Our Filthy Rag Collection
Though situations around us were beyond our control, Father, our lives are still in Your hands. I pray that things will come to a satisfactory conclusion with less pain and no more loss. Amen.
John 5:31-40 (<<click here to read the passage)
Something that I have said many times from the pulpits which I stand behind is that you can read the Bible every day, you can come to church every time the doors are open, you can sound off a prayer before every meal and at the beginning and end of every day, you can know it all and do it all but if you don’t know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, all of those acts and “accomplishments” are as filthy rags.
Isaiah 64:6 reads,
We are all infected and impure with sin.
When we display our righteous deeds,
they are nothing but filthy rags. NLT
(Reading Isaiah 64:4-9 really gets you thinking.)
When I read Jesus’ words as recorded in the Gospels, they seem to speak to me in different temperaments. Sometimes Jesus speaks and His tones seem full of compassion. Other times His words are justifiably filled with anger. To me at least, in this passage from John’s Gospel, Jesus seems to just be stating facts. Yes, they are uncomfortable, but He is just saying it like it is.
…the Father who sent Me has Himself testified about Me. You have never heard His voice nor seen His form [His majesty and greatness—what He is like]. You do not have His word (Scripture) abiding in you [actually living in your hearts and minds], because you do not believe in Him whom He has sent. vs37-38 AMP
Here Jesus is pointedly speaking of God’s word – Scripture. He plainly states that we don’t have His word living in [our] hearts and minds. If we did, we would believe them. And His next assertion really stings.
You search and keep on searching and examining the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and yet it is those [very Scriptures] that testify about Me; and still you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life. vs39-40 AMP
We can know it all and do it all but if you don’t take those words to heart, if we are unwilling to come to Jesus, we cannot have life.
I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows]. John 10:10b AMP
Lord Jesus, help us to not just work on our filthy rag collection, but may we seriously be determined to use what You have given us to draw us closer to You…becoming more like You. Amen.
May 24th, 2021, Mon, 6:50 pm
Death…It’s Not the End
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy!
…..I look to you for protection.
I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings
…..until the danger passes by.
I cry out to God Most High,
…..to God who will fulfill his purpose for me. Psalm 57:1-2 NLT
John 5:24-30 (<<click here to read the passage)
Some interesting famous last words…
- The last words of Union General John Sedgwick, “They couldn’t hit an elephant at this distance.” Said to his men who were ducking from the fire of a Confederate sniper.
- Arthur Conan Doyle, who wrote the Sherlock Holmes stories, died at age 71 in his garden. He turned to his wife and said, “You are wonderful,” then clutched his chest and died.
- Johnny Ace, an R&B singer, died in 1954 while playing with a pistol during a break in his concert set. His last words were, “I’ll show you that it won’t”
- Murderer James W. Rodgers was put in front of a firing squad in Utah and asked if he had a last request. He replied, “Bring me a bullet-proof vest.”
- Charlie Chaplin said this after a priest reading him his last rites said “May the Lord have mercy on your soul” “Why not? After all, it belongs to Him.”
Most of us have no idea when we will die, or how, or why, or where, but from the beginning of time, all have died. [Yes, Enoch was an exception, “he disappeared, because God took him.” (Hebrews 11:5-6 NLT), as was Elijah – being carried by a whirlwind into heaven. (2 Kings 2:11 NLT)] Jesus, of course, died, but was gloriously resurrected! As we will be as well some time in the not too distant future.
Regardless of our opinions, today’s passage from John 5 is the actuality of what will happen after death. Jesus proclaims in verse 29,
Those who have done good will rise to experience eternal life, and those who have continued in evil will rise to experience judgment. NLT
We all may not be vocal about how we feel regarding eternity but somewhere deep within, we have an opinion of what will happen to us when we die. The note on verse 29 from my Life Application Study Bible New Living Translation reads,
Those who have rebelled against Christ will be resurrected, too, but they will hear God’s judgment against them and will be sentenced to eternity apart from him. There are those who wish to live well on earth, ignore God, and then see death as final rest. Jesus does not allow unbelieving people to see death as the end of it all. There is a judgment to face.
It makes no difference who we are or what we believe, we all – every single being who has ever breathed life on this earth – will stand before God for a final judgment. Death, though many hold it to be so, is not the end. It is but a threshold that we each must cross. While we live and breathe, decisions can be made. We can choose, or not choose, to serve God and until that last breath is taken, even if we have lived in rebellion against Christ, we can turn and repent and follow Him. He is eager for each of us to choose life. But if that final breath comes and we remain in our rebellion, we will be held responsible for decisions made.
Even as you read this, it is not too late. This prayer from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association is simple. If you have never spoken with God about your eternal destination, won’t you take the time to do so?
“Dear God,
I know I’m a sinner, and I ask for your forgiveness.
I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son. I believe that He died
for my sin and that you raised Him to life.
I want to trust Him as my Savior and follow Him as Lord,
from this day forward. Guide my life and help me to do your will.
I pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.”
May 23rd, 2021,
Strength for the Weary
A day of outdoor labor, Father, between my routes and everything else! It was good for the heart and soul.
********
In the little bit of time I had between everything else today, I worked on my sermon and other parts of our service for this coming Sunday. The passage of Scripture on which it is based is from Isaiah 40:26-31 (<<click on the link) and just reading through it brought two songs to mind (surprise!). [If you’d like to hear the sermon, FINDING NEW STRENGTH, click on this link to Beulah’s Facebook page for our online service which begins at 9:00 AM Sunday morning (05/23/21). It will also be stored for future reference in its Facebook video library.]
The first is an older song written by a gentleman by the name of Stuart Hamblen. From what I can gather, he released it as a single in 1953 under the title Teach Me Lord to Wait.
Here is a video played by someone who so reminders me of my sweet, beautiful Aunt Sandra – a gifted musician in her own right. The lyrics of the song are on the screen as you listen.
The other song was made popular by contemporary Christian musician and worship pastor, Lincoln Brewster. It is entitled Everlasting God and was on an album he released in 2006.
The reason this song came to mind while reading the passage from Isaiah 40 is that I remember a small child reading a portion of it at the end of Brewster’s recording. I always found it impacting! Levi Brewster, Lincoln’s oldest son, was 5 at the time of the recording.
At the bottom of the post are another two video links to listen to. The first is a recording of Everlasting God. Levi’s recitation is at the very end. (If you’d like to jump ahead to it, it’s at marker 3:50.) The other video is one of Brewster sharing how the song came about. (Again, if you want to hear just the portion where he talks about Levi’s contribution, you can skip to marker 1:22.)
Hamblen’s song is taken from the King James Version, whereas Brewster’s version is from the New Living Translation. Here is the latter for reference.
Look up into the heavens.
…..Who created all the stars?
He brings them out like an army, one after another,
…..calling each by its name.
Because of his great power and incomparable strength,
…..not a single one is missing.
O Jacob, how can you say the Lord does not see your troubles?
…..O Israel, how can you say God ignores your rights?
Have you never heard?
…..Have you never understood?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
…..the Creator of all the earth.
He never grows weak or weary.
…..No one can measure the depths of his understanding.
He gives power to the weak
…..and strength to the powerless.
Even youths will become weak and tired,
…..and young men will fall in exhaustion.
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
…..They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
…..They will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:26-31 NLT
May 20th, 2021, Thurs, 6:49 pm
Beulah Land
I am not entirely up to snuff tonight, Father, but I trust that You will enable me to focus on the message You have for me and to faithfully communicate it. Amen.
********
In looking back through the last almost 6 years of blog posts, even though I thought surely I had done so, I have never written about one of my family’s favorite songs. Now mind you, it’s a song which has been sung at several family funerals, though it wasn’t written for that purpose. My cousins sang it at each of my grandparent’s funerals, as well as, a sister of theirs.
When I searched to see if I had shared this personal story about the song before, a post from way back in 2017 came up. (I searched for the word “Beulah” and it popped up because it is also the name of one of the churches I serve.) As I read through it, I felt I needed to share at least a portion of it again.
At the time, I had lost one faithful lady of Beulah and another faithful gentleman from my other congregation, Liberty Chapel, was close to his homecoming as well. If that wasn’t enough, a cousin of mine was near death and in the ICU. She hung on for a few more months but the Lord saw fit to soon call her home.
This is the excerpt from that post on February 17, 2017.
(Lord) I believe You spoke to my heart to share with my cousin’s son. I can’t even begin to imagine what he is dealing with. His mother is fighting for her life and I don’t think she’s even 50 yet and he is just barely in his 30’s. But this is what you led me to share with him last night. I stated that we were praying for him and his family and this is what I typed,
“Your mom weathered so many storms throughout her life and always found her strength in the Lord. This may be her last storm but she has remained faithful (the testimony of her life proclaims that!) and the Lord has been faithful, as well. Cling to the One she found strength in, He will not let you down!”
There is no way that we can see what tomorrow holds – we can’t even see around the corner! All we can do is cling to You. You are steadfast. I choose to trust in You – no one or no thing is more trustworthy than You.
Here’s a beautiful rendition by The Petersens of Branson, Missouri.
Sweet Beulah Land was written and composed by Squire Parsons in 1973. Beulah Land is a reference to Heaven.
I’m kind of homesick for a country
To which I’ve never been before
No sad goodbyes will there be spoken
For time won’t matter anymore
Beulah Land, I’m longing for you
And some day on thee I’ll stand
And there my home shall be eternal
Beulah Land, sweet Beulah Land
I’m looking now across that river
To where my faith is gonna end in sight
A few more days I’ll wait in labor
And then I’ll take my heavenly flight
Beulah Land, I’m longing for you
And some day on thee I’ll stand
And there my home shall be eternal
Beulah Land, sweet Beulah Land
Beulah Land, sweet Beulah Land
May 19th, 2021, Wed, 7:42 pm
Like Father, Like Son
God has ascended with a mighty shout.
….The Lord has ascended with trumpets blaring.
Sing praises to God, sing praises;
….sing praises to our King, sing praises! Psalm 47:5-6 NLT
John 5:18-23 (<<click here to read the passage)
Modern-day may be a bit different but for generations, it was not unusual for offspring to take on the occupations of their parents. Educators, law enforcement, medical professionals, you name it, there are many examples of carrying on the family tradition. I’m a third-generation pastor. I know of chiropractors whose fathers were chiropractors, nurses whose mothers were nurses, educators whose parents were educators. Those who worked in trades often had the same outcome.
Part of the story, I’m sure, is that often as the son or daughter grew up, the lifestyle and mindsets of their parents concerning their vocation were ingrained in their psyche. They already have a leg up on everyone else because they have seen it lived out every day of their lives.
Jesus learned from and took after His Father, as well. Yes, they were one in essence and nature – Jesus Himself said in John 10:30, “The Father and I are one.” NLT
But throughout the Gospels, Jesus consistently pulls Himself away from the crowds and His disciples to spend quality time with His Father.
Here are just a few passages where Jesus did just that.
After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone. Matthew 14:23 NLT
Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray. Mark 1:35 NLT
One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night. At daybreak he called together all of his disciples and chose twelve of them to be apostles. Luke 6:12-13 NLT
Jesus was like His Father, through and through, because He spent great amounts of time with Him. He communicated with Him about everything. He sought Him out for guidance and comfort during difficult times. The Father’s character and mindset was lived out every day in Jesus’ life.
The Jewish leaders chaffed under this aspect of who Jesus was because they just couldn’t accept it. To them it was blasphemous. It was so offensive that by this time they were trying to figure out a way to kill Him! Verse 18 lays out their frustration, “…he not only broke the Sabbath, he called God his Father, thereby making himself equal with God.” NLT
Though they flat out rejected it, Jesus tried to explain,
“I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he is doing… In addition, the Father judges no one. Instead, he has given the Son absolute authority to judge, so that everyone will honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son is certainly not honoring the Father who sent him.” v19-20a, 22-23
The Son was just like His Father. When they rejected Jesus, they blindly rejected the Father as well.
Lord Jesus, may we take to heart the truth of who You are. And in turn, may we reflect the You in our lives, too. May we get in the habit of spending some much time in communion with You that Your light shines regularly through our lives. Amen.
May 18th, 2021, Tues, 7:21 pm