SHOW YOUR TRUE COLOURS!

Beth and I were once in Old San Juan Puerto Rico. We were in a group touring the Old Fort there.

Another tour group went by us & its leader was carrying a bright Norwegian flag.
The flag was a way for the group members to stick with their tour guide.

Because Beth is half Norwegian, I asked to borrow the flag and I had my wife
hold it so I could take a fun picture.

It was not evident that Beth is Norwegian until she carried Norway’s flag.

We have true colours as Christians.

In Matthew 5:16 our Lord said:
“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father Who is in heaven.”

Our true colors as Christians should be both light (a reflection of God’s light) and good works.

Do persons see God’s light and good works as they observe you? This is the flag you are to carry! It will identify you as being a Christ-follower.



CHRISTMAS – GOD WITH US

Christmas Tree
This little boy is captivated by this big dog. The only way for the boy to understand what the dog is thinking & communicating & planning is if the dog became human. Then the boy could comprehend the big dog. Before Bethlehem people were interested in the Almighty but they basically could not adequately understand God’s mind & heart & plan of  the Cross. This is why, as John 1:14 reports, “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
 
Additionally, this is why Matthew 1:23 relays: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bear a Son, they shall call His name ‘Immanuel’, which translated means ‘God with us’.”
We must thank the Lord God that He came to us as the miracle baby!
Now our knowledge of Him can be full.


I CAN’T BELIEVE I JUST DID THAT!

Joanna & Bull RunSometimes risky faith in Jesus Christ leaves us in places of amazement and exhilaration.

That’s the look on our daughter Joanna’s face.

She has been in Spain this summer working at camp. And in this pic she has just been a part of a “running with the bulls” event.

(Did her traveler’s insurance cover that?)

“Running with the Bulls”. That had to require faith to “seize the moment”.

What is your Lord calling you to do that requires big faith in Him?

Do it! Be amazed. Be exhilarated.

“And Peter answered Him and said, Lord, ‘if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’
And He said, ‘Come!’
And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus.’ “
                                                (Matthew 14:28-29)



SMALL SCREEN – SMALL LIFE

Beach ScreenBeth and I were at the beach today. The young woman beside us never spoke to anyone; never went in the water; she snapped many selfie’s, masterfully using her neon-colored selfie-stick; and she rarely looked away from her smart phone.
We largely have become a world of small screen-watchers.
 
At his Shepherds Pastors Conference, I heard  John MacArthur observe that the screens of our electronic devices are getting smaller and smaller; and as they do so the risk of sin greatly increases.
 
He cited the sin of pornography and that is true. I would also add self-absorption, disregard for others, idolatry & addiction to the list of other possible sins easily bred by small-screened devices .
 
Jesus said that the second most important commandment of all involves paying attention to others.
“… You shall love your neighbor as yourself”. (Matthew 22:39)
Work on a suntan that doesn’t reveal your electronic device.


IT’S NOT ALWAYS OBVIOUS

Safety ConesThe Bible warns us about spending a lot of time with some people.
“Do not be deceived: bad company corrupts good morals.”  (1 Corinthians 15:33)

A good apple which is long enough with bad apples in the same barrel, goes bad.
Or …
“Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.”  (Matthew 7:6)

The boy in the picture is wearing construction cones. These cones tell motorists to steer clear of construction zones.

Often “bad company” people and haters of holy, Gospel truth aren’t as clearly marked!
Ask the Lord for discernment. He will show you when it’s time to steer around dangerous people.


Do What It Takes

Tenting

TENTING: Draping an entire building with huge & heavy tarps so that it can be intensively fumigated.

It must be done to the building which has lots of bugs or pests which are a real problem!

Tenting is a drastic, labour-intensive & expensive measure which is seen as being necessary & worth doing although it is also inconvenient & disruptive.

Jesus taught in Matthew 5:29-30: “And if you’re right eye makes you stumble, tear it out, and throw it from you; for it is better for you that one of the parts of your body parish, then for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off, and throw it from you; for it is better for you that one of the the parts of your body perish, then for your whole body to go into hell.”

Jesus was not recommending literal self-mutilation. Nowhere in the New Testament do we read of any committed follower of Christ walking around without a hand or an eye.

The Lord was using a figure of speech: Hyperbole.
He was using intentional exaggeration to emphasize practical point.
And His point was/is – do what ever it takes to avoid sin in your life. Even the drastic and expensive thing.

Some common examples of hyperbole would be:
“I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.”
“I’m so tired I could fall asleep on a clothesline.”
“School comes easy to him: He takes in knowledge by osmosis.”
“The U.S. sneezes and the Bahamas gets a cold!”

Believer, could it be that there are some drastic measures which you need to take now to avoid sin?

At work? Your TV? Your computer? The people you spend time with?

Do what it takes!
If you don’t know what it takes, consult the Word.
Chat a more mature, trusted Christian.
Figure out the circumstances when you most often are tempted. Determine if you have anything or anyone ranking higher than The Lord Jesus in your heart.

Do what it takes. Fumigated buildings are restored to their useful function.

Jesus says that sometimes drastic, inconveniently and expensive measures must be chosen by us so that we will live holy & God-honouring lives.



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