The Slavery of Convenience

"If you meet your enemy's ox or his donkey going astray, you shall surely bring it back to him again....Is this not the carpenter's son?"  (Exodus 23:4; Mt. 13:55)

One could say, "Is this not the life of, 'the carpenter's son?'"  Consider for a moment the connection of these two passages.  The first is the result of the second, Jesus, "The Word of God," expressing to ancient mankind His intent for human relationships in the earth, a life of, "....more blessed to give than to receive."   Jesus spent most of His 33 year revelation in the Earth as, "the carpenter's son."  I would loved to have bought a piece of furniture Jesus' made.  I'm sure Jesus had the customer in mind more than Himself.  But then, again, this is Jesus, "the Good Shepherd," the One Who, "gives His life...."

This is the Memorial Day weekend in the United States of America.  Memorial Day celebrates the lives of all who gave their lives to preserve the USA, and freedom loving people everywhere.  When I was a kid, it was just Memorial Day, celebrated every year on May 30, no matter what day of the week it was.  Then pleasure loving Americans decided they wanted longer weekend holidays, so the Congress moved several traditional historic holidays to set dates so that we could have that greatly desired "long weekend."  Humans are a species of convenience.

There was a time in human history when there appeared, "the carpenter's son," Jesus, the One Who told Moses to instigate the command in our text.  He does not draw us to "worldly pleasures" or "modern conveniences.  "The carpenter's son," calls us first to Himself, then to others, to help them, yes, even serve them, "If you meet your enemy's ox or his donkey going astray...."  Consider how Jesus affirms greatly that repentant sinner, who said, "I give half of my goods to the poor...."  Too many probably think of this as "sacrifice," and many people think of sacrifice as giving up something one would really rather keep for oneself.  But is it really?  I thought today that perhaps the concept of the "sacrifice fly" in baseball is a good description of our text and how we are called to live in this life in Jesus Christ: We do something to advance another.  What a novel thought on a weekend which for many is merely a weekend of convenience.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray my life will always be motivated by advancing another.  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

Definition of True And False

"But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great."  (Acts 8:9)

Greatness is not determined by what a person does, but by who he is.  "My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth."  It is, "truth," which is the governance here.

I have discovered over the years that a person can appear very sincere, perhaps even be sincere in themselves, but as Billy Graham once said, "be sincerely wrong," not just theologically, but as a life style.  This was the premise of the late Don Basham in his book, True and False Prophets.  Don stated that it was not primarily theology and ministry "style" which determined a "false prophet," but his morality.  In other words, one could preach correct theology, heal the sick, cast out demons, feed the poor, in short, do everything which seems so "true" and good, yet could himself/herself be so false and bad.  Or, to put it another way, the "true" is not manifest in how I treat you.  The "true" is manifest in how I treat my wife.

My private life is who I really am, not my devotionals, my sermons, my missions.  If the latter are not done, "in truth," viz., a life rightly related to and in Jesus, it is "false" devotionals, "false" sermons, "false" missions.  Now good may be done in all I do, but that is not what will, "appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ."  3 John 4 says, "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth," notice, not "in the truth," but, "in truth."  I may speak the "truth," but that does not make me "true."  Fundamentally, it is being true which brings the approval of our Lord Jesus. 

Father, in Jesus' Name, Holy Spirit, in Your mercy and grace, enable me to, "walk in truth."  Amen.
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"David's Tent" is once again in Washington, DC.  Only this session plans to be over a year in length.  I will go in the fall when I have funds in place.  It is very expensive to stay at a hotel close to the "Tent," but it is just not efficient to stay far away.  If you would like to help finance my involvement in a five day participation in "David's Tent," let me know.  I will let you know of the cost later.    

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

"The Philistines Are Upon You, Samson"

"....How can we then live?" (Ezekiel 33:10d)

What does a Follower of Jesus do in an age of increasing anti-Christ fervor?  It is everywhere, all continents, all nations, all states, all cities.  Total identity with Jesus Christ and His Words, aka, the Bible, will increasingly risk a person's education, employment, and friends.  A famous pastor recently wrote a book, I Never Thought I'd See the Day: Culture At The Crossroads.  I agree; yet you and I have seen "the day."  Events are right now occurring which we would not have dreamed of just 10 years ago.  So the question is, "How can we then live?"

We know that Jesus teaches us to constantly expect His Second Appearing.  It could be any day, any moment.  There will be no warning, other than, "....the Lord Himself will descend...with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God.  And the dead in Christ will rise first."  Other than that, it will be all over for Earth's inhabitants, no more days to "see," no more preaching, teaching, missions, pleading "altar calls," just the Biblical, "close of the present age." 

So how does a Follower of Jesus, "....then live?"  And, "How can we (the Church) then live?"  We can "be involved" in so much, some which actually does "make a difference," some which goes ignored.  But our Lord Jesus is quite clear on "foundational" living, "But...whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them...is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock.  And when the flood (arises), the stream beat[s] vehemently against that house, and (cannot) shake it, for it (is) founded on The Rock," then we will be a demonstration, a living testimony, and able to, "give a reason for the hope that is in you," to those whose, "hearts are failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the power of the heavens will be shaken."  To prepare God's People for this is to be faithful to Jesus, "That Great Shepherd of the sheep"------------ and, "the sheep."

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You for your daily sustenance, and daily preparation.  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

A "Must Read" Scripture at the Conclusion

"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust....Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day nor for the pestilence that walketh in the darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday....Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked."  (From Psalm 91, KVJ)

I memorized this Psalm in the KJV during my many missions which began in June of 1976.  Jesus has preserved me in His Words from Nigeria to North Korea, from Russia to Iran, from Morocco to Ceausescu's Romania------------ and beyond.  

There is something about standing in Jesus Christ and His Words, while also standing before guards armed with AK 47s, guard towers, vehicles nearly being torn apart (one time they even took the back seat entirely out of the car), and seemingly ceaseless questions.  This is not machismo; this is the sovereign grace and mercy of Jesus, that during my two hour interrogation in the Leningrad Airport I had that wonderful, "peace which surpasses all understanding/comprehension."  It was in reality, "Yes, even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil."  This was not me on my own.  This was me "on" Jesus Christ. 

I sent to our Blog a video of Ceausescu's capture and his subsequent execution.  It is quite graphic, but it is a literal fulfillment of, "only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked."  Of course there are many "ceausescus" still in the earth.  The "spirit" of such men and women will continue to manifest globally until the end of the age.  I leave you today, therefore, with a wonderful encouraging letter which I received from our Lord Jesus Christ via the Holy Spirit via the Apostle Paul.  It is for all who know our Lord Jesus Christ.  There is just no greater prophetic utterance for this current generation.  

"Don't let anyone deceive you by any means whatsoever.  That day will not come before there arises a definite rejection of God and the appearance of the lawless man.  He is the product of all that leads to death, and he sets himself up in opposition to every religion (which includes Islam)....I expect you remember now how I talked about this when I was with you.  You will probably also remember how I used to talk about a 'restraining power' which would operate until the time should come for the emergence of this man.  Evil is already insidiously at work but its activities are restricted until what I have called the 'restraining power' (of God) is removed.  When that happens the lawless man will be plainly seen--though the truth of the Lord Jesus spells his doom, and the radiance of the coming of the Lord Jesus will be his utter destruction.  The lawless man is produced by the spirit of evil and armed with all the force, wonders and signs that falsehood can devise.  To those involved in this dying world he will come with evil's undiluted power to deceive, for they have refused to love the truth which could have saved them.  God sends upon them, therefore, the full force of evil's delusion, so that they put their faith in an utter fraud and meet the inevitable judgment of all who have refused to believe the truth and who have made evil their play-fellow.  But we can thank God continually for you, brothers, whom the Lord loves.  He has chosen you from the beginning to save you, to make you holy by the work of his Spirit and your own belief in the truth." (J. B. Phillips Paraphrase)

"He who testifies to these things says, 'Yes, I am coming quickly.'  Amen.  Come, Lord Jesus."
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To see the above mentioned video, go to:  jhs58.blogspot.com

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

"....He Shortened the Daysr"

"But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come." (2 Timothy 3:1)

ISIS is proving what Hitler said.  "Terror will succeed unless opposed by a greater terror."  Fighting a "clean" war over the last 65 years has led to--- Terrorist Nations: 5--- US: 0.  Now if America wants to be "civilized and nice," if America insists on conducting war by "conventions," etc., then America has sealed its own fate.  I have said before that when you put rules on war, you make war a game.  And what is going on in the global scene, my friend, is not a game.  The Bible confirms this, "....evil doers and imposters will go from bad to worse"; they are.  This is not what a person wants from a "devotional," but the truth is still the best life-"remedy."  The Enemy will continue to unleash unspeakable horrors against the People of God, aka, Followers of Jesus.  Jesus said, "And unless the Lord had shortened those days no flesh would be saved...."  No wars, plagues, catastrophes in history have accomplished, "....no flesh would be saved...." 

After speaking of the impending horrors of the last days, however, Jesus adds, "....but for the elect's sake, whom He chose, He shortened the days."  The Church will not be eradicated.  There have been, and there will be yet times when it seems as though the Lord Jesus' Words are not true, e.g., the Arab/Islamists attempts to destroy the Church in the Middle East during the Middle Ages.  They came close, but did not accomplish their intended purpose.  Now, in this generation, they are at it again with renewed fervor.  Yet, as Paul told Timothy, "....they will not get very far...."  Jesus told Job that He says to the sea, "This far and no further."  So Jesus is always saying to those who attempt to destroy His Church, "no further."  If you and I are in Jesus and Jesus in you and me, we have the Divine Guarantee today, no matter what the challenge, the trial, the attempt to discourage and destroy, "....no further.....For the elect's sake, whom He chose, He shortened the days."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You so much for your, "no further."  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2