In III John 2, John prays for his friend to prosper.  Specifically, he prays that he would prosper physically “just as your soul prospers.”  If John prayed this for us would it be a blessing or a curse?

In Gaius’ case the blessing would be great.  John knows his friend is prospering spiritually.  Should John’s prayer be granted, it seems that Gaius would be a very rich man.  After all, he walked in the truth and the truth abode in him.

Does the truth abide in us?  Do we walk in the truth?  Do our souls prosper?  How would our checking accounts change if John’s prayer were answered on our behalf?  Would we rival Bill Gates or Warren Buffett?  Or would we be begging for change while all our checks bounced?

 

April 1^st is probably the only day of the year we look at the internet with skepticism.  We’re pretty sure everything we see is a clever prank or joke to trick us.  Chris announces his new position with the Dodgers, actors give away huge spoilers for their show’s upcoming season, and all kinds of good-humored pranks just to have some fun.  We actually enjoy being fooled occasionally.

Unfortunately, on April 2^nd we go back to believing everything we read on the internet.  Posting a status on your Facebook wall has some legal bearing on your account (it doesn’t) because somebody said their cousin, who is a lawyer (they aren’t), said so, or that a great way to charge your new iPhone is to put in the microwave for one minute (don’t  do it unless you like really expensive fireworks) are all things that some people will believe without reserve because they were told by someone on the internet.

We must be even more careful about what we believe when it comes to our salvation.  Repeatedly the early Church was told to test the spirits, and fact check the preachers.  We have the same responsibility today.  If we just believe whatever we are told by anyone in a suit standing in a pulpit, we’ll be in a world of hurt when our time comes for judgement.  Any preacher worth his salt will admit mis-speaking during a lesson, sermon, or study.  And don’t be surprised that there are many people who blatantly lie about the Word.  Just this week a famous actress has begun telling the world that God is okay with abortion and she’s backed up by a group of “ministers” who “blessed” an abortion clinic since they claim abortion can be a “godly” thing.

Don’t believe everything you hear.

I John 4:1 “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.”

 

Matt 23:5  But all their works they do for to be seen of men:  They make wide their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments.

Phylactery n. small leather box containing Hebrew text, worn by Jewish men during prayer

Phylacteries were small leather boxes that men would put bits of scripture in and wear on leather headbands that would wrap around their heads so that the box hung between their eyes.  Another box was attached to the back of their right hands.  This was done in order to be in overly strict compliance with what GOD told them in Duet 6:8.

Duet 6:8  And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon  thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between their eyes.

I am convinced that we need to wear Phylacteries today (metaphorically of course)…

We should wear the word of GOD on our hands. This way the word will effect everything we touch.  If we carry the word and attach it to our hands, we will be able to avoid those works of the flesh Paul was talking about.  The word will cause us not to want to have anything to do with those works.  Carrying the word with us will be contagious. If we attach the word, it will effect everything we do.  Everything we do will speak to the glory of GOD.

We should wear the word of GOD before our eyes as frontlets.  This way the word will effect everything we see.  James compared the word to a glass that shows us what we truly look like.  In this same manner we can use this glass to see what the world truly looks like.  (James 2:23-25)  Do we see the depravity of the world?  The word will help us.  Do we see the immorality of the world?  The word will help us.  Do we see the world as an OK place and nothing to be concerned about?  The word will help us.  Do we not see the people in the world for the lost souls that they are?  The word will help us.  Do we not see through the false teachings and teachers?  The word will help us.

Are we wearing the word on our hands and before our eyes?

Are we letting the word affect our works?

Are we letting the word bring everything into proper focus?

It is vital that we carry the word in our hearts so that it does all these things.  And just how do we carry the word with us?  Study…

II Timothy 2:15  Study to show thyself approved unto GOD, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

 

It happens. What is normal is suddenly, or expectedly, not normal.  We have things set up a certain way. It’s a way we know and may be comfortable with.  Of course we could absolutely hate the way things are too.

No matter the situation there is one thing you can count on when it comes to things here on Earth. At some point, it will change.

Kids grow up.  Cars wear out.  Job markets dip.  Political parties and agendas are voted in or out.  The list goes on and on.

Take comfort though. As we go through changes we have a foundation and anchor that does not. Have faith that our God provides the important things and has never failed to hold us up in the middle of all the changes we face.

He is the same God who was, who is, and who will be.  Abide in him and he will abide with us.

“Oh thou who changes not, abide with me”. When we sing that song we echo scripture that assures is that among all change there is a constant.  A God that know us and takes care for us.

Don’t fear change. Trust in the one who doesn’t.

 

Have you ever been given a task or command and not really understood the purpose?  It’s natural for us to want to understand the purpose or reasoning behind the things we are told to do.  Tell any child to do something and usually the reply is, “Why?”

 

I tend to dig into things to try and understand how and why something works the way it does.  How does this function?  How does this result come from these machinations?  It leads me to understand a lot of things (far from all things) but it also occasionally leads to heartache.  I’m not always privy to the why.  I don’t always get to know the inner workings.

 

Sometimes this is the case with our service to God and the things he affects in our lives.  We want to understand the why of it.  We don’t understand how this is going to “work for good” in our lives when it hurts occasionally.  We are blessed far beyond our fore bearers in this regard.  The Holy Spirit has revealed to us in the New Testament a lot of the “why” and a good portion of the “how it works” when it comes to the things we are commanded to do.  But some of it is still dim.  Sometimes when we ask, “Why”, the answer comes back with our favorite adult catch-phrase, “Because I said so.”

 

Are we willing to accept God’s commands at just his word?  Can we set aside our desire to know the reasons and just accept that God knows best?  Can we just give the answer Peter gave when he was sitting in the boat listening to Jesus tell him to let out his nets while absolutely positive there were no fish to be caught?

Luke 5:5 “… But at your word I will…”

 

It happens. What is normal is suddenly, or unexpectedly, not normal.  We have things set up a certain way. It’s a way we know and may be comfortable with.  Of course we could absolutely hate the way things are too.

No matter the situation there is one thing you can count on when it comes to things here on Earth. At some point, they will change.

Kids grow up.  Cars wear out.  Job markets dip.  Political parties and agendas are voted in or out.  The list goes on and on.

Take comfort though. As we go through changes, we have a foundation and anchor that does not. Have faith that our God provides the important things and has never failed to hold us up in the middle of all the changes we face.

He is the same God who was, who is, and who will be.  Abide in him and he will abide with us.

“Oh thou who changes not, abide with me”. When we sing that song, we echo scripture that assures us that among all change there is one constant.  A God that knows us and takes care of us.

Don’t fear change. Trust in the one who doesn’t.

Have you ever been given a task or command and not really understood the purpose?  It’s natural for us to want to understand the purpose or reasoning behind the things we are told to do.  Tell any child to do something and usually the reply is, “Why?”

I tend to dig into things to try and understand how and why something works the way it does.  How does this function?  How does this result come from these machinations?  It leads me to understand a lot of things (far from all things) but it also occasionally leads to heartache.  I’m not always privy to the why.  I don’t always get to know the inner workings.

Sometimes this is the case with our service to God and the things he affects in our lives.  We want to understand the why of it.  We don’t understand how this is going to “work for good” in our lives when it hurts occasionally.  We are blessed far beyond our fore bearers in this regard.  The Holy Spirit has revealed to us in the New Testament a lot of the “why” and a good portion of the “how it works” when it comes to the things we are commanded to do.  But some of it is still dim.  Sometimes when we ask, “Why”, the answer comes back with our favorite adult catch-phrase, “Because I said so.”

Are we willing to accept God’s commands at just his word?  Can we set aside our desire to know the reasons and just accept that God knows best?  Can we just give the answer Peter gave when he was sitting in the boat listening to Jesus tell him to let out his nets while absolutely positive there were no fish to be caught?

Luke 5:5 “… But at your word I will…”

 

So often we think ourselves unworthy.  “I don’t deserve _________.”  “I’m not worthy of ________.”  We look at ourselves and only see our flaws, the things we get wrong, and the character flaws we hope no one else sees. Worse than thinking these things, we let them determine our limits. Unfortunately, these limits are the same ones God put on us.  He calls us to serve him and each other regardless of our flaws.

• It seems Noah had a problem with alcohol.
• Jonah was bigoted.
• David let his lust drive him to murder.
• Peter was a sucker for peer pressure.

God knew this about these men.   God knows about our flaws.  He didn’t excuse their flaws but neither did he excuse them from service because of them. He used these men anyway and expected them rise above their flaws.   Just as he expects us to rise about ours.

A problem with your temper?  Maybe it’s your tendency to doubt the intentions of others?  Is it possible you’ve an unhealthy penchant for the opposite sex?

Never settle for being flawed.  Rise up and be better.  Great men of the past have, and they did amazing things for God.  He expects no less of us.

 

I woke up Friday morning last week and wanted to scream.  The sun was lighting up our bedroom window and it was the most painful thing I’d felt in a long time.  My left eye was injured, and light of any kind would cause a shooting pain like I’d rarely felt before.  Worse than that?  I couldn’t use my right eye either.  Even though there was nothing wrong with my right eye whenever it was faced with light of any intensity the left eye would hurt.  My doctor explained this as a sympathetic reaction.  When one pupil contracts or dilates in reaction to light the other will react just the same as if it was hit by light.  Put simply, if you put a patch over one eye and shine a light in the other, both eyes will act like there’s a light shined on them.  By the way, sometimes that hurts.

According to Romans 12 the church is a body.  It hard to find a more fitting analog.  If we are a body, properly fit together, then we’ll also have sympathetic reactions with each other.  When one of us hurts, we all hurt.  When one of us gets good news, we all get good news.  When one of us gets bad news, we all get bad news.  Specifically, in Romans 12:15 Paul tells us to rejoice with those who rejoice and weepwith those who weep.  In other words; act like a body.  By the way, sometimes that hurts.

But most of the time it feels great.

 

“Soldiers of Christ, Arise” (just not too early!)

“Seeking the Lost” (as long as it doesn’t require too much of my time.)

“We’ll Work ‘Til Jesus Comes” (if the work doesn’t conflict with my busy schedule.)

“Tell Me the Old, Old Story” (if it doesn’t take too long.)

“Have Thine Own Way, Lord” (if it doesn’t conflict with what I want.)

“If Jesus Goes With Me” (it may be embarrassing for us both!)

“O Lord, Our Lord” (I say it every time I’m angry or hit my thumb with a hammer!)

“More About Jesus Would I Know” (unless it requires that I read and study my Bible every day; Acts 17:11; 2 Timothy 2:15.)

“Give Me the Bible” (just don’t make it too challenging.)

“I’m Not Ashamed to Own My Lord” (until I’m in the company of unbelievers.)

“Take the World, But Give Me Jesus” (just don’t take too much of it!)

Pay attention to what we sing and make sure we’re honest with what we’re saying to God and each other.