfiguration.
John assures us “…we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is (1 John 3:2).”
Paul explains how we can approach that light by God changing us (1 Corinthians 15:50-57).
Conclusion
John paints a beautiful picture of how we will see God and remain with Him forever, and also reminds us to be ready for the second coming of Christ (Revelation 22:1-7).
Content by Richard Dillon
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Making the Right Choice – audio
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Introduction
Have you ever been faced with a decision of two options, one having a reward now and consequence later, and the other one with consequence now and reward later?
For example, go into a restaurant and look at the menu. “If I eat junk food now, I’ll pay for it later; on the other hand, if I eat this salad that I don’t like, it will help me get healthier.”
Body
I. Text: Hebrews 11:24-26.
Moses had a choice to enjoy all the pleasures of Egypt, and could have even grown up to rule over it. Instead, he chose to suffer with the children of Israel.
Why? He “esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.” Moses did make a mistake, though. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his own brethren. When he learned the matter was known, he fled from Pharaoh (who sought to kill him) to Midian (Exodus 2:11-15).
II. Moses valued the reproach of Christ.
Moses understood what it meant to suffer. Even though it may be difficult to endure, it is well worth it for the cause of Christ. Later the Hebrew writer says, “Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come (Hebrews 13:13-14).”
The apostles “rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name (Acts 5:41).”
Paul also said, “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong (1 Corinthians 12:10).”
Peter links the sufferings of Christ to the glories that would follow (1 Peter 1:11), and encourages Christians in this way: “If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified (1 Peter 4:14).”
III. The reward outweighs the sufferings.
As Moses understood, Paul explained: “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us (Romans 8:18).”
Just imagine how sin has its pleasures, yet eternal consequences.
The sufferings of Christ may seem like suffering, yet has eternal rewards.
Conclusion
We are faced with spiritual choices every day.
What will we decide – to enjoy something sinful and pay for it eternally, or stand up for Christ and enjoy eternity?
Remember the words of Joshua: “And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD (Joshua 24:15).”
Content by Richard Dillon
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Look up at the Pole – audio
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“I wouldn’t touch that with a ten-foot pole!”
I have heard that saying many times, and often wondered what was at the end of that pole. Initially, I think of a basketball goal or street light. It must have not been anything good, for one would still not touch whatever it was. However, sometimes what can be at the end of the pole is good!
The Bronze Serpent Saved Physical Life.
As the children of Israel journeyed to Edom by way of the Red Sea, they became very discouraged. Having nothing to eat or drink except the manna God provided, they began to complain. God does not like complaining (Philippians 2:14), so He sent fiery serpents among them. Many began to die, and those that remained confessed sin to Moses and begged the LORD to take away those serpents.
The LORD instructed Moses to put a fiery serpent on a pole, and if anyone looked at it when bitten would live (Numbers 21:4-9). Later, King Hezekiah had it cut down as people began to burn incense to it (2 Kings 18:4).
Jesus Christ Saves Spiritually.
As some things have a physical meaning, others have a spiritual meaning. As Jesus was teaching Nicodemus His purpose, He reminded him of the serpent Moses lifted up in the wilderness. “…Even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life (John 3:12-16)…”
We often sing, ‘My Faith Looks up to Thee,’ and we should remember more than the cross itself. Jesus died on that cross for you and me! “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2).”
Content by Richard Dillon
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Guarantee – audio
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A warranty or life-time guarantee means a lot in this day and time. We need people and things that are very dependable. Often, tests are done to determine how reliable a product is for consumers. People often tell us they will do things, and may or may not do them.
- Deuteronomy 18:15-22. God gives us a test for who is really from Him. All we have to do is see if what they say will come to pass. If it does, they are of God; if not, they are not. Also, this text tells us of a Prophet will arise that will speak God’s words to His people.
- Daniel 2:44-45. Daniel tells Nebuchadnezzar that God will set up a kingdom that will stand forever. That “dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure.” Daniel, a prophet, guarantees that God’s kingdom will be set up and stand forever!
- Luke 1:30-33. The angel of the Lord told Mary that she would have a Son. Of Him, “The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” What further proof do we need than God’s angel affirming Jesus was this very prophet?
A. Matthew 16:18-19. Jesus promised to build His church, the kingdom of God.
B. John 18:36. Jesus’ kingdom is not of this world.
C. Hebrews 12:28. The kingdom of God cannot be shaken.
D. 1 Thessalonians 2:12. God calls us into the kingdom.
Jesus was the Prophet of God. He established His kingdom, the church, and it still stands today. Do you want to be a part of God’s kingdom? Will you share the gospel with others so they can be part of God’s kingdom too?
Content by Richard Dillon
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Peacemaker – audio
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You have probably been around a guy who brings strife when he walks into a room.
He’s either in an argument with someone or trying to get one started. He’s also pretty good at getting people mad at one another. If you hear about a feud going on at work, you have a pretty good idea who’s in the middle of it. Know the guy?
Then there’s the girl whom everyone goes to when they’re having problems with someone.
They know she’ll be fair, level-headed, and sensible. If called on to arbitrate she won’t be ruled by anger or other emotions. She brings people together, settles disputes, helps people get along. She’s a peacemaker – have you met her?
It’s not hard to figure out which one the Lord favors.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9).
Think about that last statement – “they shall be called sons of God.” In other words, they are like God.
In fact, it might be said that we’re never more like God than when we’re bringing people together. After all, that’s pretty much what the whole Bible story is about – God, through Christ, brings us out of rebellion back into a relationship with him. As our Mediator, the God-Man, Jesus joins our hands with God’s hands, restoring the relationship that we broke.
Jesus is the greatest peacemaker ever. Want to be like Jesus?
Help a couple of disgruntled friends get beyond whatever got between them. Build bridges. Mend fences.
Be a calming influence with the people around you. Break down prejudices of all kinds—whether racial, social, class, or whatever. Peacemakers break down obstacles and help people get along.
Better yet, and perhaps this is what Jesus ultimately had in mind, be a peacemaker between God and sinful humanity. The peace has been established through Jesus, but God might use you to help someone find his way back to him.
You might be the Andrew who brings Peter to Jesus (John 1:40-41).
You might be the Paul who helps two sisters to stop quarrelling (Philippians 4:2).
You might be the one God uses to bring peace between your spouse and God, or between your children and God, or between a co-worker, friend, uncle, or neighbor and God.
The most miserable person in the room is the one who’s at odds with the people around him, and with God.
The one who looks most like Jesus is the one who brings peace wherever he goes.
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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Praise – audio
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Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise (James 5:13).
I suppose we’re more likely to obey the first part of that verse than we are the second. It’s easy to let all of life’s stresses cause us to forget our need to praise God for everything good. If we’re not careful, talking to God can be more like a 911 call – something when do only when we find ourselves in a difficult spot.
Talking to God, though – praising him – ought to be what we do in every situation.
- When we’re hurting or sad, we pour out our hearts to him.
- When we’re joyful, when he’s blessed us, we praise him.
James recognizes that life has its ups and downs. We’ll have problems like everyone else; when we do, we pray about it. But we should also recognize that God gives us so many joys.
What’s right in your life today?
Can you hear the birds singing outside? Perhaps you’ve already taken a walk in the cool springtime air this morning. God’s blessings surround us, and most of us have quite a few things to smile about.
A soft bed and a comfortable house. Water to drink and food to eat. A job that supports our families, healthy kids, faithful friends, a stable, peaceful country.
And most of all, of course, we’ve got Christ.
Even if we have problems, which we do, nothing can dampen the fact that we are forgiven.
Saved from sin. Washed in the blood. Justified, sanctified, and soon to be glorified.
So today, take time to praise.
List the blessings God’s poured into your life, and thank him for every single one of them.
But especially thank him for giving you hope in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior.
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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Salt – audio
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We’ve all probably engaged in a little hand-wringing about the future of our country.
What will happen, we ask, if we continue heading down a path that ignores God, flaunts rebellion, and mocks righteousness? What will it look like when our kids or grandkids become adults? Will God turn his back on us?
Those questions, though unavoidable, do little good.
What Jesus said about anxiety applies here.
Worrying about the future accomplishes nothing. But thankfully, there’s something we can do, and Jesus refers to it here:
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.” (Matthew 5:13, NKJV)
When we think of salt, we probably think of the flavor it adds to our meals, but in Jesus’ world its most basic function was to preserve food. And that seems to fit the context here best as well.
Jesus is calling us to slow down the decay and corruption of the world around us.
Abraham once had a fascinating conversation with God in Genesis 18:16-33 about how many righteous people it would take to save Sodom. “Will you spare the city if it has 50 righteous souls living there?” Abraham asked. God said yes. “Forty-five?” Again, God said yes. So Abraham asked about 40, 30, 20, and finally 10. God would withhold his destruction if only a handful of righteous people could be found.
I have often thought that God has blessed America because we have honored him in many ways. We have protected religious freedoms and maintained conservative morals. Our leaders have listened to Christian voices, and we have preserved many aspects of the Judeo-Christian ethic. Is there a connection between those facts and our country’s prosperity?
A strong argument could be made that those things are changing, of course. Recent trends seem to reflect an increasingly secular, anti-God mindset. Even so, it still does no good to wring our hands and decry the loss of our country’s Christian foundation.
What Jesus tells us to do is keep being the salt.
None of us have any idea how long God will spare our nation, but what we must do is to follow Jesus and model him to the people around us. We need to sanctify him in our homes. We need to teach our children and grandchildren to love him more than anything in the world. We need to adore him, worship him, serve him.
It was a tragedy that even 10 righteous souls could not be found in Sodom, and God destroyed the city. What about us? Is there enough righteousness for God to keep his protective arms around us?
That’s his decision, of course, but regardless, he’s challenged us to be those righteous souls, to be the preservative in our spheres of influence.
He’s calling us to be salt.
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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Light of the World – audio
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One of the things the Pharisees couldn’t stand about Jesus was the crowd he hung around with. They didn’t know what to do with someone who claimed to be a Rabbi yet spent his time with undesirables. Tax collectors. Drunks. Adulterers. Prostitutes.
How could he? Here’s his answer: “I’m the light of the world” (John 8:12).
It is hard for light to affect something it doesn’t touch. He came to call sinners to repentance, but they never would have heard about it if he had not walked the streets on their side of town.
We don’t have a problem with that, though, because we like the idea of Jesus associating with outcasts. After all, he’s the Son of God, so he’s perfect, blameless. Their sin couldn’t rub off on him.
But notice the huge change in pronoun here:
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14–16)
Sometimes he said, “I’m the light of the world,” but here he says “You” are.
As in me. As in you.
We are the light of the world.
It’s a reflected light, of course, because we can’t generate any on our own. We reflect his light to a dark world so that they may see it and glorify him.
But there’s an important point that we shouldn’t miss. In order for us to light up the world, we’ve got to be in the world. We’ve got to be intentional about spending time with people who don’t know Christ so that they might see him in us.
I might be tempted to schedule my days so that I spend time with people who look, think, and talk like me. You might be tempted just to go to work or school and do what you’ve got to do so you can get back home to your safe place.
But Jesus calls us to do more than that. He calls us to walk their streets. He asks us to get to know them, understand them and really see them.
Thousands of people in our communities live in a very dark world, and they might never see the light if you and I seclude ourselves, either physically or emotionally, and connect only with people just like us.
You are the light of the world.
To be honest, that scares me, because it pulls me out of my comfort zone, away from my safe place. But discipleship has never really been about being comfortable, has it?
If we follow Jesus, we’ll go where he goes, and that means we’ll intentionally spend quite a bit of time with messed up people. They’re the ones who really need his light.
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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More Grace – audio
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“For we all stumble in many things,” James wrote (James 3:2).
Amen to that. Most Christians I know are quite aware of the myriad ways they fall short.
I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but James is on a bit of a negative kick. He accuses his Christian readers of lusting, fighting, and coveting. He insinuates that they’re selfish, then – if that wasn’t enough – he calls them adulterers. He doesn’t seem very happy, does he?
I’m glad there’s this next verse, because it brings us back to the place we all need to be: But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6).
Isn’t that beautiful? He gives more grace!
We all stumble in many ways, but he gives more grace. Every day we fall short, but he gives more grace. We struggle and fall and get up and fall again, but he gives more grace.
It reminds me of what Paul wrote in Romans 5:20: “where sin abounded, grace abounded much more.” All of us need a lot of that grace, don’t we? It’s good that it’s not a finite resource.
But notice the last part of James’ thought: “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
One thing will put a barrier between us and God’s grace, and that’s pride.
Pride makes us think that we don’t need God that we’re doing pretty well on our own. Pride trusts in our own righteousness, our own ability to be good, do good, and look good. Pride emphasizes self over God, works over grace, appearance over substance.
So in James’ statement there’s a tremendous promise, but also a warning. God gives more grace to anyone willing to accept it – what an incredible blessing! But he withholds it from the proud – nothing could be worse.
Today, let’s pray something like this:
Father, remove all traces of pride from our hearts and fill us with your humility. Though we’re not worthy, please give us more grace. Never oppose us. Never reject us. Keep us humble and within your will. We ask this through Jesus. Amen.
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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