A Light in the Dark

A Light in the Dark
"If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you."

— John 15:18
Jesus became very popular during His earthly ministry. He spoke in a way that people could understand. He reached out to hurting people. He was known as a friend of sinners. All that really irritated the religious authorities. Clearly, He was a threat to their legalistic system of works. And thus, He became public enemy number one. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was a wanted man.In the same way, there are people today who hate Jesus Christ and everything He stands for. They despise His teachings. And if you follow Jesus Christ and His teachings and stand up for what you believe, then they will hate you too. In fact, Jesus said we should remember that if the world hates us, it hated Him first. He chose us out of the world, and therefore the world hates us. We can expect to be persecuted (see John 15:18–20).We are representatives of Christ. And if you think people hate Christians in general, then try being a pastor. Because I'm a representative of God, some people will take all their anger out on me. "Why does God do this?" they demand. "Why doesn't God do that?" I accept the fact that I'm a representative of God. I'm not ashamed of it. But some people will hate us for it.That can be hard, because we don't want to be hated by others. We don't want to offend people unnecessarily. We want to be gracious. But because we are representatives of Christ, we will bother people, because they know we stand for biblical values and biblical truth. It is like being a light in a dark place.

An Itch for Novelty

For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound andwholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look forteachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. Theywill reject the truth and chase after myths. - 2 Timothy 4:3-4

In describing the last days, the apostle Paul said, "A time is coming whenpeople will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They willfollow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell themwhatever their itching ears want to hear . . . " (2 Timothy 4:3-4).

The phrase "itching ears" in verse 4 could be translated, "an itch fornovelty." Is that not an apt description of people in the church today? I amamazed at the crazy things that people who profess to be Christians will buyinto. It seems as though every few years, a new fad comes along thateveryone gets worked up about.

People get caught up in nonsense, and it is an itch for novelty. After awhile, they tire of it and run off to some new thing. It is because theyhave never learned to love the Word of God.

The Bible tells us that in the last days, there will be false teachers,there will be a false gospel, and there will be false miracles. Only thoseChristians who are conversant with the Word of God and are biblicallyliterate will be able to identify them.

Jesus said we are to "go and make disciples of all the nations" (Matthew28:19). The church is a place where the Bible should be taught and whereGod's people should know what the Word of God says. It should be a placewhere we worship, a place where we pray, and a place where we use the giftsGod has given to us. But we are getting away from that. And that is whythere is such a vulnerability to false teaching today.

COMPASS OR CLOCK?

But I am trusting you, O LORD, saying, “You are my God!” My future is in your hands. Rescue me from those who hunt me down relentlessly.Psalm 31:14-15


A friend said, “My problem is that I have surrendered my time to work, to other people, and to bad habits.”
That truly is the problem, not only for my friend but also for many of us. We should first surrender our time to God. God owns it anyway. Unfortunately, we often ask God to wait in line for leftover time. No wonder life seems out of sync! We need help with our task to manage properly what has been entrusted to us until Christ returns or wants it back, and that includes our time.
Think about a compass and a clock. Two very important tools with two very different purposes. One would be wise not to confuse the two. To surrender our time to God is to be governed by a compass rather than to be controlled by a clock. A compass provides a sense of direction, purpose, vision, perspective, and balance. A clock measures duration, the expenditure of time. A compass determines effectiveness—doing the right tasks. A clock determines efficiency—how long it takes to accomplish a task. Each has its place. But, the compass must come before the clock; therefore, effectiveness before efficiency. The “mega priorities” of the compass subordinate the “mini priorities” of the clock.
A compass, therefore, becomes a symbol of an internal guidance system that provides us with our values and convictions based on God’s Word. This non-negotiable governs our lives. In the same manner that the magnetic force pulls the compass needle, it is God who governs the drive of our lives. We surrender to his force.
Our time should be surrendered to God daily. I asked a friend who is engaged in many pursuits successfully how he managed it all. He said, “I give my first minutes to God, then I commit the remainder of the day to his Lordship. And amazingly I work more effectively and efficiently.”
Have you surrendered your time to God? Is your future in his hands?

The Power of Partnership

Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now.
Philippians 1:4-5

Partnership is the ability to accomplish more together than apart. It recognizes that a team is stronger than a lone individual. A group committed to each other will help the struggling and the fallen.
Mother Teresa said, “You can do what I cannot do. I can do what you cannot do. Together, we can do great things.” An anonymous author wrote, “It is better to have one person working with you, than three working for you.” Andrew Carnegie confessed, “I owe whatever success I have attained, by and large, to my ability to surround myself with people who are smarter than I am.” John Wooden, perhaps the greatest basketball coach of all time, reminded his team, “The man who puts the ball through the hoop has ten hands.”
Call it whatever you want—teamwork, association, synergy—partnership is the remarkable ability of two or more people working together to accomplish more than what each could do alone.
This truth is a fit reminder to God’s people that when we are working together in harmony, the talents and gifts of the body minimize the weaknesses and shortcomings of the body, thereby making a stronger unit. Just as a baseball team needs nine players on the field or the game is forfeited, the local church needs everyone participating, or the strength of the body is weakened and the advancement of the gospel is threatened. If you took away one musician from an orchestra, the symphony would be incomplete. So, too, if one member of the family of God is missing, the church is incomplete.
We need each other. You need someone, and someone needs you.

Carpenter's Shop

I hope you are planning to attend this Friday as we celebrate the Lord’s Supper and Crucifixion. Friday will begin at 6:30, and then Saturday night will start also at 6:30, and a special concert with Bethany Dillon and Warren Barfield will be celebrating the life of Christ . I so look forward to seeing you there.



Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to Him, "Rabboni!" (which is to say, Teacher).

— John 20:16
Mary Magdalene was one of the most devoted followers that Jesus ever had. Luke's Gospel tells us that she and others ministered to Him out of "their substance," which simply means that she financially supported Him. She traveled with Him. She wanted to be near Him. She wanted to hear Him. She had the courage to stand at the foot of the cross when most of the disciples were in hiding. Imagine how her heart broke at His crucifixion.She was the last at the cross, and early Sunday morning, she was the first at the tomb. She was not there to see a risen Lord, but to anoint His dead body. But she was in for a great surprise, because Jesus came to her in the midst of her sorrow.And Jesus comes in the same way to the grieving person today. Maybe you feel desperate in your own grief. Maybe it is over a death. Maybe it is the breakup of a marriage. Maybe you have a child who has gone astray spiritually. But you are grieving.The good news is that things can change. Things may look absolutely bleak today, but that husband or wife may return. That prodigal child may come back to God. And as a believer, you will again see that Christian loved one who has died. No matter what your circumstances, Jesus will be there with you. Maybe He will resolve your problems immediately. Or maybe your problems will continue. But you never will be alone.That is the message of the resurrected Lord to us. He knows what we are going through. He understands. And He cares.