Archive for January, 2024
Your Self-Worth
Do you ever feel worthless, perhaps even unloved? No one is and no one should feel they are.
If you ever feel no one ever gives me anything, rethink it. Whether it is yours is dependent upon you having received the gift.
A traveler overseas bought an amber necklace at a modest price. Coming back to the country, customs charged a high fee. His curiosity motivated him to have it appraised. Under a magnifying glass could be seen a tiny inscription “From Napoleon Bonaparte to Josephine.” It was worth over $50,000 because of its association. You are valuable because of association with Christ.
My wife has an unpretentious pair of amber earrings. Their value is derived from them having been given to her by former Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir. Their value is derived from the association with the fourth Prime Minister of Israel.
Association with Jesus gives you value, great value. Your inheritance is of inestimable value.
In the New Testament era pearls were considered the most highly prized ornament by Gentiles. They were more highly valued than diamonds. At a supper, Cleopatra demonstrated her affection for Mark Anthony by dissolving a pearl valued at $500,000 in vinegar and drinking it.
Her love was shown by what she gave to prove it. The love God the Father has for you was shown by what He gave to demonstrate it, His only begotten Son.
Your redemption results from the giving of His best, His life’s blood.
“You were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” (I Corinthians 6:20)
When we come to Jesus what is gained is worth far more than what we give up. To forsake all and follow Jesus does not always mean you have to abandon everything. It means you put Jesus in charge of everything. You give everything to Him and you become His manager known as a steward. At that point all of your assets become His resources and everything is at His disposal, for His use — including you, yourself.
When we forsake all and come to Christ He greatly over pays our outlay and gives us a fortune beside.
Another perspective of value comes from missionary Nate Saint, killed by the Auqua Indians in Central America, who had this entry in his diary: “One is no fool to give up what he can’t keep to gain what he can’t lose.”
Never allow yourself to have a feeling of worthlessness. Never consider that no one has ever given you anything of worth.
“We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.” (II Corinthians 10:12)
May your self-worth be elevated in light of these truths.
Thomas Jefferson On Religious Freedom
There is no more complex man in American history than Thomas Jefferson. He issued conflicting comments on several issues. Some conclude he was hostile to Christianity. He was not. He was cool toward organized religion, but not Christianity. He left little doubt of this by writing: “I am a real Christian – that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus Christ.”
Further evidence of this is his close friendship with Baptist minister John Leland, a dynamic voice in the issue of religious freedom. As Leland’s gratitude for Jefferson’s friendship and support for his endeavors on behalf of religious freedom Leland did a most uncommon thing. An ardent supporter of Thomas Jefferson, Leland became famous for his media-savvy strategy to signal the Baptists’ support of the newly elected president in 1801: the gift of a giant wheel of cheese. Reportedly made from the milk of 900 Republican cows, the cheese measured 4 feet in diameter, 13 feet in circumference, and weighed 1,235 pounds. Emblazoned on its red crust was Jefferson’s favorite motto: “Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God.” As the giant cheese made the month-long journey from western Massachusetts to Washington, D. C., pundits lampooned, ridiculed and celebrated the “mammoth cheese.” On Jan. 1, 1802, Jefferson welcomed Leland and his flamboyant gift into the White House. Two days later, Leland delivered the Sunday sermon to the church which regularly met in the House of Representatives, with the president in attendance.
As an aside, Jefferson reputedly gave more money to more churches in Washington than anyone. He often attended the church that regularly met in the House of Representatives. Another church met regularly in the Supreme Court building.
Jefferson’s letter to the Baptists, of which Leland was one, was to assure them there would be no state supported church and all churches would be equal.
So much for separation of church and state.
Quoting Jefferson on the subject, he said: “God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the Gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever…”
Having freedom and not using it is little better than not having it. Having religious faith and not using it is little better than not having it.
Evaluate evidences of your faith by this exam. When did you last pray, when did you last engage in studiously reading the Bible, what is your current record of attending public worship?
Keep Your Eyes On Jesus
Scripture speaks of “…looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” Hebrews 12: 2.
When Giuseppe Verdi produced his first opera in Florence, he stood by himself in the shadows and kept his eye on the face of one man in the audience – the renowned Rossini, the world’s most famous opera composer of his era. It mattered not to Verdi whether the people in the hall were cheering him or jeering him; all he wanted was a smile of approval from the master musician.
So it was with Paul. He knew what it was to suffer for the gospel, but the approval or disapproval of men did not move him… Paul wanted only the approval of Jesus. So should we.
So it must be with us if we are to please Him. By keeping our eye on Jesus we are not likely to suffer spiritual setbacks resulting from the allure of others.
The idea in the verb is that of looking away from one thing to some other thing. We must always have some object before the eyes of our mind, and very often it is an object that will cause the natural man to stumble spiritually.
Well it has been said that in looking unto Jesus we see in Him a model, and we begin to imitate Him. We see in Him the doer of the Father’s will, and we learn to do that will as He did it. We see in Him a willing sufferer for others, and we learn willingly to suffer. We see in Him a man that pleased not Himself, and we learn not to please ourselves. We see in Him a pattern of all meekness, and submissiveness, and gentleness, and kindness, and we learn from Him to be meek, and lowly, and gentle, and submissive, and kind, and humble — and thus it is that in looking to Him we are changed into His image from “glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” Thus it is that in looking away from other objects we are prevented from imbibing the evil influences to which they have too long subjected us; and in looking to Him we are brought under the efficacious power of higher, purer, nobler, diviner influences. But the great feature in which the apostle presents Christ to us is His faith. He showed us how to believe, and believe even on this earth where there is everything to tempt our faith and to cherish unbelief. He showed us how to live by faith upon the Father, even in a world like this, that has cast off the Father. Let us look to Him then and learn of Him, let us look to His footsteps and walk in them, following where He has led the way, and planting our feet where we find that His have been planted before us.
Look unto Jesus through the lens of faith. Put your confidence in what He taught and did, and endeavor to do likewise. Jesus is more than a model. He is our Master first and as such, our model. Let others see Jesus in you today as your model.
Life’s Constant
Life is not static. Life is like a line, not a straight line, a roller coaster line with ups and downs. All events are like a coin having a head or a tail side. Every event in life is either a blessing or a burden, an upper or a downer. Personal reaction to an event has a lot to do with which it is.
Many of the blessings that come our way do not come as a reward for things done, but to prepare us for things to come.
Where are you now, at the top of the curve or the bottom? Regardless as to which, you will not likely camp there. As sure as change has happened it is certain to happen.
There seems to always be a guarantee in life that change will happen. Change is something we tend to fear and become anxious about because we do not feel in control of life. The good news is that God is still on His throne and remains constant, He never changes.
Of Jesus it is said, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 He is our one constant in the good times and challenging times. The more you rely on Him the more He guides and blesses regardless of where you are on the scale.
Through Isaiah God said to His prophet, “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland” Isaiah 43: 16. He does not say there will be no new things, no wildernesses, or wastelands. He does promise He will be there to guide us through them. We are not to camp there. He is in the process of making a way. He is like a refreshing stream to people in a wasteland. That is analogous to a difficult time.
To Joshua and through Him to his followers God in a very difficult time said, “ Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” Joshua 1:9. Whether you are at the pinnacle or in the depth of a deep and dark valley He is with you, your constant. Scripture notes this reassuring virtue of God, “I the Lord do not change” Malachi 3:6.
As Joshua said to his people in a down time that appeared to be getting deeper: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you” Deuteronomy 31:6.
In light of these realities will you not say, “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold” Psalm 18: 2.
Keep Your Cool
A mother came home and was surprised to see her four children huddled around what she knew must have been something special. She was alarmed to see it was four baby skunks. Frantically she shouted, “Run children, get out of here, hurry, run.” Each child grabbed a baby skunk and ran.
Like that mother we often make things worse than they were by being alarmed and over reacting.
Composure shows when a person bears with composure one heavy load after another, not because he does not feel them, but because he has a Spirit controlled temperament.
A rubber band is made for only one purpose. That purpose is to be stretched so it can hold something together. If it is not stretched, it is not fulfilling its purpose. Christians are much like the rubber band, we are often stretched. Those moments when stretched out of our comfort zone afford the opportunity to show that though we are stretched we are fulfilling our purpose. It is to hold things together. If we lose our composure we make things worse than they were.
Hudson Taylor, founder of China Inland Mission, used to hang in his home a plaque with two Hebrew words on it: EBENEZER & JEHOVAH JIREH. The first word means “Hitherto hath the Lord helped us”and the second, “The Lord will see to it or provide.” Knowing that enables a person to be patient and evidence composure.
Jesus is our exemplar of composure. It is said of Him, “who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously…” (I Peter 2: 23). Meaning, He did not lose His cool, He remained composed.
He was accused of being a seditious man; spoken of as a deceiver; charged with being in league with Beelzebub, the “prince of the devils,” and condemned as a blasphemer against God. And He remained composed.
He used no harsh language. He showed no anger. He called for no revenge. He prayed that they might be forgiven. He calmly stood and bore it all, for he came to endure all kinds of suffering in order that he might set an example, and make an atonement for our sins.
Though He could have inflicted any kind of punishment on his persecutors, yet to give us, in this respect also, an example that we should follow his steps, He committed his cause to Him who is the righteous Judge. To avoid evil tempers, and the uneasiness and danger of avenging ourselves, it is a great advantage in all such cases to commit ourselves to the Lord. This stimulates confidence and composure. To lose your composure is to lose your cause – – – and your witness.
What causes Jesus suffering at times more than the cruelty of His persecutors must be the failure of His followers to follow His example. It was our sins for which He died. Is it too much to expect of us to live for Him?