Good Morning Class

When I was in school the words "Good Morning Class" were never looked upon as being a sign of good things to come for more often than not they were followed by the phrase "today we are going to have a test"! YIKES - and I didn't study! Oh, if I had only "applied myself" as my mother had so often suggested. How was it that she was always right?!?!?!

Well, even today, a few decades later, I still don't love tests. These days that word is often used in the same sentence as the words needle and blood but even so, we just naturally have a propensity to panic at the thought of a test. And yet, as I read God's Word I find that He has directed us in 1 Thessalonians 5:21 to "Test everything." Now that's a bit extreme wouldn't you say? A pop quiz once in awhile - ok, maybe - but 'test everything'? Well, just for grins and giggles, let's try to see this from God's perspective . . .
Let's start by testing our conversations:
~ Is what I'm saying the truth as found in God's Word?
~ If no, our recourse seems obvious.
~ If yes, then speak the truth BUT REMEMBER even the truth must be tempered with just the right amount of God's mercy and love AND timing is critical - in order for it to be right and effective, it must be said in God's timing!
So, ok, I agree that testing the things I say is a good thing.

So now let's go further and test our thoughts:
~ Are our thoughts moving us toward God or away from Him and His truths?
~ When considering this I am lead to confess to you that I had a day recently when testing my thoughts would have been a gem in my crown. As the day unfolded I came face to face with the reality that had circumstances been just a little bit different, my life may have come to an end. Well, by the end of the day I was full of fears of what 'could have been'.
~Looking back I now realize that I would have avoided the exercise of slip and slide if only I had taken the time to test my thoughts .
Once again, the idea of testing seems to point to good things - who knew?!

Well, the truth is that God did. That's why His Word tells us to do it. That's why it's so important to seek His guidance and discernment and wisdom and knowledge. This is the gem in our crown . . . if only we will ask for it.

So, how about you, are you ready to wake up tomorrow morning and hear the Lord say to you, Good Morning ____, today we're going to have a test? Considering the blessing that this exercise brings to our general well being, the goal at the end of my day will be to hear Him say to me "Well done, my good and faithful servant". All of a sudden I'm anxious to test my attitudes, my emotions, and my 'knee jerk' reactions. Once again . . . who knew!!!

Lord God, Your care of my well being is a treasure to me. Knowing that You remain by my side and offer guidance and protection gives me the strength I need to face the challenges of my day. Thank You, Jesus, for showing me the importance of testing - everything. It is in Your Name, Jesus, that I offer endless praise for Your loving care of all of Your creation!
Amen and Amen
bo

Forgiveness is our Choice

It is written in John 3:36 "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him."

In knowing the truth of that statement I'm quite sure that it's safe to assume that the man who brought carnage to the City of Binghamton yesterday won't be among those who will gather with the angels and eternally sing heavenly praises to the Lord.

But wait a minute, what about the truth that says we serve a forgiving God? Oh, you say, this man was full of darkness and death, his sins are so grave that surely God will judge him guilty and forgiveness will not come. Because of the choices this man made in his life 'God's wrath remains on him'.

From everything I've read thus far I believe that I would have to agree with that assessment . . . but as I consider the fact that in God's sight . . . sin is sin . . . instantly I feel true conviction come over me to now look at my own life and consider whether or not I hold on to choices that would obligate God to pour his wrath out upon me.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a good person. I go to church, I humbly serve God and His people. I love those around me (well, most of them), I'm honest (well, most of the time). I follow the teachings that Jesus gave us (well, nearly all of them). But listen, I know that God is a forgiving God - surely the Lord's judgement of me will be much different than this man's. His sins are much worse than mine.

Again I consider the fact that in God's sight . . . sin is sin, is sin, is sin.

Consider what Christ Himself said to the woman who was judged by those around her to be sinful and worthy of stoning (wrath) - "go and sin no more". Through His mercy Christ forgave her of the sin she committed and saved her from being stoned - but if you recall, that wasn't the end of the story, for after forgiving her, He added the command that instructed her to "go and sin no more."

It's true, we all have the FINAL say in His forgiveness . . . our choices - just like those of that man yesterday in Binghamton - will bring us life forever with Christ or it will bring us eternal separation from Him.

Father God, we know that Your Word tells us that you are a just God. In Your powerful name, Jesus, we ask that you help us, Lord, to have a full understanding of that truth so that we are willing to 'go and sin no more'.

Amen and Amen
bo