Overcoming Hate

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“Hate can be rid from our hearts, along with its companions—bitterness, anger and unforgiveness.  And the chains of hate that others have tried to bound us with, can be snapped off and laid powerless at our feet.  How so?  Through the cross of Jesus Christ.”       

Hate. This is an often-used word in our culture. Hate speech. Acts of hate. Hate crimes. Why do people hate? Sometimes it is aimed at others who are not like them and those who do not conform to their set of beliefs, values or convictions. They are not part of their political party, their religion, or maybe they are a different race or speak a different language. There is something within us as humans that seems to stiffen up or flat out reject those who are not like us. As a result, because of hate, there are always people in society that are rejected, condemned or seemingly pushed to the side.

There was a time when Jesus was teaching people in the temple, and in walked a group of religious leaders immediately gathering the attention of the crowd. They interrupted Jesus’ teaching by heartlessly dragging some unnamed woman with them, and presented her before Him. Then in a further act of public humiliation, they stated that she had been caught having an affair with a married man. Then they asked Jesus what should be done with her, fully knowing what their laws require. They did not care about the woman. She was just a tool being used to challenge Jesus so they could find something to arrest Him for.

After Jesus dealt with the men and they left, He stood there before the quiet and humiliated woman with the crowd watching. He softly spoke to her these words before she left and went back home, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” (John 8:10-11)

The religious leaders treated the woman with hate. Why? Because she was a woman and disobeyed God’s law on adultery. They were selective in their hate though. The man she was having an affair with, was let off by the leaders. And there were many other laws of God they could have picked, maybe even ones they violated. There is never a sense of integrity with hate. By nature, it is always hypocritical and corrupt.

They also hated Jesus. That is why they brought the woman to Him. They hated Him because He did not follow their man-made religious traditions and challenged their beliefs and behavior with the truth. He did not conform to their ways.

What can overcome the cruel hate the religious leaders shamelessly showed? Can it be defeated or is our only option to bow before it and allow it to enslave us?

Praise God, hate can be overcome. It can be rid from our hearts, along with its companions—bitterness, anger and unforgiveness. The chains of hate that others have tried to bound us with, can be snapped off and laid powerless at our feet. How so? Through the cross of Jesus Christ.

Hate in the hearts of evil men put Him on the cross and killed Him. Yet, three days later Jesus rose from the dead overcoming the hate of others. On that day, good triumphed over evil!

Because of Jesus, hate can be defeated. Not by human methods though. For hate comes from a heart controlled by the curse of sin, and it is a spiritual battle to transform that heart into one of love. Why was Jesus not controlled by the hate of others or return hate for the evil spewed upon Him? Because His heart was pure. He heard His opponents’ evil words with a heart of peace and spoke the truth to them with a heart of purity.

Do not let words of hate fall from your lips anymore, and let the days be gone when someone else’s words of hate control you. In Christ is cleansing and freedom. Let Him give you a clean heart and life of freedom through the power of His indwelling Spirit.

A prayer for you. “Lord God, as Christ overcame His hate-filled adversaries, let us overcome it too. We admit our sinful hearts and call upon you to cleanse us and fill us with your very presence, and all that you are. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

How to Know What is Right and Wrong

"When I preach Jesus, I preach the truth. When people turn to Jesus, they turn to the truth. When people follow Jesus, they follow the truth."

Do you believe lying is wrong? What about stealing? If a married man has an adulterous affair with another woman, is that okay? How about when a person commits murder? I believe we would have universal agreement across all races, languages and nations that these are morally wrong.

The questions are broad though. Disagreement can surface when we change from talking generally to personally, and ask, “Do you believe it is wrong for YOU to lie?” “Is it wrong for YOU to steal?” All of the sudden answers may be different now because it is about YOU, and not other people.

Then we can have more disagreement, even controversy, when we move into other areas that are more specific. Do you believe it is morally wrong for two men to marry? What about a man to become a woman? It is wrong for a woman to have an abortion? On these, we are far away from universal agreement. On these moral issues, we might say, “Well, for other people I cannot say, but for me I would never do such and such.”

This all leads to one final question. Are there absolute moral truths for you, me, our family, friends and neighbors where we can know what is right or wrong regardless of personal circumstances, feelings or the opinions of others? In the end, it all comes down to “truth.”

Before Jesus was sentenced to death by crucifixion, He had a conversation with His judge. “You say that I am a king”, Jesus responded to Pilate. “For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” This caught Pilate’s curiosity who then asked Jesus, “What is truth?” (John 18:37-38)

This is the question of many today. Jesus did not answer Pilate. Why? Because He already did and Pilate knew it. Jesus was the truth. He stated this earlier to His own disciples declaring, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.” (Jn. 14:6)

What does that mean, Jesus is the truth?  As the standard for measurement is a ruler, and as the standard for time is a clock, so Jesus is the standard for truth.

How can Jesus make such an astounding and unique claim? Because of His incarnation and resurrection. The Bible declares Jesus was born of a virgin, God was His Father and He was born perfectly moral, with no sin in Him. His incarnate birth bears witness that He is the truth, and so does His resurrection. He died like any other human being, then something happened. He was put in a tomb on Friday, but on Sunday it was empty. He rose from the dead, or rather, He rose Himself from the dead. Jesus once said, “For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again.” (Jn. 18:17) That is what Jesus did. He chose to die. Then He chose to raise Himself up again. What human being has such power? None. Only the Lord God, and that is whom Jesus is. He is the very living and breathing Word of God. Therefore, Jesus has the right and the authority to boldly state, “I am the truth.”

This has significant implications. Because of His incarnation and resurrection. The Bible declares Jesus was born of a virgin, God was His Father and He was born perfectly moral with no sin in Him. His incarnate birth bears witness that He is the truth, and so does His resurrection. He died like any other human being, then something happened. He was put in a tomb on Friday, but on Sunday it was empty. He rose from the dead, or rather, He rose Himself from the dead. Jesus once said, “For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again.” (Jn. 18:17) That is what Jesus did. He chose to die. Then He chose to raise Himself up again. What human being has such power? None. Only the Lord God, and that is whom Jesus is. He is the very living and breathing Word of God. Therefore, Jesus has the right and the authority to boldly state, “I am the truth.”

This has significant implications. When I preach Jesus, I preach the truth. When people turn to Jesus, they turn to the truth. When people follow Jesus, they follow the truth. Do not trust in changing circumstances, unreliable feelings or the persuasive words of others. Turn to the unchangeable Truth of Jesus. The very Word of God.

Jesus is the standard for all humanity. The source for determining all that is right and wrong. By Him we will be judged. Come and find mercy at the foot of His cross.

A prayer for you. “Lord God, help us to know the truth in a world of moral confusion. Help us to know Jesus more. To seek Him and His Word that we might live like Him. Help us to turn from lies and deception to the way of Christ. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Awakening a Comfortable Church

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"Many churches today have wonderful buildings, faithful congregations, dependable supporters, encouraging weekly services, but something is missing.  Like the believers in Laodicea, our modern church is missing a zealousness for Christ."

Would any coach want an entire team of content mediocre football players, playing for him? Would any business want a whole company of uninterested employees working for them? Would any pastor want to eagerly lead a congregation of happily complacent believers?

Jesus is the Founder and Chief Shepherd of the church. In straight forward terms He condemns any of His congregations that are filled with these type of contented mediocre, uninterested and complacent followers. There was once a church just like this, and Jesus wrote them a letter saying, “I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.” (Revelation 2:15-16)

Jesus used temperature language to illustrate where this church stood in relationship with Him. They did not have a cold distant relationship, nor a passionate one. They were somewhere in the middle, which Jesus forcefully called, lukewarm.

The church had good biblical doctrine. The congregation was morally upright. They were not lazy, but a group of doers, always getting much done in the church. Consequently, their divine rebuke did not result from their beliefs, morals or activity. Instead, it came from their attitude toward their Chief Shepherd. They acknowledged Him, talked about Him, but they did not operate their church, nor live their lives in dependency on Him. And anyone that visited the church could sense this. They may not have been able to put their finger on it, but there was something or rather, someone missing. Jesus.

This is the state of so many churches today. They have wonderful buildings, faithful congregations, dependable supporters, encouraging weekly services, but something is missing. Jesus says to them what He said to the Laodicean church, “Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.” (Rev. 3:19) Like the believers in Laodicea, the church today is missing a zealousness for Christ. This is another temperature word referring to hot or boiling. There is no burning passion for Jesus. There is no boiling love for Him. Just a contented lukewarmness. And people can feel it. Amidst the solid teaching, friendliness, good programming, something is missing.

In love for His church, Jesus comes to its door and patiently, but steadfastly knocks. All the while, the door remains unknowingly closed to dependency on Him. Even so, He knocks, waiting for anyone in the church to come and welcome Him back in. If they refuse, He will “spit them out of His mouth.” But if they respond and turn from their lukewarmness to a renewed walk with Him, He offers a great promise of blessing upon them.

My fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, take time to examine the spiritual condition of your church and your own walk with Christ. Where is the passion for Jesus? Where is the boiling love for Him? Where is the heavenly zeal? This is not about feelings, but about the bent of one’s whole life and the spiritual state of a congregation.

Listen to Jesus’ loving and persuasive words to His precious bride, “I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Rev. 3:20-22)

Hear the Spirit’s call to His church and respond. May we, the church, repent of our lukewarmness and be awakened to a fresh zeal for Christ, the one who died in our place.

A prayer for you. “Shepherd of the church. Search our hearts. Point out if we have strayed from you and lost our zeal. We repent of our love for the world and dependency on ourselves. We turn to you asking that you pour out upon us a renewed passion and love that burns with a raging fire, that nothing in this world can extinguish. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Drugs, a Deal with The Devil

"Drugs. No matter if it is a drink or something that is smoked, injected, snorted or swallowed, they have been around since near the beginning of human history. Why do we do it? Because we believe the lies they promise."

“Drugs.” That is what the Sherriff and Police Chief told me was the greatest problem their area faced when I was seeking to learn about the needs in their respective county and city.

Since nearly the beginning of mankind, the human race has continually had an ongoing battle with drugs. A grotesque scene between a father and his two daughters from long ago captures the influence they have had on humanity for thousands of years. The stunning episode is recorded in the Bible. Lot fled from his home just before his town (Sodom) was destroyed by fire because of the judgment of God. He had lost everything but his two adult daughters, and their new home was a lonely dark cave. No doubt they were all discouraged, grief-stricken, overwhelmed, and unsure what the next step was. Though they were a religious family, they did not call upon God nor search out Lot’s gracious uncle Abraham for help.

Eventually, Lot’s daughters felt desperate to have children and reasoned between themselves that there was no option for them outside of their father. They each conspired to have a one-time incestual relationship with him, and to do it with the help of alcohol. The first night, they spent time with their father, coaxing him to drink. Lot was unaware of his daughters’ plans, but knew that he was drinking alcohol and refused to stop. When he became drunk, one daughter laid down with him. After Lot woke up from his hangover, he did not remember anything other than being drunk. The next night Lot started drinking again and the same thing happened with the other daughter. Lot never realized the implications of his drinking until he found out that both of his daughters were pregnant.

Lot’s daughters wanted something for themselves, but instead of trusting God for it, they rationalized the need to drug their dad to get it. And as for Lot, rather than going to God for help, he went to alcohol and lost his moral compass at a great cost.

Drugs. No matter if it is a drink or something that is smoked, injected, snorted or swallowed, they have been around since near the beginning of human history. Why do we do it? Because we believe the lie, that they can give us some temporary relief. Indeed, drugs are an evil tool that leads to evil things.

They offer grand promises using demonic lies. “Take this for the pain”, they say. “This will help you have a good time”, is said with a devilish smirk. “It will calm you down,” whispers another minion. We believe the promises, treating them like a god, as if they have the power to give us what we are searching for. These false gods have a high price though. They can take nearly all your money, family, job, possessions, reputation and perhaps even your very life and eternal soul, dragging it to the fires of hell. Taking drugs is a deal with the devil and he wins every time.

What’s the answer? From Lot and his daughters, to every person in the world, if they did this one thing, the drug problem would be solved.

Find freedom in Jesus Christ.

Jesus died and rose again to defeat the power of sin, to set men and women free from its strangle hold. Many are like powerless slaves to drugs, following them like a sheep to slaughter. But the cross of Jesus, came to rescue people from the slavery of sin, that they might be free. Turn from your drugs. Throw them away. Flush them down the toilet. Burn them up. Leave them behind and run to Jesus and there you will be free. Freedom is waiting for you!

A prayer for you. “Lord God, I pray for the drug pushers and users. Open their eyes to the lies they are believing. Open their eyes to what their drug is taking from them. Let them no longer be deceived. Then bring them to turn to you. Help them to see the cross and call out to you and be gloriously set free! In Jesus’ name. Amen.”