EDC Christian

Loving God

Loving God

And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. Mark 12:30-31

With “love” on the mind of many people each February let’s take a moment to examine “love” in the Bible. While we are to love others, and have a self-sacrificing, giving type love, for another to demonstrate true love, we must start with loving God first. True Love for Others Starts with Loving God First…

We all know that people who do not love God are still capable of loving others. In fact, you may know some lost people who appear to demonstrate love better than some Christians you know. Everyone is capable of some level of loving others. To make it deeper and longer lasting, it must have a stronger foundation. It must begin with loving God, which starts when a person realizes how much God loves them.

To discover what this love for God looks like, we will look at each verse in the Book of First John that includes the word “love.”

“Love” is found 23 times in these five short chapters. Take a moment to read each verse then make an application in your life for today. Here they are:

2:5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. (“Perfected” means completed or matured.)
2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
3:11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
3:17 But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
3:23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (“Propitiation” means payment or atonement. Romans involved in paganism used the word describing the turning away of wrath from their hateful gods. The True God made the only way for true propitiation with His very own Son, Jesus. Only Jesus can make a relationship to God right.)
4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
4:12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
4:19 We love him, because he first loved us.
4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
4:21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

Did you notice how our love for God involves our heart attitude towards God and His Word? Did you also note that it also includes the actions of our lives towards others? We are not to love the world, its ideas and philosophy, but we are to love God’s Word. To top it off, love does not live in fear of God’s will but in faith that God’s will is best! Some people are fearful of relationships because relationships are risky. A person living this way is not really loving God. Keeping the commands of God are not grievous. In fact, they are very rewarding.

Take a moment to examine your relationship with God and His commands in the Bible.

Take a moment to examine your relationship with worldly philosophies.

Take a moment to examine your relationship with other believers.

Purpose to love God with all of your life and being… Then love for others will become more evident.

Why TR Went to Church

Why TR Went to Church

Teddy Roosevelt was born in New York. He was able to overcome debilitating asthma from childhood to become a strong leader of men. He became a New York State legislator who after a stint with the “Rough Riders” went on to become Governor of the State of New York. Looking at his life, we would say he was a very busy man who also endured much heartache. His first wife died young after only 4 years of marriage. He was persistent in spite of the troubles he faced and actually became president of the United States at the young age of 42. You may know him in history as “TR.” What you may not have known about him was his love for God and for the local church.

The Bible speaks to the importance of church attendance in Hebrews 10:25: “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Consistently being in church services is a good practice that includes many intangible benefits.

In the business of our lives, sickness, distress, and trouble, it is easy to allow evil to overcome us and to allow for excuses as to why we do not worship the Lord in public services or fellowship with God’s people. However this verse is clear – we need to be closer to the Lord and other Christians as we “see the day approaching.”

Don’t allow circumstances to squeeze Christian living from your daily life. Romans says, 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Recently I came across and article “Why Teddy Roosevelt Goes To Church” in an illustration file. I thought that you would find it interesting today…

“Teddy Roosevelt offered his reasons for going to church in Ladies’ Home Journal in 1917.

In this actual world a churchless community, where men have abandoned and scoffed at their religious needs, is a community on the rapid downgrade.
Church work and church attendance some responsibility for others and the sense of moral strength which prevents a relaxation of one’s own moral fiber.
There are enough holidays for most of us to be devoted to pure holiday making….Sundays differ from other holidays in that there are fifty-two of them every year….On Sunday, go to church.
Yes, I know all the excuses. I know that one can worship the Creator and dedicate oneself to good living in a grove of trees, or by running brook, or in one’s own house, just as well as in church.

But I also know as a matter of cold fact the average man does not thus worship or thus dedicate himself. If he stays away from the church he does not spend his time in good works or in lofty meditation. He looks over the colored supplement of the newspaper.

He may not hear a good sermon at church. But unless he is very unfortunate he will hear a sermon by a good member who, with his good wife, is engaged all the week long in a series of tasks for making hard lives a little easier.
He will listen to and take part in reading some beautiful passages from the Bible. And if he is not familiar with the Bible, he has suffered a loss….
He will probably take part in singing some good hymns.
He will meet and nod to, or speak to, good, quiet neighbors….He will come away feeling a little more charitably toward all the world, even toward those excessively foolish young men who regard church-going as rather a soft performance.
I advocate a man’s joining in church works for the sake of showing his faith by his works.
The man who does not in some way, active or not, connect himself with some active, working church misses many opportunities for helping his neighbors, and therefore, incidentally, for helping himself.”

(Encyclopedia of 15,000 Illustrations: Signs of the Times.)

Be encouraged to attend a Bible preaching and teaching church this Sunday. It has the potential to change your life, family, and community. More importantly, when attending a Bible believing church you will hear about the Lord, His Gospel, and discover how to know God through the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Value of Attending Church

The Value of Attending Church

In our home growing up, there were no ballgames, school events, or jobs we took that prevented my brother and I from the consistent attendance of the local church services. Our parents made that decision, and it really impacted our lives in a positive way. Attending church adds value we can see now and later in eternity.

Here are 3 ways attending church adds up as valuable:

Valuable Personally

Attending church increases Bible knowledge. The more we know of the Word, the better enabled we are to love the Lord and live out His will. Think back to the last message you heard; it was probably both informational and transformational at the same time. This is why Ephesians 4:12 says Bible teachers are given: “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:”

Being in church is a good way to invest your spiritual gift in others. Romans 1:11, speaks of imparting a spiritual gift. Every believer has been equipped by the Holy Spirit with a special gift for service. We discover our gift and then deploy our gift in service to the Lord. Spiritual gifts include administration, teaching, and helping. Every church service is a good place to begin the use of your spiritual gift to help others.

Valuable Relationally

Being present, walking the halls, welcoming others, singing with the congregation, smiling at the special music singers and preacher, and participating in the worship are ways that you are adding value to the local assembly. If you were not there, people would miss you and you would miss an opportunity to add your value to the congregation.

Like a body functions with many parts working together, so functions the body of Christ. Simply stated by one preacher: “Teamwork makes the dream work.” When we serve the Lord with God’s people, instead of isolated and alone, more good is accomplished for the sake of the Gospel. When we “Strive together” we are honoring the Lord and helping others fulfill God’s will.

Valuable Spiritually

David in Psalm 122:1 declared: “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.” David was interested in public worship. Never minimize the value of the objective worship of God. Attending church is not about who is there or what emotions you are having. Being in church demonstrates a love for God above all others.

Being there early and eager is a life changing discipline. Commitment to something bigger than self, changes our perspective. Along with Bible reading, witnessing, and prayer, church attendance is a terrific habit to establish. When we are faithful in these “small disciplines” we are better equipped to handle the big temptations to sin that come along.

I challenge you to attend every service at your church for the next 4 weeks. Start counting the value you see. Church attendance can add up to something great in your life.

New Year Transformation!

Be Transformed

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:2

Transformation is possible in your life today! God can take you and I and make something better out of our lives. The Lord can work a metamorphosis (transformation) in us. Like a caterpillar turning into a butterfly, God can make something beautiful of your life.

To have a total change is to be transformed from the inside out. That is what the Lord wants for us as humans; to change to be more like Him. We are to be “formed” after His image. When we change on the inside we will eventually see change on the outside.

Here are a few areas you can see transformed:

Your relationship with God.
Your relationship with your spouse.
Your relationship with family members, children, parents, etc.
Your thinking about life in general.
Your thoughts about truth.
Your ideas about the “will of God.”
Your approach to world events.
Your perspective on workplace and school conflict.
Your walk in the Bible each day.
Your prayers being answered.
Your faith being increased.

There are so many other areas that you could see transformed this year. Get your Bible, start reading the Book of Romans and let’s see our lives transformed for the Glory of God.

I am excited as we study the Book of Romans in 2016 at the Wilton Baptist Church. You are invited to seek transformation with us at 11:00 AM each Sunday.

They Did Not Live Together

They Did Not Live Together

And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house. Luke 1:56

When in her home in Nazareth, Mary is visited by the angel Gabriel. He tells her that she will have a son named Jesus and that He is the Son of God. She is amazed at what the angel is saying, especially since she had not been married yet, and had never “known” a man in a sexual way. She was a young woman probably around 16 years of age at the time. In the past, girls would marry at younger ages than are recommended for today. She had never lived with anyone other than her parents with whom she was still living.

I have been to Mary’s childhood home in Nazareth (as pictured in photo above). Around Christmas, news casters may show a film of “The Church of the Annunciation.” If you see that, you are looking at the general location of where her home was located.

Before Gabriel tells her this amazing announcement, she was already excited because a young man, a distant relative named Joseph, had just been chosen to be her espoused husband. When couples were espoused to one another, the commitment was just as binding as marriage; the only way out of it was for a divorce. The difference is that they would not live together or be alone with each other for about a year until they “consummate” the marriage.

Evidently this gave time for the couple to be apart from one another and to ensure that the couple was being virtuous and moral in their relationship. It would also give time to the young man to get a good job, hold that job, get some land, build or buy a house, and simply be prepared for life. It would be a time for the young woman to more fully prepare for marriage. Some women would learn from other successful wives for long periods of time. That is what happens when Mary goes to see her cousin, the daughter of a priest and husband of a priest. Elizabeth was a good role-model.

Gabriel continues to amaze Mary with more news about Elizabeth who was already 6 months pregnant. Mary knew Elizabeth and her priest husband Zacharias had been trying to have a child for years and were past childbearing age. This was big news. Upon hearing the news of older cousin Elizabeth, that she was going to have a baby, Mary traveled a 3-4 day walk to the “hill country” outside of Jerusalem from her home in Nazareth.

While visiting, both Mary and Elizabeth are “filled with the Holy Spirit.” You can read what happens in Luke 1. After staying with Elizabeth and Zachariah for 3 months, Mary goes to her own home. Six months later baby Jesus is born. Joseph and Mary were about a 3-4 days walk away from each other when Mary was impregnated by the Holy Ghost.

Mary was a virgin when she delivered baby Jesus into the world, having never known a man before the birth of Jesus. This is a miracle in that God the Father gave us His Son. This Baby, Jesus, is “God in the flesh.” He was born into the world to be the perfect sacrifice so we humans can be forgiven of our sin when we trust in Jesus and His sacrifice on the Cross.

Mary and Joseph did not live together when she became pregnant. When Mary walks back to Nazareth, Joseph has not seen her for 3 whole months. That is why he was considering “putting her away” (Matthew 1) because she was pregnant, this was embarrassing, and he knew that he was not the father.

When Mary and Joseph travel to Bethlehem for the census and ultimately for God’s will that Jesus be born there, they did travel together and apparently alone. She was already great with child at that point, and yet, she and Joseph did not “know” each other in a sexual way until after the birth of Jesus. God blesses Mary and Joseph with a few other sons and daughters in the following years.

Today, many couples of any age want to “live together” before being married. Some do not want to be married at all. They want to enjoy the benefits that marriage brings but not to commit to the responsibility marriage demands. If you are in a relationship with someone right now and you are living together “as if you were husband and wife” but have not made the commitment formally, you can do better. Hebrews 13:4 says: “Marriage is honourable in all and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.”

The man should step up and take the responsibility, not just take the benefits. The woman should be cherished more by the man and he should make the marriage commitment to her. Don’t let your partner “take” away from you. “Give” yourself to your partner in marriage.

To make the point, look at the contrast between Charlie Sheen and Tim Tebow. According to reports, Charlie now is HIV positive and has had immoral contact with as many as 1,400 women in the last 4 years. The girlfriend he promised to marry stayed with him for a long time, but after realizing that he was never going to marry him left. Or he kicked her out, depending on which one you talk to. Tim Tebow on the other hand has remained a virgin. Even though he is still seeking the one who he will marry one day, he can give to whoever she is, a trustworthy, non-selfish, pure-hearted, and non-disease infected man. Living together after the public vows and taking the commitment of marriage is God’s intention.

If you have already been having sexual relationships, but are not ready to be married yet, stop living that way and determine to remain abstinent until your wedding day. If you believe God has given you the one to marry, then find a local church pastor to help you get this marriage commitment settled. You can be more like Mary and Joseph who honored God’s plan for the home.

This Christmas, thank the Lord for the miracle of the birth of Jesus. This couple, Mary and Joseph, are a good example to us today. Because they did the right thing, they were in a position to be blessed.

Are the “Days” in Genesis Alegorical?

The Precious Confidence of Heaven: Let No One Rob You of It

Guest Article by Adam Rollins

“Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest. Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward spoken of another day. There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.” -Hebrews 4:1-11.

Herein this passage of the Bible (verse 4 in particular), this common 24-hour period of the “seventh day” rest which was regularly and routinely observed each week throughout history is used to foreshadow or prefigure (as most scholars will agree) the eternal rest in heaven. However, due to what is the widely accepted interpretation of scientific evidence, which is the belief that the earth and all creatures therein evolved over a process of billions of years, many Bible scholars have bought into this claim (being academically popularized) and therefore reject the account of Genesis 1 that the earth was created in six ordinary 24-hour days preceding the “seventh day” mentioned here in Hebrews. If the scholars who are led to believe that the earth evolved over a period of billions of years are correct, or if (as Gap theorists propose) long ages of time between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2 is reality, what are the implications toward this passage? What would therefore be the meaning of this exhortation? What message of hope, encouragement, or inspiration would this bring to those who profess faith in Christ?

Let’s add this up, shall we? The text here clearly makes reference to the account Genesis 2:1-3 where after the six days of creation in the previous chapter, God “…rested on the seventh day…” Being that the passage speaks of the “seventh day”, we must take as a given (without taking irrational spins on the text) that there were six days preceding it. As the “seventh day” is clearly both individual and ordinal, there had to be six other individual and ordinal days counting up to it (1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, etc.) as they are listed in the account of Genesis 1. Given that the text in Hebrews speaks as a foreshadowing of the seven ordinary, 24-hour days people were familiar with, the author uses this as an allegory to speak of the six days as being the time of our labor and travail in this world. Likewise, the “seventh day” is given to speak of when our lifetime is ended (as our work during the week should be during the six days) and then entering into our eternal rest in heaven.

But shall we apply an allegory to an allegory? Many Bible scholars (in order to support an old earth belief, e.g., billions of years) declare that the days in the first chapter of Genesis are not literal 24-hour days but are allegorical days. Now back up the chuck wagon. What is an allegory anyway? The word “allegory” is defined as “a representation of an abstract or spiritual meaning through concrete or material forms; figurative treatment of one subject under the guise of another.” -Dictionary.com. According to the definition of allegory, the author of Hebrews 4 clearly takes the account of the first two chapters of Genesis as literal history or “concrete or material forms” to “represent” the “abstract or spiritual meaning”. If the events listed in Genesis 1 and 2 are mere allegory, can there be any meaning in the allegory presented in Hebrews 4? To be strictly honest, the answer would be no. Attempting to apply an allegory to another allegory stretches logic well past the breaking point and thus renders this passage useless toward gaining genuine hope, encouragement, or inspiration toward the continuance of any spiritual enterprise or life purpose. Hebrews 4, as a result, would have no practical meaning for anyone except for those who would prefer to pursue a form of pseudo-logic toward their faith.

To think this through logically, it becomes obvious that the author of Hebrews 4 does not view the first 2 chapters of Genesis the same way many Bible scholars do today. Since “…the scripture cannot be broken…” (John 10:35), there must be something broken in our logic when we hold to the belief that the “days” mentioned in those chapters were allegorical.

From Pastor Harness: Adam’s logical explanation is helpful. We must believe Genesis from the very first verse, else, the rest of the Bible cannot be truly believed. Inform your faith; study Genesis from God’s perspective. He was there “in the beginning…”

The Change Thanksgiving Makes in Us

The Change Thanksgiving Makes in Us

Do you enjoy the thanksgiving time of year? Football games, awesome food, Christmas shopping season kickoff, and the great change in weather are terrific! I always look forward to seeing Snoopy and the Charlie Brown characters make their way across the ocean on the Mayflower. Does anyone have any plans for popcorn to replace the turkey dinner? Snoopy knows what I am talking about.

There is much more to the “attitude of gratitude” than all of the mostly superficial things we see. It has been accurately stated that “The foundation of gratitude is the expectation of nothing.” This is an important proposition that each person must come to terms with if they are going to be a thankful person. Today we will examine all of the “Thanksgiving Psalms” as found in the Book of Psalms.

“Perhaps you have heard of the man who wished to dispose of his home. He went to see a friend who was in the real estate business and, describing his house and grounds to the man, asked him to write an advertisement which he could put in the newspapers. His friend did as he was requested and then read what he had written to the home-owner.

“Read that again,” said the man who wanted to sell his house. His friend obliged, to hear this astonishing remark: “The house is not for sale. All my life I’ve wanted a place just like the one you have described. But I never knew I had it until I heard what you have written about it.”

Once he gave an account for his blessings, he was able to be thankful. It is true that the more we focus on the blessings of God, the greater a change that grows in us.

Being thankful produces great change in us. Notice the many ways that giving thanks changes us…

Thanksgiving Changes Our Conversations. Psalm 26:7 says, That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works. What we speak about publicly and personally is affected by a thankful heart. in what ways have you declared the blessings of God to others this week?

Thanksgiving Changes Our Commitments. Psalm 50:14 declares, Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High: The priorities of our life are all affected by the purpose for service we find in our hearts. When we pay our vows to God, we are purposing to honor Him above all else. Vows in the Bible were voluntary. When we are thankful, we have no problem making a vow and then following through with that vow to the Lord.

Thanksgiving Changes Our Songs. Psalm 69:30 teaches, I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving. The word Magnify means increase the apparent or actual size of something. It has to do with increasing the importance of something. The songs we sing should minimize us and maximize our estimation of God. Jesus should be magnified and increased in value as we sing.

Psalms 147:7 also indicates praise in our singing: Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God: Praise includes words of approval and admiration or worship. The song of our heart is affected when we are thankful to the Lord.

Thanksgiving Changes Our Awareness. There are 3 areas that we can be aware of in connection with our God.

Be Aware He is Here. Psalm 95:2, Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.
Be Aware He is There. Psalm 100:1, Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. In this Song of praise or thanksgiving, we find the Lord is in other places besides where we are. Missionaries in other parts of the world realize His presence too!
Be Aware He is Near. Psalm 100:4, Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. The court of God is not too far from where you are today. James 4:8 informs, Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

Have you noticed the Lord is these areas of your life this week? Do you see Him at work in your life and in the lives of others. Be aware of His presence and be thankful for his being here, there, and near.

Thanksgiving Changes Our Attitude. Psalm 107:22 challenges, And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing. Sacrifices of thanksgiving are the result of the affection of the heart and the direction of the mind. Declaring the word of God with rejoicing indicates that the heart of the thankful person is joyful. Our attitude is changed to reflect gratitude as we say “thank you to God.” We are undeserving of anything good. Everything good comes from God and our attitude must reflect this truth.

Thanksgiving Changes Our Prayer. Meditate on Psalm 116:17 which states, I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD. How have you been praying lately? Have you been asking God for more things? It is good to ask! Be sure to stop and say thank you before you ask for more.

“One morning there was a little puddle by the roadside. Some small brown birds gathered around it and took turns hopping in for a great time of splashing. Then they flew up in the bushes near by and sang gaily, as though pouring out their thanks for the nice bath they had found on a hot, dusty day.

Birds and animals seem to enjoy and appreciate every little blessing that comes their way—a cool drink, a bit of food, a little shade on a hot day, some shelter from a storm. Don’t they rather shame us humans who take so much for granted in our lives? Suppose we try looking about us today to find the little things we should be thankful for.”

Being thankful produces great change in us. As you consider Thanksgiving, be sure to give thanks to God for the ways in which He is changing you.

Marathon Marriages

Marathon Marriages

For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. Ephesians 5:31

I have never aspired to run a Marathon. Running for 26 miles is an incredible achievement that I may never arrive at. If I am not chasing after a ball (basketball, baseball, even a golf ball) it is difficult to want to run.

Marriage is a teaming up of two people for fulfilling God’s plan for the family. God ordained a man and woman to come together to form a new unit called and He even called them “one.” In marriage a couple can enjoy life, procreate children, and establish a home.

Mistrust, jealousy, and misunderstandings all create greater possibilities for divorce. The culture emphasizes “do what you want” in relationships to the neglect of honoring the spouse you have declared your commitment to. Notice how definitive this commitment is in Ephesians 5:31, For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. Two become one. That is real commitment.

This marriage commitment changes the daily lives of the couple. The physical, emotional, and spiritual beings that we are unite together in marriage. Becoming “one” could mean a man and woman now share the same e-mail accounts. It could be getting a new e-mail name that reflects your marriage union. It could be that all the social media platforms are shared or at least, both partners have password access to those accounts. These are just samples of how the concept of “two become one” could look in the media portion of a marriage. It takes commitment, trust, and humility for this. Just as a marathon requires intense commitment, so does marriage.

The following ideas are designed to help you start the Marathon of marriage and finish it. These “mile markers” that come along the road will not be achieved all at once. Your marriage is a marathon, not a sprint. Arriving at these identifiable marks will take time as well as teamwork.

Here are a few “mile markers” each couple should cross along their race to the finish line.

The Cellphone Mile Marker. Back 20+ years ago, it was a big deal when a recently married couple got their first phone number. They were living separately and then the wedding day came and from that point on, they were happy to give out their new home address as well as their new home phone number.

Today, many couples opt to keep their cell phones without getting a new home landline. Many even keep their old phone numbers on their parent’s plans. This may seem harmless, but it is not the healthiest arrangement. If money is keeping the newlyweds from “joining” their cell phone accounts then they are misguided. The positive psychological effect of passing a mile marker together totally surpasses saving a few dollars on a bill.

The Combining of Checking and Savings Accounts Mark. His and her credit cards or bank accounts are not a good idea. If a couple is “joining together” then they should do so financially as well. The love of money could cause the man or the woman not to commit to this idea. Money is never a good reason for not consolidating the interests of the man and the interests of the woman into one.

In the era of prenuptial agreements, lawyers and clerks who do not have the Bible conviction of marriage will say “save up for a break up.” The Christian should never look at his marriage as having the potential to fail. More times than not – it is the same love of money that becomes a sore spot and a symptom of hard hearts of people headed for divorce.

The $1000 Savings Mile Marker. Many Christian Financial leaders recommend that a couple save up and have $1000 available as an emergency fund. I recommend you have this in cash, safely kept, yet available in the case of an emergency. Have you ever been to the store when the credit cards machines are “down.” If there is another disaster and power is lost, then having cash to buy needed supplies is a good idea.

An article I read recently suggested that with the combined debt of the citizenry of the United States that a person who has no debt and has a $10 bill in his pocket is richer than most folks. The point is- we should be saving money. Save money together. Look at ways to trim your expenses and then celebrate when you arrive at your $1000 goal.

The Church Ministry Service Mark. Serving together in a ministry is a great team building exercise. Bus routes, Sunday School, and Youth Ministry are great places to serve together. The choir, special music, greeters, and sound /media production are all enriched by the service of competent couples working together. Embracing ministry together grows the husband and wife closer emotionally and spiritually and they may see their consistent labor bloom into viable fruit they can see.

The Car Purchase Marker. Researching, deciding, and settling on a car can be nerve-wracking, but it can be an accomplishment for the couple to win in together. Driving the emotions of an item as big as a vehicle will cause great consideration in each spouse to reveal his or her thoughts. Avoiding research, neglecting mutual decisions, and not learning to “settle” on an issue like this can feed a common problem among couples: a lack of investment. A vehicle is a big deal, but it is not as big a deal as when you decided to get married. Avoiding big scenarios is a way of being ill prepared for bigger life challenges that a couple will encounter. By the way: the car does not have to be brand new. “New to you” at 2-3 years old is a great price point and will give you a vehicle with a lot of life left in it. A cash purchase of a nearly new vehicle is a terrific milestone in marriage.

The House Purchase Mark. A historically important characteristic of freedom loving Americans is the opportunity to buy a house. Sometimes houses are inherited and sometimes spouses will live at the house the other had before they were married. It is helpful to visit, consider and purchase together. The victory of a house purchase and then paying off that purchase is monumental. It is a big mile-marker.

The Giving Mile Marker. The Bible teaches that we labor in order to give. Ephesians 4:28 says, Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. With your spouse, deciding to give large gifts to others or to church ministry can be very satisfying. I know several couples that have given away cars to friends, family, and church ministers. One couple has given 7-8 good vehicles to other people in recent years. They just were looking for ways to help others and to encourage some of God’s people. The result of your combined effort at work, saving, and living and bring about generous giving to the work of the Lord. This is a mile marker that starts with the basics of money discipline and bringing a tithe to God from your combined income. Start with the 10 percent and see how big of an impact you can make together in giving above and beyond to others and to the Lord.

Achieving something worthwhile takes time and teamwork. Your marriage is a marathon. Run the race of life together. Marathon marriages have been won the world over. Perhaps you know a couple or two who have raced their entire lifetime together. With God – all things are possible.

The Real Heroes of October

The Real Heroes of October

Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 2 Timothy 4:2

Do you look forward to the World Series of Major League Baseball each October? I do. I enjoyed the first game between the Mets and Royals recently. 14 innings! Wow! Playing past the regular season, the “Boys of Summer” try to get their team into position to play baseball in the postseason called the playoffs. Then the National League Champion will play the American League Champion to determine the World Champion in the World Series.

Baseball great Reggie Jackson was known as Mr. October. When a team is advancing and still playing baseball into the month of October you know they are a good team. There will be another MVP this year and one team will walk away the winners, the heroes of the baseball world.

Between both the Mets and Royals, there are many players I am not familiar with. There are some new names on both teams. No matter how long a player has played on his team, as a team member – he is committed to the same task – win the next game. No matter what path he took to get to the majors, he is still accepted on his team as a vital asset towards winning.

There are other heroes in October, some of which we will never hear about. They are the pastors, faithfully feeding the flock of God in their local fields. However God called them and wherever they are serving, they are on the same team as I am – the Gospel Team.

In independent Baptist churches such as the one I pastor, we may not be familiar with pastors in other parts of the country. We are not isolated, but we are just too far away to know each other. There are pastors, missionaries and evangelists boldly declaring God’s Word and we may never know them on this side of Heaven. We are on the same team – giving out the Gospel. I am thankful for each team player.

The churches they preach in vary in size; some with 50, 250 or over 2000 members attending weekly services. Some pastors and their churches are well-known, others are not. All these pastors are known to those they minister to as being passionate about Jesus and His Holy Word.

Some churches will say “thank-you” in a public display. Others churches are comprised of individuals who behind the scenes say “thank-you.” However this is accomplished, it should be clear to the pastor that the church is blessed with his effort to serve the Lord and minister to them. The real heroes of October are the pastors. They are the ones ready to “preach the Word in Season or out of Season.”

Some folks have set aside October as a month to strategically say “Thank-you.” Someone once aptly said that “What gets scheduled is what gets done.” It is true that our human nature is to forget. We may forget the impact 1 message had on our home. We may neglect to give a testimony of how a message fed to the congregation met a specific need in your soul. Sometimes a pastor is preaching on a totally other subject, but the Bible passage God directed him to, challenges and changes your life. If we do not mark something good on a calendar, it just may not happen.

According to Thrivingpastor.com, pastor or clergy appreciation has been “over the centuries, decades and years, pastors have been recognized and honored, either formally or informally, by many denominations and local churches at various times of the year. It has been a long-standing practice.” They refer to the I Timothy 5:17 as pastors preaching the Word should receive “double honor” as the precedent for this special recognition.

As you watch the closing games of this baseball season, be reminded of the real heroes of October. The unsung heroes are those faithfully preaching the Word. While you may not know all of them – take a moment to encourage those you do know. Say “thank-you” in some way this week.

Giving A Testimony

Giving a Testimony

I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day… Acts 26:2

A man named Don was faithful in every testimony service to stand up and say “I thank Jesus for my salvation.” I do not remember a time when Don would not say something good about Jesus when given the opportunity. His testimony encouraged several preachers I know to serve the Lord in ministry. Perhaps you enjoy hearing people give their salvation story. Sometimes church services are blessed when people rise and vocalize what God is doing in their lives.

A Testimony is evidence given in court from an eyewitness accounting details of a case. It is proof that supports a claim or a fact.

A Christian Testimony is when we are telling others what God has done for and in our lives. It is giving evidence that God is working in our life. What can you say about God in your personal testimony?

Concerning testimonies John Stott wrote: “So much so-called “testimony” today is really autobiography and even sometimes thinly disguised self-advertisement, that we need to regain a proper biblical perspective. All true testimony is testimony to Jesus Christ, as he stands on trial before the world.”

What does your testimony say about Jesus? Testimony is more than reputation. Reputation has to do with how you are known to other people. Testimony has to do with how you live and what you say about God to other people.

Here are 4 ideas to help you share your Christian testimony.

Talk about Jesus with Appropriate Answers. 1 Peter 3:15 tells us: But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

Perhaps an entire life story is needed to be told to let others see Jesus in you, but generally, the most meaningful parts of what God has done in your life is all that is needed.

Essentially what you are saying with a salvation testimony is: “This is what God did for me. Jesus saved me.” In a service testimony, you are conveying: “This is how the Lord answered prayer. He can help you too.” Or “The Lord helped and enabled me.”

Give Insight with Considerate Conversation. Colossians 4:6 teaches, Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

Be careful not to pour salt on somebodies wounds. Others who hear your testimony may be grief stricken about sin or a circumstance. Be careful to consider their thoughts.

Others are in the middle of a similar lifestyle you used to live. As you speak, they may be battling the same depression, drunkenness, or abuse that you endured. Great details of sin need not be given. When the apostle Paul gave his testimony, he did not include the gruesome details of Stephens death, or of the families that he tore apart. Paul spoke in general terms. We must avoid magnifying the depth of sin. Exalt the forgiveness of God.

Show Thoughtfulness With Godly Preparation. Proverbs 16:1 instructs: The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.

You may have witnessed a similar story: “It was testimony night in the church. A lady got up and said, “We are living in a wicked land where sin is on every hand. I have had a terrible fight with the old devil all week.” Where upon her husband, who was sitting glumly by her side said, “It’s not all my fault either; she’s tough to get along with.””

It is a good idea to ask the Lord to help you prepare your testimony beforehand. Not every occasion for verbalizing a testimony will be formal, but for those formal settings, you should be prepared with what you will say. Let God help you prepare ahead of time. Of course, He can give you the words before and even during the testimony.

Think about your story of God working in your life. Know how to tell His story in your life. Rehearse the story. The more you tell it– the easier it is for you to recognize you are blessed and it is easier to tell others.

Many Christians who battle depression are simply not “practiced up” at telling others about God working in their lives. Be rehearsing what God has done. It will help you in many ways.

Be Happy Using Joyful Expression. Proverbs 15:23 A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it! Giving a testimony, the right way and the right time is a wonderful thing. Recalling forgiveness of sin, victory in Jesus, and the power of the Gospel is terrific. Remembering our future with Jesus is inspirational!

Smile, have your eyes open; speak confidently and joyfully about the Lord Jesus Christ. Ask the Lord to help you have the joy of the Lord evident in your testimony.

With these testimony ideas in mind, I encourage you to rehearse your salvation testimony this week, and then relate the testimony to someone soon.

(Encyclopedia of 15,000 Illustrations: Signs of the Times.)