Mixed Emotions

Today I am sharing with a mixed bag of emotions. The bishop has appointed me to a new church. So, Linda and I will be leaving Clanton FUMC. I want everyone to know how much I love the people in this church. You all have meant so much to me and my family and will always hold a very special place in my heart and memory. You have welcomed, accepted and loved us from the very beginning and I don't have the words to express how much that means to me and how my heart will grieve as we move from here. I thank God for allowing me to minister and be a part of all the great things that have happened and are happening at FUMC. It has been a tremendous blessing to share in your lives and to be your associate pastor.
Along with the pain and sadness of separation I am also excited about the opportunities ahead of me and the ministry that God has for me and Linda as we move to a new church filled with wonderful people and new experiences. I am thrilled to be coming as the new pastor of Robinson Springs UMC in Millbrook Al. And I am looking forward to a fruitful ministry together as we do our best to follow God's direction. I believe God is moving in this church and that he has great plans for their future as we share the love of Christ with our community and make disciples of Jesus Christ.

Victory

Matt 4:11 “Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.”  1 Cor 10:13 tells us that “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”  These temptations encapsulate all the ways we are tempted and yet Jesus was without sin.  He did this through the power of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.  These are the same sources of strength and victory available to us today if we would but avail ourselves of them.   Luke says that the devil left him for a time.  The enemy does not just attack us once or twice or three times.  He continues to attack over and over again.  Often when least expected.  That’s why Paul tells the Ephesians to put on the full armor of God.  Then the angels come and fulfill their protective role as quoted earlier from Psalm 91.  God is faithful to His word if will just trust and obey.

How often to I fall to temptation because I have not put on the full armor of God or spent time with God?

How do I need God’s strength to overcome today?

How do I need His holy messengers to come and minister to me?

Lord, thank you for the power of the resurrection that enables us to stand firm against the enemy. Lord, I need your strength to get through this day.  Temptation faces me around every corner.  Help me remain faithful and hear those words I so long to hear.  Well done my good and faithful servant. Amen.

This is my last Lenten post.  Thank you for journeying with me in the wilderness with Jesus for these forty days.  I hope you have a blessed and wonderful resurrection day.  May you know the love of the Father, the power of the Son, and the presence of the Holy Spirit now and forever.

Acceptable Religion

Matt 4:10 “For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”  The Greek word used here for serve can also be translated worship.  It is always used in the New Testament to refer to worship or serving God alone.  In his quote, Jesus adds the word “only” for emphasis.  Religious worship is due to God only, and must not be given to anyone or anything else.  So often, religion gets a bad rap in evangelical circles.  We talk about relationship rather than religion.  But religion isn't bad.  It’s when those religious acts take the place of true worship that we run into trouble.  Paul tells Timothy in his first letter that we should put our religion into practice.  And James explains worthless and acceptable religion in chapter one of his epistle.  Paul explains to the Romans that we are to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing for this is our spiritual act of service or worship to God.

How is my religion?

Is serving God part of my worship?

Lord, I am so thankful for the privilege and opportunity to worship you through service.  I pray that my worship, that my religion, would be pleasing unto you today and every day. Amen.

Fearful Worship

Matt 4:10 “For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” As Jesus commands the enemy to depart he once again uses Scripture.  He quotes from Deuteronomy 6:13 and 10:20, but he changes it just a little. In the original the word fear is used rather than worship.  Jesus isn’t misquoting Scripture.  He is applying it to the temptation that faces him and brings out the true sense of the word.  My grandmother used to say she didn’t understand why we should be afraid of God.  The word fear actually means to revere.  We shouldn’t be walking around shaking in our boots waiting for God to strike us down.  We should worship and revere our God.  We should be in awe of who he is and what he has done.

When was the last time I was wowed by God?

Does my worship adequately convey the awe and wonder I have for God?

Am I in awe of God or have I grown complacent and just take him for granted?

Ah Lord God thou hast made the heavens and the earth by thy great power.  Ah Lord God thou hast made the heavens and the earth by thine outstretched arm.  Nothing is too difficult for thee.  I praise you and worship you today because you alone are worthy!!!! Amen!

Flirting with Disaster

Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan!” Jesus’ response to this blatant attempt by Satan was different than all his others.  This was such an obvious sin that Jesus commands Satan to go away.  Jesus doesn’t argue with the devil or consider the temptation.  He quickly rejects it.  When we’re faced with situations or temptations that are clearly against the will of God we should not give them the time of day.  We must quickly and forcefully reject them and those that bear the temptation.  James 4:7 says, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”  First, we must submit ourselves to God and then we can resist the devil.  Although James says he will flee, there are many times in Scripture we are told to flee from sin.  1 Cor 6:18 “Flee from sexual immorality.”  1Cor 10:14 “…flee from idolatry.” 1 Tim 6:11 “But you, man of God, flee from all this…” 2 Tim 2:22 “Flee the evil desires of youth…” Don’t flirt with sin.  Don’t allow yourself to consider those things you know to be sin.  Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Are there areas in my life where I am flirting with sin rather than resisting or rejecting it?

Lord, give me the strength to stand against the enemy and the wisdom to know when to flee.  I submit myself to you.  Help me to resist the devil and not allow my evil desires to drag me away into sin.  Thank you that Jesus died to set me free.  I do not have to continue to sin, but am free to live for you.  Greater is he who is in me than he who is in the world. Amen.

Who's Worthy?

Matt 4:9 “if you will bow down and worship me.”  This is similar to Israel’s temptation to worship a golden calf in the wilderness.   Of all the laws given, the 10 commandments are arguably the greatest, given by the hand of God himself.  The very first commandment says, “You shall have no other gods before me.” (Ex 20:3) And the second is similar.  Speaking of idols it says, “You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God…”  (Ex 20:5)  The devil may not be asking you to worship him today, but there are all kinds of things out there that fight for our attention and our worship.  Worship is to feel an adoring reverence or regard for any person or thing.  It comes from the Old English worthscipe or worthship.  It can be anything we ascribe worth to.  It can be our careers, our spouses, our children.  It can be anything that we put before God.  So often today it seems like God is not our priority.  Our relationship and our worship of God is a convenience and we do it as long as there is nothing more important going on.

Is God really the priority in my life or are those just nice sounding words?

Who or what am I worshiping today as evidenced by where I am spending my time, energy and money?

Lord, forgive me when I allow other people and things to come between you and me; when I worship them more than you. I want to love you with my whole heart, soul, strength, and mind. Amen.