Our Opinions are NOT His Will.

Our Opinions are NOT His Will.

It seems we put a great deal of weight on what we think but not many of us, if pressed, could give a logical reason why we think the way we do. In most cases what we think dictates how we act and ultimately, live our lives.


I believe that much of what many of us would call our code of ethics is based on personal supposition gleaned from our political preference, sources of information, religious views or lack thereof, and our associations. Change just one of these and your ethical stance would be altered. This is true whether you are on the right, left or somewhere in-between. These unstable foundations are what our Lord was talking about when He told us not to build our house on shifting sands (Matthew 7:24-27).


We have to realize that truth is not a relevant thing. The statement that truth is relevant is an illogical assertion. Something that is true would be universally true and thus, not relevant. As science discovers “truths” about the universe, no one would say, “Gravity is relative”. Such an illogical statement would be laughed at. The only things that can be relative are opinions, assumptions or personal beliefs. Things that cannot be quantitatively examined. Truths are exactly that, “Truths”.


In our secular world, especially in our market based economy, success is measured by how well we succeed economically. If we are well educated, drive a nice car, have a beautiful home, are successful in our career, have a great family and have some money in the bank we have arrived and considered very successful. I am not denigrating any of these things, they are all fine and good in their proper place but when Christians and churches use these barometers to measure whether the ministry is a success, they have lost their perspectives.


Do you remember Jesus’ conversation with the rich young ruler (Luke 18:18-23)? He had kept the religious laws (exemplary) but Jesus looked at his heart and knew that his value was not God’s kingdom but his own kingdom.


We worry about our stuff, we worry about our relevance (I have 200 friends on Facebook) and we worry about our so called rights. We must take the time to find out what is really true and then begin to build our lives on that.


There are many brilliant men and women who have done exactly that. Some have come to determine that in Christ there is truth, others have found what they believe to be truth elsewhere. Each of them at least investigated and put some effort into discovering why they believe what they believe. Build your life on a firm foundation not on what you feel.


If what Jesus said is really the truth, “I am the way, the life and the truth, there is no other way to God except through me” (John 14:6), then I would assume that at bare minimum you would want to investigate just who this Jesus claimed to be.

To call ourselves a Christian because that is what we have always been is like saying your German, or some other nationality, and not even being able to locate the homeland on a map. Are you really a German or has someone told you that you are German. Are you really a Christian (follower of Christ) or has someone told you that you are a Christian. Read what Jesus had to say on the subject in the Gospel of John, Chapter 3.

Winter Sabbath

   Winter Sabbath

 A pallet of white replaces the pyrotechnics of reds, yellows and gold’s that mark the approach of the long season of                                                     Sabbath.                                                                                                                                          

Those creatures not able to escape are now left to eke out a living in this desolate season of                                                                                               Sabbath.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               While the wealth of foliage, the abundance of life now seems a distant memory in the midst of this sterile season of                                                    Sabbath.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Few are the calls of the creatures, an eerie silence, a frosty breath are all that can be heard in the silent season of                                                       Sabbath.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               The clattering of dried Oak leaves in the wind. They cling to the branches as if to say not yet, we will not give in to the season of  

 Sabbath.                                                                                                                             

 The icy clutch of a brisk north wind, the unrelenting cold that seems it will never give up the frigid season of                                                                         Sabbath.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             The sun begins to inch its way closer, the days begin to lengthen. Could it be a foreshadowing of an end to the long season of                                           Sabbath?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            The world shakes off the sleeping blanket of despondency to reveal new life. Everywhere we look we see the hopefulness of the demise of     another season of  Sabbath.                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Is it simply something to endure or is there a purpose? Does the long slumber increase the proliferation of life? Yes, wherever we look we see the abundant renewal compliments of the long season of Sabbath.                                                                                                                                                               by Al Willems

Told not to Fear

Don’t be afraid, “yeah” easier said than done. My wife, Connie, told me that the command to “fear not” appears 365 times in the Bible. That’s one per day. I’m not sure how accurate that is but I do know the Bible mentions fear over 500 times. Fear must be a part of life and all of us can attest that it is. I see a lot of fear in people’s eyes lately and I am sad. Some are calling it a “new normal” but deep down we all know, fear should never be a normal. We have all seen pictures of it, concentration camps, gulags, oppressed peoples; this type of normal is unacceptable. There is a price to pay for being “at peace”. The price is trust which creates courage. God tells us things will be difficult but “trust” that I have this. If you don’t trust, then you will fear.  (Proverbs 3, Jeremiah 17, John 16, James 1)

Isaiah 35:4   4 say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.”

John 14:27   27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Isaiah 43:1  1 But now, this is what the LORD says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine”.

Philippians 4:6-7 Be anxious for “nothing” but by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God and the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

God keeps from fear

What is the value of a prayer? What is the value of a promise? A prayer is our acting on a promise from God. God promises that “He” will work everything out for us. He said that He hears every single prayer we pray and that He knows how to give us good gifts. When we fear our greatest desire is to feel safe, to be relaxed, content. God promises to provide us with a peace the world cannot know in the midst of a chaotic world. Our prayers have the value of God’s promises. (Romans 8, Psalm 46, Psalm 121, Philippians 4)

Psalm 23:4  4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Psalm 34:4  4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.

Psalm 94:19  19 When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.

Romans 8:38-39  38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

2 Timothy 1:7 “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

Don’t worry about the future/provisions

We worry about things we have no control over. How sad if all we have is science, financial accounts or the government to supply us with security. There is a great gulf between what the wisdom of man (intelligence) can provide and the calamities of life. What do hypothetical models do to quell the anxious spirit? How will a fat bank account solve the questions of life and death? Can government create utopia?  If Christ is real, rose from the dead and sits at the Father’s right hand (a place of authority and counsel) and He has promised to never leave us or change, just maybe we have found something that all the things of man cannot provide. Just maybe. (Hebrews 13, Romans 8)

Matthew 6:34  34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew 8:25-26  “The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.”

Luke 12:25  “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?”

In God is our peace, what can men do.

This is the basis for our ability, as followers of Christ, to avoid being fearful and helpless. We have one who created the entire universe, He holds everything in His hand, and He loves us so much that He gave His only son so He could spend eternity with us if we only believe. (Colossians 1, John 3)

Psalm 27:1  1 The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalm 118:6  6 The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?

Psalm 56:3-4  3 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. 4 In God, whose word I praise— in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?

Hebrews 13:5-6  5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” 6 So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”

God gives help/peace/encouragement

What happens when the news has offered all it can? You can only take so much before you are inundated, overwhelmed and the saturation of information becomes part of the problem. Everyone has an opinion so who can you trust, what can we rely upon? God doesn’t offer opinions or suggestions, He offers solutions. He offers a place of shelter (not a shelter in place) in times of trouble. He offers you peace. HEADLINE: “GOD WILL HELP”. Just ask! (James 1, Matthew 7, Psalm 18, Psalm 91)

1 Peter 5:6-7  6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Isaiah 41:13  13 For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.

Romans 8:15  15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to son-ship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”

Isaiah 41:10 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Psalm 46:1-3 “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.”

Fear of the Lord

God is telling us to refocus. Fear Him who can destroy body & soul (God). Too many of us fear what men will do/say more than we fear the Lord. That is what destroyed Judah and Israel. Their kings feared men more than God. That’s what sin is, I don’t care what God says or thinks. I wonder if God wants me to do this or that, come on! (Proverbs 29)

Psalm 103:17 17 But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children—

Psalm 112:1 1 Praise the LORD.  Blessed are those who fear the LORD, who find great delight in his commands.

Matthew 10:28  28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Psalm 111:1 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

Psalm 115:11  11 You who fear him, trust in the LORD— he is their help and shield.

Fear of others, physical, emotional, not being accepted or valued.

When will it end? If our value is tied to the stuff we own, the job we have, the house we live in, our education, our social economic status our legacy will not last beyond 2 generations. Connie and I went to visit the Biltmore Estate in Ashville, NC. It was an amazing place for its time but by today’s standards, it’s a relic. A couple days later we visited the Billy Graham museum and I was looking at the dinner table in the Graham home which was modest by Vanderbilt standards. The Vanderbilt dinner table seated over 20 but comparing the two, which table represented the greater legacy? A quote from Billy Graham, “Someday you will hear that Billy Graham is dead. Don’t you believe a word of it. I shall be more alive than I am now. I will have just changed addresses”.  We all will one day change addresses. Our wealth will be in what we invested in. (Deuteronomy 6, Matthew 6, Matthew 7)

Deuteronomy 31:6  6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Isaiah 54:4 4 “Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood.

1 Peter 3:13-14 13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.”

Acts 5:29 “We must obey God rather than men”.

Proverbs 29:25 25 The fear of man brings a snare, But he who trusts in the Lord will be exalted.

Fear & discouragement

God’s rear view mirror, “Things may appear to be more discouraging than they actually are”. In case you haven’t noticed, life can throw you some curve balls. Wouldn’t it be nice to have the creator of the universe, someone who has not only the power to control things but also has the “want to” to control these things available for counsel and relief? God said life would be challenging but when life gets what seems to be out of control, there is one who is always in control. He can be your source of strength, your source of peace, your source of control.  (John 14)

1 Chronicles 28:20  20 David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished.

Isaiah 41:10  10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Joshua 1:9   9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Fear in judgement/punishment:

Go on the internet and type in “end times” and see what pops up. Although we may not verbalize it, many of us are wondering, could it be? We may not make it until global warming or some other man made catastrophe annihilates the entire world. Man has never had a greater ability to destroy the entire earth than he has at this very moment, yet the entire planet has been brought to its knees by a microscopic virus that no one can see or cure. What? Many do not believe in God until they need to blame Him for something. Is this a judgement? I think even those who do not believe, can see why it might be. Are we being punished? God holds all things in His hands. There is not anything that happens He is not aware of and that He could not stop if He chooses to do so.  God is not slow to anger, He is patient. He is waiting for you. Trust Him. Get to know Him. (Colossians 1, Isaiah 45, Matthew 10, 2 Peter 3)

Judges 7 God sent a dream which caused them to turn against each other.

1 John 4:18  18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

Exodus 12:12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the LORD.

2 Thessalonians 2:11 For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false,

Fear is a poor Counselor

Fear chases down and overcomes rational thought.

Fear Blinds.

How will we know the Christ?

I was listening to Michael Card’s song, “Known by the scars” and was struck by Thomas’ recognition of Jesus after the resurrection.

So the other disciples were saying to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” John 20:25 NASB

What did Thomas need to see to be convinced that what he saw was Jesus? What did Christ use to identify who he was, the scars. When we look for Christ, do we look for the scars? Every time we eat bread and drink wine do we remember the scars? When we say grace before a meal we must remember the scars. He is known by the scars.

The scars from the beating.

The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed.            Isaiah 53:5B NASB

What will our glorified bodies be like? If we take a moment to think about that many of us come up with bodies that we, or some advertising firm, have created of the perfect physic, our eyes perfectly spaced, a little smaller ears or nose. But I don’t think we envision the scars we have accumulated living in this fallen world.  The skinned knee from falling or the scar from surgery. The scars from relationships broken. We envision a new world with no tears, no pain and no scars.

How is it possible that the crowds who celebrated Christ’s entrance into Jerusalem less than a week later are now calling for the release of Barabbas and the scourging and crucifixion of the Christ? I find myself so often calling for the things of this world (give me Barabbas) over the things of God. A sort of “crucify Him” on His call on my life, “crucify Him” on His call to be holy, crucify Christ instead of my desires.

I want to be healed by His scars but I don’t want to remember my part in laying on the lashes. His mercy endures forever but so does His scars.

The scars from the thorns.

You are a king, here’s your crown. When Christ returns in the clouds will there be scars on His brow? The greatest king to ever walk the face of the earth, His only crown was made of thorns. The earth produces many beautiful things but it also produces thorns and thistles. The thorns represented sin (Gen. 3:18). What other crown could He have worn?

And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and put a purple robe on Him; and they began to come up to Him and say, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and to give Him slaps in the face. Pilate came out again and said to them, “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you so that you may know that I find no guilt in Him.”  Jesus then came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold, the Man!”  So when the chief priests and the officers saw Him, they cried out saying, “Crucify, crucify! John 19:2-6 NASB

Jesus was mocked, ridiculed and mistreated most vigorously before the verdict. Every time a person refuses to believe they slap the Christ, every time a believer refuses to act, they press the crown down. If we claim to follow but do not follow, we exchange a crown of gold for a crown of thorns.

 O sacred Head, now wounded,

With grief and shame weighed down,

Now scornfully surrounded

With thorns, thine only crown:

HYMN: Oh sacred head now wounded

On this earth our crown may be thorns but there is coming a day when we will exchange it for a crown of glory. James 1:12

The scars of the cross.

To have to carry your own instrument of execution, can there be a more devious degradation. When one looks at a life lived and the final work done was to carry your cross to your own execution, can it get any lower?

They took Jesus, therefore, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha. John 19:17

The Christ spent 30 years of life and what did He have to show for it. Think about this, His entire life culminated on the road known as the Via Delarosa. His final task was dragging that cross up that street. He was one of many, yet never was there one less worthy of that journey.  Can His shoulders and back not carry the scars; should they vanish, be completely forgotten?

We are called to carry our crosses, Mark 8:34. The scars from that task will be evident in our lives if we obey. Paul would only boast in that cross.

But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Galatians 6:14

How can we doubt our God if He can take a creation of death and torture and turn it into victory. Is anything beyond His transformative power?  If the cross had not completed its intended purpose, salvation would not be possible.

The scars of the nails

Another line from a Michael Card song, “Why did they nail His feet and hands, His love would have held him there”. Love is ordinarily demonstrated by a hug, a kiss, a pat on the back yet our God demonstrated, showed us how much He loves us, by allowing His Son to be nailed to that cross, Romans 5:8.

As the Christ stood before Thomas he told him,

Then He said to Thomas, “Reach here with your finger, and see My hands” John 20: 27A

Thomas never did reach and touch. Jesus’s demonstration of love did not include a hug, He did not kiss Thomas. The Christ’s new life was really all Thomas had to see; the Christ’s new life elicited the response, “My Lord and my God”.  All Thomas saw were the scars; that was enough.

The only time Mel Gibson appeared in his classic movie, “The passion of the Christ” was when there was a close-up of Christ being nailed to the cross. The hands holding the nail, the fist on the hammer were Mel Gibson’s hands. He knew where he should be. We all should be there but yet, all the scars demonstrate God’s love. That’s how He showed Thomas His love. That’s how He shows us all His love.

Jesus carried the scares to heaven. It’s what our world gave to Him. We must ask ourselves, what memorial are we leaving with Christ?  Praise God that by His Spirit, not all are scars.

The scar of the lance.

But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities;      Isaiah 53:5A NASB

The scar of the lance is a scar of “confirmation”. First for those who executed our Lord:

But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. John 19:34 NASB

Secondly for Thomas:

“reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.”        John 20:27B

Lastly for us: The lance was the confirmation that it truly was “finished”, the total price had been paid.  The conformation that a way has been made for us to repair a relationship with God that had been destroyed by our disobedience (sin), Colossians 1:20. God took a means of torture, a means of execution, and made it the Gospel, 1 Corinthians 1:18.

The curse of those who are hung on a tree Gal. 3:13, became in this world of sin, the replaced “tree of life”.  Could the Via Delarosa, Golgotha, Pilate’s court, the place of scourging be the portal, the way, to Eden for our souls? The light shines more brightly in the darkness.

Another quote from Michael Card in reference to God’s love, “He could not love more and would not love less”.  Who can fathom the depths of His Love? Scars are not painful, they are a reminder. They remain a part of Christ’s glorified body. The wages of sin is death (scars) but the gift of God is eternal life “through” our Lord Jesus Christ, Romans 6:13.