Discipline [Proverbs 3:11-12]

Pro 3:11 Do not despise the LORD's instruction, my son, and do not loathe His discipline;
Pro 3:12 for the LORD disciplines the one He loves, just as a father, the son he delights in.

When I was a child, my parents were not one’s to lack in discipline. My sister would babysit me quite frequently when they would go out or were away. I had quite the mouth on me when it came to my sister back then (come on, I was like 7!) Every time my parents would leave, I would start using cuss words towards my sister. Trust me, this made her furious. Each time this happened, mom and dad would come home, hear the whole story from her about what happened. Well, me being as adorable as I was (yeah right!) would deny it all each time. Guess what? My mom and dad believed me! So, time and time again this occurred and each time I got away with it. One night after my parents got home, my sister told the same story about me using language towards her, but this time was different… she recorded it! My mom sat me down and played the tape for me and asked, “Did you say that?” Yes mother, I said that, I’m a very disobedient son and deserve punishment. Are you kidding me? No, I didn’t say that! I denied it up and down. Well, as you can guess that didn’t work out to well. After all, they did have proof. So, I got disciplined. At the time, I think it is safe to say that we all had that “I hate you and will never forgive you attitude” towards our parents discipline. Looking back, I’m thankful. That discipline helped shape my character and develop me into the person I am. My parents were just steering me on the right track.
God is very much like this. If there is sin in our life, God will discipline us to rid us of it. We have two options: we can continue in that sin and continue to get disciplined or we can cut of the sin and abide by the Lord’s teaching. My parents only disciplined me because they loved me and wanted me to turn out properly. God disciplines us because He loves us. His discipline is actually proof of His love.
Are there areas of sin in your life that you need to get rid of? Maybe God is disciplining you by laying it on your mind all the time, or maybe your world is crashing down upon you. Either way, get rid of it. God is showing it to you because He loves you and wants you to succeed.

Aaron Taylor

I am not ashamed [Romans 1:16-17]

Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is God's power for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek.
Rom 1:17 For in it God's righteousness is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.

As we all know Peter was not what we would consider “prime choice” for an apostle of Jesus. He made irrational decisions on a whim. Oh, his intents were good, most of the time, but when the pressure came, he crumbled. For example, Jesus told him in Matthew 26:34, "I assure you," Jesus said to him, "tonight--before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times!" His response was, "Even if I have to die with You," Peter told Him, "I will never deny You!" If only that was true. In Matthew 26:74 it says, “Then he started to curse and to swear with an oath, "I do not know the man!"’ When the pressure came he crumbled. So, what does it take to not be ashamed of the gospel? Let’s continue with Peter. According to church tradition, Peter died a martyr’s death. It is said that he was crucified upside down because he did not feel worthy of being killed in the same manner as his Savior. Listen to this though: he was forced to watch his wife be crucified upside down as well. Do you know what his last words were? “Remember our Lord.”

Peter was no longer ashamed of the gospel. We see in Acts, a man who preached the Gospel with power! Peter was not ashamed of the gospel. So, what is the key to this power, this power from God? Let’s look at verse 17 in Romans chapter 1:

“The righteous will live by faith.”

Those justified by God have confidence in His power. Peter initially did not have full confidence in God’s power, until he saw Him conquer the grave. Our faith in God, the power that we see Him exercise gives us strength to stand for His word. I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Can you say that?

Aaron Taylor

Praise Him? Praise Him! Oh Praise Him! [Ecc. 7:14, 6:12]

Ecc 7:14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity, consider: without question, God has made the one as well as the other, so that man cannot discover anything that will come after him.

Isn’t it easy to be joyful when things are going great? I got new car, praise God! I got a bigger house, praise God! I got the promotion at work, praise God! When things are going good we can see God in those situations. What about when things are not going good? That new car needs brakes, praise God? That bigger house has an unbearable heating bill, praise God? That promotion only lasted a week, now you’re out of a job, praise God? Sounds a little strange to say doesn’t it? God created both the good days and the bad days; the days that let are faith shine and the days that test our faith. God is the author of our lives. The condition of our lives should be such that in whatever situation we continue to pursue God.

Look at this verse:

For who knows what is good for man in life, in the few days of his futile life that he spends like a shadow? Who can tell man what will happen after him under the sun? (Ecc 6:12)

It is better to leave ourselves and our concerns in the hands of the Lord, than to keep them in our own (Andrew Clarke Commentary). Let’s praise Him, no matter what comes in life.

Aaron Taylor

God's Timing [Psalm 119:82, Genesis 12:1]

God's Timing. I think its safe to say that it is not fun to wait for God. It can seem to be a burden on our lives when we have to wait to do what it next.

Read this:"My eyes grow weary looking for what You have promised; I ask, "When will You comfort me?" (Ps. 119:82)

Leave it to God to provide an answer for every question we have. David was struggling with God's timing, too. His eagerness for God's answer is comparable to when we look for a ship long expected, or for a friend long absent, or for help when in danger (Matthew Barnes Commentary). We need to understand something: God is trying the faith and patience of his people by mere delay (Matthew Barnes Commentary). He wants us to serve Him where we are with what we know. When we need to know more He will show us.

Look at the call of Abraham in Genesis:"The LORD said to Abram: Go out from your land, your relatives, and your father's house to the land that I will show you." (Genesis 12:1)

Abraham didn't know where He was going, but God promised to show Him. He held onto the part God told him, went, and waited eagerly for more instruction.It is hard to wait on God. Trust me, I'm doing it too. We all are. He will come through. He always does. Let's make Him proud by acting on what we do know where we currently are :)

Sold out to Christ? Sold out to Christ!

Aaron Taylor

Pray Constantly. [1 Thessalonians 5:17]

1Th 5:17 Pray constantly.

We are dependent on God for every good thing we do. Without God and the grace that He exercises in our lives, we can do absolutely nothing. We need to be in a constant prayer with God and expressing our dependency on Him. As I expressed a few days ago, in Proverbs 3:5-6, we learned about trusting the Lord, not leaning on our own understand, and acknowledging Him in all our ways. This last part is the dependency we have on God. In everything that we do, we need to get it approved by our Master. My challenge is to be in that constant state of prayer and talk to God all throughout the day. You will develop a new level of intimacy with God when you pray constantly.

Aaron

Can You Still Use Me? [1 John 1:9]

1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

I was thinking today about the whole concept of being Ninja for God, offering our entire lives as an offering to Him (for more information visit the facebook.com group “Christian- Ninja Alliance”. This life of sacrifice to God can be a really challenging thing. I don’t know about all of you, but I tend to mess up more than once each day and it can be really discouraging. The thought that always runs through my mind is: “Will God still use me after I said/ did that?” I talk myself into believing that God won’t forgive what I’ve done.
When I start thinking that’s normally when stupid things happen so, I went to my Bible to see what God says about me messing up. We read in 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Woah. Ok, so we all have messed up, that’s a given. This verse says that if we need to confess our sin. What does confession me? It is not simple repeating to God what you have done, but it is a sincere acknowledgement and agreement with God that what you did was wrong. When we acknowledge what we did was wrong to God, it says He will forgive us! Now listen closely here, this is the point I want to drive home with you: He will cleanse us from all unrighteousness! All! Guys God can remove every trace of sin in our lives if we simply confess to Him. We can be made totally pure. Does this mean that we should just continue to sin because we will be forgiven anyways? Absolutely not! We need to strive to live a God honoring life, but we have this little thing called a sin nature and we are bound to stumble.
Ok, so, we are probably going to mess up. Just remember next time you feel like you have stumbled in your pursuit to live your life as an offering to God. He’ll forgive you and you’ll be ready to continue serving Him.

Aaron

Irritate God? [3 John 3:11]

3Jn 1:11 Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.

Don’t you think mimes are the most annoying people on the planet? I remember last year I went to the Lancaster Festival here in Lancaster, Ohio. It is a festival that is dedicated to the arts and throughout the week various events are put on around town. The last night of each Lancaster Festival there is a concert that involves an orchestra and a famous singer. I had the opportunity to go to this concert last year and hear some decent music and enjoy fireworks when the night was over. There was one problem though: A mime. He was a gentleman dressed in the normal mime attire: Black pants, black and white striped shirt, red suspenders, painter’s hat, and face painted white. Well, I was walking around the pavilion when the mime spotted me. From across the sea of people, he made his way over to where I was. To do what? IMITATE ME! Ahh, that is the most irritating thing ever! He would move his hands like I did, make facial expressions like I did and even walk and make body moments exactly like I did! Want to hear something ironic though? Would you believe me if I said we could illustrate a great Bible lesson from what a mime does? No matter how irritating it is?
Let’s look at what John has to say. “Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.” (3 John 1:11). As Christians we are not to be imitators of the world around us. Well, what does that mean? If the world is doing things that we know are going against what the Bible teaches, we need to err on the side of the Bible. Be different when we need to. So, what are we to imitate then? We need to imitate what is good! What is good? Anything that is of God! So, let’s simplify this: We need to imitate Jesus Christ from what we know about Him from His Word. Plain and simple. Be like the mime was to me, irritate God by wanting to be so much like Him!

Aaron

What can I give? [Romans 12:1]

Rom 12:1 Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship.

When I was getting dressed this morning, I heard a song that talked about presenting offerings to God. What was interesting about the song is the fact that nothing we can give to God is a worthy sacrifice. There is nothing that I can give that will compare to the sacrifice that He gave for me. So, as my morning progressed, I was thinking what would be an acceptable sacrifice to God? What is the ultimate sacrifice that I can give to Jesus for Him giving His life for me? God immediately helped me recall this verse. Presenting my body as a living sacrifice to God because this is pleasing to Him. The greatest offering I can give God is me. My time, my talents, my thoughts, my actions; anything about me I need to give to God. Jesus came to earth and sacrificed His life so, that mine could be saved. The least I can do is give my life to Him.

Slave of Christ [Galatians 1:10]

Gal 1:10 For am I now trying to win the favor of people, or God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ.

It was early morning on a Tuesday. About 3 o’clock in the morning. Myself and others were drudging through the woods in search of the house. The house they knew they were in. The Christians that is. Those followers of that “so-called” Jesus Son of God. What blasphemy. Through the mist of the morning, there it was. Old, rugged and barely standing. What was that noise? Singing? And Prayer? What do they see in this “Jesus”? Why can’t they just see He was a fake? We gathered around the house, 3 men at each side. 3-2-1… we rushed inside! Torches flying, swords drawn… we had them this time! We could see woman and children cower in the corners, weeping, fearing for their lives. But the men, oh those “Christian” men. They didn’t fight. No, they just held their heads in humility and let us take them away. You know what shocked me the most? What they said to their wives and children, “It’s ok, Jesus will take care of us.” Did they really believe that? Jesus would take care of us? And even though the women and children were still weeping, something in their eyes told me they believed it too. I have a duty though. It is my responsibility to get rid of all “Christians”. I can’t help, but wonder though, why did they believe what Jesus said? Why?
(Disclaimer- This is a fictional story written by me. It has not Biblical basis at all.)

Paul was a murderer Christians. One day he met Jesus. On the Damascus Road, Jesus changed his heart and Paul became one of the most influential men that Christianity has ever seen. His life went from one that seeks to please men to won that was sold out for God. He became a slave of Christ.

We have a lot of opportunities to please men on a daily basis. We can choose to do what they want us to do with total disregard for God. Why? Guys, if we are saved, we are slaves of God. We should not strive to please men, but God! A slave only lives to please his master. Let’s live to please ours.

Aaron

77 years. That's all. [James 4:13-15]

Jas 4:13 Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will travel to such and such a city and spend a year there and do business and make a profit."
Jas 4:14 You don't even know what tomorrow will bring--what your life will be! For you are a bit of smoke that appears for a little while, then vanishes.
Jas 4:15 Instead, you should say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that."

What is eternity? According to Dictionary.com, eternity is an infinite time; a period without beginning or end. What is life? Again, according to Dictionary. Com, life is our period of existence. In other words, our time alive on this earth. So, what is the average time a human gets to spend in “life” on earth. The latest numbers suggest about 77 years. 77 years of life on planet earth. How long did we say eternity was? 100 years? No. 1,000 years? No. 10,000 years?! Nope. Eternity can not be measured on a time scale. We can not even wrap our minds around the vastness of it. So, lets take a look at this verse in James:

We like to do, what we like to do, right? We make plans for next weekend, next month, next year and in some cases, even many years down the road. Next weekend I am going to King’s Island; next month I am going to buy a new car; next year I am going on vacation to Florida; and when I am old and grey, I am going to retire and live the dream. Sound somewhat familiar? We all do it. We make plans for what we can see in our “immediate” future. Wait a minute. I thought we were only around here for about 77 years? Right? Isn’t our eternity a little bit longer than that? Actually, a lot longer than that?

James tells us that we have no idea what tomorrow is going to bring or what we are going to do! It is up to God and God alone. We need to shift our focus from making this 77 (on average) year existence, not about the next big thing we can do. We need to focus on what God wants us to do. This life is just preparation for eternity. We can spend our time on earth trying to make it best for “me” or we can allow God to direct us and live for Him. When we choose option two we will be rewarded by God. Maybe not on earth, but definitely in eternity. I don’t know about you, but I would rather have and eternity of living for God and being blessed by Him, that living 77 years for myself and not pleasing God.

Think of if this way, as James says, our existence is comparable to a bit of smoke. It is there and then it is gone. So, what are we going to do?

Aaron

Please teach me Your ways [Exodus 33:12-13]

Exo 33:12 Moses said to the LORD, "Look, You have told me, 'Lead this people up,' but You have not let me know whom You will send with me. You said, 'I know you by name, and you have also found favor in My sight.'
Exo 33:13 Now if I have indeed found favor in Your sight, please teach me Your ways, and I will know You and find favor in Your sight. Now consider that this nation is Your people."

One of the most precious things in our world today is the relationship between a boy and his father. It is amazing to see a small boy looking at his father with awe and respect and wanting nothing more that to be like dad.
We should have that same relationship with God. Here we read that God wanted Moses to continue on his journey. In this passage we see the tender heart of Moses to know God a little bit better. God had told Moses that he had found favor in His sight. The Lord was pleased with what Moses had done for him in spite of opposition. Moses was lacking one thing: He didn’t fully understand God’s plan. He strongly desired for God to teach him His ways.
How many times do we make that request to God and mean it? Do we truly want to know God’s ways? When God does show us His plan and desire for our lives sometimes we don’t like what it has to offer. When we ask God to teach us His ways, we have to be willing to follow them, no questions asked.
Why not ask God today? “Now if I have indeed found favor in Your sight, please teach me Your ways, and I will know You and find favor in your sight.”

Aaron

Trust [Proverbs 3:5-6]

Pro 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding;
Pro 3:6 think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths.

Over that past few weeks in my Senior High Sunday School class we have been studying what it takes to build healthy relationships between people. The first week we studied appreciation. We need to make sure that others we have relationships with know that we appreciate them. Not only that we appreciate them, but why we appreciate them. The next week we studied how we need to communicate as Christians. We communicate in our actions, our lifestyle and our speech. So, what are we to be communicating? What the Bible teaches should be our sole form of communication. Then we learned what the content of that communication should be: edifying, teaching, and warning against unholy living. This week we will embark on the study of trustworthiness. We are going to examine areas of the Bible that instruct us on trusting God and other areas where God gives examples of how we are supposed to respond when he trusts us with something.

So, let’s take a moment and look at what the Bible says about us trusting God (for the other part you have to be here on Sunday!). We in Proverbs 3:5-6 that we are to trust God will all of our hearts. With all of our being we need to rely on God. This does not say only trust Him with what you feel like or just trust Him a little bit, we are to trust God with all of our hearts. The next part in trusting God is that part that every Christian struggles with and that is self. My ideas are the best; my way will work; my, my, my! Does that sound dumb to anyone else? God says we are to not rely on our own understanding! Guys, our ideas are dumb if they don’t line up with what God says. We all know that. It was our bright idea that brought sin into the word. It’s our bright ideas that cause us to constantly mess up. We can not rely on our understanding. So, what do we do? Our ideas are futile, they get us no where. We know that we need to trust God with all our hearts, we already read that. So, what’s next? We need to think about God in all of our ways. Everything we do and say need to involve God. We need to let Him steer the ship of our lives. What’s the result of that? He will guide us on right paths. When God is the captain and we trust Him, we can not go the wrong direction. That captain does not make mistakes. So, how should we trust God? With all our hearts.

Aaron

As far as the east is from the west [Psalm 103:12]

Psa 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.

I was driving in the car this morning, recording gas prices and I heard the song East to West by Casting Crowns. I know many times in my life, I have felt in a rut with God. I know that He is there, but yet He seems so far away. Read the lyrics of this song. God is always here.

Here I am, Lord, and I'm drowning in your sea of forgetfulness.

The chains of yesterday surround me

I yearn for peace and rest

I don't want to end up where You found me

And it echoes in my mind, keeps me awake tonight

I know You've cast my sin as far as the east is from the west

And I stand before You now as though I've never sinned

But today I feel like I'm just one mistake away from You leaving me this way

Jesus, can You show me just how far the east is from the west

'cause I can't bear to see the man I've been come rising up in me again

In the arms of Your mercy I find rest

'cause You know just how far the east is from the west

From one scarred hand to the other

I start the day, the war begins, endless reminding of my sin

Time and time again Your truth is drowned out by the storm I'm in

Today I feel like I'm just one mistake away from You leaving me this way

I know You've washed me white, turned my darkness into light

I need Your peace to get me through, to get me through this night

I can't live by what I feel, but by the truth Your word reveals

I'm not holding on to You, but You're holding on to me

You're holding on to me

Jesus, You know just how far the east is from the west

I don't have to see the man I've been come rising up in me again

In the arms of Your mercy I find rest

'cause You know just how far the east is from the west

From one scarred hand to the other
One scarred hand to the other

From one scarred hand to the other

No matter what I have done, Jesus has forgiven me. We read in Psalm 103 (which this song is based off of) that Jesus took those sins and threw them away, as far as the east is from the west. It’s forgotten. As you continue this week, remember that, but also remember the line in the song: “I don’t have to see the man I’ve been come rising up in me again.” We are forgiven. We can be soooo awesome for God!

Aaron

Plant or Water [1 Corinthians 3:6-9a]

1Co 3:6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.
1Co 3:7 So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.
1Co 3:8 Now the one who plants and the one who waters are equal, and each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

1Co 3:9 For we are God's co-workers.

Evangelism can be a discouraging thing. At the same time, it can be the most rewarding experience of your life. What greater joy than leading another person into an eternity with Jesus. Paul uncovers what I could consider the “myth” of evangelism. The “if I don’t lead the person I am witnessing to to Christ, I am a failure” syndrome. So, what does Paul say about this? What is our role as evangelists for Christ?

First of all, Paul says he planted. Paul shared the gospel he was entrusted with (2 Timothy 1:12). Then, Apollos came along and watered that seed. Paul opened the door to Christ and Apollos led the person through.
What was next? Paul shared the gospel. Apollos led the person to Christ. God gave them growth! Paul and Apollos efforts were useless without God giving growth.
Is it good to share the gospel? Yes! Is it good to lead someone to Christ? Yes! What is the best though? The growth in a Christian’s that only God can give. God uses us to accomplish His final means.
We are God’s co- workers.
Paul didn’t water, but Apollos didn’t plant. Who was more obedient? Neither. We need to labor for God in everyway, whether we have the opportunity to plant or water. Our labor will not go unnoticed by God.
Aaron

Integrity [1 Samuel 12:1-5]

1Sa 12:1 Then Samuel said to all Israel, "I have carefully listened to everything you said to me and placed a king over you.
1Sa 12:2 But now, you can see that the king is leading you. As for me, I'm old and gray, and my sons are here with you. I have led you from my youth until today.
1Sa 12:3 Here I am. Bring charges against me before the LORD and His anointed: Whose ox or donkey have I taken? Whom have I wronged or mistreated? From whose hand have I taken a bribe to overlook something? I will return it to you."
1Sa 12:4 "You haven't wronged us, you haven't mistreated us, and you haven't taken anything from anyone's hand," they responded.
1Sa 12:5 He said to them, "The LORD is a witness against you, and His anointed is a witness today that you haven't found anything in my hand." "He is a witness," they said.

In the upcoming elections, there are 3 candidates in the spotlight. Senators Hilary Clinton, Barak Obama, and John McCain. Attention is all on them and some Americans sit and wait for them to slip up in their actions or speech. Why? Some people enjoy ruining the reputation of others. What did they say wrong? Or what scandal were they involved in years ago? Anything to trip them up.

Samuel was different. In his old age, Israel began to demand for a king. We read in chapter 8 of 1 Samuel that he considered their demand sinful and did not want to take part in it. He took the situation to the Lord and God told him in verse 7, “But the LORD told him, "Listen to the people and everything they say to you. They have not rejected you; they have rejected Me as their king.” Samuel listen to what the Lord commanded and in verse 15 of chapter 11 we read, “So all the people went to Gilgal, and there in the LORD's presence they made Saul king. There they sacrificed fellowship offerings in the LORD's presence, and Saul and all the men of Israel greatly rejoiced.” Saul was made the first king over Israel.

After Saul was appointed king, Samuel made sure Israel could not taint his reputation. He asked the entire nation what charges they could bring against him, if any? What had he done wrong? The only response was nothing. He had a clean slate. They knew his feelings on a king and his hands were clean of the aftermath of their decision.

Our presidential hopefuls, have a fine tooth comb running through their pasts. Many charges are coming up against them. Eventually, some things could be brought up to ruin them.

What about us? We all have things in our past we regret. Honestly, you are lying if you say you don’t. We can start from here though. We can live that life of integrity that was modeled by Samuel. We can live from here on out in such a way that our slate is clean. So, are we going to?

Aaron

It's Just My Duty... [Luke 17:7-10]

7 "Which one of you having a slave plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he comes in from the field, 'Come at once and sit down to eat'? 8 Instead, will he not tell him, 'Prepare something for me to eat, get ready, and serve me while I eat and drink; later you can eat and drink' 9 Does he thank that slave because he did what was commanded? 10 In the same way, when you have done all that you were commanded, you should say, 'We are good-for-nothing slaves; we've only done our duty.'" [Luke 17:7-10]

September 11, 2001 was one of the most tragic days in the history of the United States. That morning our country came under attack by so called "religious martyrs" from the group Al- Queda. Two airplanes were flown into the World Trade Center towers, one was flown into the Pentagon and one was crashed in a field in Pennsylvania. America wept at the lose of thousands of lives. In the darkness that was that day, a ray of hope shone out. Firefighters, police, paramedics and countless other heroes stepped up to the plate and went to action. Men and women were running into the burning towers, which could fall to the ground at any moment, just to save one more life. To them the life of a stranger was worth more than their own. Many of these heroes never came back out of the building; they paid the ultimate sacrifice, their lives. For those that did the burning question in the heart of every American was “Why?” Why were these men and woman willing to risk their lives for strangers they may never see again? Do you know what the response was? “Oh, we’re not heroes… we are only doing our duty…” The commander said “Go!” and they went.

We read in this passage of Luke a parable that was told by Jesus. A parable of a slave who worked in the fields and then came in and made a meal for his master. Jesus says that slave did not expect a thank you or a pat on the back; he was doing his duty. Are we expecting a pat on the back when we do good for God? I hope not. Next time you start to feel pride well up in your heart because of your service to God just remember what the 9/11 heroes said and what Jesus said in Luke 17:10, “It’s just my duty…”