Blind Curves, Hidden Driveways, Falling Rocks

But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. 1 Corinthians 8:9

When God's Word speaks, we've got answers. God's Word, which is God's truth, when it speaks, we've got our answer.

I like to say that we're a textual community. In other words, what binds us together is God's Word-the Bible. If God said it, the issue's settled. Settled. It's a done deal.

Adultery? That's not even a question. Settled. God tells us in His Word how He feels about adultery. Divorce? Clears it up. Settles it. Stealing? Clears it up. It's never okay. Lying? Clears it up. It's never okay. Pride? Clears it up, never okay. Rape? Never okay. Fornication? Sex out of marriage? Clears it up. Never okay.

Listen, if the Bible says it, it's settled. If the Bible says, Don't do this, and I choose to do it, that's called sin. And I need a community around me that says, Bob, buddy, you're sinning. You are now putting into jeopardy and threatening your relationship with the community to which you say you belong. You need to repent. You need to come back.

The Bible says don't do this. And yet, people will write. They'll call. They'll come. They'll visit. And they'll say, Well, I know it says that but I want to know, can I do it? It's like some legalistic straightjacket, man. I mean, the Bible says the truth will set you free. Free, man. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

All true. Hallelujah! We're free! But our liberty and freedom as Christians is not some unbridled license to just do and live however we want to do and live. The abundant life God has for us is full of freedom, but not freedom to sin.

Why? Because sin brings destruction in your life. God is saying, I love you and I've got plans and purposes for your life that are filled with fulfillment and joy. But you'll cut yourself off from all of that if you fill your life with sin.

That's why I need the Holy Spirit in my life. I need the Holy Spirit to keep my conscience clear; that I can see him guiding and leading my life, leading me away from sin and toward His good purposes.

Will you let the Holy Spirit lead you today?

Prayer Holy Spirit,

Thank You that You have good plans for me that are way better than I'll find on my own in a life full of sin! Please lead me and guide me today, away from sin and into all of Your good plans!

Amen

Women Drivers

As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man. 1 Corinthians 15:48-49

Do your kids look like you? For me, it was amazing to watch my kids growing up and to see how early you could recognize whose traits they had the most.

You know, our kids are born with our physical traits, but hopefully for us as parents, we're not satisfied with that. We need to want that they don't just look like us physically, but that they should also look like Jesus spiritually.

This takes some tenacity that says, I'm not going to be a quitter. I'm going to continue to drive into my kids the very image and nature of Christ and Christ alone.

That comes with some challenges these days because you are surrounded with this culture that's so ungodly. I mean, how are we to raise these kids to love God in such an ungodly time of history?

Well, to be honest, whether they're into it or not, I don't think it should be an option. You're their parents, and as being like Christ is already decided for you (or at least it should be!), you should simply expect the same from your children.

And moms, dads, keep doing what you know is right according to God's Word. Don't faint, don't pull back, don't retreat, don't quit, and you will reap a harvest if you don't lose heart. The Bible promises that and you can declare that promise over your kids.

Declare the Word of God over your kids. Declare an expectation over their life that they will love God, that they will live to serve God. Declare that over them because God's Word never returns void. Let them hear you declare it over their lives.

Well, they're not into it, Bob.

Let them hear you declaring it over them! Let them hear you praying out loud for them. Nothing will mess up their week more than overhearing you praying for them out loud.

Wow. Awkward.

Maybe so, but they need to see the example anyway. He's praying. Wow, she's praying. Come on! Join with me in setting up some guardrails that would keep our kids on the right road. Be a sold out example that out loud leads and declares them into the same relationship with Christ Jesus.

Prayer Heavenly Father,

Thank You that You know how to be a good parent! Thank You also for the promises of Your Word! Please help me today to use the wisdom of Your Word in my parenting.

Amen

What Happens When You Die?

Then He who sat on the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.' And He said to me...I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.' Revelation 21:5-7

We all want to be in that number when the saints go marching in, but why? Obviously, we know that Heaven will be a better place than Hell, so we have our fire-insurance salvation. But I find that it brings much more purpose to our lives when we pursue something positive, rather than try to avoid something negative.

Living our lives just to avoid Hell leaves us confused, at best, and controlled by fear, at worst. However, when we put Heaven before our eyes, it begins to give us a goal, a target to aim for, a hope that keeps us focused through whatever we may be facing.

So what is Heaven like? Well, the Bible tells us quite a bit.

First, it's new. Everything is new there. There is nothing old. If you try to find something old, you will not succeed, because everything is new all the time!

Second, it is a place of pure, unending joy. God Himself will wipe away every tear, comfort every sorrow, and rid us of everything that could ever rob us of joy. Not only that, but we will always be in His presence-He will always be with us-and Psalm 16:11 tells us, In Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Fullness of joy! Unabating, unfading, never ending, overflowing, more-than-we-canimagine joy! And pleasures-not rarely, not few, not sometimes-but forevermore! ForeverMore. Forever, pleasures will increase upon us more and more and more for all eternity.

Third, He will give us the fountain of the water of life whenever we're thirsty. Whatever longing we have in our eternal life, He will satisfy it. There is no longing we can have that will be denied. The answer will always be, Yes!

As if all this wasn't enough, God delights to give us more. In fact, He delights to give us everything-inherit all things. How much is all? Is anything left out of all? Those who overcome will inherit all things! And we will be called His son.

It simply does not get any better than this. God has given us a vision of Heaven. May it inspire you to live your earthly life in pursuit of your Heavenly one.

Prayer My Father,

Thank You for Heaven! You have given me such incredible promises of what Heaven will be like, I long for my life right now to be as much like that as it can be. Fill me with a vision of Heaven so that I will live for what lasts forever.

Amen

Living for the Day

For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10

Have you ever been afraid of what's going to happen to you? Well, I'm here to give you some good news today-God offers salvation so that no matter what happens to you, you live with Him.

It's win-win.

I remember when Bill Bright-the founder of Campus Crusade for Christ-asked me to come and visit him when he was on his deathbed. When I got there, he's hooked up to a bunch of oxygen tanks and he's got a mask on. I walked in the room and Bonnie was really sick at the time. We didn't know what it was-ovarian cancer or MS or something crazy.

He takes the mask off-the guy is dying-but he takes the mask off, looks at me, and says, Bob, how's Bonnie?

I just had to cry. I mean, it just shows the love that this guy had for others. And he knew where he was going. He didn't have any concern whatsoever. He was so at rest and at peace that all he cared about was how Bon was doing.

I remember another time we were at the hospital while Bonnie was running all sorts of tests to find out what was wrong and my cell phone rang. You're not supposed to answer the cell phone in the hospital rooms. I get that. Sorry doc. But it was Bill Bright calling us to check on her. You know why? Because he claimed our verse today and he said to us a number of times, Bob here is the reality of the story at the end of the day.

Listen, whether we wake or whether we sleep, we should live together with Him.

Bill Bright taught me very well at an early age, Bobby, it's a win-win. You either stay here and you live it for Jesus or you go home and live with Him in Heaven forever.

Gang, let's be honest. I don't mean to be overly morbid with you, but we're all terminal. We're all dying. So in this time that remains, whether it's a minute or a month or a decade, who are you going to live it for?

Prayer Lord Jesus,

Thank You for giving Yourself so that I could be saved! Thank You for the hope I have in You that no matter what happens to me, I'm with You. As You gave Yourself for me, I give myself to You today.

Amen

Hijacking the American Dream

But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:5-8

Do you know that you can have more than one father?

Let's start with the obvious-you've got an earthly father. You can trace your ancestry all the way back to Adam if you got real serious about it. Hopefully, you have had the opportunity, and taken it, to build on the relationship you have with your earthly father, to deepen it and make it truly significant in your life.

But not only do you have a father in the flesh, I also hope today that you have a father of the faith-someone who led you to Christ or discipled you in your faith. You could trace this lineage, if you wanted, all the way back to Abraham.

Here's kind of the odd thing about that, though: Abraham was not only the father of the Judeo-Christian faith, but also the Islamic faith finds its father in Abraham. That's kind of confusing.

This is why Peter, in our verses today, would want for you to add to that faith. Okay? Add to your faith some virtue. Add to your faith some knowledge. Just don't say, Well, I'm one of the faith. Which faith?

Because now you have another father today who wants to be your Father of forgiveness. And that's what we all need is a relationship with God that allows for Him to not just be our Father of faith, but our Father of forgiveness.

For all of us, this takes us to a whole new level. But many of us limit our identity. Some of us are still limiting our identity to that fleshly father that we have, saying I'm the way that I am because of him, the genes that I was born with and the temper that came with it, or whatever the case may be.

We'll limit our identity, if we're not careful, to this fleshly father that we were born from here on Earth. Or, from a faith standpoint, we'll kind of cap it out there and say, Well, yeah, I have faith.

Everyone has faith. The question is whether your faith has now changed your identity. Have you made God your Father of forgiveness, confessing the guilt of your sin and allowing Him to wash you clean of it and come live inside of you?

Prayer Father God,

Thank You that You are so far beyond the example of earthly fathers that I have seen! You really are the perfect Father, and I need You today to become my Father of forgiveness. Take my sin away and live in me from this day on!

Amen

Better Jobs

Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm. Daniel 6:3

What motivates you in the workplace? Is it your paycheck? Your work ethic? Your fear of losing your job?

We all know that it is good to be motivated at work. Whatever motivates you, I am glad for it, but I want to share with you the best motivator we can have.

All of the things I listed above can motivate us to produce good work, but they do not have the ability to set us apart from anyone else in the world. We can have these motivations, yet be no different than the non-Christian in the cubical or office next to ours.

The only motivator that can set us apart from the world is our relationship with God. This is what we can learn from our verses today, as they show us what distinguished Daniel above his peers in the kingdoms of Babylon and Persian-the excellent spirit in him.

We have an excellent Spirit in us, and by His work in us and through us we can be distinguished above all those who work around us on a daily basis.

How did Daniel set himself up for being distinguished because of his excellent spirit? He did three things:

First, he looked to God for answers whenever he faced a difficult situation. When his boss, the king, was in a tight place, he prayed to God for answers and then delivered a word of the Lord to the king that exactly fit the need.

Second, he refused to compromise his faith. His faithfulness to the Lord forged a deep relationship with Him on which He could rely in good times and bad. Also, because he was faithful to God, God multiplied what He had given Daniel.

Third, he worked his tail off. In the book of Daniel, we only read the exclamation points of his life, but this short book spans several decades. His faithfulness, hard work, and integrity sustained him in the right place in between the exclamation points so that he would always be in the right places at the right times.

It is also worth noting that Daniel served at least three kings in two different empires, which means that his employment endured drastic transitions. His faithfulness and integrity kept his job safe even during corporate buy-outs, mergers, and transitions of power.

Daniel was set apart because of his excellent spirit, found in his relationship with God. Can you say the same?

Prayer Holy Spirit,

Thank You that You set me apart! Please help me to be like Daniel in my workplace, so that I can glorify You and advance Your kingdom.

Amen

Overcoming Overwhelming Obstacles

And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses' hands became heavy; so...Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. Exodus 17:11-12

The people of Israel were stuck. They had just marched from Egypt into the Wilderness. They were thirsty. They were tired. They had just contended with God and complained against Moses, even wanting to stone him. Finally, God rescued them by causing a river to pour out from a previously dry wall of rock.

Just when they thought things were turning around for them, the Amalekites came and surrounded them. The whole company of Israel-men, women, and children-was in deep trouble.

That's when Moses took action. He said, Joshua, you go fight. I'm taking God's staff up the hill and I'll watch.

Despite how it might sound, Moses knew what he was doing-he was putting his faith in God. He went up the hill and Aaron and Hur went with him. As long as Moses kept his hands raised, Israel won, but as soon as they fell, the battle turned against them. Because Moses couldn't keep his hands up forever, Aaron and Hur helped him, completing the picture for us of how we, too, can find victory in all the battles that the enemy brings our way.

Let me spell it out more clearly. Moses, here, points us to praise. The people want to stone him, so he runs to God. An army shows up to kill the people, so he runs to God. And there, in a position of praise, God brings deliverance.

Aaron, the high priest, represents prayer. This attitude of prayer keeps us close to the Lord, recognizing both our need of Him and His desire to deliver us.

Hur, we don't know who he is really, but his name in Hebrew means White. This means purity. If you want to see overwhelming victory over the obstacles in your life, then fight for greater praise, fervent prayer, and purity in your thoughts, actions, and life.

There's one other guy in this picture-Joshua, wielding a sword, which for us is a picture of the power of God.

Put these four things together-praise, prayer, purity, and trust in the power of Godand be victorious over the obstacles in your life.

Prayer Lord God,

Thank You that You help me overcome every battle that I face! As anything comes up to oppose me as I live for You, show me how to praise, pray, remain pure, and trust in You to be powerful on my behalf.

Amen