Never Betray a Confidence

'...he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter.' Proverbs 11:13 NKJV

We all need a shoulder to cry on. When we're battling habits and hang-ups we need a safe place to go, confident we'll be loved, understood, supported and prayed for. If those who are hurting can't find these qualities in church, where are they supposed to go? The betrayal of a confidence is a terrible sin. 'But what I said was true,' you object. So what? 'A talebearer reveals secrets, but he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter.'(Proverbs 11:13 NKJV) Note the words 'reveals' and 'conceals'. The Hippocratic Oath says: 'Whatsoever I shall see or hear in the course of my profession, I will never divulge, holding such things to be holy secrets.' That oath is taken by physicians and other professionals in positions of trust. But it ought to be binding on every one of us! How would you feel if your doctor, counselor, minister or a trusted friend violated your confidence and broadcast your holy secrets? Hurt? Betrayed? The longer we live the more we realize there's a severe shortage of people who can be trusted to keep their mouths shut, and the more we value them. If you were asked to define a person of integrity, wouldn't the ability to keep a confidence be close to the top of your list? So here are some ground rules to live by: (a) Instead of talking, pray about it; (b) Instead of criticizing, look for something good; (c) Instead of showing anger, show grace. How you handle others determines how God will handle you!

Get into God's Word

'...they...searched the Scriptures daily...' Acts 17:11 NKJV

The Devil doesn't mind you paying lip-service to God's Word as long as you don't take the time to read and study it. How long have you been talking about reading your Bible? When are you going to get around to doing itand applying its principles in your everyday life? Dr. Howard Hendricks writes: 'Anybody can come up with a grandiose scheme for change. One person says he wants to reach the world for Christ. Somebody else wants to study every book in the Bible over the next five years. Somebody else plans to memorise a hundred verses. Somebody else is going to become a Christ-like spouse. Wonderful! When are you going to begin? Until you answer that, all you have is good intentions. Those have about as much value as a worthless cheque. After all, what good does it do to dream of reaching the world with the Gospel if you can't share Christ with the person in the office next to you? How are you going to study the entire Bible when you don't even know what verse you're going to study tomorrow? How can you memorise a hundred verses when you've never even tried to memorise one? Rather than fantasise about a Christ-like marriage, why not start with something simple such as doing the dishes if you're a husband, or encouraging your husband if you're a wife? Too much "application" stays at the level of good intentions because we talk about the end of the journey without specifying when, where, and how we're going to take the first step. As someone has well said, "We don't plan to fail, we fail to plan."'

Legalism or Grace

' ...we have been made holy through the sacrifice...of Jesus Christ once for all.' Hebrews 10:10 NIV

Rigid adherence to a list of do's and don'ts appeals to our pride and self-sufficiency by fostering the myth that if we work hard enough we can earn God's favor. That's fear-based thinking, and '...God has not given us a spirit of fear...' (2 Timothy 1:7 NLT) 'There is no fear in love...fear has to do with punishment...' (1 John 4:18 NIV) Legalism is fear that God isn't big enough to forgive your sins, that unless you do the right thing in the right way at the right time and do it perfectly you're in trouble. Jon Walker writes: 'When we fear making mistakes we become timid, and limit ourselves from living abundantly. We let...analysis permeate our decisions as we lead quiet, desperate, anti-faith lives, afraid to move with the bold confidence that grace gives us to walk in uncertainty...unafraid of rejection.' Speaking against works-based religion, Martin Luther said, 'Be a sinner and let your sins be strong, but let your trust in Christ be stronger...rejoice in Christ...the victor over sin.' No, Luther wasn't excusing sin! He was restoring grace to its rightful place, affirming that nothing can separate us from God's love. (Romans 8:38-39) He wasn't downgrading the law, He was upgrading grace. Grace means talking to God and listening for His voice when it would be easier to just consult the rule book. The truth is, when '...[Jesus] entered...Heaven...to appear...before God on our behalf' (Hebrews 9:24 NLT), He freed us to have a relationship with Him without fear of sin separating us.

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!