Legalism or Grace

'..do not set aside...grace...' Galatians 2:21 NKJV

Imagine going to the emergency room and being asked to leave because you're bleeding all over the floor! Jesus encountered that legalistic mindset when He healed a crippled woman on the Sabbath. 'Indignant...the synagogue ruler said..."There are six days for work...come and be healed on those days..."' (Luke13:14 NIV) Observing the law was more important to him than the people he was supposed to care for, Max Lucado says: 'All...religions can be placed in one of two camps: legalism or grace. A legalist believes...if you look right, speak right and belong to the right group, you will be saved...The outside sparkles...but something's missing...Joy. What's there instead? Fear that you won't do enough. Arrogance that you've done enough. Failure that you've made a mistake. Legalism is...slow suffocation of the spirit, amputation of one's dreams...enough religion to keep but not nourish you...Your diet is rules and standards. Legalism...doesn't need God...It's the search for innocence not forgiveness...a systematic process of defending...explaining...exalting...justifying...[It] turns my opinion into your burden. There's only room for one opinion...and guess who's wrong? [It] turns my opinion into your boundary. Your opposing opinion makes me question not only your right to fellowship with me, but your salvation. It turns my opinion into your obligation. Christians must toe the company line. Your job isn't to think, it's to march...Salvation is God's business. Grace is his idea, his work, and his expense. He offers it to whomever he desires, when he desires. Our job is to inform...people, not screen [them].' Paul writes, 'Do not set aside...grace...for if righteousness comes through the law...Christ died in vain.' (Galatians 2:21 NKJV) Thank God 'He saved us because of His mercy...not...good deeds we did...' (Titus 3:5 NCV)

Don't Judge!

'Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen?...' Romans 8:33 NLT

When you tear someone down, you're on thin ice with God. The Bible says: 'Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for His own? Will God? No! He is the one who has given us right standing with Himself... Will Christ Jesus? No, for He is the one who died for us and was raised to life for us and is sitting...next to God, pleading for us.' (Romans 8:33-34 NLT) Your fellow-believers are not perfect, but God says they '...belong to his dear Son.' (Ephesians1:6 NLT) There's nothing you can bring against them that God doesn't already know. Stop and think; by discrediting them you're questioning the One who redeemed them, implying He made a mistake and doesn't know what He's doing. You say, 'But shouldn't I speak up when something is wrong?' Yes, but be careful about overstepping your bounds and condemning the person. Your attitude should be one of helpfulness, forgiveness and reconciliation. Anytime you try to judge what you've no authority over, you're out of your jurisdiction! Paul writes, 'Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.' (Romans 14:4 NIV) It's God's job to judge others and He doesn't need your help to do it!

Live Caleb's Way Part 2

'...My servant Caleb...has a different spirit in him...' Numbers 14:24 NKJV

Caleb said to Moses, '..."Let us go up at once and take possession [of the Promised Land] for we are well able..." But the men...with him...gave...a bad report...saying..."There we saw the giants...and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight..."' (Numbers 13:30-33 NKJV) Notice two attitudes at work in this story: (1) An attitude of doubt. Ten of twelve spies came back saying, 'It can't be done!' But the majority isn't necessarily right. If God promises you something, it's yours, even if you're in the minority. The majority report terrified God's people; they got spiritual amnesia; they forgot all about God's supernatural provision. They talked themselves into believing that Egypt was actually the land of milk and honey. '...you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness...' (Numbers16:13 NKJV) Incredible! Egypt was a land of straw and slavery, not milk and honey. What was their problem? They allowed their surroundings to influence them more than God's promises. When that happens you dry up spiritually, begin to grumble and say stuff like, 'God may have worked miracles in the past, but He doesn't do it anymore.' As a result of their unbelief, not one of them entered the Promised Land except Joshua and Caleb. (2) An attitude of faith. God said, 'But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land...and his descendants shall inherit it.' (Numbers 14:24~NKJV) So, which attitude do you have?

Live Caleb's Way

'...the Lord has kept me alive...' Joshua 14:10 NKJV

At the ripe old age of eighty-five, Caleb said to Joshua, '...the Lord has kept me alive...just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war...give me this mountain of which the Lord spoke in that day...And Joshua blessed him, and gave Hebron to Caleb...because he wholly followed the Lord...' (Joshua 14:10-14 NKJV) There was nothing half-baked or half-hearted about Caleb. His dream kept him alive; he got out of bed every morning intent on pursuing it. When God gives you a dream as big as a mountain, it will keep you going while others around you are giving up. But be careful who you listen to. Don't let the critics discourage you by saying, 'You're too old.' The Bible says that like a palm tree, you can produce your greatest harvest of fruit in your final years (Psalm 92:12-14). When the sun goes down the stars come out so you can shine brightest in the closing chapters of your life. Barbara Klassen says: 'My great-great uncle lived to one hundred and six. He was healthy and spry and took joy in chauffeuring his less able-bodied senior friends around town. On his hundredth birthday his driver's licence came up for renewal. When he went to the licensing bureau a sceptical clerk said, 'You're a hundred years old! What do you need a driver's licence for?' My uncle, completely nonplussed, replied, 'Somebody has to drive the old folks around!' He continued to have a legal driver's licence for the next five years.' Do it Caleb's way: live right up to the moment you die!

Don't Lose Your peace of Mind

'You will keep him in perfect peace...' Isaiah 26:3 NKJV

We lose our peace of mind for four reasons:

(1) We try to change the people in our lives. As you grow wiser you begin to realise that you can't change other people, only God can! And He does, when you back off, and love them as they are. This doesn't mean agreeing with everything they do. It means committing to love them regardless, claiming God's promises on their behalf and allowing Him to deal with them His way, in His time and for His glory. The reason you're stressed out may be because you keep trying to do something about something you can't do anything about!

(2) We try to make things happen when it's not the right time. 'There is a time for everything...' (Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV) If you've raised children you know that one of their chief characteristics is impatience; they can't wait for anything. God wants us to out grow our childishness so He makes us wait, trust, and mature!

(3) We get upset because we're not progressing fast enough. You can slow down your spiritual growth through neglect, but ultimately, '...We all...are being changed...[by] the Spirit.' (2 Corinthians 3:18 NCV) So learn to enjoy your life while God works on your problems, for you'll always have problems!

(4) We push ourselves harder and harder. We do what we think God wants without consulting Him as to what He actually wants, when He wants it, or how He wants it done. As a result we wear ourselves out. What's the solution? 'You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is [focused] on You, because he trusts in You.' (Isaiah 26:3 NKJV)

Appreciate your Wife!

"a good wife is worth more than rubies" Proverbs 31:10 NCV

Do you have any idea how hard your wife works to be a good mother? Imagine this: six dads are dropped on a desert island with one car and three kids each for six weeks. Each child will play two sports and take music or dance lessons. Theres no fast food, and every man has to correct homework, help with science projects, cook meals, do laundry, budget for groceries, pay the bills without enough money, know the birthdays of friends and relatives and send cards. In addition, he has to take each kid for haircuts and to doctor and dentist appointments, bake cakes for school functions, plant flowers and keep his home presentable at all times. He can only watch TV after the kids are in bed and his chores are done, and then he must have enough energy to be intimate with his spouse at a moments notice. He should be well-groomed, go to church at least once a week, read to his kids, pray with them every night, pack their lunches and favourite snacks, fix breakfast, make sure theyre dressed and on the school bus by 8.00 am. At the end of six weeks every guy will be tested on his childs height, weight, shoe size, favourite color, song, drink, toy and their biggest fear. And heres the best part the winner gets to play the game over and over again for the next eighteen to twenty-one years! So, do you still think you want to change places with your wife? The Bible says: the husband must give his wife the same sort of love that Christ gave to the Church, when He sacrificed himself for her (Ephesians 5:25 PHPS) because a good wife is worth more than rubies. (Proverbs 31:10 NCV)

Following in the Footsteps of Jesus

"you should follow His steps" 1 Peter 2:21 NKJV

Jesus knew He didn't have to prove Himself. At the cross, skeptics said, If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross. (Matthew 27:40 NKJV) His reaction? He refused to let their comments intimidate Him or alter His plans. He didn't need their approval; He already had His Fathers: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. (Matthew 3:17 KJV) Jesus didn't waste time answering His critics. Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge to the great amazement of the governor. (Matthew 27:14 NIV) Jesus responded to hunger, to need, to seekers, but not to people trying to trap Him. You owe nothing to a critic. Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words. (Proverbs 23:9 NKJV) Do you know why there's never been a monument built to a critic? Because critics are spectators, not players! Jesus didn't focus on the past, but the future. His mother was pregnant with Him before she was married. Only a few people knew the truth. Jesus grew up with this, yet He didn't feel the need to explain it. Stop complaining that your family was poor, or talking about your limited education, or repeating stories of those who failed you, or advertising your pain, or meditating on your flaws. All of us are challenged in some way. Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing (Isaiah 43:18-19 NKJV) Satan discusses our yesterdays; apparently that's the only information he has about us. Jesus discusses our tomorrows. So if you want to follow in His footsteps, focus on what's ahead!