Humility

Living with Purpose

Living with Purpose

In Titus 2:12, we are reminded of the grace of God that brings salvation and instructs us to live lives marked by self-control, godliness, and hope.

This verse emphasizes that God’s grace isn’t just a ticket to heaven; it’s a transformative force that shapes how we live in the present. It’s through this grace that we’re empowered to say no to worldly desires and embrace a life that reflects God’s character.

Counter-Cultural Living

The values promoted in this verse – self-control, godliness, and hope – stand in stark contrast to the values often upheld by the world around us.

In a culture that often encourages self-indulgence and instant gratification, God calls us to a different way of life. We’re called to exercise self-control, to pursue godliness in all areas of our lives, and to live with an unwavering hope in the promises of God.

Guided by Grace

Living out the instructions of Titus 2:12 isn’t a task we accomplish in our own strength. It’s a journey guided by God’s grace.

As we yield to the work of the Holy Spirit within us, we find ourselves empowered to make choices that align with God’s purposes. It’s not about striving in our own efforts, but about relying on the transformative grace of God that empowers us to live differently.

Impact on Others

The final part of Titus 2:12 speaks about our role as examples to others. Our transformed lives, characterized by self-control, godliness, and hope, have the potential to impact those around us.

As we live out these values, we become a testimony to the world of the power of God’s grace to change lives. Our choices and actions can lead others to consider the transformative work of grace in their own lives.

Embracing Transformative Grace

Titus 2:12 calls you to embrace the transformative grace of God in every area of your life. It’s an invitation to live counter-culturally, guided by self-control, godliness, and hope.

As you yield to the work of the Holy Spirit, your life becomes a reflection of God’s character, and your choices inspire others to consider the grace that brings true transformation.

Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration
Blessing of Dependence

Blessing of Dependence

Psalm 127:1 reminds us of the essential truth that all our endeavors find their true success in their connection to a greater source.

Just as a house needs a firm foundation to stand, our efforts need the underpinning of God’s support and direction.

Human Efforts and Divine Blessing

In a world that celebrates self-reliance, this verse offers a different perspective. It doesn’t discourage human effort but emphasizes the necessity of God’s direction for fruitful outcomes.

It’s a call to recognize that our accomplishments, however grand, are incomplete without the involvement of God Himself.

Inviting God into Our Endeavors

Psalm 127:1 encourages us to view ourselves as co-laborers with God. By acknowledging our dependence on God’s guidance and grace, we begin to understand that His way of building far exceeds our own!

Source of Peace

By acknowledging our dependence on God, we find peace in knowing that our efforts are part of a greater plan. God’s ways are not our ways, and when we truly trust in His direction; He will build our lives according to His design.

What God builds; He protects as well!

The Joy of Dependence

The wisdom of this passage, encourages us to approach our endeavors with humility, inviting God’s presence into every step of the journey.

In embracing our dependence in God, we find not only success but also a deeper sense of purpose, peace, and rest.

Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration
Walking in Goodness

Walking in Goodness

In the compact yet profound verse of 3 John 1:11, we discover a valuable insight that resonates with the essence of a well-lived life. The verse encourages us to imitate what is good, reminding us of the importance of embracing virtue and embodying positive examples.

Embracing Positive Imitation

The verse encourages us to imitate goodness, echoing the principle of learning by example. Just as an apprentice watches and mimics a skilled craftsman to refine their craft, we are called to observe and replicate the traits of goodness in our lives. This isn’t about mimicry for its own sake, but about allowing the virtuous qualities we see in other believers to take root within us.

The Power of Influence

Implicit in this verse is the notion of influence – the idea that our actions and character can impact those around us. Like ripples spreading across a pond, our choices resonate in the lives of others. By imitating what is good, we become agents of positive change, inspiring others to pursue godliness in their own journeys.

A Call to Discernment

The verse also nudges us toward discernment. Not everything that appears good is truly virtuous. Just as a connoisseur distinguishes between genuine and imitation, we are called to discern what embodies authentic goodness. This involves aligning our choices with godly values and biblical principles rather than mere trends or appearances.

Walking the Path of Goodness

Reflecting on 3 John 1:11, consider the trail of goodness you leave behind. Are you purposefully cultivating a life that’s worth imitating? Be mindful of the influences you absorb and project, knowing that your choices, will be imitated by someone close to you; a child, a sibling, a dear friend. Walk carefully; someone is watching you!

Posted by onthesolidrock
Unity and Peace

Unity and Peace

Ephesians 4:3 highlights the importance of unity among believers and emphasizes the need to preserve the bond of peace:

“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”

This verse encourages us to actively pursue and protect the unity that is brought about by the Holy Spirit in the body of Christ. It reminds us that unity is not passive but requires intentional effort and a commitment to maintaining peace among fellow believers. It serves as a reminder of the essential role we play in fostering unity and creating an atmosphere of harmony within the church.

Unity of the Spirit

Ephesians 4:3 refers to the unity of the Spirit, emphasizing that unity is not something we can manufacture on our own. It is a work of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of believers.

The Spirit unites us as one body in Christ, transcending our differences in culture, background, and personal preferences. This unity is founded on our shared faith in Jesus Christ and our common purpose of glorifying Him.

It is a powerful testimony to the world of God’s love and transformative power at work in our lives. As believers, we are called to cherish and protect this unity, recognizing its significance and the Spirit’s role in establishing it.

Bond of Peace

The verse also highlights the bond of peace as the glue that holds the unity of the Spirit together. Peace is not merely the absence of conflict but the presence of harmony, reconciliation, and a genuine concern for one another’s well-being.

It involves a willingness to pursue reconciliation, forgiveness, and understanding in our relationships. As members of the body of Christ, we are called to actively maintain this bond of peace, being peacemakers and agents of reconciliation.

It requires humility, patience, and a commitment to the values of love and grace. By prioritizing peace, we create an environment where unity can thrive and God’s purposes can be fulfilled.

Making Every Effort

Ephesians 4:3 exhorts us to make “every effort” to keep the unity of the Spirit. This implies that unity requires intentional action on our part.

We are called to actively work towards unity, resolving conflicts, promoting understanding, and seeking reconciliation when disagreements arise. It involves humility, gentleness, and a willingness to listen and understand different perspectives.

Making every effort to keep unity requires selflessness, setting aside personal agendas and preferences for the greater good of the Body of Christ. It is a constant pursuit that requires ongoing commitment and diligence.

Value and protect the unity that God has established among believers, recognizing it as a gift from the Holy Spirit. Actively work towards maintaining peace, pursuing reconciliation, and fostering an atmosphere of love and harmony.

Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration
God’s Wrath

God’s Wrath

In Romans 12:19, we encounter a powerful verse that speaks to the way we handle conflict and seek justice. It says,

“Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.”

This verse reminds us of the importance of entrusting justice into the hands of God and not seeking personal vengeance.

When we face situations where we have been wronged or treated unjustly, our natural inclination may be to seek revenge or take matters into our own hands.

However, this verse urges us to resist that urge and instead leave room for God’s justice to prevail. It’s a call to trust in the sovereignty of God, knowing that He sees all and will ultimately bring justice in His perfect timing.

As we reflect on Romans 12:19, may we are challenged to let go of our desire for revenge and entrust justice into God’s hands.

Seek peace and forgiveness, knowing that God sees all and will bring about justice in His way and timing. Find solace in His sovereignty, trusting that He will right every wrong and bring healing to our hearts.

Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration, Faith, Trust
Breaking the Rule

Breaking the Rule

In Mark 3:4, we encounter a powerful moment where Jesus challenges the legalistic mindset of the religious leaders. He asks them,

“Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?”

This question cuts to the heart of the matter, revealing that true obedience to God’s commands is not about rigid adherence to rules, but about living a life of love and compassion.

Jesus’ words remind us that God’s intention for us is not to be bound by legalism, but to experience the freedom that comes from a relationship with Him.

Rules and regulations have their place, but they should always be driven by love and the desire to do good. It is not enough to simply follow the letter of the law; we must also consider the spirit behind it.

As followers of Christ, we are called to live lives that reflect His love and compassion. We are called to prioritize acts of kindness, mercy, and healing, even if it means going against societal norms or religious expectations.

Remember, the heart of the gospel is not a list of “do’s and don’ts”, but a transformative relationship with Jesus that empowers us to love and serve others selflessly.

Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration, Faith, Love
Prepare the Way

Prepare the Way

In Luke 3:4-6, we read about John the Baptist, who came to prepare the way for Jesus. The verses say,

“A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all people will see God’s salvation.”

These powerful words remind us that God is actively at work in our lives, clearing the obstacles and making a way for His salvation.

John the Baptist was a voice crying out in the wilderness, urging people to prepare their hearts for the coming of Jesus. He called for a change of heart and a turning away from sin.

 In the same way, we are called to examine our own lives and make room for Jesus. It’s a call to repentance and surrender, allowing God to reshape us and remove the barriers that hinder our relationship with Him.

Reflecting on these verses, we are reminded of God’s faithfulness and His desire to bring salvation to all people.

Take a moment to examine your heart and the direction of your life. Are there any obstacles or hindrances that need to be cleared away?

Are there areas where you need to repent and turn back to God?

Trust His faithfulness and His ability to make a way where there seems to be no way. Surrender your plans and desires to Him, and let Him guide you on the straight path that leads to His salvation.

Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration, Discipline
Tempted

Tempted

Have you been tempted to do something you knew was wrong? Maybe it was lying to get out of trouble, cheating on a test, or gossiping about someone. James 1:14 says:

“But each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.”

Temptation doesn’t just happen to us out of nowhere; it starts with our own desires and then becomes a trap that we can fall into if we’re not careful.

God has given us a way out. 1 Corinthians 10:13 reveals:

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”

The next time you’re faced with a temptation, remember that it starts with your own desires. Pray and ask God to help you resist it, and look for the way out that he promises to provide.

With God’s help, you can overcome any temptation that comes your way and live a life that is pleasing to him.

Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration, Faith, Trust
New Things

New Things

In Isaiah 65:17, we find a beautiful promise from God, He says:

“Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.”

These words remind us that God is in the business of making all things new.

God promises to create a new heaven and a new earth, where the pain, sorrow, and sin of the past will be left behind. It’s a fresh start that goes beyond anything we can imagine.

But this promise is not just about a future reality. It also has implications for our lives today. It reminds us that God is in the business of transformation.

He can take our brokenness and turn it into something beautiful. He can bring healing to our wounds and restore what has been lost.

This promise encourages us to hold on to hope, even in the midst of difficult circumstances, knowing that God is working to make all things new.

Embrace the promise of Isaiah 65:17 and allow it to fill you with hope and anticipation. Trust in God’s faithfulness to bring about newness in your life.

As you experience His transformative work, be sure to extend His love and grace to others, becoming an agent of renewal in the broken world around you.

Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration, Faith, Trust
Seek Him

Seek Him

Sometimes, we find ourselves searching for something. It could be a sense of purpose, peace, or answers to our questions. In Isaiah 55:6, we are urged to seek the Lord while He may be found.

“Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.”

God is still accessible and ready to meet us where we are, offering us the very things we long for.

God invites us to come to Him and seek Him with open hearts and minds. He is always near, ready to respond to our sincere seeking.

The invitation to seek God is not a suggestion, rather a divine invitation to encounter Him in a personal and transformative way.

It’s an opportunity to draw closer to Him, to deepen our relationship with Him, and to experience the abundant life He offers.

As we seek Him through prayer, reading His Word, and spending time in His presence, we position ourselves to receive His grace, wisdom, and guidance.

Heed the call to seek the Lord while He may be found. Approach Him with openness, humility, and a genuine desire to know Him more. Set aside distractions and busyness to create space for intentional seeking.

Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration, Faith, Prayer, Trust
Drifting Away

Drifting Away

Reading through the Bible, we come across verses that are difficult to understand and apply to our lives. Hebrews 2:1 reminds us of the importance of paying attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it.

“We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away”

This verse challenges us to not just read the Bible for knowledge, but to truly listen and take it to heart. We must actively engage with the Word of God, meditate on it, and let it shape our life!

The author of Hebrews wrote this verse to a community of believers who were facing persecution and temptation to turn away from their faith.

We also face challenges in our daily lives that can cause us to drift away from God. It is easy to get caught up in the busyness of life and neglect our spiritual growth. But Hebrews 2:1 encourages us to prioritize our relationship with God and make intentional efforts to stay connected to Him.

As you apply this verse to your life, ask yourself some questions:

  • Am I consistently spending time in prayer and reading the Bible?
  • Am I actively seeking to understand and apply God’s Word to my life?
  • Am I surrounding myself with other believers who can encourage and challenge me in my faith?

Be intentional in your pursuit of Jesus and not allow yourself to drift away from Him.

Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration, Discipline, Faith, Holiness, Prayer, Trust
Scepter of Righteousness

Scepter of Righteousness

In the book of Hebrews, the author speaks about the superiority of Christ, describing Him as the one who holds the Scepter of Righteousness, Hebrews 1:8

But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.

This imagery paints a picture of Jesus as the ultimate King, ruling with justice and authority.

Think about the concept of a scepter. In ancient times, a scepter was a symbol of power and authority. It represented the ruler’s sovereignty and the laws they upheld.

In the same way, Jesus holds the scepter of righteousness. He is the King of kings, ruling with perfect justice and righteousness. His authority is unmatched, and His decisions are always just.

This truth has profound implications for our lives. Knowing that Jesus is the ultimate King should bring us comfort, for we can trust in His righteous rule.

When we face challenges, we can turn to Him for guidance and support. And as His followers, we are called to live with His righteous standards, living in obedience to His commands.

Today, consider the authority and righteousness of Jesus. Submit to His authority and live in accordance with all His teachings.

Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration, Discipline, Faith, Holiness, Trust
A Treasured Possession

A Treasured Possession

God speaks to the Israelites through Moses, telling them that they will be His treasured possession and a kingdom of priests, Exodus 19:5

“Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine”

This verse reveals an important truth about our relationship with God and the calling He has placed upon us.

God sees each one of us as His treasured possession. He values us deeply and desires a personal relationship with us. We are not just random beings wandering through life, but rather chosen and loved by our Creator.

Additionally, God calls us to be a kingdom of priests. In ancient times, priests served as intermediaries between God and the people, offering sacrifices and representing the people before God.

We are also called to be representatives of God’s love, grace, and truth in the world. We have the privilege and responsibility to reflect His character, share His message, and intercede on behalf of others.

Embrace your identity as God’s treasured possession and an ambassador of His kingdom. Recognize your worth and value in His eyes. Cultivate a deep and intimate relationship with Him through prayer, study of His Word, and fellowship with other believers.

And as you go about your daily life, remember that you are called to be a light, bringing God’s love and truth to those around you. May your life reflect the beauty of being a treasured possession of the King.

Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration, Faith, Holiness, Humility, Ministries
Exposed

Exposed

There is a great deal of tension between light and darkness, between what is good and what is evil. Ephesians 5:11, addresses this struggle and encourages believers to expose the deeds of darkness.

“Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them”

We are called to shine the Light of Christ in a world that is often filled with darkness. This means being courageous and standing up against injustice, deceit, and immorality.

Being a light-bearer requires us to be vigilant and discerning. It means being aware of the influences and values around us and intentionally choosing to align ourselves with what is good and pleasing to God.

We have the opportunity to make a difference by speaking out against wrongdoing, extending love and grace to those in need, and living lives that reflect the character of Christ.

Be mindful of your role as a child of light. Examine your life and ask yourself:

  • Are there any areas where I have been complacent in the face of darkness?
  • Are there opportunities to bring truth and love into my relationships, workplace, and community?

Be intentional and active in living out your faith. As you determine to do so, you become a beacon of hope and an agent of transformation in a world that desperately needs the light of Christ.

Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration, Discipline, Faith
Gifted by Grace

Gifted by Grace

We all long for a sense of meaning and significance, and in Ephesians 4:7, the apostle Paul reminds us that each one of us has been given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

“But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.”

This verse speaks to the unique gifts and abilities that God has bestowed upon each believer.

Think of it this way: just as a master craftsman equips their apprentices with specific tools and skills for their trade, God has equipped us with unique gifts for the work of His kingdom.

These gifts are not earned or acquired through our own efforts, but they are given to us by the grace of Christ. They are meant to be used for His glory and the benefit of others.

Discovering and applying our God-given gifts is an exciting journey. It involves seeking God’s guidance, exploring our passions and abilities, and being open to opportunities to serve.

As we embrace and develop our gifts, we not only fulfill our own purpose but also contribute to the overall health and growth of the body of Christ.

Reflect on the gifts God has given you. Consider your passions, talents, and abilities, and ask God to reveal how He wants to use them for His purposes.

Avoid comparing yourself to others or diminish the significance of your own gifts’ instead, embrace them with gratitude and a willingness to serve.

Remember that your unique contribution is essential to the functioning of the body of Christ. As you use your gifts, you will experience the joy and fulfillment that come from living out your God-given purpose.

Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration, Faith, Giving
Blessings or Curses

Blessings or Curses

Life is full of choices, some small and insignificant, and others that have significant and lasting consequences.

In Deuteronomy 30:19, Moses presented the Israelites with a critical choice between life and death, blessings and curses.

“This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live”

Today, we are still faced with similar choices, choices that will determine our direction and destiny. Each day, we must choose between good and evil, between obedience and disobedience, between faith and unbelief.

The consequences of our choices are significant and far-reaching, affecting not only our own lives but also the lives of those around us.

God has given you free will to make choices, but you must remember that you are accountable for those choices. In making decisions, you must seek guidance from God, and when you make mistakes, confess them and seek forgiveness.

Ultimately, you alone must choose to follow God’s ways, which lead to blessings and life, rather than the ways of the world, which lead to destruction and death.

Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration, Humility, Trust
Hostility

Hostility

In the Book of Romans 8:7, we come across a powerful statement about the human condition. It says that the mindset of the flesh is hostile to God and does not submit to God’s law.

“The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.”

This verse shines a light on the internal struggle that exists within each of us—the tension between our natural inclinations and the desire to align ourselves with God’s will.

When the passage speaks of the mindset of the flesh, it refers to our human nature apart from God’s transformative work in our lives.

It is the part of us that is self-centered, driven by worldly desires, and resistant to God’s authority. This mindset creates a barrier between us and God, hindering our ability to fully embrace His truth and live in harmony with His will.

The good news is that through Christ, we have the power to overcome this hostile mindset.

Through the work of the Holy Spirit in us, we can experience a radical transformation of our minds and hearts. We can choose to align our thoughts, attitudes, and actions with God’s truth, surrendering our will to His and allowing His love to shape and guide us.

As you reflect on this verse, be reminded of the ongoing battle between your fleshly desires and the Spirit of God within you.

Recognize any tendencies within you that are opposed to God’s will and surrender them to Him.

Continually seek the guidance and empowerment of the Holy Spirit to transform your mind, renew your heart, and enable you to live in alignment with God’s purposes.

Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration, Discipline, Faith
Broken Chains

Broken Chains

In the Book of Romans, we are reminded of the transformative power of Christ’s death and resurrection.

Paul writes that our old self was crucified with Christ so that the power of sin would be broken in our lives. This means that we are no longer slaves to sin but have been set free to live a new life in Christ.

“For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—”

Romans 6:6

When we come to faith in Jesus, something remarkable happens. Our old self, characterized by sin and brokenness, is put to death on the cross with Christ.

This is a symbolic representation of the fact that our sins are forgiven and that we are no longer defined by our past mistakes and shortcomings. We are given a fresh start, a new beginning in Christ.

This truth has profound implications for how we live our lives. As believers, we are called to live in the freedom that Christ has secured for us.

We are no longer bound by the power of sin, but we have the power to resist temptation and live according to God’s will.

We can choose righteousness over sin, obedience over rebellion, and love over selfishness.

Through the work of the Holy Spirit, we are being transformed day by day into the image of Christ.

So, as you reflect on Romans 6:6, embrace the truth that your old self has been crucified with Christ. Walk in the freedom and newness of life that He has given you.

May your life be a testimony to the power of God’s grace and the transformation that is possible through faith in Jesus Christ.

Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration, Faith, Forgiveness, Prayer, Trust
Judged!

Judged!

Romans 2:1, a powerful reminder about the danger of passing judgment on others.

“You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.”

The verse states that when we judge others, we are without excuse because we, too, have faults and shortcomings; challenging us to examine our own hearts and actions before we hastily point fingers at others.

It is natural for us to form opinions and make judgments about the behavior and choices of those around us.

However, this verse reminds us that we are not in a position to condemn others because we ourselves are imperfect. It calls us to humility and self-reflection, urging us to consider our own flaws and the grace that we have received from God.

Instead of being quick to criticize or condemn, this verse invites us to extend grace and understanding to others. It reminds us that we are all in need of God’s mercy and forgiveness.

Rather than focusing on the faults of others, shift your gaze inward and seek personal growth and transformation; then you can approach others with empathy and a willingness to extend the same grace that has been shown to you.

Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration, Faith, Love, Prayer
Fake News

Fake News

In Matthew 24:24, Jesus warns us about the presence of false prophets and false messiahs who will arise and deceive many.

 “For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect”

This verse reminds us of the importance of discernment and being rooted in the truth of God’s Word. Jesus wants us to be aware of the potential for deception and to stay vigilant in our faith.

In a world filled with various teachings and ideologies, we can easily be swayed by false messages that promise quick solutions or lead us astray from the truth.

That’s why it is crucial for us to cultivate a deep knowledge of God’s Word and to develop a discerning spirit through prayer and reliance on the Holy Spirit.

Jesus’ warning also highlights the need for us to seek the truth in Him alone. He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).

By knowing Jesus intimately and aligning ourselves with His teachings, we can recognize falsehood and stand firm in our faith.

Anchor yourself in the unchanging truth of God’s Word, so that you can navigate through the currents of deception and remain steadfast in your relationship with Him.

Be vigilant and discerning, seeking the truth in God’s Word and relying on the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Guard your heart against deception and stay rooted in the unchanging truth of Jesus Christ. By doing so, you can avoid being led astray and continue to grow in your faith and relationship with Him.

Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration, Faith, Prayer, Trust
Choose Your Words Carefully

Choose Your Words Carefully

In Matthew 5:22, Jesus teaches us that anger can have serious consequences. This passage tells us that being angry with someone can lead to insulting them, which can then escalate to a more serious problems.

 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.

This is a reminder that we must be careful with our words and actions, and that we should strive to control our emotions and not allow anger to take over.

As believers, we are called to love our neighbors and even our enemies. We should seek to resolve conflicts with grace and kindness rather than allowing anger to fuel our responses.

This is not always an easy task, but with the help of the Holy Spirit, we can learn to respond to situations with love and patience.

We should also remember that anger is not always sinful in itself, but it is how we respond to that anger that can lead to sin.

Jesus’ words in this passage remind us that our words and actions have consequences. We should be mindful of how we interact with others; our words matter!

Ask the Holy Spirit to help you control your emotions and to respond with grace and kindness to those who may anger you.

May your life be a reflection of Christ’s love, and may you seek to bring peace to a world that often seems so full of anger and hostility.

Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration, Discipline, Faith, Forgiveness, Trust
Good Gifts

Good Gifts

In Luke 11:13, Jesus speaks about the goodness of God as a loving Father who desires to give good gifts to His children.

“If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

These words remind us of God’s generous nature and His desire to pour out His Spirit upon those who seek Him.

Jesus compares the earthly love and provision of parents to the infinite love and generosity of our heavenly Father.

As flawed human beings, we still strive to give good things to our children out of love. If we, with our limited understanding and imperfect nature, can do this, how much more can we expect from our perfect and loving God?

He desires to bless us with the greatest gift of all; The Holy Spirit.

This verse encourages us to approach God in prayer, asking Him to fill us with the Holy Spirit. He is the presence and power of God dwelling within us, guiding, comforting, and empowering us in our journey of faith.

Through the Holy Spirit, we receive wisdom, strength, and the assurance of God’s abiding presence.

Seek the Father’s gift of the Holy Spirit and allow Him to work in and through you, transforming your life and enabling you to live for His glory.

Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration, Faith, Prayer
A Single Seed

A Single Seed

In John 12:24, Jesus declares, “Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.”

A powerful reminder that death and new life are inseparably linked in the Christian faith.

Just as a seed must die in order to produce a plant, we too must be willing to let go of our old selves in order to experience new life in Christ.

As Christians, we are called to die to our own desires and put our trust in God. This means surrendering our own will and submitting to God’s plan for our lives.

It may be painful to let go of the things that we cling to, but it is necessary if we want to experience the fullness of life that God has in store for us.

Ultimately, Jesus’ words in John 12:24 remind us that death is not the end. When we die to ourselves, we can experience the new life that God has promised us.

This new life is not just a distant hope for the future, but a reality that we can experience in the here and now.

Be willing to let go of your old self and embrace the new life that God has in store for you today!

Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration, Faith, Holiness, Trust
Acceptance

Acceptance

The Bible verse we’re focusing on today is about accepting those whose faith is weaker than ours; an important reminder for all of us to show love and grace to others, regardless of whether we agree with them or not.

When we encounter people whose beliefs are different from our own, it can be tempting to argue with them and try to convince them to see things our way. But this verse reminds us to take a different approach.

Instead of getting into arguments over disputable matters, we should simply accept those who believe differently than we do.

This doesn’t mean that we should abandon our own beliefs or compromise on our convictions. Rather, it means that we should show respect and understanding to those whose beliefs differ from ours.

We should strive to create an atmosphere of love and acceptance, rather than one of division and disagreement.

At the same time, we should also be careful not to get bogged down in disputes over minor issues that are not central to our faith.

Instead, we should focus on the core principles of the Bible, such as love, forgiveness, and grace. These are the things that truly matter and that can bring us closer to God and to each other.

Romans 14:1 is a powerful reminder to accept those whose faith is weaker than ours and to avoid quarreling over disputable matters. Let us strive to show love and grace to all those we encounter, regardless of our differences.

Through our words and actions, may we build a more compassionate and understanding world.

Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration, Discipline, Faith
Forgiveness – Not Optional

Forgiveness – Not Optional

Have you ever been wronged by someone? Of course you have!

Have you held onto anger and resentment towards them, even when they asked for forgiveness? We have a tendency to hold onto hurt feelings; however as Christians, we are called to a higher standard of forgiveness.

In Matthew 6:14, Jesus tells us that if we forgive others when they sin against us, our heavenly Father will also forgive us.

This is a powerful reminder that forgiveness is not just about letting go of our anger and hurt, but it’s also about receiving forgiveness from God.

When we hold onto bitterness and resentment towards someone who has wronged us, we are only hurting ourselves. We carry around that burden of anger and it can consume us, affecting our relationships with others and with God.

However, when we choose to forgive, we release that burden and allow God’s grace and mercy to flow into our lives.

Forgiveness is not easy, especially when we feel that the person who wronged us doesn’t deserve it. But we must remember that we too are imperfect and in need of forgiveness.

If we want to receive forgiveness from God, we must be willing to extend it to others.

As we reflect on Matthew 6:14, let us ask ourselves, “Who do I need to forgive?” It could be a family member, a friend, a coworker, or even ourselves.

Choose to release the burden of anger and resentment and allow God’s grace and mercy to flow into your lives through the act of forgiveness today!

Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration, Family, Forgiveness
WATCH OUT!

WATCH OUT!

Have you ever found yourself striving for more and more possessions, thinking that they will bring you happiness and fulfillment? I know I have.

However, this verse from Luke 12:15 reminds us to be on guard against greed and the belief that life consists of an abundance of possessions.

It’s easy to get caught up in the pursuit of material possessions, especially in our culture where success is often measured by what we own.

The reality is that no matter how much we accumulate, it will never be enough. There will always be something else that we think we need in order to be happy.

Instead of chasing after material wealth and “things”, let’s focus on what truly matters. Let’s cultivate relationships with our loved ones, invest in our spiritual growth, and seek to make a positive impact in the world around us. These are the things that will truly bring us joy and fulfillment.

Furthermore, when we prioritize our relationships and spiritual growth, we begin to see that we already have everything we need. We realize that true wealth lies not in what we own, but in the love and connection we share with others, and the peace that comes from a deep sense of purpose and belonging.

So today, let’s heed the warning in Luke 12:15 and be on our guard against the seduction of material possessions. Instead, let us focus on the things that really matter, and find joy in the richness of the relationships and experiences that make life worth living.

Posted by onthesolidrock
Do the Right Thing!

Do the Right Thing!

While reading the book of James, you will come across a verse that may really jump out at you! James 4:17 says, “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.”

This verse really got me thinking about my own life and the times when I knew what the right thing to do was, but didn’t do it.

I think this verse is a reminder that our faith is not just about believing in God, but it’s also about living out our beliefs in our daily lives.

We have to be willing to take action and do what we know is right, even if it’s not the easy thing to do.

This can be challenging, but it’s important to remember that our actions are a direct reflection of our faith.

It’s also important to recognize that not doing the good we ought to do is considered sin. This means that when we choose to ignore the needs of others or turn a blind eye to injustice, we are actively sinning against God.

It’s a heavy responsibility, but also a powerful reminder that our actions have real consequences, both for ourselves and for others.

Let’s strive to live a life of action, always seeking to do the good we know we ought to do.

Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration, Discipline, Faith
Good Works

Good Works

James 2:17 is a powerful reminder that our faith must be accompanied by action. It’s not enough to simply believe in God; our faith must also be demonstrated through our words and deeds.

As followers of Christ, we are called to live out our faith in tangible ways that bring glory to God and serve others.

One way we can put our faith into action is by serving those in need. Jesus Himself taught us to love our neighbors as ourselves and to care for the least among us. This includes feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and visiting the sick and imprisoned.

When we serve others in this way, we demonstrate the love of Christ and bring hope and healing to those who are hurting.

Another way we can put our faith into action is by sharing the Gospel with those around us. This involves not only telling people about Jesus but also living out our faith in front of them.

When we model the love, grace, and forgiveness of Christ, others are drawn to Him and may come to faith as a result.

We must be intentional about sharing the good news of the Gospel with those around us, both through our words and our actions.

James challenges us to put our faith into action. We must not only believe in God but also demonstrate our faith through our words and deeds. This involves serving those in need, sharing the Gospel with others, and living out our faith in front of those around us.

May you be inspired to live out your faith in tangible ways that bring glory to God and bless those around you.

Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration
A Spiritual Famine

A Spiritual Famine

As we read Amos 8:11, we are reminded that there will come a time when people will experience a spiritual famine, where they will not be able to hear the words of the Lord. This is a reminder that we should cherish the opportunity we have to hear and study His word while we have it. We should be diligent in our efforts to learn from it, and to share it with others.

One way we can avoid this spiritual famine is by seeking God’s word in our daily lives. As we study the Bible and spend time in prayer, we will become more attuned to His voice and better equipped to recognize His guidance in our lives.

Finally, we should recognize that this spiritual famine is not something that we can overcome on our own. It is only through the power of the Holy Spirit that we can truly understand and apply the word of God to our lives. Let us pray for His guidance and direction as we seek to grow in our faith and share it with others.

Amos 8:11 reminds us of the importance of hearing and studying the word of God. Let us seek His guidance and direction in our daily lives, and be diligent in our efforts to share His message with others.

Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can avoid the spiritual famine that is to come and live lives that honor and glorify Him.

Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration, Trust
Appearances are Deceiving

Appearances are Deceiving

As we reflect on the wisdom of 1 Samuel 16:7, we are reminded that God’s perspective is different from ours. Often, we may judge others based on their external appearance or achievements, but God looks at their hearts. As we seek to live a life pleasing to Him, we should strive to cultivate a heart that honors Him and loves others.

One way to cultivate a heart that honors God is through prayer and meditation on His word. As we spend time in prayer and study, we are transformed from the inside out. Our thoughts and attitudes begin to align with His will, and we become more loving, patient, and kind. Through this transformation, we begin to see others as He sees them, with love and compassion.

Finally, we should strive to live a life of humility and service. As we focus on serving others, we put their needs before our own and reflect the love of Christ.

This kind of life is pleasing to God and demonstrates the heart of a true disciple. Let us strive to cultivate a heart that honors God and reflects His love to those around us.

God looks at the heart, not outward appearances. To cultivate a heart that honors Him, we should spend time in prayer and meditation on His word, strive to live a life of humility and service, and see others through the lens of His love and compassion.

Posted by onthesolidrock
Humble Savior

Humble Savior

As we read in Zechariah 9:9, we see a prophecy that was given long before it was fulfilled. This prophecy speaks of a King who would come to the people riding on a donkey. This King would be righteous and victorious, but He would also be humble and lowly. When we think about this prophecy, we realize that it speaks to the character of our God; Namely Jesus.

God is a God who keeps His promises, and He is faithful to fulfill His word. This prophecy reminds us that God is in control of history and that He has a plan for our lives. Just as He fulfilled this prophecy, He will fulfill all of his promises to us as well.

Furthermore, this prophecy also shows us the character of the King who was to come. He was righteous, victorious, humble, and lowly. This King is Jesus Christ, who came to earth to save us from our sins. Jesus is the perfect example of what it means to be a true King. He is not a King who is interested in power and prestige, but he is a King who is interested in serving His people; proving it by giving His life for them.

As we reflect on the prophecy given in Zechariah 9:9, we are reminded of God’s faithfulness, His control over history, and the character of Jesus Christ. Let us rejoice greatly and shout with joy, just as the daughter of Zion and the daughter of Jerusalem did, because our King has come to us and He has saved us from our sins.

Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration, Faith, Trust
Acknowledgement

Acknowledgement

As a follower of Jesus Christ, it is important to not be ashamed of our faith and to boldly proclaim it to others. In Matthew 10:32, Jesus says that if we acknowledge Him before others, He will acknowledge us before His Father in heaven. This means that if we confess Jesus as Lord and Savior in front of others, He will confess us before God.

We can acknowledge Jesus before others by sharing our testimony and the good news of the gospel. It can be scary to share our faith, especially if we fear rejection or ridicule. But Jesus promises to be with us and give us the words to speak when we are faced with opposition (Matthew 10:19-20).

When we acknowledge Jesus before others, we also demonstrate our love and loyalty to Him. It shows that we value our relationship with Him above all else, and that we are willing to endure any persecution or hardship for His sake. May we always have the courage and conviction to acknowledge Jesus before others, knowing that He is faithful to acknowledge us before His Father in heaven.

Posted by onthesolidrock
RACE – ism

RACE – ism

I am perplexed by the recent “woke-ness” inside the church; as if all of a sudden the church realizes that racial inequality, unfairness, and privilege, is something new and appalling.

I notice many church leaders jumping wholeheartedly into the narrative being portrayed by an ungodly media (pick your poison, right or left) whose very lifeblood is derived from hate, anger and animosity.

Many folks who have addressed, and consistently address, the ongoing issues of racism, are being made to feel guilt, shame, and embarrassment for not doing enough.

As Christian leaders, we are supposed to believe the Gospel message; and should have been “born again” of the Spirit long ago, and awakened to the injustice of racism early. One of the first issues a Christian leader MUST come to terms with, is the issue of race-ism.

The Bible is very clear:

James 2:8-9

“If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.”

Leviticus 19:33-34

“When a stranger resides with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt; I am the Lord your God.”

Colossians 3:9-11

 “Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him— a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.”

The Scriptures mentioned here are only but a few of many that show there is ONE Body in Christ, and there are NO RACIAL distinctions whatsoever.

Please, allow me to share my own journey as I negotiated the issue of racism in a small, white community, in rural America.

I did not encounter any racism being expressed in my home, as a matter of fact, I recall my father telling of a black man he had met while working for a paving company in the area; they were good friends, and he always spoke kindly of him; often highlighting the grief his friend faced at the hands of other men.

It was in school, when the issue of racism began to present its ugly head. Our “white” community had only one black family, and the kids were mercilessly mocked and ridiculed in school.

On more than one occasion I would see a young black child weeping in a corner after being verbally and physically abused by a group of bullies.

I began to understand that racism is taught to children and usually it is taught in the home.

Nearly 20 years after high school, through an amazing set of circumstances, my wife and I came to faith in Christ, and in 1995, I was appointed as pastor, and I would serve two small churches, one in my hometown, and another church in a smaller community 16 miles away.

The little church in my hometown, had a beautiful white piano, with a name inscribed on a brass tag; “In Loving Memory – James Carter” I always wondered who he was.

It was not long after my pastoral ministry began, that I noticed the racial slurs some of the people in my churches were using; I did not like it, and I knew God wanted me to address it; I was at a loss to know how.

One day, the matriarch of the only black family in our town came to church; she was a stunningly beautiful woman, she wore a white dress, her hair meticulously styled, and as she walked in, all eyes were on her.

I knew her name was Lois; I had gone to school with her son; we were in the same class. I introduced myself after church and told her I was so glad she came. As we talked, she told me that she used to attend this church, but had not been there for a few years and wanted to “check it out” as some of her grandchildren attended Sunday school here.

Later on, she would share with me that her husband had tragically died some years ago, and that the white piano in the front of the church, was donated in his name; I was stunned!

I began to spend more and more time getting to know Lois, we would talk on and on after church and at various church functions where she would attend. I began to learn the depths of her pain; having raised her family in a very racist community. I will share the depths of those racist roots in a few moments.

I can remember asking her how she would like to be addressed; as in African American, or a black woman. She responded to me that she was not born in Africa, nor were her parents born there, so she is not African.

She also said that just like there are different colors of white people, there are different colors of black people too. She told me that she just prefers to be called a woman of color.

I felt it was time to address the issue of racism in our church and I asked Lois if she would help me. I told her that it would require a great deal of courage on her part, but I felt God was leading us to do it; so with great trepidation, she said yes.

On the following Sunday morning, as our church gathered, I had taken one of the extra large pulpit chairs and placed it in the front center of the church, right near the altar. After a few songs were sung, I stepped up to the pulpit and began to address the issue of racism.

I shared how prevalent it was in our community; but I was more concerned how widespread it was inside our own church, and that it was time dealt with it. You could feel the tension; it was palpable!

After a few passages of Scripture, like the ones shared earlier in this article, I asked Lois if she would please come and sit in the chair. She took a deep breath and came forward and sat down.

I began to address the congregation of about 60 or so and I asked a few pointed questions:

  • Did you ever listen to, and then laugh at, a racially charged story or joke?

 

  • When you were at the grocery store and needed something in aisle 3, but noticed Lois was there, did you avoid her and go over to aisle 4 instead, so as not to be seen socializing with her in public?

 

These questions, along with a few others, caused great conviction upon the congregation; tears began to fall. I told the folks that they now had an opportunity to make it right, a time to ask forgiveness, a time to heal.

One by one, with tears and sobbing, as our pianist played the piano dedicated to the memory of her husband, people came forward, asking Lois for forgiveness; it was one of the most powerful moments I have ever been involved in.

Later the next year, my mother, passed away. Mom was my confidant, I could go to her with any problem; she never judged me, always hoped for me, and loved me unconditionally! Her passing affected me deeply, and I missed her so much.

I recall about a year after my mom passed away, I was sitting with Lois having early morning coffee with her at her home. She had invited me to come have coffee with her in the mornings, and we would talk and pray together.

As I sat there, I looked over at Lois and began to share with her how much I missed my mom. I told her some of the fond stories I remembered, and how much my mom had impacted my life.

I was overcome with emotion and I looked at Lois and I asked her: “Lois, I need a mom in my life, someone who will listen to me without judging, who loves me without conditions . . . Lois, would you be my mom?”

Big tears began to roll down her beautiful face and she reached across the table and grabbed my hands, and she said; “I would love to be your mom”, and then she said; “but oh I love my children!”

In 2000, our little church bought an old school building and we moved into it. Lois came along too, and so did some of her children and grandchildren. I wanted our church to be a safe place for her and for anyone else who felt disenfranchised by this cruel world.

As we began ministry in the old school; I came across some old newspaper articles and I read the story of the dedication of the old school in 1924.

It seems that the school did not have the money to purchase an American flag and the area Ku Klux Klan stepped in and offered to buy the flag, and the school accepted the offer!

Once again, we took the initiative to renounce that offer and we pushed back the racial hatred foisted on a community nearly 100 years ago!

Several years later, we had a Navajo Evangelist by the name of TH Lee, come to our church for a week of meetings. As I prayed for these meetings I was reminded how in the late 1700’s a party of white men, came to an Indian Village near Sinnemahoning, a town in our county, and there killed a small village of Native American Indians.

As we were getting ready to kick off a week of meetings Sunday morning with our Native American friend; God spoke loudly to me. It was ten minutes before the service began and God said: “Get a shovel and go out to the front yard of the church and bring in a section of sod.”

So, I ran quickly to the tool room, grabbed a shovel, and in my suit I ran out to the front yard and began to dig; I carefully cut out a rectangular piece of sod. Directly across the yard is a large Catholic church with dozens of people looking curiously at me, digging in the front yard in my suit on Sunday morning!

I took the sod inside and placed it on a silver plated platter. As I got ready to introduce the guest Navajo speaker, I shared with the congregation about the way our county got started; by the killing of American Indians!

With tears streaming, I gave the “land” back to our Native American friend, and I asked him to forgive us, and to bless our land! With tears streaming down his face, he forgave us, and blessed our land!

Over the course of ministry in that small, mostly white community, I did not tolerate racism coming from anyone in the church.

If I heard racially charged language I would shut it down, and if it persisted, I would ask the person(s) to leave. Remember, you get what you tolerate, and there are some things worth going to the wall over, and this is one of them!

So when I hear pastors and leaders today, jumping on the band-wagon so to speak; saying all the right things, denouncing racism, as they should, the inequality facing minority people of any color, class or creed, I applaud; but I also say; what took you so long!

You are NEVER going to change the sinful nature of broken humanity, apart from the Power and Presence of God Himself. Oh, it would be wonderful if we could cause sinful man to act godly, if we could jump in with the worldly and turn their hearts, convincing them to be nice and kind to one another.

Your flavor of politics is NOT going to help; throwing your money and voice behind anarchistic ventures won’t help . . . so what will?

You are supposed to be salt and light to a broken dying world.

Matthew 5:13-16

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

Repent, YOU repent!

Please don’t waste your time telling others to do it if you won’t! It will ONLY start if you start! Once you deal with YOU, then you can become part of the solution to the problem; otherwise YOU are the problem.

Matthew 7:3-5

Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?  Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

I could tell stories of churches where racism is no longer tolerated; where diversity abounds and the differences in race and color are beautiful to behold.

Racism is the topic of the day right now; next month perhaps it will be climate change, or perhaps back to the virus, or the perils of capitalism, or socialism, or whatever “ism” that suits the insatiable desire of sinful humanity to garner support, money, and perhaps a little fame.

As Christians we would be wise to remain steadfast in our convictions, resisting the knee-jerk reaction the world so fervently desires from us. God’s Word remains true; He remains faithful, and we must hold fast to Him.

Your faith in Jesus is about to be tested in ways you never imagined, and the temptation to buy into the worlds wisdom will be very strong; resist it!

Remember this one thing: “Either the church will disciple the world, or the world will disciple the church”

Take a few minutes today and carefully read John 15 again and let Jesus own words strengthen you.

An old familiar hymn comes to mind for times such as these . . .

 

In Times Like These

In times like these you need a Savior,

In times like these you need an anchor;

Be very sure, be very sure,

Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

This Rock is Jesus, Yes He’s the One,

This Rock is Jesus, the only One;

Be very sure, be very sure,

Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

In times like these you need the Bible,

In times like these, O be not idle;

Be very sure, be very sure,

Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

This Rock is Jesus, Yes He’s the One,

This Rock is Jesus, the only One;

Be very sure, be very sure,

Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

In times like these I have a Savior,

In times like these I have an anchor;

I’m very sure, I’m very sure

My anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

This Rock is Jesus, Yes He’s the One,

This Rock is Jesus, the only One;

Be very sure, be very sure,

Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted by onthesolidrock in Faith, Holiness, Humility, Prayer, 0 comments
Do You Love Me?

Do You Love Me?

Without a doubt, God has shown His love to us repeatedly! We can never wear out the Scripture in John 3:16; “For God so Loved. . .”

And what about these. . .

Ephesians 5:1-2

“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

Colossians 3:12  

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”

1 Thessalonians 1:4     

“For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you. . .”

1John 4:10

“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

Through these Scriptures, and hundreds more like them, it becomes obvious; God loves us! Indeed, the whole of the Bible is a Book of love, an expression of God’s love towards us!

The question is not; “Does God love us,” but rather; “Do we love Him?”

I want to take you on a journey with a man called Peter, along with a couple of other men, James and John, commonly referred to as disciples, or the “inner three.”

These men walked with Jesus; actually walked with Him in the flesh, they shared meals together, and spent dozens of nights around the campfire talking with Jesus. If anyone knew the heart of Jesus, these men did, if anyone could love and obey His teaching, these men would.

The Disciples were very much like us. By that I mean, they were not stunning models of obedience and passion, but were quite human, and showed signs of their ‘humanness” all along the journey.

They were fishermen, physically strong, hard working, simple, yet very determined men. These men responded to the invitation from Jesus; “Follow Me.” It was at that point, that these men had an encounter with Jesus, and made a decision to follow Him; just like you did.

These men had many of the same struggles that you have.

Peter, James and John, were closest to Jesus, these men saw Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration, they were there when Jesus raised dead girl, and they were there when Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane.

If anyone could get their walk right with Jesus, it would be these guys. Yet these men struggled understanding God’s will, and had trouble obeying Jesus, here are a few examples;

James and John wanted to call down lightening to destroy some people who did not welcome Jesus. Luke 9:53-55

“. . . but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” But Jesus turned and rebuked them.”

James and John apparently got their mother to ask Jesus if they could sit at either side of Him in heaven . . . rather arrogant don’t you think? Matthew 20:20-22

“Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him.

  “What is it you want?” he asked.

 She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.”

 “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?”

 “We can,” they answered.”

While standing on the mount of transfiguration, at one of the holiest, and most reverent times in the Bible, as Jesus stands there with Elijah and Moses, Peter blurts out; “It is good that we are here, I will build a shelter for each of you.” What was he thinking!     Matthew 17:1-4

“After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.

 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

At one of the most critical times in Jesus’ life, while He is about to be arrested, Peter pulls out a knife, and slices a man’s ear off! John 18:10

Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)

 In the Garden of Gethsemane James, John, and Peter fell asleep! Matthew 26:40-42

 “Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”

 Peter swore that he would die with Christ if need be, but in the end denied knowing Jesus three times! Matthew 26:69-75

Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said.

 But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.

 Then he went out to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.”

 He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!”

 After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.”

 Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!”

 Immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.

As we can see by these examples, the disciples were anything, but stellar, and most of us are not either.

An interesting meeting took place after the resurrection of Jesus; found in John 21:1-19

 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias. It happened this way: Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

  He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”

      “No,” they answered.

  He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.[b] When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

  Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.”

 Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?”

      “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”

      Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?”

      He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

      Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

  The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

      Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

     Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.  I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

In this remarkable story, Jesus reaffirmed His love for Peter by His actions. He could have criticized Peter, ridiculed him, and said; “I told you so!”

Sitting by that fire, Peter experienced what I call blazing, majestic, overwhelming, relentless love, coming from the risen Christ!

The issue that Jesus was trying to bring to Peter’s attention was not that He (Jesus) loved Peter; that was now very evident. The question was; Peter, do you love Me?

Today, Jesus gently lifts your gaze, to meet Him, and asks you; “Do you love Me, more than these.”

What is your response?

Posted by onthesolidrock in Compassion, Discipline, Faith, Holiness, Humility, Love, 0 comments
Count the Cost

Count the Cost

Jesus calls everyone who would follow Him, to count the cost; it is quite high. While the gift of salvation is free to receive, the cost of following is steep! One must consider the ramifications of following the Lord before jumping in.

Jesus said that those who choose to follow Him must deny themselves; this means putting others ahead of you, it means a life of service given to those who may or may not like you, much less, love you!

Jesus even went so far as to say that you must pick up your cross and follow Him.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?”    Matthew 16:24-26

A cross was the very instrument used to kill Jesus. The cross was the first century equivalent of the electric chair, only much, much crueler.

When they led Jesus away for crucifixion, the Bible says, He carried His own cross; and since He did, so must you!

Following Jesus will cause you to lay down your life; it is a willing decision on your part to place your life, your will, your preferences, and all your hopes and dreams, into His hands, trusting Him with the outcome, whatever it may be!

It is a requirement of following Him; for some it might mean laying down your wealth. For others it might mean that your reputation is, put on the line; yet for others it might mean serving somewhere obscure with little or no recognition; and yet for others, it may require your very life; the decision is His to make, and it is your cross to carry!

What is your Cross . . . everyone who follows Jesus, gets one!

If you don’t have one, then there is a pretty good chance, you don’t belong to Him!

Posted by onthesolidrock in Discipline, Faith, Holiness, Humility, Trust, 0 comments
Are You Listening To ME?

Are You Listening To ME?

There is nothing quite as annoying as sharing a life-experience story; you are verbally setting up the ending, the punch line, the grand finale, hopeful to relish in the reaction from the group, only to have a zealous over-talker jump in before you even finish your thought!

 

Has this ever happened to you? How did that make you feel? If you are like me, it totally turned you off; it invalidated your spoken engagement with the group. Your story just got cut off and you had the same feeling you get when you are in traffic, and some rude driver cuts you off.

 

I have to admit, I used to be one of those rude conversation usurpers! To be honest, I still need to guard my tongue, or I easily revert to those verbal assault tactics.

 

God had to do a great deal of work in me in order for me to see this glaring fault in myself; others saw it, but were kind enough to put up with it, allowing me to interrupt, cutting front of other oral traffic.

 

I have often pondered why I felt the need to “jump in” to a conversation before letting the person finish. God revealed the answer; I was full of myself and wanted to be important, I was self-absorbed! Ouch!

 

Once God began to reveal to me how disrupting this was, I found that my listening skills began to improve, and I began to notice how often this “verbal road rage” was taking place.

 

To illustrate this phenomenon, consider a small group of men chatting about their hunting exploits. Invariably, one man will begin sharing his best hunting story, the other men are already thinking of their own legend, one that will outdo the current narrative. 

 

Just like the driver who is rushing home after work is looking for that minuscule opening to dart in front, so does the verbal jouster look for his opening, a breath, a pause in a sentence; then wham, they jump in and full throttle ahead!

 

When this takes place, it reveals the selfishness of that person and the inherent need of an ego boost. It is rare that someone actually learns how to listen more than talk.

 

The one, who can master their tongue, will gain the confidence and respect they never could have, by jumping in, and jumping on, other conversations.

 

The Bible says . . . “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak …” (James 1:19)

 

Now those are words to live by. Someone once said; “God gave us two ears and one mouth, so we ought to listen twice as much as we talk.”

 

Are you listening?

 

 

 

 

Posted by onthesolidrock in Faith, Family, Humility, Trust, 0 comments
Crying in a Bucket – A Lesson in Humility

Crying in a Bucket – A Lesson in Humility

The year was 2000 and our church had just undertaken an amazing act of faith; we purchased an old school building. Built in 1924, it served as the High School in our community for many years. Later, it became a middle school; in the year 2000, the school placed it for sale, and by God’s provision; we bought it!

 

We began to renovate the building, a little at a time, but the task was daunting. As we went about the work of renovating the building, we also went about the work of renovating the hearts of people as well.

 

We developed a food ministry, and outreach center, along with a variety of ministries aimed at helping g the poor and disenfranchised.

 

Over the course of the next few years, we met dozens of wonderful people; many of whom came to a saving knowledge of Jesus. The folks we encountered were interesting, to say the least!

 

One of the folks I was privileged to know, was a gentleman named Brad. He was a tall, lanky man, about 65 years old at the time. He would frequent our center, stopping in several times each week.

 

Brad was a pleasant man; witty with a wry sense of humor. He was a chain smoker, and chose to live outside, under a bridge during the summer months. He would stop in my office and chat endlessly about everything!

 

I had a large comfortable, cloth chair, in my office that Brad’s thin, gangly frame would disappear into as he chatted. The chair would retain the “essence” of Brad, long after he left. It was during this time that I learned of the blessing of Febreeze air freshener spray!

 

As time progressed, I found myself cutting short some of my visits with Brad; not wanting my office overly saturated with the scent of stale cigarettes and campfire smoke.

 

Sometimes I would see him sauntering down the hall toward my office and I would quickly meet him in the hall; feigning some work project, I needed to get to!

 

One day, the phone rang in my office and it was one of the wealthiest people in our community. He previously owned a large manufacturing center in our area and was a multi-millionaire! The conversation went something like this . . .

 

“Hi Rock, this is **** and I would love to come and talk to you about your building, I have some great ideas that may interest you and your church, can I stop down next Tuesday morning and see you?” I was stunned and said, “I would love to meet.”

 

Over the weekend, my head was spinning. One of the wealthiest men in our community was coming to see me; I wondered what he wanted. I wondered if he would want to help us renovate; with one stroke of the pen, he could cover the entire cost of the project, with room to spare!

 

Monday came, and I looked at my office and realized how dirty it was. I figured I had better give it a good cleaning, since I was going have a very important meeting the next morning; a meeting that could alter the direction of our church renovation project immensely!

 

I got a bucket of warm soapy water, a scrub brush and a couple of rags. I got on my knees to wipe the dust off the baseboard. As I was scrubbing, I got the sensation the Lord was nearby.

 

I continued to scrub and I felt the Lord ask me a simple question; “Rock, what are you doing?” With a little excitement, I began to share that a very important man was stopping by the next day; perhaps he would help finance our project!

 

There was a moment of silence; I was waiting for some indication that God was listening; perhaps He would help persuade this wealthy man. As I waited for His response, I felt Him ask another question; it was a simple one, and it changed my life.

 

He asked; “So Rock, how is it that you would clean your office for this very wealthy man, but you never even swept it for Brad?” I was undone, busted if you will! Still on my knees, scrub brush in my hand, tears began to splash in the bucket.

 

I stopped cleaning, emptied my bucket, and spent most of the day repenting of my foolishness, reminded of the passage of scripture in Matthew . . .

 

 Matthew 25:34-40

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

 

God helped me to see that my motives were askew; revealing that I was more interested in financial support, than I was for the soul of kind old man.

 

A couple of years later, Brad moved from our area; he stopped to see me before he left. He brought me two antique oil lamps; a gift thanking me for spending time with him. Those lamps meant more to me than anything the other man could have ever done.

 

Oh, by the way, I did meet with the wealthy man; we had a pleasant, albeit short meeting. He wanted to turn our center into a museum . . . go figure!

 

God is great; I love Him so much! The lessons He teaches last a lifetime!

Posted by onthesolidrock in Discipline, Faith, Humility, Ministries, Trust, 0 comments
Passing Judgement

Passing Judgement

On weekends, I love to preach the Gospel whenever and wherever I can. During the week however, I drive a big-rig; racking up about 2000 miles weekly.

 

I have lots of time to think and pray as I drive along. Occasionally the Lord tests my patience and internal motives while driving, and He does it in the most creative way.

 

Recently while driving along a very twisty road, an old beat up Ford Explorer pulled out in front of me then went really, really slow!

 

 I saw that the back bumper of his Ford was barely hanging on, and the left taillight was broken too. As I moved closer to him, he put on his right turn signal; I braked sharply, thinking he was going to turn.

 

As I backed off, he turned his right signal off. I quickly realized that he had no brake lights and was using the turn signal instead. It seemed as though he was turning the right turn signal on every time he slowed down.

 

As this behavior continued for the next few miles, I found myself becoming indignant about this driver. I thought how foolish it was to drive like this and how dangerous; it was an accident waiting to happen!

 

After about 4 miles of this driving this way, and judging this man’s actions, I looked down at my dashboard to do a quick check on my speed and gauges. I noticed that my right turn signal was blinking; probably since my last turn, nearly 6 miles ago!

 

It dawned on me that the man was trying to send ME a signal that I left my right turn signal was still flashing! I felt like a real dummy! Here I was, judging the man ; all the while, he was only trying to help me!

 

As I continued to drive along, I wondered how many times I misjudged someone based on appearances, preferences, or some other external influence; I cannot count how many times I have done that!

 

I am reminded of an Old Testament Scripture let me share it with you.

 

1 Samuel 16:7 (NASB)

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (Italics mine)

 

That verse reminds me to stop judging by outward appearances; the results of which produce faulty thinking; God does not do it, so why should I?

 

Lesson learned!

 

Posted by onthesolidrock in Discipline, Faith, Humor, 0 comments
Holier than Thou

Holier than Thou

Early in my pastoral career, I felt I had a corner on what it meant to be a Christian. My views were set, or so I thought! As an evangelical Christian, I always found it difficult to listen to opposing views; perhaps more accurately, different views, and I would do my best, to keep “my people” away from those who saw Christianity through a different lens than mine.

 

Annually, in our small rural community, through the season of Lent, area churches would come together in a show of Christian unity and share pulpits.

 

We would invite guest speakers from the local ministerial association to speak in our home churches each week, as the Lenten season progressed.

 

It was great; a Baptist preacher would share the message at the Catholic Church one week, then a Pentecostal preacher would share a message in the Baptist church the next week. The Christian community traveled to different churches, meeting new friends and sharing times of fellowship following the services.

 

Some of the more evangelical pastors were skeptical of having a “non-evangelical” pastor preach in their church, so they would quietly ask evangelical pastors if they would speak in their church the week the community came to their place of worship. I was one of those pastors.

 

On one particular week of the Lenten services, a “non-evangelical” pastor, known for occasionally shooting down claims made by the more evangelical pastors, would soon preach at one of the churches.

 

As the week for him to speak approached, I purposefully “forgot” to announce the location of that week’s Lenten meeting; secretly hoping many of my people would “forget” too.

 

The night of the Lenten service arrived, and I felt obligated to go to the service. I went prepared for a message that would be high and lofty, with very little, if any mention of Jesus Name; I was not disappointed.

 

I found myself analyzing every word; glad in my heart that few of “my” people attended!

 

Following his message, a fellowship gathering in an adjacent room, separated by a narrow hallway was getting underway. As people began to make their way to the fellowship gathering, I decided I would join them for a moment and headed in that direction.

 

As I moved into the narrowing hallway, and kindly old woman, with a crown of white hair, came toward me, gently grabbing my arms, pulling me in. She looked at me, her eyes looking larger than life, through glasses with thick lens, fogged up as tears streamed down her cheeks.

 

As she drew me in, she said to me; “Pastor Rock, was that not the most moving message you ever heard?”

 

I was speechless; I mean . . . I had nothing, not a word! The best I could do was gently form a smile; she smiled too, then released her grip and ambled down the hallway.

 

I stood motionless for a moment, stunned by her words, and I distinctly heard the voice of God; “Rock, you missed it; you missed Me, I was there, where were you?”

 

I focused entirely on my own narrow view and my own self-righteousness; so much so, that I never noticed God’s Holy Spirit moving in that place. I Left quietly and went out to my car and sat there sobbing, sorry for my ignorance and pride.

 

God taught me, one of the most valuable lessons I ever learned, and that is He has far more grace than I ever will have.

 

He taught me that I do not have a corner on Christianity; others have a place at the table too. I have heard it said; “someone does not have to be wrong, for me to be right.”

 

A Scripture in the Gospel of Mark reveals an important truth . . .

 

Mark 9:38-41

 “Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.”

“Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, for whoever is not against us is for us. Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.

 

I think the point Jesus was making to John was a simple one; just because they do not belong to your group, does not mean they do not belong to Me.

 

I have seen Jesus work miracles in ways I never dreamed of and He uses people that I never would! His grace is indeed great, and I for one am very glad; He even has space for someone like me!

 

Posted by onthesolidrock in Faith, Holiness, Humility, Ministries, 0 comments
If you can’t say it with Love . . .

If you can’t say it with Love . . .

Sherri and I have spent over 25 years in Christian ministry, serving three small churches. I served over 21 years as senior pastor of a small church in our hometown of Emporium; served 6 years as president of the Cameron County Ministerial Association; 6 years as district leader in the Bradford ministry area and had been a part of many boards and committees as well.

 

Sherri and I often like to quote the Farmer’s Insurance moniker; “We know a thing or two, because we’ve seen a thing or two.”

 

A pastor’s job is pretty diverse and covers a broad range of duties that include things like weddings, funerals, graduation ceremonies, Sunday sermons, personal counseling and much, much more.

 

One of the biggest challenges a pastor encounters is trying to get the church-going folks, who call the local church their own, to participate in the outreach, upkeep and financial support needed to keep the church alive and thriving.

 

Many folks have a misinformed idea that somehow the church just exists and gets it resources from outside the local gathering; that the denomination must provide all the financial needs. For our local church, and all the churches I know of, that is simply not the case.

 

ALL the resources of time, talent, and finances, always come from the local congregation. So when it comes to keeping the building and grounds nice and well kept, it is up to the folks to get that done.

 

If the utility bills get paid, and the local pastor is to get a paycheck, the congregation needs to financially support the church in order for that to happen.

 

When the church folks are unable, or unwilling, to provide these resources, the church begins to struggle. For many churches, when this happens, the pastor’s paycheck is the first thing to go.

 

This leads to the pastor having to take an outside job to provide for their own family; which in turn causes the pastor to be less available for the spiritual needs of the church; which may cause grumbling inside the church body.

 

So the local pastor has to try and balance his or her life in such a manner as to be effective both inside and outside of the church; leading both the church and his family. When this balance gets out of whack . . . stress sets in!

 

During one of those stressful seasons inside our church, I allowed circumstances to overpower my reasoning and I lashed out . . . here’s how it went down from my point of view.

 

As many small churches do, we were struggling to maintain our facility. Having acquired a rather large structure; the cost of operations were beginning to eclipse our ability to financially cover them. I voluntarily ceased receiving a paycheck from the church and did small jobs on the side to make ends meet; too often the ends did not meet and I grew frustrated.

 

The responsibility for the upkeep of the building did not subside, but rather increased, so we needed to call out the church folks to help with these ongoing efforts.

 

However the volunteer turnouts were always very small and those who could actually do the kind of work we needed done, would rarely come out. Finances dropped even further and a sense of defeat and frustration began to well up inside me!

 

One of the blessings of being a pastor is that you know a great deal about all of the families inside your church; and sometimes that blessing can become a curse!

 

I noticed that many of the folks, who had the means to help, would not, while those who had meager means were giving all; and I grew even more frustrated.

 

I spent much time in prayer and seeking the Lord over how to address this issue without coming across as attacking any person or persons specifically; which is one of those “cardinal” sins a pastor should never commit!

 

So with God’s help, I crafted a stinging message that I would deliver, which I felt would address the problem.You can read that message HERE if you like.

 

Sunday came and I delivered the message with passion and zeal; you could say, as some did, it was a “Fire and Brimstone” sort of message! There were 14 visitors in the church that Sunday and I recall many of them were so encouraged and challenged.

 

One couple who lived nearly a 100 miles away from us who were visiting family that week; began supporting the church financially; giving over a third of our budget that year!

 

So, the message went very well, some of the regular folks went out that day with great conviction; so the mission was accomplished.

 

However . . . I could not leave well enough alone!

 

It was during the summer; that’s why the large group of visitors that day;  however, there were many of our regular folks, who were out that Sunday, many of whom I perceived “needed” to hear this message; so I decided I would preach the same message the following Sunday  for those who missed it!

 

I would give another blistering delivery; making sure they got the point!

 

Sunday came; and again, a number of the very people I had hoped to have in attendance were gone again; but I went ahead and delivered the message. There seemed to be a rather striking difference however; the power and presence of God was void; the message came out OK; same as before . . . the same Scripture, the same illustrations; but the Spirit of God was gone.

 

The faces of those in attendance went from conviction to guilt; the results of that second message were that a handful of people would leave the church and never return. In retrospect; I don’t blame them at all; I likely would have left too!

 

As I reflected on the situation later that week; I asked God; “It was the same message, same Scripture; what went wrong?” And that is when God said; “Rock, if you can’t say is out of love; even if you’re right, you’re wrong.”

 

A seasoned Free Methodist Pastor; Rev Bob Brest of the Bradford First Free Methodist Church, used to tell us in regards to being a shepherd; “You can sheer sheep really close many times, but you can only skin a sheep once.”

 

I skinned a few sheep that day and they may never recover, and for that, I will be held accountable.

 

In the following weeks, I would stand before the congregation several times, publicly apologizing for stepping out of bounds . . . lesson learned! I hope by sharing these lessons of humility, you may avoid some of the pitfalls that I fell into.

 

The most painful lessons we learn in life, are the ones we learn at the expense of others.

 

So, if you can’t say it out of love . . . don’t say it!

Posted by onthesolidrock in Humility, 0 comments