A New Beginning

A new year has begun, and many are sticking to or struggling with their resolutions.  A new year gives some an opportunity to become a new you and strive for some goal.  Throughout the Bible one may read of individuals who were confronted with times in their lives requiring adjustment to change whether it was planned or not.

Noah in Genesis 6:ff-9:ff was the only righteous man on the whole of planet Earth in his time.  Noah found favor in God’s eyes and was spared the destruction to come.  As a result he saved his family and tried to save many others over the next 100 years, but in the end only his family survived with him.  The world was completely destroyed in the flood, and one can only imagine how vastly different the world would look and feel after such devastation, yet Noah took full advantage of his new beginning.

Today Jesus Christ gives all the opportunity of a new beginning.  One may read, thanks to the writings of the apostle Paul, in 2 Corinthians 5:17 “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” Romans 6:2-6 shares a similar train of thought. Paul wrote of dying to sin through immersion (baptism) in the symbolic fashion of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection. 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 & 27 shows we are part of the body of Christ and this is done through the immersion. Colossians 2:12-13 reinforces the idea of symbolic burial with Christ as was stated in Romans 6:2-6.

All of this points to a new beginning. A Christian is a firstfruit of His creatures (James 1:17-18). We bury the old man of sin, and are raised as a new creation in the body of Christ. If we remain faithful we will receive our reward (Revelation 2:10). What greater resolution in a new year could we want? A truly new beginning, begins in Christ Jesus.

Things God Hates: Part One

In Proverbs 6:16-19 the reader finds a list of seven things that God hates. It reads as, “These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him:”. The first abomination is “a proud look”.

It is no small wonder that the first thing listed by God is pride. Pride is the source of most problems man faces. In fact all six other abominations listed easily relate back to a source problem with pride. Pride puffs one up to think less of God and man. Pride prevents one from proper repentance. Pride avoids asking for forgiveness. Pride causes men to commit horrid acts of violence. Pride creates divisions among brethren.

The prophet Jeremiah in Jeremiah 9:23-24 warns his brethren of their pride. Worldly wisdom, might, and riches are nothing before the glory of the Lord. Paul shares the same idea with the brethren in Corinth.  There is one thing we are able to take pride in… God, and God alone.

The second abomination is “a lying tongue”.

When telling stories to one another, one has a natural tendency to embellish the truth. A recent fishing outing results in one fish measuring an arm’s length may end up as a whale of a tale. The problem arises when one decides to tell such falsities as if they were truths all while attempting to deceive God or man.

1 Samuel 15 one reads that God commanded Saul to destroy the people of Amalek and all their possessions. However, Saul keeps the king of Amalek alive and various animals. When confronted by Samuel over this matter he lies multiple times. It is only when Saul is informed that God has taken away from him everything he held dear that Saul finally admits to what he did.

It is said the truth hurts. This is especially true when one is caught in his own lie, but the outcome of the truth is far greater than that of the deception in lies.

The LOVE of Money

What happens when men love money more than anything else? A perfect example of this occurred in a New York City apartment on December 17, 2011. Jerome Isaac entered the apartment building dressed in what would be assumed an exterminator outfit. He found his victim, a 73 year old woman, and sprayed her with gasoline. Mr. Isaac then lit a rag stuffed into a bottle and threw it into the elevator lighting the poor woman on fire.

Why would this man perform such an atrocious act? His answer to the police was simple, because she owed him two thousand dollars. Early reports on this matter provided even more background to this story. Apparently the elderly woman hired Mr. Isaac to work on various tasks for her apartment. While he was doing this, he stole various items from her. When she found out, she fired him and refused to pay him the two thousand dollars. It was after this that he committed the murder.

1 Timothy 6:10 informs the reader that “the LOVE of money is the root of all kinds of evil.” Today it is often too easy to brush off horrid acts such as this as a crime of passion or some other excuse. Jesus taught you cannot love two different masters in Matthew 6:24. When one sins in any way shape form or fashion they love the sinful act greater than God. Adultery, alcohol, drugs, money we allow all of these things and much more to separate us from God. We give our love to objects instead of to the creator. It is always a horrible occurrence when a man love money more than his fellow man or his creator.

Sick of the Storms

In excerpts from his interview with 60 Minutes, President Obama made some interesting and thought provoking comments. He acknowledged that the economic problems our country continues to combat were going to take more than simply two years to resolve. He continued by adding that the process would take more than one term and quite possibly more than one president. Obama understood the turmoil the country was facing when he compared the reaction of the people to that of a boat rocked by a horrendous storm. “People are getting sick, they’re being buffeted by the winds and the rain.” It was amidst this comment that he stated one last revelation. “I don’t control the weather. I can only control the policies in place to try and make a difference in people’s lives.”

Whether Obama knows it or not he is relaying a Biblical principle here. James 1:2-4 speaks of the trails one will face in their Christian life. James wanted his fellow Christians to understand there is a reason for the trails they face and that reason is to increase in patience. Too often we find ourselves today troubled by some matter. Instead of trying to work through it we complain or cry out in outrage. Obama is asking for the nation to have patience. Like his policies or not at least he is attempting to make a difference.

Patience is the key in our day to day life and our spiritual life. There is only one who can calm storms, Mark 4:35-41. Jesus may have calmed a literal storm, but His teachings and principles provide one with the tools needed to weather any kind of storm life throws at us. Are you willing to follow the master’s example, or are you going to cry out in outrage?

Siri-sly Biased?

It has been noted in the past week that users of the program Siri on the iPhone have been unable to find certain locations using the software. One that has caused some outrage is its inability to find abortion clinics in metropolitan areas. Where obtaining the location of such facilities should be a simple task. Upon discovery of this, various pro-choice groups have voiced their outrage. They proclaim that Apple is pushing a conservative agenda. These groups approach matters such as this with their own personal bias instead of logic.

I can’t help but compare this to how some people approach the Bible. Too often today people wish to seek an answer from the Bible that never existed in the first place. This is not because the Bible does not teach upon the matter, but instead because the person holds a particular view, bias, or agenda that is not supported by the Bible.

Siri is programmed to use certain databases to obtain the information requested by the user. If it can’t find something, then it is a simple matter of information for such a request is not available. The Bible provides the guidelines and principles by which we are to live our lives as Christians. When one approaches the Bible with a question one must be careful to keep an open mind and bring no outside influence into the search for truth among the Scriptures. If one removes bias from their study of the Bible, then “you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32).

Words Found Hard

Have you ever needed to say something to someone, but could not find the words to say it? The question on my mind right now is: how do you confront an erring brother? It should be a known fact to any Christian that we “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). However, some can still be judgmental despite this fact. While others refuse to acknowledge that sin even exists. Amidst all this I ask again, how does one confront an erring brother?

One must keep in mind it was taught to Christians by Christ that we are to confront brethren when they sin against us (Matthew 18:15a). Moreover, the problem can grow beyond the scope of a single individual’s confrontation. Matters are only complicated when the incident grows beyond these boundaries. There is one aspect that we must always keep before us when considering such matters. That aspect is love.

Confrontation and judgment brought upon an erring brother without love is nothing more than acting in a legalistic manner often associated with the Pharisees. Christians must keep in mind the purpose of such confrontations is clearly defined by our Lord and Savior. “If he hears you, you have gained your brother” (Matthew 18:15b). The purpose of confrontation and judgment is to save a soul from the condemnation brought upon one by a life in sin.

Do you love your brothers and sisters enough to bring to light the sin in their life that they may be so easily overlooking or accepting of? If you do, then you won’t have to worry about the words to say. The word of God provides all for you. Just remember to speak it in true love for a lost soul.

Forever Lost

Ever lost something that you held very dear to your heart? Was it taken before your very eyes or did you know that you would eventually lose what you held dear? Now, what if that something was a someone? This is the premise behind Katy Perry’s sixth song for her new record. Any negative thoughts some might have toward this song on the basis of alcohol, tattoos, sex, etc, must be pushed aside. The story told, which is an art woefully missing in today’s music, is what makes the message so powerful. In the song one hears of a love gained, shared, and forever lost all in the span of roughly four minutes. I find the same idea relayed Biblically with characters such as David and Jonathan. The only difference being David and Jonathan did not have a relationship of intimacy, but instead a friendship shared between two men that few are willing to emulate.

The crux of their story begins in 1 Samuel 18:1 and ends in 1 Samuel 20:42. David went before Saul the king after killing Goliath. Jonathan, Saul’s son, meet David there and they immediately became close friends. Not long after this, Jonathan attempts to save David from Saul’s wrath. Saul wished to kill David. During a dinner, Saul responded to Jonathan’s request with very harsh words and actions showing his intent to kill David if he were to have arrived for the meal. David and Jonathan part for the last time. The next time David would hear of him would be after Jonathan’s death.

David handled well lamenting over the loss of such a great friend, but he did not do so well handling future tragic events in his life. Can we say we would handle all matters in an appropriate manner?