Frederica Baptist Church ⎮ 912.634.2833 ⎮ 65 Marsh’s Edge Lane, St. Simons Island, GA 31522
Discipleship
Discipleship
Dear Friends,
As I continue to pray about and think about what our post-Covid church might look like, it occurs to me that the mission of the church, making disciples, will remain the same. How we do that (programs and practice) will almost certainly need to change to meet the evolving needs and demands of the people we are trying to disciple. Our challenge, as a church, is to not carry over anything from our pre-Covid practice into our post-Covid practice that hinders or eliminates our mission.
During our ongoing studies in the Gospel of Luke we are constantly seeing Jesus’ teaching and interaction with His followers. We have even seen how Jesus chose and separated disciples who were advancing in their maturity for increased levels of instruction, experience and ultimately apostolic responsibility. It was this master plan of discipleship that led to the establishment and vitality of the early church. We here at Frederica Baptist stand at the crossroad of what was and what will be. Our past is a tale of faithfulness and marching towards a God-given vision of establishing a new church on the north end of St. Simon’s Island that stands on the Word of God. That vision is about to be realized! It is time that we cast a new vision for the next leg of our journey. That vision must be seen through the lens of our mission, making disciples. So, it behooves us to understand what it is to be a mature disciple.
(1) Mature disciples know God’s plan for salvation. In their hearts they know that they are slaves in bondage to terrible enemies: sin and death. They see that they stand helpless and hopeless to save themselves so they need a rescuer—Jesus, our savior and redeemer. Mature disciples acknowledge that Jesus exchanges His righteousness for our unrighteousness when He took on our sins at the cross. He gives his followers eternal freedom from the just punishment for our sins and adopts us as sons and daughters into the family of God to be joint heirs of His kingdom.
(2) Mature disciples know the God that they serve. They recognize that He is beyond our ability to fully comprehend. They see that God wants a relationship with them. Mature disciples never stop striving to learn what God is like from His revelation in the Bible and in creation around us. They view the Bible as the story of God’s relationship with his people over the millennia, and they see his workmanship throughout the world around them.
(3) Mature disciples choose their identity in Christ over who this world says they should be. Rather than focusing on who they are, they focus on whose they are. They affirm that God created them in his own image to be his representatives here on earth. They rejoice that Christ came and died on the cross to offer them a new and redeemed identity.
(4) Mature disciples serve out of love. Scripture paints a clear picture for how we should treat our fellow human beings. In Zechariah 7, the prophet chastised God’s people for going through the religious motions then treating others poorly. Immature disciples may serve others when it’s convenient or when it makes them look and feel good. But mature disciples follow Jesus’ example with continuous service. They serve others by taking God’s love for people and making it their own.
(5) Mature disciples eagerly share their faith story. The Good News of Jesus Christ is the greatest gift we can receive. Through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, we are adopted as God’s children. We are made holy, receive the Spirit, and enter into an eternal loving relationship with our Lord. Mature disciples follow Jesus’ instruction to share his Good News with others: “Go into the world and preach the gospel to all creation” (Mark 16:15). Mature disciples desire that the transformation experienced in their own lives occur in the lives of others as well. So, they share the good news and how it shaped their story of faith with those who need to hear it most.
(6) Mature disciples worship regardless of circumstance. Their hearts are aware of God’s constant presence, and they can’t help but marvel at his glory. Mature disciples see worship as a lifestyle. Their worship is not dependent on location, music style, or any other external factor. Mature disciples worship God even during tough times because they know that God is always worthy of praise.
(7) Mature believers defend their faith, their hope in Christ, just as the Bible encourages us to do: “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,” (1 Peter 3:15). Mature disciples are equipped to communicate God’s truth in a world that is hostile towards Him. They don’t share God’s truth in an overbearing way, but they display a confidence and a willingness to unashamedly and respectfully engage our culture.
(8) Mature disciples don’t take the journey of discipleship alone. When we’re adopted as children of God, we gain millions of spiritual siblings who are on the same journey. Whenever Scripture describes the life of a disciple, it’s in the context of a community of faith. Mature disciples seek unity and community with other growing disciples.
Each of us must individually evaluate the maturity of our discipleship. Being a disciple of Christ is a life-long journey. As a church we are called to help each other and those outside our walls to draw closer to Christ. I hope each of you will pray with me as we look forward to the next steps in the growth of our mission.
Only by Grace!
Pastor Mike
Stumbling Blocks
Stumbling Blocks
Dear Friends,
Recently, I have been thinking about ways that we as a church and as individual Christians inadvertently discourage people from encountering the saving message of the gospel. I know that sounds crazy because we are called to be light and salt to the world around us (Matt. 5:13-16). My guess is that none of us consciously want to exclude anyone from interacting with the redeeming love of Christ. I am sure that, like me, it is your desire that everyone experience the amazing saving grace of Jesus just like we have! That’s why I think it is so vital that from time to time we evaluate our lives and practices to make sure that we are not unwittingly placing stumbling blocks in front of the very ones we are trying to lead to the Lord.
Most of the time in the Bible, a “stumbling block” refers to something or someone who keeps another from a relationship with God. In Matt. 18:5-7, Jesus says, “And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me; but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes!” We don’t want to be that guy!
Stumbling blocks also arise in unintended ways. The mature Christian life allows some freedoms that seem contrary to an obedient, disciplined faith. The Corinthians were concerned about eating meat sacrificed to idols. Modern issues include drinking alcohol in moderation or dancing. “But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak” (1 Cor. 18:9). Our liberty is not worth another’s walk with God. If something God allows would lead another to sin, we need to avoid it. We are given great freedom as Christians, but the greatest is the freedom to consider others’ welfare over our own.
As a church we may create stumbling blocks to the unchurched as well. These are things that make it difficult for people to walk through the doors and find a seat in order to hear the gospel. For example, I believe our current location is a stumbling block to many. Insufficient parking can be a stumbling block or poor directional signage. How we present ourselves in print or on the radio may cause people to stumble in their walk to the cross. Once people are inside the doors there are many more opportunities for stumbling blocks.
Can we as a church remove everything that may be a stumbling block to the non-believer? Probably not, but the more we are able to tackle and remove, the more salvations we will eventually see. The problem is that many of these stumbling blocks to others are personal preferences of our own. These are the when, where and how we like things done in church and worship. What are we willing to sacrifice for the salvation of souls? How much was our Lord willing to sacrifice?
Refraining from being or creating a stumbling block and removing existing stumbling blocks is essential to our commission. How we accomplish this depends on our concern for others and the hearts of those around us. The security we have in God’s love and provision, both now and eternally, allows us to show concern to those who are weaker and those who need specific encouragement to understand who God is. In some situations, we may need to sacrifice our freedoms to build up weaker believers and not confuse non-believers.
As a church, we need to be attentive to society around us and consider cultural changes and biases. In various ways, Jesus, Paul, John and James, all tell us that we are not to be of this world but we are in this world as ambassadors of the Kingdom. Without sacrificing Biblical truth or godly morality we need to be palatable and attractive to the lost all around us. That is being “salt” so that we might share the “light.” The light, of course, is the gospel and the gospel is the only stumbling block that we should want the lost to encounter.
Only by Grace!
Pastor Mike
Unfinished
“REED” This
Unfinished
Today, I needed to go out and see how the new church building was coming along. I made my way up Frederica Road through all the beginning of summer traffic without too much trouble. There were no workers present as it was lunchtime, so I was alone with God as I strolled through the building. It was quiet with just the sounds of songbirds, the breeze blowing through the trees rustling the leaves, and my footsteps. I was thanking God for all the work that had been done and prayed for the continued protection of the workers as they constructed the building. I looked around with amazement as excitement filled me once again. The exposed framework was quite intriguing as it all fit together to define space and give structure and support. I thought about how so much of what I saw would soon be covered with sheetrock and other finishing materials and never be seen again. Yet, it would still be there accomplishing what it was meant to do. I envisioned how things would look once everything was done. It will look beautiful and function as designed. It will be just what we need and provide space to meet for Bible study, worship, fellowship, and equipping for us to go out and share the gospel, the love of Christ, and minister to the needs of our Jerusalem and beyond. It will be finished. But for now, it is unfinished.
It made me think about people. All of us are unfinished. As Christians, we are all on that journey of sanctification, becoming more and more like Christ. It reminds me of a song from an old children’s musical. The lyrics are,
“He’s still working on me,
To make me what I need to be.
It took Him just a week to make the moon and the stars,
The sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars.
How loving and patient He must be
‘Cause He’s still workin’ on me.”
The “still working” is a great comfort. None of us are perfect. Some are closer to perfect than others, but we are all still a work in progress. And none of us will be finished until God completes everything in us. As we look around, we must remember that when ministering with other people. We want people to be patient with us as we are still growing in our faith and in our walk with Jesus, so we must be patient with others. Like our new church building, we may look good now, but we’ve still got a way to go before we are done. There are a lot of things that still need to be done on that building as we have a lot of areas where we individually need to grow. The wonderful blessing is we know there will come a time when the building is finished. And, God will continue to work in and through us until He has accomplished and finished His desire for our lives. Philippians 1:6 says, “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” NLT
That new building is already doing great things for God even though it is unfinished. It is creating excitement among us and this community. It is providing work for multiple people. And it is already a testimony of God’s faithfulness, power, and love for His people as well as people who are lost. May each of us be an unfinished masterpiece for Him.
Bro. Paul Reed
Tuesday, June 1, 2021
FORE!
“REED” This
FORE!
I had the opportunity to play golf today. I first learned how to play golf when we had an exchange student from Sweden come live with us the year I turned twelve years old. His name was Jonas and he was an excellent golfer. He actually won state medalist for high school golf in Arkansas that school year. My father had played golf before I was old enough to remember, but it had been some time since he had. Dad decided to pick it back up so he could play with Jonas and taught my brother and I how to play. I’ve enjoyed playing ever since and even played on our high school golf team. I never made it so far as to even compete in the state medalist tournament, let alone win it, but I still had fun. Today was no different. I didn’t have a great round with a low score, but I enjoyed being out on the course and playing. Sometimes the ball went where I wanted it to go and sometimes it didn’t. Sometimes it went in the right direction, but was too long or too short. Other times it went too far to the right or to the left, and even was lost in the trees, bushes, or marsh grass occasionally. (Okay, so I lost five or six, but I found three.) Like a lot of things, to be good at golf you need to play frequently. Today was the first time I’ve played since February, so I really wasn’t expecting to play too well. I was happy to have had some good shots and tried not to get upset over the bad ones. What I had learned in the past when I played a lot helped me to do well, but since I don’t play frequently, my muscle memory wasn’t at its best and the consistency of my shots was lacking.
Our spiritual life needs good frequency. That daily time reading God’s Word and spending time with Him in prayer and meditation cannot be beat. That consistent communication with God helps us more than I think we can ever realize. When we have that consistent walk, we seem to have so much strength and confidence as we strive to live our lives for God. We may face difficult challenges, but because we are in closer fellowship with the Lord, our minds are focused more on the Word and how God would have us react to those situations in ways that please Him. But, when we slack off for a few days or weeks, our reliance on our past times with the Lord only go so far. Our strength is quickly zapped because it isn’t being recharged. Before we realize, we are losing battles and struggling because we aren’t plugged into the power source anymore. We become weak trying to hold it together on our own. When we stop just trying on our own, the wonderful thing is all we have to do is plug back in – simply turn to God and ask Him for help. We can open the Word and read, and His Spirit will begin to fill us with His strength. We can talk with God in prayer and let Him revive our spirits. Our strength can be restored and then we can tap back into God’s strength and let Him fight our battles and guide our steps and use us in accomplishing His will. Jesus speaks to His disciples and says in John 15:4-5 NLT, “Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in Me. Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing.” We need to stay connected with the Lord and walk with Him daily. Our daily, consistent walk with God in His Word and in prayer is essential nourishment for our spiritual lives.
Hitting a golf ball long and straight requires a lot of practice with good techniques. Consistently hitting a golf ball long and straight requires a lot of frequent practice with good techniques. Otherwise, it’s difficult to keep the ball in the fairway. We need daily time with the Lord to keep on the straight and narrow. And spending time reading the Word and praying is a whole lot easier than keeping your golf swing in order.
Bro. Paul Reed
Tuesday, May 25, 2021
Memorial Day
Memorial Day
Dear Friends,
Memorial Day weekend is just days away. Today, most people see this as the start of the summer holiday season but it was originally meant as a somber reminder that freedom comes at great cost. Throughout the history of our country brave men and women have died protecting our freedom, our way of life, in the armed forces. Their sacrifice is what we commemorate on this last weekend of May.
To our national shame, many in our country have forgotten or take for granted the lives that have purchased the freedoms that we so enjoy. They mock and belittle the sacrifices made on foreign soil so that they would have the right to speak freely with such ignorance about those who fought and died on their behalf without even knowing who they are.
A hero is defined as a person of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his or her brave deeds. Heroes come in all shapes and sizes with differing personalities. Heroes, I believe, are made in an instant of decision. That decision is usually about putting the needs of others above their own, counting the lives and welfare of others as greater than their own and worthy of sacrifice. It is a decision of humility.
Soldiers in the various branches of the United States Military lay down their lives again and again in the name of freedom. These men and women choose to make the ultimate sacrifice not just for their country, but for their friends and family as well. In John 15:13, Jesus called that type of sacrifice a love that surpasses all others. “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”
Jesus showed that same selfless love when He suffered and died to save mankind from their sin. In response to that sacrifice and out of gratitude for it we as Christians are called upon to follow Him as soldiers of His kingdom, “Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus… his [the soldier’s] aim is to please the one who enlisted him” 2 Tim. 2:3-4.
From the very earliest days of the church, believers have put on the “armor of God” (Eph. 5:10-18) and have marched into the enemy lines, fighting for the eternal lives of others they may never meet. Thousands die each and every year for the cause of Christ unknown, unsung, without memorial.
There’s a reward for them beyond this life, however. King David understood that this world is but a temporary posting for a soldier of the Lord. He wrote in Psalm 27:3-4 “Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident. One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.”
This weekend, while you are getting ready for school to be out and vacations to begin, take a moment to remember those who have fought and died so that others, in this country, can go on living and enjoying freedom. These men and women who have laid down their lives in active duty will never return to their family and friends, nor would they see the day that the fighting came to an end. Our freedoms have been won and protected at great cost. Never take them, or the men and women who continue to meet threats both foreign and domestic, for granted. Never forget.
Only by Grace!
Pastor Mike
Getting Older
Getting Older
Dear Friends,
I was scrolling through Facebook the other day and saw a friend suggestion for someone I knew from High School. He was the starting quarterback and homecoming king and he dated the cheerleading captain and homecoming queen. I sat there staring at his picture and I thought, “Wow, he really looks old.” Then I remembered what I looked like in the mirror that morning!
We are preparing for Graduate Recognition this Sunday, May 23rd. This type of service always makes me feel old. I mean, most of these graduates were born in the 21st century (after the year 2000). I was born fairly close to the middle of the 20th century. That’s a little depressing!
The Bible presents growing old as a normal, natural part of life in this world. The Bible even attaches honor to the aging process, because growing old is normally accompanied by increased wisdom and experience. Proverbs 16:31 says “Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained by a righteous life.” That’s actually becoming one of my favorite verses! God wants us to remember that life is short and that the beauty of youth is soon gone according to 1 Peter 1:24, “All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall.”
In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon provides an insightful look at aging and the issues related to it. He tells us that we are born with a natural tendency to “live for the moment,” but ultimately there is futility in that approach. As people grow older and begin to feel the increasing impact of their mortality, they typically try to invest their resources in projects that to them seem to hold more promise of lasting meaning in life, they want to leave a legacy. Unfortunately, there’s no way to predict what will have lasting value and significance in the future. This, according to Solomon, can lead to disillusionment and despair when we realize the meaninglessness of our earthly toil “under the sun.”
The book concludes with a charge to reject the wisdom of men and the pursuits of this life and to adopt an eternal perspective in the face of life’s brevity and injustice. Why spend your life pursuing pleasure, wealth, success, wisdom, even religion? What should we do? “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man” (Eccl. 12:13b). The rest, God will take care of when He brings “every deed into judgement” (Eccl. 12:14a).
With our inevitable disillusionment over the human condition, our universal depravity and mortality, it is wise to remember that “Anyone who is among the living has hope…” (Eccl. 9:4a). The living still have time to acknowledge God and to take joyful advantage of all their gifts, talents, wisdom, and opportunities in life, before all ability to do so has ceased, before death or disability closes the door on those opportunities.
Growing old is not so bad if we are engaged in our God-given purpose. Of course, our purpose is only fulfilled in Christ, God’s promised Savior. While this earthly life may seem less fair for some than for others, at the final judgment, when we receive our inheritance for the way we invest what God has given us, we will see God as surpassingly fair in His rewards.
Mark Twain used to say, “Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.” God has made us who we are, placed us where we are and gifted us with the resources we have. Our pursuit of purpose should always have Christ at the center regardless of our age.
Only by Grace!
Pastor Mike
Swing, batter, batter, batter, swing!
“REED” This
Swing, batter, batter, batter, swing!
When I was a boy, I loved playing baseball. I played for the DeQueen Lions team sponsored by the local Lions Club where my father was a member, so it was kind of automatic that my brother and I would play for that team. Our uniforms were purple with gold pinstripes and I wore number three. In the five years with the team, I played every position except first baseman. My final year, I was the starting shortstop and batted fourth, which, as many of you know, is “clean-up”. I never hit any homeruns, but I had a high batting average. We usually won first or second place in the league for the season, and the opposite first or second place in the end of season tournament. I don’t know why we couldn’t win both in the same year, but we never did. I had a good last year with the team. Four times during that season I came up to bat with the bases loaded and hit a double into left center field that cleared the bases and allowed me to get to third base. That was so fun. The only thing better was to have hit a homerun for a grand slam. But, there was one game, late in the season, where we were playing a team that we had beaten earlier that year. Our records were the same, so this game would decide the season champs. They had a pretty good pitcher, but I had hit off him before. This game, however, I was struggling. I had struck out my first three times up, and now, it was my fourth time to bat. There were two outs, and the game was tied in the top of the last inning. We had two guys on base that could score if I simply got a base hit. I stepped up to the plate and – swing and a miss – strike one. Next pitch – swing and a miss – strike two. My third base coach called a time out and came over to me and told me to relax. He knew I was mad and frustrated and trying too hard. I stepped back into the batter’s box determined to hit the ball. Here came the pitch – I swung – miss – strike three. I couldn’t believe it! I just knew I was going to hit that ball! I had already seen in my mind a base hit that scored at least one run. But no, I had struck out for the fourth time in one game! I was devastated. We went back out onto the field to try and hold the other team from scoring so the game would go into extra innings. The first batter stepped up to the plate and hit a homerun, winning the game, winning the season for the other team. We lost. Second place that year really felt bad.
Disappointments in life can come at any age. Sometimes they come because we are not perfect. Sometimes they come because the world is not perfect. Whatever the reason and whatever the circumstance, how we respond to those disappointments reveals who we are and where our trust lies. If we let disappointment bring us down and send us into depression, our perspective and trust has been misplaced. If we are able to move on from that disappointment with our head held high, that can show either strong positive thinking on our part, but with a bigger difficulty our own positive thinking may not be enough. If our confidence and trust are placed in God, then we will be able to move on and even face greater disappointment through strength from the Lord. Psalm 125:1-2 says, “Those who trust in the Lord are as secure as Mount Zion; they will not be defeated but will endure forever. Just as the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people, both now and forever.” As we grow older, the disappointments can be much worse than a twelve-year-old boy losing a baseball game. But, no matter what it is – a teenage girl being stood up on a date, an adult losing a job, a salesman losing a big sale, a marriage that falls apart, or a friend that turns on you – if our trust is in the Lord, we know He will see us through that difficult time. We may face disappointment, but we are still secure in our Savior.
I have faced many more disappointments in life with most of them being a lot worse than striking out four times in a game. Many of them have had much greater spiritual ramifications as well. But I am grateful that God has helped me understand that even though my own failures have caused some of them, I am able to move forward and grow through them because of His strength working in and through me.
“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love.” Romans 5:3-5
Bro. Paul Reed
Tuesday, May 18, 2021
If This Old Fort Could Talk
“REED” This
If This Old Fort Could Talk
This past weekend I did some more work around the outside of the house. It’s just like the inside, the work is never done and there’s always something else that needs doing. Mowing the yard is the same as sweeping or vacuuming the floor – it has to be done regularly. Trimming is the same as dusting – it has to be done frequently. One of the things in my yard that I don’t tend to regularly is a play fort. I built it for Cameron for his 5th birthday. That was 22 years ago. I used good pressure treated wood and the best bolts, screws, and nails I could find. It still holds me up to this day. But there was one place that Connor pointed out to me just last week that definitely was showing its age. The steps that lead up to the top level were not too secure or trustworthy. So, as I was trimming around the fort, I decided I needed to inspect it. I put my foot on the bottom step and crack! The step was quickly broken off the rails and on the ground. I tried the next step and crack! I determined that all the steps would give me the same result, so I quit stepping on them. I could see that the screws holding the rails of the steps to the fort itself were badly rusted and the rails themselves were quite weathered, so I decided the easiest thing was to get my ax and knock it off with the blunt end. That quickly did the trick. As I was inspecting all the pieces of wood, I determined the rails were not in good enough condition to reuse and put them in the burn pile. The steps, however, still seemed to be good. After pressure washing them, I could see that wood was still good and strong and could be used again with different rails. Ultimately, I realized the wood didn’t fail, it was the screws. Those small pieces of metal that held the boards together had done their job for 22 years. But over time, they got weaker and weaker as the rust had eaten away at the integrity of the metal. Even though the wood was still good and strong, what held those steps together was not strong anymore.
We sometimes hear people say, “I’m just falling apart.” It’s usually not serious and we know what they mean, but sometimes a person may really be struggling in their life. They may be overwhelmed with difficult things that are happening in and around them. What is holding you together? In Matthew 6:19-20, Jesus is speaking of where our true treasure should be. He says, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal.” I’m not wanting to talk about our treasures, but more about the principle of spiritual stability. That security of moth and rust not destroying our treasures in heaven is the same security that holds us together in the Lord. The things on this earth, from this world, from our enemy cannot destroy or remove us from the strong hands of God that are holding us and holding us together. There is no moth or rust that can eat away at the integrity of the Lord. As His children, He forever will be holding us, securing us, and keeping us with Him. And as we face and go through the difficulties of this life, we don’t need to trust in money, our possessions, or even ourselves to hold us together. Those earthly treasures and earthly security will fail us. We simply need to trust in our strong Savior who never leaves us or forsakes us. His strength created this world. He’s definitely strong enough and loving enough to hold us together.
I have some boards left over from another project just waiting to be used as the new rails for a new set of steps. Using a stronger design, I’ll be able to build that set where my granddaughter and maybe future grandchildren can play on it without the fear of it breaking. And then, maybe I can use the old fort to help me teach them about our great God who holds the world in His hands, also holds us and keeps us.
Bro. Paul Reed
Tuesday, May 11, 2021
Time
Time
Dear Friends,
It’s been said that time is our most precious commodity. There is never enough and once spent, it can never be replaced. From an earthly perspective this is true. The saying, “Time flies,” is a truism of the swiftness of the passage of time, particularly the older we get. King David pointed out in Psalm 39:4-5, “You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man’s life is but a breath.” James the brother of Jesus said this about our lives in James 4:14, “You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” Yes, our time on earth is fleeting, in fact, it is infinitely small compared to eternity. To live as God would have us live, it is essential we make the best possible use of the time we are given here on Earth.
To that end, Moses prayed in Psalm 90:12, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” A good way to gain wisdom is to learn to live each day with an eternal perspective. Knowing that on Judgement Day we will have to give an account to the One who gives us time should motivate us to use it well. C. S. Lewis understood this and wrote, “If you read history, you will find that the Christians who did the most for the present world were those who thought most of the next.”
In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul cautioned his readers, “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil” (Eph. 5:15-16). Living wisely involves using our time carefully. Knowing that the harvest is great and the workers are few and that time is running out should help us make better use of our time to witness, both through our words and our example.
The responsibilities and pressures of this world call for our attention and try to distract us. Thousands of voices pull us in different directions and makes it easy for our time to get swallowed up in mundane, lesser matters. Unfortunately, things that have eternal value, often get pushed aside.
As followers of Jesus, we are charged to give our best to everything to which God has called us. In all of our relationships, our work, our studies, serving others, the little details of our lives, caring for the health of our bodies, even in rest and recreation, our primary focus should be on God. He is the One who gave us this time on earth, and He is the One who directs how we spend it.
The Bible counsels us to place our focus on that which is eternal as opposed to the fleeting pleasures of this passing world. Time spent with God and getting to know Him, through reading His Word and prayer, is never wasted. Time spent building up the body of Christ and loving others with God’s love is always time well spent. Time invested in sharing the gospel so that others will come to know salvation in Jesus, bears eternal fruit. We should live as if each minute counts, because it really does. Jesus said in John 9:4 “We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; for night is coming, when no one can work.”
Only by Grace,
Pastor Mike
Heartbroken
Heartbroken
Dear Friends,
Many of you have known heartache. We tend to use the term heartbroken today to describe the crushing grief, anguish or distress that we feel when we lose a loved one or suffer a failed relationship. In fact, a broken heart may be brought on by any number of other things such as disappointment in a child’s lifestyle, loss of a cherished possession, loss of a job, even the loss of reputation. Whatever the cause, the pain of a broken heart can be enormous.
I did a Google search on “how to heal a broken heart” and the responses were many, varied, sometimes humorous and sometimes sad. Write an angry letter and tear it up. Go on a shopping spree or get a makeover. Drink… a lot. Eat chocolate, make new friends and see a therapist were some suggestions. Some advocated the power of positive thinking. The most common suggestion is to give it time. What I notice about these suggestions is that all they are doing is numbing or distracting from the pain. (Some may even lead to future pain.) However, the Bible tells us in Psalm 147:3 that we have access to a loving Heavenly Father and “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
While not the earliest Biblical record of heartbreak, Job’s life is certainly the most extensively explored. In one day, Job lost his children, almost all worldly possessions, his health, and his means of livelihood. His response in Job 1:20-21 was, “Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” Job grieved his losses but he also worshiped God and remained faithful. Listen, Job had doubts about God’s goodness and why these terrible things happened to him. But by remaining faithful to God, he grew closer to Him as God revealed Himself to Job through his trials. Job learned that God is faithful and good and trustworthy. He is with us in our heartbreak.
David, is described in the Bible as a man after God’s own heart. Even so, he suffered many heartbreaking circumstances. Admittedly, most were the circumstances of his own sin but each time he recovered and was an even stronger man of God. David wrote Psalm 34 during a very low time in his life. He talks about overcoming heartache by calling on the Lord. He says in 34:4, “I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.” David knew in 34:18 that “the Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” Finally, he expressed a confidence in the love of God that every believer should have in 34:19, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.”
I have sat with many hurting people who in their despair ask, “If God loves me so much how could He let this happen?” Or, “God hates me, He doesn’t care about me!” The sad truth is that most of the calamity in life is of our own doing. If not ours personally than as a result of sin that entered into the world because of man’s rebellion against God. However, even with that sober realization, we have the promise of God’s Word in Romans 8:32 which states, “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” The writer of Hebrews was inspired by God to comfort believers with the promise that God “will never leave you nor forsake you” (Heb. 13:5). The Apostle Paul knew that God is always near to comfort the believer so he wrote in 2 Cor. 1:3-4, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction.”
Throughout the Biblical record, God never failed to deliver when His people cried out to Him, and He will not fail the heartbroken Christian who cries out to Him today. He may not always answer exactly in the way we would like, but He always answers according to His perfect will and timing. Sometimes, like Paul, we must remember that God is glorified in our weakness and His grace alone is sufficient to sustain us (2 Cor. 12:9).
Hurt is a part of this life. Heartbreak is something that most if not all of us will encounter during our stay on this earth. God promises those who trust in Him a freedom from hurt and pain when we are glorified with Him. Rev. 21:4 promises, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” I hope you find joy in the promises of God.
Only by Grace!
Pastor Mike