Podcast Update - The Fourth Commandment

Hello!
We released a new podcast today, the latest in our series exploring the Ten Commandments. In it, we study the fourth commandment in some depth. We hope it blesses you immensely.

Be encouraged, Jose

Not quite finished yet

Friends,

Each one of us looks in the mirror and sees an incomplete picture. We are not yet finished. We are works in progress.

Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
1 John 3:2 [NKJV]

Now each one of us knows that a house is not beautiful until the walls have been painted, the flooring has been installed and the lawn and garden have blossomed. And we know that even the finest sirloin steak is inedible until it has been properly cooked (medium-rare for me, thank you very much). And no one wants to use a computer program until all of the bugs have been worked out (Microsoft take note).

So, look on yourself with grace and compassion. Look on your neighbor with forgiveness and mercy. We have not yet become what we are meant to be. The Potter is working with each one of us individually, painstakingly, and lovingly. He is molding each one of us into something unique and specific. He is faithful to complete that work, according to His perfect design.

And when He has finished with us, His chosen and beloved, it will be glorious!

Be encouraged, Jose

Prayers for truth

Friends,

Perhaps you've been questioning recently whether prayer really works. maybe that situation, that you've targeted with your prayers, hasn't improved. For me, I've been praying for a job. Maybe you are, too. Or maybe you've been praying for health, or for strength in resisting one sin or another. Maybe it's time to take a hard look at the truth of our prayers ...

Hear a just cause, O LORD,
Attend to my cry;
Give ear to my prayer which is not from deceitful lips.
Psalm 17:1 [NKJV]

There is a brother in the Lord who ministers to men in my hometown. At the root of the problem for most of the guys is an inability to be (in his words), "Who we really are before who God really is." That simple phrase aligns beautifully with what David is writing in the opening of Psalm 17. He is declaring before God that his prayers are honest and true... that they do not come from "deceitful lips."

Sisters and brothers, this is the first and most important condition for the praying believer. Our prayers must not be manipulated to sound holy, or to be what we think God wants to hear. Our prayers must be honest and true. There is no room for lies or deception before the Lord ... who sees right through them, anyway. There is no need for eloquence or rhymes or soaring rhetoric.

All that is needed is for you and I to be who we really are before who God really is. Admit to being scared, worried, exhausted, or just plain ticked off. Admit to being joyful, relieved, or full of energy. Be authentic. Be real. And from that authenticity, our amazing and generous Lord will bring blessing and strength.

He will answer our prayers.

Be encouraged, Jose

The hour to remember

Friends,

This is what everyone among those who are numbered shall give: half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary (a shekel is twenty gerahs). The half-shekel shall be an offering to the LORD.
Exodus 30:13 [NKJV] (emphasis added)

There will be times when we've done something hurtful, shameful and awful. In that hour, we will be tempted to believe that we have gone beyond what God will tolerate... even beyond what He can possibly forgive.

There will also be times when we hold up another brother or sister as being more deserving of God's favor, as being more holy or more righteous... and that we cannot measure up. And in that hour, we will be tempted to believe that our own cause is lost, that we're simply not worth anything.

That hour.
It is the most critical moment to return to what is true. And the truth of this matter is that every man needs redemption, and that the redemption price for every man is the same. Christ's work at Calvary is indeed sufficient to atone for your sin and mine, no matter how grave or trivial. Do not allow the enemy to distort what is true. Remember that His Word is true.

Be encouraged, Jose

No need for fables

Friends,

Over the past five or ten years, a trend has emerged in American Christianity. There seems to be a tendency to "explain" the Gospel, to attempt to bring it down to the level of the world. Human logic agrees with this approach, and rationalizes it by saying, "Jesus met people where they were," or something along those lines. But a careful reading of scripture reveals that this is not how God expects us to spread the Gospel:

For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty.
2 Peter 1:16 [NKJV]

Here Peter tells the readers of his epistle that his words were not brilliantly conceived out of a man's imagination. They were not meant to awe the fleshly mind. Rather, his words came directly out of his experience of Christ's majesty.

You and I are witnesses to Christ's majesty, as well. Therefore, there is no need for us to embellish the Gospel, or to water it down under the guise of ministry catchwords like "relevance" and "real-life."

We have the Gospel of Jesus Christ! We must simply give it (for that's all we owe the world) as is. God will either awaken His spirit inside of the hearer or not. But for our part, we will be representing God as He truly is... in all of His power, glory and majesty.

Be encouraged, Jose

Is kindness too much to ask?

Friends,

In his seminal letter to the new church, Paul is inspired by God to write a blunt admonition to his fellow believers:

Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another.
Romans 12:10 [NKJV]

For today ...
For this weekend...
Let us be truly kind to one another. It is a simple thing to ask. And it will make real difference in this life, in our witness, and in the unity of the Body of Christ.

Be encouraged, Jose

Know who God is

Friends,

I look around at my fellow Christians and see men and women who appear to be doing just fine. They are not sickly. They are not malnourished. They are not picking through trash for scraps of food. Yet they are clearly lacking something. They are hungry, and don't even know it.

"Behold, the days are coming," says the Lord GOD,
"That I will send a famine on the land,
Not a famine of bread,
Nor a thirst for water,
But of hearing the words of the LORD".

A twenty-two minute sermon, once a week, isn't going to cut it, brothers and sisters. Especially when that sermon is more about living well than it is about truly understanding Scripture. Each of us ... without exception ... needs to study God's word. We need to know what He really means in every verse.

There is great urgency to this, fellow believers. The time is running short. We must know who God really is so that we can distinguish Him from the enemy. We must know who God is so that we can obey and worship Him. And we must know who God is by what He tells us about Himself.

The Lord desires to reveal Himself to us, to be intimate with us. He speaks to His people. Read and study... so that you may listen.

Be encouraged, Jose

Repentance is from God

Friends,

Each of us has a loved one who, based on our discernment, is not saved. The temptation is is to attempt to persuade them, using every means at our disposal. We make emotional pleas. We appeal to logic or even to their instinct for self-preservation. And yet, there is no repentance.

It can be quite frustrating until we realize that repentance is a gift. It is not achieved by human effort. Nor is it arrived at by logical deduction. It has only one source, and it is bestowed by God according to His good pleasure.

When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.”
Acts 11:18

In this verse, the word "they" refers to the Apostles, who were being reminded of God's grace by Peter. These were men who walked and talked with Christ, who may have had first-hand encounters with the risen Lord. And who, quite understandably, have thought of themselves as being a bit special... maybe even a bit better than the rest of us.

Yet, "they heard these things" and realized that Almighty God had granted repentance to those who were not of their lineage. To these men, the Gentiles had no claim to God's favor. They had no history with God, no prior revelation. And yet, God granted repentance to them.

Our Lord granted repentance to you and me. We had no legitimate claim to it. We had nothing to earn it or deserve it. Yet He saw fit to grant it to us nonetheless. If He so chooses, He will grant it to our loved ones, as well. And we must continue to intercede in that regard. But don't be frustrated when our own words seem to fall on deaf ears. Instead, be hopeful because He can open their ears like He did ours.

Be encouraged, Jose

The courage to speak

Friends,

It can be a fearsome thing to say what God wants us to say. It can be even more frightening when we are called to deliver a word of rebuke, admonishment or warning. When the LORD sent Ezekiel to call attention to the many sins that His people were committing, God saw fit to warn His prophet ...

And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you dwell among scorpions; do not be afraid of their words or dismayed by their looks, though they are a rebellious house
Ezekiel 2:6 [NKJV]

The LORD repeats this warning several times in the book of Ezekiel, as if to reinforce the message that He knows what His prophets must endure. And even today, His prophets are subject to persecution. Fellow believers call them names and look at them like they've lost their minds. Even pastors, who should know better, will use the power of their office to silence a prophet who says what he doesn't want to hear.

Executing the office of the prophet is difficult. It requires great confidence and intestinal fortitude. It carries few rewards in this lifetime. But each of us is called to bring forth revelation. Each of us is commanded to know what God has to say and to speak it... no matter the consequences. None of us can claim to have obeyed this command perfectly. Yet, by God's grace we can repent of our failure, accept Christ's forgiveness, and then forge ahead ... with courage and conviction.

Be encouraged, Jose

Be unafraid to follow Christ

Friends,

Then Thomas, who is called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with Him." -- John 11:16 (NKJV)

Thomas utters these words as Christ was planning to return to Judea in order to raise Lazarus from the dead. It comes at the end of an exchange between Jesus and His disciples in which they express concern over the Judeans' plans to kill the Savior. But Christ had something He had to do in Judea, and He would let nothing stop Him from obeying what the Father had called Him to accomplish.

Thomas' response presents us with an example to follow. For even today, the Lord is accomplishing great deeds. There will come a time when you and I are called to follow Him that we might participate in those deeds. It may come with a heavy price, and Jesus commands us to "count the cost."

Today, sisters and brothers, let us consider the price that we may be called on to pay. Let us then compare that price with the price that Jesus paid to make us His people. And let us prepare to follow Christ with courage.

Be encouraged, Jose

Podcast Update

The technical difficulty with last week's podcast has been resolved. It seems that I cannot type.

Please refresh your podcasts in iTunes to hear the latest message.

Special thanks to my brother, Bob Passman, for supplying the opening and closing music.

Jose

New Release!! Thots 4 Today Podcasts

Brothers and sisters,

We are delighted to present a brand-new podcast. Subscribe to it today through iTunes (search for Thots 4 Today) or use this link - Thots 4 Today Podcast.

It is our hearts' desire that this resource be a blessing to you in your walk with Christ.

Be encouraged, Jose

UPDATE
I think the MP3 file is too big to work properly in iTunes. I'm working on fixing it. Please be patient and we'll let you know when we resolve the issue!

Love God?Then love each other

Friends,

In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.
1 John 3:10 [NKJV]

The Holy Spirit gives us a clear and timeless directive in this one verse. For each one of us, now is the time to look in the mirror and ask ourselves if we are living up to this standard:
Are we practicing ... actually doing ... righteousness, or is it just lip service?
Do we love ... actively demonstrate loving behavior ... our brother?

Be purposed to be able to answer both questions in the affirmative. In doing so, we will make this life better. But better yet, we will please our Father.

Be encouraged, Jose

We are jewels

Friends, consider this passage:

So a book of remembrance was written before Him
For those who fear the LORD
And who meditate on His name.
"They shall be Mine," says the LORD of Hosts,

"On the day that I make them My jewels.
And I will spare them
As a man spares his own son who serves him."
Malachi 3:16b-17 [NKJV]

The LORD of Hosts is how God refers to Himself when He wants to call attention to awesome might and power He has at His disposal. He commands armies made up of awesome creatures, the likes of which are beyond our ability to describe. And as the mighty warrior that He is, the LORD brings His people under His protection.

Almighty God treasures us. He calls us "jewels". He has exercised His authority to designate His people as something special, unique and valuable.

No matter how present circumstances have affected your current situation, remember that nothing in this world can diminish your eternal value.

Be encouraged, Jose

The Light of Christ shines forever

Friends,

The LORD wants to give His people enduring reminders of everything that Christ is. This revelation includes the tabernacle that Israel was instructed to build shortly after receiving the 10 Commandments. Every element of that structure points to Jesus and His redemptive work.

Let's take a look at one small example...

And you shall command the children of Israel that they bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to cause the lamp to burn continually. -- Exodus 27:20 [NKJV]

This lamp stands just outside the Most Holy Place, in room called the Holy Place. It was not visible outside of this room, and yet it was to be lit at all times. In other passages (See Leviticus 16), God commands that the lamp shall be lit using embers taken from the altar... and from nowhere else.

What does this tell us about Christ?

• The Spirit of God is often represented as olive oil throughout the Bible. The fire and passion generated by the Holy Spirit is accurately recognized only by God's people. The world will ridicule it and call it fanaticism. But the Spirit inside of me will recognize the Spirit inside of you.
• The flame cannot burn continually without the intervention of Almighty God. Even the constant attention of men and women will, at some point, fail. But God never fails. So from this, we learn that God commands and God accomplishes. We have a responsibility to obey and respond, but God is the One who makes all things possible. Even the lighting of the lamp is accomplished by the LORD, for the fire under the altar was ignited by God (see Leviticus 9>.
• And, of course, the continual burning of the fire speaks directly to Christ's everlasting presence and reign.

Hopefully, this one symbol will remind each one of us that God's light shines within each of us, and that ... no matter is going on ... He will cause it to shine forever.

Be encouraged,
Jose

A day to leave the doors unlocked

Friends,

That glorious day that Christ makes His return is closer than ever before. It might be tomorrow, or next week, or during the lifetime of our great-grandchildren. No man knows - and those that claim to should be viewed with great skepticism - but it is coming. And when that day comes, we will no longer require the protection of alarm systems, deadbolts and barking dogs.

Therefore your gates shall be open continually;
They shall not be shut day or night,
That men may bring to you the wealth of the Gentiles,
And their kings in procession.
Isaiah 60:11 [NKJV]

The gates of a city were its security. When they were open, it meant that the city was open; men could come and go... it was a state of peace and confidence. At night, the gates were locked. That's when troublemakers came out to make their trouble, and locking the city gates helped to keep that trouble away from law-abiding citizens. When the gates were locked, men found protection inside the city walls. On the outside, well you were taking your chances.

But in the day of the Lord, all evil shall be swept away. God's people will no longer need to be protected from thieves and murderers. Instead, we will be free ... FREE ... to live in a constant state of peace, joy and gladness.

Be encouraged,
Jose

The promise will be fulfilled

Friends,

We are a people at war. It is a war that seeks to destroy the only thing that really matters ... our relationship with Christ. Our enemy wages this war using a multitude of weapons: financial struggles, health issues, relationship crises, inner turmoil and torment. These weapons are targeted at the peace and confidence we have in the Lord. They are aimed squarely at our faith.

Although these weapons seem to cause great damage, we must remember that that they have no power of our souls. And we must not lose heart... because we know what is really going on.

The LORD is known by the judgment He executes;
The wicked is snared in the work of his own hands.
Psalm 9:16 [NKJV]

When we see Jehovah exercise judgment, we know that it is Him. Such events remind God's people of His total sovereignty over all creation. They are a stumbling block for non-believers, but they are an encouragement to followers of Christ. And in the end, all of the afflictions, the persecution, and burdens that the world has thrown at us will be laying there... waiting to trap the enemy and be the instrument of God's righteousness.

So do not be afraid, brothers and sisters. And do not get distracted. What is happening today merely sets the stage for the promised event of tomorrow ...

He who testifies to these things says,
Surely I am coming quickly.
Amen.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Revelation 22:20 [NKJV]

Be encouraged,
Jose

We shall be delivered!

Friends,

At that time Michael shall stand up,
The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people;
And there shall be a time of trouble,
Such as never was since there was a nation,
Even to that time.
And at that time your people shall be delivered,
Every one who is found written in the book.
Daniel 12:1 [NKJV] ... Emphasis added

The news of the past seven days has been enough to make my head spin. Riots in Greece... Billions lost in an investment scandal... Political corruption reaching new heights in brazenness... Corporate executives begging for money from lawyers... Shoes thrown at a head of state... Suffice it say that the 24-hour News Networks have had plenty to talk about.

Our family, like so many others, is wrestling with hard decisions about spending and saving. In that struggle, it's so easy to confuse financial security with eternal security... and to reverse their priority. But this verse, which is the opening line in a remarkable prophesy about God's faithfulness to His people, reminds all of us that our future is secure.

Our Lord has never broken a promise. And Christ has promised a deliverance for us... His church.

Be encouraged, Jose

Worship Christ for who He truly is

Friends,

During this time of year, we are bombarded with symbols of seemingly every type, ranging from the extreme secular to the extreme religious. I guess that now is a good time to be reminded of the danger of worshiping the symbols.

But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation.
Hebrews 9:11 [NKJV]

All of the rituals and symbols that come out at this time of year are man-made. Even the rite of celebrating Christ's birth is entirely a product of man's imagination. The time of year to do so was chosen for various reasons, none of which have any basis in scripture.

Which brings me to my point.

It is just as tempting to get caught up in the religious spectacle of this season as it is to get swept away by the shopping and shipping tasks. When we do, we worship something made by man... we turn our attention away from Jesus. And what's worse is that we do so in the name of God.

Sisters and brothers, Christ must have our undivided attention. Rather than celebrating His humanity, let us worship Him for who He truly is ... the Alpha and Omega, the Redeemer and King of kings, Almighty God.

Be encouraged, Jose

Remember to believe

Friends,

It seems as though the news is getting worse by the day. As for me, personally, I'm finding it easy to get discouraged... far too easy.

For what if some did not believe?
Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect?
Romans 3:3 [NKJV]

This is my reminder. God is faithful and therefore deserves my trust and belief. My feelings of discouragement cannot rule over me, because God alone is faithful. He fulfills every promise and provides for every need.

It matters not what anyone else says or thinks... because no man is God's master. The Lord has proven that He -- and He alone -- is sovereign over every event, large and small. He has proven that He is good, and no evil is present in Him. And He is faithful to assert His good and perfect will over every man.

Be encouraged, Jose