Fenced In

Galatians 5:7 “You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?”

The Apostle Paul writes, “You ran well…what happened?”  Something happened.  Someone hindered them from running well. Someone held them back.  Someone caused them to stumble. 

Each morning when I’m out running, jogging, walking, etc…whatever it is I do to burn off the Little Debbies from the previous day – I pass an unhappy dog inside a fenced in backyard.  He barks loudly…jumps and growls.  He’d give anything to be free but he’s fenced in.

Are you fenced in?  You may be like those Galatians Paul described who had “Ran well...”  While it is true someone had hindered the people in Paul’s letter, it is also true no one can hinder you unless you let them.  And by your own decisions you find yourself stumbling, falling, losing focus, and fenced in.  We're held captive by our own choices... and might even find ourselves relating that old dog I pass every morning.  Fenced in – Held captive.

The Truth can set you free.  But you must be willing to hear the truth, and receive the truth.  Won’t you trust Jesus today to set you free?  Life is too short to live it fenced in.  M

Hopefully Optimistic

2 Timothy 1:7

“For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

Paul had every reason to give up.  But he found every reason to go on.  He had every reason to whine.  But, instead, he found all the reasons to rejoice.  He had many reasons to fear.  But, instead, he had unusual confidence.

This morning I have received three messages via social media.  One from a friend whose marriage is trouble.  One from a friend who says he simply cant find joy and peace.  The other, from a friend telling me God used my preaching several years ago to lead his wife to the Lord.  He decided he needed to tell me this about fifteen years after the fact.

I love to read books by Ron Dunn.  I feel like he wrote them just for me.  In his book, “Will God Heal Me?” he wrote: “God is aware of what you’re going through and He is allowing it for His glory and limiting it for His purposes.”   That causes me to be hopefully optimistic.

To my friend whose marriage is suffering, and my friend who cant seem to find joy and peace…God knows where you are  and your struggle is no secret to Him.  Why doesn’t he fix your problem?  I don’t know.  Many of the questions we ask in this life will never be answered in this life – but in eternity we’ll understand it all. 

And to my friend whose wife was saved under my preaching several years ago and you decided to let me know about it today…there’s a real good chance that I needed to hear that today more than I did then.  Thanks.

I am hopefully optimistic that all we face is a part of a bigger plan and if I will hold on to Him who's holding on to me – eventually the sun will shine and the clouds will roll away.  God has not given me the spirit of fear….  MM

No Cheating

Romans 14:12 (HCSB)

“So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.”

I hate to admit it but I struggled to make good grades all through high school.  It all started in the seventh grade.  That was a rough year for me.  I cheated on more tests than I can remember.  Whether it was Math, History, or English…if the class required me to study – I cheated.  At the end of the year I passed and moved on to the eighth grade.  But even though I passed, I really failed.  I didn't recover from my cheating until I was in my second year of college.  I was always behind, trying to catch up.  Yes, I passed the seventh grade, but I failed miserably.

Are you cheating in life?  It may appear that you are getting a passing grade. But the truth is, and you know it, you’re not what you appear to be.  When it comes to matters of character, you may cheat but you’ll eventually get caught.  D. L. Moody said “Character is what you are in the dark.”  What am I getting away with?  What am I doing I hope no one finds out about? 

Paul said, “Each of us will give an account to God.” I won’t give an account to my seventh grade teachers.  I won’t give an account to my parents, my wife, or children.  I won’t give an account to friends.  I will give an account to God.  Wow.  It matters what God’s word says…and it matters what I do with what He says.  If I am an unbeliever God will save me from my cheating ways.  If I am a believer, God will cleanse and forgive me – If I will pray, believe, and trust Him to do for me what I can’t do for myself.  Each of us will answer to God.  No Cheatin’!   M    

Enduring Temptation

1 Corinthians 10:13 “There has no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

Temptation is common to man…every man is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Each of us will experience temptation is some way.  We’re not all tempted with the same things, but make no mistake about it – we are all tempted. 

But not everyone escapes temptation.  Even though God provides grace and help in times of need and means of escape in times of temptation, not everyone gets out unscathed.  Many will give in to temptation and will bear the scars the rest of their life.  And, the ripple effects of sin can have an effect on those closest to those of us who yield to its power. 

But there’s a wonderful word in this verse…Paul says God provides a way of escape that we may be able to BEAR it.  Other translations say it like this: “So that you can endure it.”  Wow.  The escape that God provides may be a way out of temptation, or it may be a way through temptation. God will help you endure temptation.

You will experience temptation.  You may escape it.  But by God’s grace you can absolutely endure it.  Stay strong.  Keep your eyes on Jesus.  

He Sees Each Sparrow

Matthew 10:29 "Aren't two sparrows sold for a penny?  Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father's consent." (HCSB)  

God sees each sparrow when it falls.  I’ve read that verse my whole life but just recently I’ve seen something in it I’d never thought about.  God sees each sparrow when it falls… He doesn’t stop the sparrows from falling nor does He save them from falling.  He allows the sparrow to fall and He sees it all.  It falls with His permission, with His consent. 

The obvious question is “Why?”  Why doesn’t He stop the sparrow from falling?  Why doesn’t He save the sparrow from its fall?  He could stop it from falling if He chose to.  But sometimes He lets the sparrow fall.  Because, there are times, when falling is the only thing that will cause a sparrow to appreciate flying. 

A fallen sparrow wants to fly.  He was born to fly.  While he is on the mend from his fall he remembers the joy of flying, of feeling the wind beneath his wings, of knowing what its like to rise above it all. 

Maybe you feel like a fallen sparrow.  The good news is God saw when you fell and He sees you now.  And the better news is, by His grace, you can fly again.  There are better days ahead. M