June is the marrying month. Not sure how that happened. But it is a very popular month for weddings. Marriage has been under attack ever since the Garden of Eden, but in recent generations it has come under serious fire. Between divorce and the changing of the definition of marriage to include any gender combination, marriage is now just another thing we do however we want as opposed to the high order instituted by God. But there are still those who take the tying of the knot seriously. In a marriage ceremony you would likely hear me say something like this… “If we know that God is for marriage, we must know that Satan is against it. God is the provider, sustainer and protector of proper relationships. If God is for something, it is only right for us to support it too. [Groom], I charge you to always be the husband God has called you to be. You should submit to Christ in every area of life and lovingly lead your wife into a Godly lifestyle. [Bride], I charge you to be a wife who is surrendered to God and submitted to your husband, helping him to become all God wants him to be. I charge you both to be the Godly parents the Holy Spirit enables you to be, so that your children will come to know Christ early and follow Him all of their days. [Groom], if you fail to love your wife as you should, God will not hear your prayers. [Bride], if you do not submit to your husband, you will be open for attack by the enemy. If either of you quits on this marriage, God will hold you accountable for the promises you make on this day. And there will be serious consequences for breaking that trust. But if you will intentionally keep Christ at the center of this relationship, though storms will come, God has promised to be with you and draw you closer to each other and to Himself. He is in this marriage as He is in you. To those who are here to witness this great event, you also have a responsibility. You are to support this family, not just in word, but in action. You should not do anything to drive a wedge between this couple. If you stand against or try to destroy this marriage, you are standing against God and have made Him your enemy. [Groom and Bride] will need your prayers, not your drama. They will need your love, not your judgment. They need stepping stones, not stumbling blocks. Be a blessing to them. Help them make this the best life it can be.” That isn’t your fluffy, “We are gathered here today to witness the bond of this man and this woman…” Because marriage isn’t fluffy. Marriage is serious business. It is a battle. Marriages don’t succeed because two people said, “I do,” but because they continue to say, “We are this.” They succeed because their community says, “We are for this.” In this ‘divorce-happy culture, it is important to get the word out that anyone who has a hand in dividing a married couple is guilty before God. Ladies, if your girlfriends tell you that you can do better for yourself than the man you have as your husband, you don’t have a girlfriend… you have a girl enemy. You should distance yourself from her influence… and probably cut ties completely. To get into a divisive position between a husband and wife is to get between God and a couple. Dangerous ground. What about the men? Yes… it is true for men as well… but let’s be honest… most guys aren’t divisive in this way. If a man is dividing a couple in any way, he is also making himself to be the enemy of both parties, and God Himself. Remember, if someone is trying to tell you that you ‘deserve better’, they are probably jealous that you have someone… and it is very likely that they have tried to do better themselves… often times without success. Do not listen to people who are trying to tear your family apart. Husband and wife, do not listen to people who are trying to ‘deliver you’ from someone you don’t get along with. Friend of the groom or bride, do not be a person that digs away at the foundation of someone else’s marriage. Jesus was on the same page. “From the beginning of creation God made them male and female. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother [and be joined to his wife], and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, man must not separate.” (Mark 10:6-9) Today be a relationship builder… not a relationship destroyer. You aren’t just dealing with two people. You are dealing with one couple and God Himself. [Bible quotes are from the Holman Christian Standard Bible, unless otherwise noted.] Find more of David’s work at Heart Of Ministry. Don’t you just love it when someone insults you? Yeah, me too. It makes my day. I live for that moment when a person points out a flaw that I know I have in order to make me feel small for it. Or it is even better when they do it in front of other people so they can gain an advantage over me. That’s pure awesomeness. Insults are not fun to receive. But they are as much a challenge as they are painful. An insult is often like a line in the sand. When we are insulted we sometimes feel the need to defend ourselves. And on our worst days, we may feel the need to return an insult for an insult. This rarely ends well. Here’s the thing… an insulting person doesn’t really appreciate a returned insult. Imagine that. An insulting person is a fool. So even the best returned insult would only impress wise people… if wise people were impressed with insults… which they aren’t. So, the best thing to do is probably let the insults roll off. What?!? Yes. You’ve heard the term, “like water off of a duck’s back”? Well, that’s how we should be with insults. How does water roll off of a duck's back? Well, the preen gland at the base of the tail produces oil that spreads and covers the birds’ outer coat so that water forms droplets on, but does not permeate the feathers. Ducks preen themselves to bring that oil up their feathers, making them sort of waterproof. We can make ourselves sort of ‘insult-proof’. I know. I know. You can’t stop someone from insulting you. But you can determine whether or not it gets under your skin… or feathers. You determine how you will respond to insults today. A wise writer in the Bible said, “A fool’s displeasure is known at once, but whoever ignores an insult is sensible.” (Proverbs 12:16) Whoever ignores an insult is sensible? That is probably the last thing you want to do (ignore an insult), but the first thing you want to be (sensible). Sometimes to be the person you want to be you need to do the last thing you want to do. Throughout the Bible we find images of oil. Oil is used in anointing people who are called to special tasks. Oil is also representative of the Holy Spirit. As Christians, we have the Holy Spirit in us. And if we will allow Him to coat us, the insults of the world can roll off “like water off a duck’s back.” We should spend time making sure we are covered with the oil of the Holy Spirit so that we can become ‘insult-proof’. Sometimes it feels good to shut down an insult with a better insult. But it does not end well. We weren’t created to match insult for insult, but to exhibit grace where and when it is least expected. The apostle Peter, who was known to be quick with his tongue told the early Christians this, and it may be a good admonition for today as you encounter insulting people, “all of you should be like-minded and sympathetic, should love believers, and be compassionate and humble, not paying back evil for evil or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing, since you were called for this, so that you can inherit a blessing.” (1 Peter 3:8-9) [Bible quotes are from the Holman Christian Standard Bible, unless otherwise noted.] Find more of David’s work at Heart Of Ministry. When I was growing up in North Carolina, many small towns included an interesting sign with their ‘city limits’ sign. This sign said, “Bird Sanctuary”. For a while I wondered what it meant. I was raised in a pastor’s home. So for a while I was confused, thinking that birds must go to church or something. I mean, in the back of my mind I knew this couldn’t be true, but I couldn’t figure out what else would go on in a sanctuary. Eventually I asked my dad what it meant, and he told me that it was designated as a special place of safety for birds. I still wondered why birds were singled out to be safe in that area. Apparently in a Bird Sanctuary people are not allowed to kill or hurt birds. Over time I figured out that people could hunt birds in other areas, but if a bird was in the ‘sanctuary’, they were in a ‘no kill zone’. To this day I wonder how a bird knows where the sanctuary is. I’m sure birds that can read have a distinct advantage in the life expectancy department. Anyway, I just kind of took my dad’s definition of a bird sanctuary for decades. It wasn’t until recently as I thought about going to church one morning and was thinking about what it meant to enter the sanctuary that I actually looked up the definition of a “Bird Sanctuary”. After all, it is one of the only cultural uses of the term. You just don’t see the word sanctuary very often in the world. Sanctuaries are hard to find outside of the church. Apparently someone else had the same question about “Bird Sanctuaries”. This internet seeker was pointed to a town ordinance. Here is what the ordinance in Leland, N.C. says, “It shall be unlawful for any person to hunt, kill, maim, injure or trap any birds in the town or to destroy, rob or molest the eggs or nests and breeding places of any birds within the town. This section shall not be construed to protect any bird classified as predatory by the wildlife resources commission or by state law or to protect pigeons, crows, starlings or English sparrows.” There are two main points to draw from this ordinance… 1 – It is unlawful to kill, hurt, or trap birds or their families in the sanctuary. 2 – Predatory birds are not protected in the sanctuary. When we think of a Christian sanctuary, we often think of a church building. More specifically, a room in the church building set aside for worship services. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with this. Sanctuaries have been designed to provide shelter and quiet from the world outside. It is a safe place where you can come apart from your daily life to find peace and life. That is one of the great draws for most people who regularly attend church. But a Biblical view of a sanctuary goes deeper. The apostle Paul told the early Christians, “Don’t you yourselves know that you are God’s sanctuary and that the Spirit of God lives in you? If anyone destroys God’s sanctuary, God will destroy him; for God’s sanctuary is holy, and that is what you are.” (1 Corinthians 3:16-17) Was Paul taking a page out of Leland, NC’s ordinance book? Obviously not. But look at what Paul says. You are the sanctuary of God. If you are a believer, the Holy Spirit lives in you. Your life is a safe place in which God can dwell. The enemy has no place in your life. You are set apart in a spiritually safe place. You are protected. But predators are not protected. If the enemy tries to destroy God’s place, he will be destroyed. If you destroy God’s place, you will be destroyed. That doesn’t sound compassionate… but God is a jealous God. In another letter, Paul tells a church, “The whole building, being put together by Him, grows into a holy sanctuary in the Lord. You also are being built together for God’s dwelling in the Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:21-22) We aren’t only individually God’s safe dwelling place. Collectively we are a sanctuary. So on a Sunday morning, we are a sanctuary of sanctuaries. That is why it is so encouraging to be in the fellowship of believers. It is a place of protection and peace where we can worship God on a whole other level together. Even non-believers can recognize and experience this phenomenon. As a side note to pastors and other church leaders… We should be diligent to make sure the sanctuary is a safe place for people… but not extend that guarantee of safety to the enemy. Another great thought is what Jesus said in the sermon on the mount. He told us that if God takes care of the birds, He will certainly take care of us, because we are more valuable than birds. (Matthew 6:25-26) But what happens when we go back into the world on Monday? That large gathering… that sanctuary is not going with us. That’s when you remember that you are individually a sanctuary. You are a place where the Holy Spirit dwells and rules in peace. So you are safe as you walk with Christ. Not only are you safe from the predator who would destroy your soul, but you are a place of safety and peace for those seeking God. A bird that flies into a bird sanctuary may have no idea that it is in a safe place, or why there is less trouble, but it can enjoy the benefits none the less. Today you have the opportunity to be a sanctuary for the God. Jesus Christ Himself has saved you and designated you a safe place, giving you His Spirit to enforce the spiritual ordinance. Now, go out and provide that peace of God wherever you go, and to whomever you meet. [Bible quotes are from the Holman Christian Standard Bible, unless otherwise noted.] Find more of David’s work at Heart Of Ministry. One of the keys to true worship is position. The best way to be in the right position for worship is to understand position. We are to be in a certain place spiritually and mentally, and we are to see God in a certain place as well. We should in humble submission, while seeing God in majestic authority. If we can do this, we will be changed. There are plenty of things that oppose proper position. It could be pride, lack of trust, distractions, etc. Regardless of what it is that keeps us or moves us from the place where we should be, when we are out of position, our connection with God suffers. Think of a signal and receiver. There are some places where you cannot receive cell phone service. Sometimes it is because you are out of range of the closest tower. The distance is a barrier. Other times you may be in a place where the concrete walls are so thick that a signal cannot penetrate, even if the tower is within range. Sometimes there may be interference prohibiting a clear signal. And if your battery is dead, you won’t receive calls. Similarly, our position with God will impact our worship. Today you have the obligation and opportunity to worship. You should make sure things are clear between you and the Lord. Some things will keep you from seeing Him, and some things can keep Him from hearing you. Here is a great passage about position and worship. “My heart is confident, God; I will sing; I will sing praises with the whole of my being. Wake up, harp and lyre! I will wake up the dawn. I will praise You, Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to You among the nations. For Your faithful love is higher than the heavens, and Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. God, be exalted above the heavens, and let Your glory be over the whole earth. Save with Your right hand and answer me so that those You love may be rescued.” (Psalm 108:1-6) He is positioned to deliver us. May we be positioned to be delivered. [Bible quotes are from the Holman Christian Standard Bible, unless otherwise noted.] Find more of David’s work at Heart Of Ministry. “The heavens and the earth and everything in them were completed. By the seventh day God completed His work that He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work that He had done. God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, for on it He rested from His work of creation.” (Genesis 2:1-3) One of the most interesting passages in the Bible. Seven days into this experience of humanity, God rested. This was before there were billions of people, hundreds of wars, thousands of diseases, and all the problems we see today. God rested seven days in. It isn’t because He had to for His own virtue, but He did it on principle to teach us that work is not the answer to everything. We were created with the ability to work, but some of our life should just be being. Today is the 7th day of the week. It is the Sabbath. The Sabbath never changed to Sunday. It has always been, and will always be the 7th day of the week. Whether or not you are working on this day, consider the principle of just being. Consider what it means for the God of the universe to rest, and why you think you can’t. He didn’t rest because it was easier for Him to get time off. He created time. He ordains it. And He says that we should take time away so as to not be mastered by it. Time can be a crushing task-master. Put it in its place today. That’s all. Quit reading. Go rest and enjoy the free time God has ordained in your life. [Bible quotes are from the Holman Christian Standard Bible, unless otherwise noted.] Find more of David’s work at Heart Of Ministry. |
AuthorMy name is David, and I want to know God more, and help other people find Him. Archives
March 2019
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