Do You Break the Law?

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Day 543: Evidence of Responsibility, Part 5 of 6: Romans 2:23 You who brag about the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law?     Thoughts for Today:   I was on a financial blog the other night discussing the Biblical principles related to making money -- whether through interest charged, making a profit in business, or savings (interest earned). It was very interesting to hear how some people were absolutely convinced the Bible is against making a profit and saving. Others passionately took the opposite position and provided just as compelling arguments. So what does the Bible say about these issues? A lot. But I think it can be summed up in the story of the rich young man from Matthew 19 -- I'm sure you remember it well: A young man approached Jesus and asked what good thing he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus told him to follow the commandments. The young man confidently replied, "All of these I have kept. What do I still lack?" Jesus told him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." The story ends with the young man walking away in disappointment because he had great wealth. Most of us when looking at this story come to the conclusion the young man valued riches in this world over treasure in heaven. Others might add Jesus was speaking about the condition of his heart. Jesus knew both pride and possessions were between the young man and God. I believe in our passage today, Paul was speaking on a parallel subject -- the Jews like the young man were prideful, covetous, and self-righteous. They bragged about the law and by doing so, broke it. Paul is telling the Jews: The big thing between you and God is the law -- you've made it into something you own and boast about -- as a result you've not only lost its meaning, but it's source as well. You have brought dishonor to God.     Questions to Ponder:   What is more important to you, following rules or your relationship with the Lord?   The problem with the law is it is hard to follow, subject to multiple interpretations, and cause many to get caught up in legalistic wording rather than divine intent.   Are you more concerned with the law or its purpose? Which of your rules need to be reevaluated ?

Do You Rob Temples?

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Day 542: Evidence of Responsibility, Part 4 of 6:  Romans 2:22b You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?     Thoughts for Today:   Although the Jews hated the idols worshipped by pagans, it didn't stop them from selling or using them in some other way in their own businesses -- I believe that's what Paul is speaking about. In other words, making money in un-Godly ways. It is always interesting to me how some find a way to separate their business, professional or personal activities from church life. However, a number of the more tragic cases of fraud have been intentionally perpetrated by one church member upon another ("robbing temples"). One extreme example came to a conclusion in 2007 when Donald Deardoff, the former treasurer of the Baptist Foundation of Arizona was ordered to serve four years in prison and pay $159 million to victims of an investment scam (former foundation president William Crotts and general counsel Thomas Grabinski were sentenced in September 2006 to eight and six years in prison, respectively, on fraud and racketeering charges). According to the Associated Baptist Press: "The foundation collapsed in 1999 after state regulators ordered it to stop selling securities. Controlled by the Arizona Southern Baptist Convention, it had generated money by soliciting funds from clients -- mainly elderly Baptists -- ostensibly to build churches and retirement homes. Instead, courts found, foundation leaders used the funds for a classic pyramid scheme. The foundation shuffled bad debt and overvalued property between phony companies, paying high profits to backers from the money paid in by subsequent investors. About 11,000 investors lost more than $550 million in the foundation's collapse." In a Feb. 6 editorial, the Tucson Citizen called the case a "sordid story" and predicted that investors wouldn't get back nearly the amount of money they had entrusted to the foundation. "It is a sad story of greed perpetrated in the name of a church," the editors wrote. I think that quote pretty well sums up what Paul is addressing in our passage today as well as the core issue in every investment scam: Greed.  To Ponder:   I have always made it a practice to not mix business with church. Not that my business is conducted in anything other than high Biblical and moral standards, but rather so no one would confuse my intent or position at church with business objectives. I am a little concerned whenever I see someone using the church membership directory as a network for business -- and equally concerned when a member thinks doing business only with Christians is a guarantee of "fair dealing". In several instances, including the one cited in today's devotion -- just the opposite is the case. So be careful -- especially where money is concerned. Greed is a potential snare for all of us.

Wherever Life Takes You Be prepared to share the Gospel !

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Pocket-Sized Gospels of John for Wherever Life Takes You!  Dear Friend, Whether you're staying local or traveling abroad pocket-sized Gospels of John are a mission trip essential! Order early and get your team equipped to share the Gospel with ease using Evangelism Boot Camp. Available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese (HK and CN), Japanese, Italian, German and coming soon in Russian. Mission field stories:   “I have been using these Gospels in Mexico each summer for 4 years. Last summer I met Raul and gave him and his children a Gospel of John in Spanish. Since then, he left a life of alcoholism, domestic abuse and is helping now helping the local church.” - Alicia G from Lake St Louis, MO “My son shared Pocket Gospels in Nicaragua at an orphanage and a dump city. Three soldiers were brought to tears as they surrendered their lives to Christ.”  - Sheri T. from Lafayette, IN “We shared the “God’s Word to You” Pocket Testament with kids at a children's home during our mission trip to India. After reading the Gospel, a 12 year old boy prayed to receive Jesus!” - Laura N. from Santa Rosa, CA People of all ages love to receive pocket-sized Gospels! Each Gospel includes the full Gospel of John and an easy to under plan of salvation.  Be prepared to share the Gospel wherever life takes you! Order today!

Do You Commit Adultery?

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Day 541: Evidence of Responsibility, Part 3 of 6:  Romans 2:22a You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery?     Thoughts for Today:   Many of us feel that un-acted upon impulses or thoughts is not really sin. It only becomes sin if it is acted upon. Jesus clears this up for us in Matthew 5:28: "But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." James Allen (1864-1912) wrote: "The aphorism, 'As a man thinketh in his heart so is he,' not only embraces the whole of a man's being, but is so comprehensive as to reach out to every condition and circumstance of his life. A man is literally what he thinks, his character being the complete sum of all his thoughts." I think James Allen got it right although his "aphorism" is a quote from Proverbs 23:7a: "For as he thinks within himself, so he is." Or the King James Version: "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he." The Bible agrees, we are indeed a sum total of our thoughts. In our passage today, Paul asks the Jews: "Do you commit adultery?" God himself broadly defined adultery as not just relations with a member of the opposite sex (whether actual or fantasy), but all activity which takes us away from His influence and Lordship over our lives. (For more information on this subject: The Book of Hosea emphasizes all the ways the Jews had distanced themselves from God by establishing other priorities and chasing after other interests -- God considered all of this adultery. Questions to Ponder:   If you consider God's definition of adultery -- have you been faithful? Have you been pursuing other interests or placing greater priority on activities not directed by the Lord? Do you need to re-order some of those activities? Do some need to be eliminated? "For as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." What thoughts are in your heart? Would God be pleased? Do you need to do some housecleaning?

Do You Steal?

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Day 540: Evidence of Responsibility, Part 2 of 6:  Romans 2:21b You who preach against stealing, do you steal?     Thoughts for Today:   I was on a plane returning from a grueling twelve day overseas trip. Just before landing the flight attendant passed out the Customs Declaration Form for us all to fill out. I had been on this particular flight for the last seventeen hours -- the final leg after two days of travel from Nepal to Los Angeles and home. To say I was in a hurry to see my wife, daughter, and the comfort of my own bed is an understatement. I looked at that Declaration form for a full five minutes -- I envisioned the long lines waiting for me if I answered the questions truthfully. Endless bureaucratic delays. I fantasized about lying on the form, then sending in a letter from home including a check in the amount of the duty I owed -- apologizing for my oversight. What harm could there be? I intended to pay the duty -- right? I was just making paying the duty a little more convenient. Then reality kicked in, I filled out the form correctly, and when I got off the plane -- I took my place in the appropriate line. Surprisingly the line moved quickly. When it was my turn the Custom's Officer asked me: "Do you really want to declare this much?" I answered: "Yes, it's what I bought -- I have a big family." He asked: "Is all this from Nepal -- not Bangkok (I had a stopover in Bangkok)?" "No," I answered. "Well you're in luck, because no duty is due from Nepal. You are free to go." I stood there in shocked silence -- it taken all of two minutes -- start to finish, yet I had agonized on the plane for over an hour about how long I would be delayed. It is always interesting to me how we can so easily rationalize our decisions to steal. Yes, that's right -- not paying duty is stealing -- just like so many other things we do or are tempted to do. I have seen normally good, ethical, Christian men and women who think nothing of taking something which doesn't belong to them. A pen from a restaurant, office supplies from work, pirated copies of a new movies, hotel towels, unauthorized music downloads, etc. Small thefts but stealing none-the-less. In our passage today Paul asks, "You who preach against stealing, do you steal?" I think that's a good question for us all to answer.     Questions to Ponder:   What do you consider stealing? Many times I hear people rationalize thefts: "They can afford it," or "They expect you to take stuff -- it's included in the price." Stealing is stealing whether it's a home break-in, theft of an auto, or packing a hotel towel in your suitcase. Where do you think God draws the line on acceptable thefts? Or is a theft a theft, no matter how minor the cost or who it belongs to ?

Do You Not Teach Yourself?

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Day 539: Evidence of Responsibility, Part 1 of 6: Romans 2:21a ...you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself?     Thoughts for Today:   We just finished a four part series which was titled: "Questions of Responsibility." Paul now asks six more questions which have to do with the "Evidence of Responsibility" as demonstrated in our lives. Today we deal with the first of these: "If we know God's Word so well that we teach it to others, then why don't we teach it to ourselves?" A few days ago I had some words in anger with a guy who did something I wished he hadn't. The problem was threefold: what I said, how I said it, and what I felt -- none of which were good. Unfortunately the situation was compounded because my eight year old daughter Amanda overhead a large portion of it. Not only did I need to apologize to the guy for my words, ask God for forgiveness and pray for Him to change my heart -- I also had to sit down and talk about it with Amanda. I decided the direct approach with Amanda was the best: "I was wrong to say what I said. No matter what someone else does it is never right to use unkind words." Amanda responded matter-of-factly: "I know." Then I asked her: "Will you forgive me for being a poor example?" Amanda answered: "Of course I will -- we all make mistakes, that's why we need Jesus -- right Daddy?" I have to say I didn't feel too good about my behavior that day, yet somehow God turned the ugliness into a teaching experience for both Amanda and myself. Paul's words came to me: "You who teach others, do you not teach yourselves?" My answer is: "Yes, even when I make a mistake."     Questions to Ponder:   Too often when we make mistakes, rather than confess and ask forgiveness we seek to cover and excuse. On that day I could have easily covered my behavior with self-righteous indignation. If I had done so, Amanda may not have said anything, but she was watching -- she knew what I did was wrong, and just as important, she was paying close attention to how I handled my error. Confess and seek forgiveness or cover and make excuses -- it's a choice we make in these types of situations. Fortunately I did the right thing even in my error.   How do you handle your errors?   Is there anything you need to clear up and take responsibility for right now?

God's Judgment: Fear, Ignore or Deny ?

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Day 522:  Romans 2:2a Now we know that God's judgment...     Thoughts for Today:   Most people (Christian and non-Christian alike) would agree, that some of history's greatest villains (Jeffery Dahmer, Adolf Hitler, etc.) deserve eternal punishment for their acts while on this earth. Our passage today begins with the words, "Now we know", for Paul is discussing every man is born with the inherent knowledge one day we will be judged by a power higher than ourselves for the way we have lived. It is curious to me how many people will say when discussing a person (OJ Simpson for example), who appears to have done wrong yet escaped punishment, "He'll get what he deserves in the next life." Then in the same breath, argue against God's right to judge their own sinful acts. "I'm a good person," is what I hear most often. So does that mean God won't judge us? Does God hold up a scale and place all of our good and selfless acts on one side and all of our lies, gossip, insults, etc. on the other -- and make His decision accordingly? Do we get to choose what is sinful and what is not? I don't think so. Here is what the Bible says about God's judgment: Psalm 9:6, "The Lord reigns forever; he has established his throne for judgment." Ecclesiastes 3:17, "God will bring to judgment both the righteous and the wicked." Jeremiah 2:35, "You say, 'I am innocent; he is not angry with me.' But I will pass judgment on you because you say, 'I have not sinned.' " Matthew12:36 [Jesus speaking], "But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken." This coming judgment of God is something we either fear, avoid thinking about, or completely deny. Many people in our country have deceived themselves into believing judgment by God is an archaic and uneducated concept. However, regardless of how we feel about it -- it is something all will face. 2 Corinthians 5:10, "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad."     Questions to Ponder:   Do you believe in eternal life? What about God's judgment? I know when I die and appear before the Lord, my sins will have been paid and washed away with the blood of Jesus. Do you have the same confidence?

If You Are Convinced You Are a Guide...

Day 538: Questions of Responsibility, Part 4: Romans 2:19-20 ...if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth...     Thoughts for Today:   Today is the final of a four part series titled: "Questions of Responsibility." Paul clearly wrote these words (Romans 2:17-20) to the Jews, however I think we can learn a lot if we apply them to ourselves as well. In many ways, we are just like the Jews -- two thousand years after Jesus died, Christianity is no longer an upstart religion -- it is well established with numerous traditions of its own. Unfortunately if we are not careful, we too can totally miss Jesus when we spend our time trying to follow rules rather than the Lord. We started in Part One with who we are: "If you call yourself a Christian, then what are some of your responsibilities?" In Part Two, we looked at our attitude about being a Christian, "If you brag about your relationship with God, then there had better be a lot of fruit in your life (or it's just empty boasting)." And Part Three asked a leading question: "If you know God's will" -- In other words, do we read and study God's Word ourselves or do we just follow the opinions of others. We conclude today with Part Four: "If you are convinced you are a guide." Not long ago, Amanda, Sherry and I were at the airport where we met a woman who trained "helper" dogs -- dogs taught to assist the elderly, handicapped, or the guide the blind. Of course Amanda, who loves dogs ran right up to the dog to pet it until she read a sign on its back asking parents to keep their children from doing so: "I am a working dog." While we waited for our plane we talked with the woman at length about the dog's training -- a large part of which was re-education: it was no longer a pet, had a very specific role, and it's duties must always be performed. As we talked it got me to thinking about my responsibilities and how and why they had changed over the years. When I left college to get a "real job" I had to get up early, shave, shower, and put on a suit including a freshly laundered shirt and tie (sandals, a tee shirt and shorts were no longer appropriate attire). When my first child was born, my sleep was interrupted with midnight feedings -- ones which I couldn't ignore -- and as a parent I had a whole new set of responsibilities which further redefined me as a person. When I became a Christian, my responsibilities again changed forever. I always find it interesting to see how Christians answer this question: "How have your responsibilities changed once you became a Christian?" A lot of people answer with: "I pray, read and study the Bible, attend church, sing in the choir, etc." But what about the other responsibilities Paul describes in our passage today: "a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, an instructor of the foolish, (and) a teacher of infants"? Are you fulfilling those responsibilities as well?     Questions to Ponder:   What does the Bible say about our responsibilities as Christians? We have been given an amazing gift, but what are you doing with it? When was the last time you shared your faith? Is your life a light in a dark and desperate world? Do you point the "lost" to evidence of a Divine and Holy Creator? How well versed are your children in Biblical truths? Are you convinced you are a "guide" for those who have been blinded to the "embodiment of knowledge and truth" in Jesus Christ?

If You Know His Will

Day 537: Questions of Responsibility, Part 3: Romans 2:18 ...if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law...     Thoughts for Today:   A few days ago I went scuba diving with two of my friends. When diving, just before leaving the surface of the water it is important to take a compass reading in the direction of the intended dive site. This is done so you can find it while under water since there are no landmarks (visibility is usually limited to 15 to 20 feet). In other words, it is easy to get turned around and lost while under water without an accurate compass reading. On this particular day, for whatever reason, I did not do so -- I relied upon my friends. Down we went to the seabed fifty feet below -- one of my friends started swimming and I began to follow him. After about ten minutes I realized we were all following one another in a big, random circle. No one was leading -- everyone was following. Finally, I grabbed one of my friends, took a reading off of his compass, then signaled for everyone to follow my lead. Fortunately, we found the dive site that day, and our way back to the boat. If only life were that simple. As I read our passage today, I thought of my scuba diving experience -- Paul is almost posing a question: "If you know God's will, then how and why do you get so off track?" Answer: Their compass was initially pointed at the Lord -- but over time it became directed at each other (they relied on their own interpretations of the Law and lost sight of the Lord's leadership). Good intentions but poor results. It's easy to do and is one of the many ways we get off track as well -- we want to follow the Lord -- instead we end up just following one another in big, random circles.     Questions to Ponder:   It is important for each of us to take our direction directly from the Lord. So many get off track because they follow men rather than the Lord. It's how cults are developed and also one of the reasons the original Ten Commandments morphed into thousands of laws and rules for the Jews to follow. Following men versus following God.   Do you know God's will? Have you been reading and studying your Bible? Does the leadership in your life come from the opinion others, or the Lord? What is your responsibility to know God's will?

If You Brag About Your Relationship to God

Day 536: Questions of Responsibility, Part 2: Romans 2:17b ...if you rely on the law and brag about your relationship to God...     Thoughts for Today:   I met a young man last summer who redefined the term "braggadocio" (Encarta Dictionary: empty boasting and swaggering self-aggrandizement). It seemed no matter what the subject or activity he was an expert and had done it all -- only better. If talk was about ski jumps, he recounted going off a hundred meter jump in Saint Moritz last winter and "stuck the landing" (he didn't crash); if the discussion went to white water rafting, he talked of class six rapids (highest level) he had accidently entered by canoe and navigated with ease. I thought, "For a twenty year old kid, you sure have some colorful experiences." I also wondered how much it was real versus invented. The conversation then turned to wakeboarding -- which of course he was expert at as well, and had recently received offers by unnamed sponsors to turn pro. Since it was summer in Idaho I just happened to have my boat docked behind the house -- I offered to take him wakeboarding with me the following day and perhaps he could provide some pointers. He just looked at me. Finally, after a little gentle prodding and urging by my friends (who were the parents of his girlfriend), he reluctantly agreed to go. Let me suffice it to say we were all less than impressed. I think this is what Paul is speaking about in our passage today: If you are going to brag about something -- you better be able to demonstrate it. Clearly Paul was less than impressed with the evidence of God demonstrated in the Jews lives. He will soon be asking them: "Where's the fruit?" Scripture is the promise of a relationship with God, but where's the proof?     Questions to Ponder:   Paul writes in Galatians 6:14, "May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world."   In other words, Paul's vision was changed when he saw the world through the prism of the cross. Have you looked at your life lately through the cross of Jesus? Does your life reflect the abundance of the Lord? Is it empty boasting or is God's love demonstrated to and through you?