Faith Sense

In going through Mom’s things after her death, Dad found a little thought jotted on a piece of yellowing paper tucked away in her Bible. It said, “Do the most. Say the best. Leave the rest.” No doubt she had heard that in a sermon or a Bible class lesson ad thought it worth preserving. Not only that, but I think she must have thought it worth living.

My mother was like anyone else, human, with her weaknesses, but her faith was strong in difficulty. And she seemed to have a handle on her eternal destination. It occurs to me that she was on God’s side. Some people try to get God on their side through their actions. Their worship, their offerings and their prayers are aimed at securing Divine approval. But that will not work.

On the other hand, a man on God’s side can’t lose. He may have some failures or be overcome in the battle with disease or other struggles, but each o these contribute to the ultimate success and sweetness of the final victory.

Satan appeared to have won at Calvary. But then the resurrection came and God resoundingly turned Satan’s worst to a glorious triumph for both himself and man. Redemption was made possible for those who would align themselves the plumb line of the Testament of Christ. That’s what Mom did and she taught some very vivid lessons of faith and courage in her fight with cancer. I hope they are truly learned.

Thank goodness that, “in all thins we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.”

(originally written in November, 1983)

I meet with a small group on Monday nights to do some Bible study. They live in a facility for those who have demostrable handicaps. One is legally blind, another has spina bifada, one is a paraplegic, another an amputee. Just before Christmas we completed a stdy of the book of James. We met tonight to decide what we would investigate. One of them suggested he has a lot of questions about prayer. So we will begin next Monday a study we are calling Mountain Movers.

To take a stand on a Biblical principle, whether doctrinal or moral, requires maturity and dedication. It also requires a measure of faith that the Bible is the infallible Word of God, and therefore it holds the pattern for our lives. To be steadfast and unmovable, (1 Corinthians 15:57), one must believe that he is right.

The ability to stand is a cultivated ability that grows with knowledge and experience. Once a stand has been successfully made in relatively small matters, one becomes more able to stand firm before the greater trials. Thus, it is important to be firm about even that which, on the surface, may seemingly be insignificant.

Ephesians 6:13 ”Wherefore, take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

This post is of one of my favorite of all the blogs I have written in over a year as a blogger. It was in response to a writing challenge. The challenge was to make a meaningful post, using the word closet in the first sentence and the last sentence, and it had to have at least 300 words.

 

Jesus says that my prayers need to be said in the closet. He made this assertion in what is called The Sermon on the Mount. That sermon is recorded in the fifth, sixth and seventh chapters of the Gospel of Matthew. This public proclamation is filled with some of the best known and loved teachings of the Nazarene. Those who heard it first were absolutely amazed at the power, authority and practicality of the teachings.

Right in the middle of the sermon, there is a section that deals with prayer (Matthew 6:5-15). One of the abuses of religion addressed in this passage was the practice of praying in public to show off one’s piety. Jesus proclaimed that those who pray on the street corners to be seen by others will receive no reward for their efforts, other than that they were seen by others. I believe it is the peacock practices of some who claim to be Christians that are so resented by so many non-believers.

That idea is followed by the admonition to seclude oneself and pray in private when you want to communicate with God and let Him know what is on your heart. He assures us that God will hear the petitions made in private and He will reward the one who offers such prayers.

The next segment calls on those who pray not to go on and on, as though God likes to hear long prayers. It is an indication that you do not know God, who knows what you need before you ask. Jesus then provides the much loved and recited example of effective prayers, “Our Father Who Art In Heaven…”

One of the most lacking attributes of a life of faith in many individual Christians is their personal prayer life. Many have been drawn to the services of mega-churches that offer as much entertainment as they do spiritual nourishment from the meat of the Word. Assembly of the body is expected of us, but it is not all there is to being a genuine disciple of Christ.

Many have no understanding of the need for taking time to focus on building a relationship with God. That is best done by being alone with Him in a quiet place, sharing big dreams and the little inconsequential details of the daily routine with Him. So to shut out the noise and distractions that are so much a part of our world today, turn off the television and the cell phone, and spend time in prayer talking to God. He is waiting for you in the closet.

 

Many people hold to the philosophy that it makes no differnece how you worship God, so long as you are sincere in your practice. Others are satisfied because they have led a good moral life, at least compared to the masses, and wronged no one.

Let me say that I not only believe in the grace of God, but I am very grateful that because of the work of Christ on the cross by Jesus taking my place, I do not have to worry about my position in Him. But there are some things to add to today’s discussion.

Saul of Tarsus, who became the apostle Paul, was a consecrated, honest, well-educated Jew, who was trying to serve God in a good conscience by persecuting Christians. Was his mistaken position tolerable? If it was, why did God send a preacher to tell him to change (Acts 22:16)?

Cornelius (Acts 10), was a devout, God-fearing, benevolent, sincere man who, nevertheless, was without hope because he did not even know about Christ. God sent Peter to share with him what was necessary to bring his life in in line with the will of the Father.

Jesus says, “You shall know the truth and the truth will make you free.” He does not say anywhere that you will be free as long as you are sincere. Sincerity is very important in God’s plan, but so is being right.

The young prophet in 1 Kings 13 was sincere, but despite the fact that he was deceived by what an old preacher told him, his disobedience cost him his life.

Why are such records in the Scripture? I believe they are there to warn us. It makes no difference what you believe as long as it makes no difference where you are going.

2 Timothy 2:15 “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (emphasis mine)

My bachelors degree is in biology, so science is not something I hate and fight against. Nor do I hold unbelievers to be unintelligent. When I read your comments I was touched by what I would call melancholy in your words.

I wish you could believe based on the evidence, scientific and historical and biblical, teleological, etc. I believe all truth points to the Creator of the truths. True science, without biases, has to acknowledge something is bigger than the creation, even as massive as it is. And the more knowledge we gain of the truth from science, or from archaleogy or Scripture, the more it will draw us to a better understanding of the one who made and sustains everything.

I am reminded by your thoughts of the father of the epileptic in Mark 9. In reply to Jesus the man said “I do believe, help thou my unbelief” (verse 24)

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