Hello! The verse of the month is Proverbs 29:1 which states, "He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck, will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy."

Sadly, this verse describes the way that many people respond to hearing the TRUTH!!! They stubbornly ignore the TRUTH!!! Obviously this text could apply to many situations in life, but it is also appropriate to think about individuals who stubbornly remain on the path that leads to "destruction" in spite of the fact that they have been rebuked/warned many times (Matthew 7:13-14). I'm simply going to give you my top 10 list of why people remain on the path, even though they have been warned of the imminent danger that awaits...

1. The person is enjoying the sin on the path (Proverbs 9:17-18)

2. The person is full of pride (Proverbs 16:18, 29:23)

3. The person is in the middle of a crowd (Proverbs 30:12, Matthew 7:13-14)

4. The person justifies his sinful behavior (Proverbs 30:20)

5. The person does not like the messenger (Proverbs 15:12, Proverbs 27:6A)

6. The person is blind and deaf to the truth (Proverbs 24:11-12)

7. The person believes lies from the enemy (Proverbs 27:6B)

8. The person procrastinates (Proverbs 27:1)

9. The person believes the path that leads to life is "awful" (Proverbs 3:13-18)

10. The person is not a believer (Proverbs 28:25)

The sad reality is that many people who have heard the truth are still on the path that leads to destruction! Tragically, if they continue they will suddenly be destroyed. Ignoring what God's word says is the most foolish mistake a person can ever make. DON'T EVER DO IT!!!

The text for the month of October is Joel 2:12-13, which states, "Now, therefore," says the Lord, "Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning." So tear your heart,and not our clothes; return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; and He relents from doing harm."

Just a ONE quick point about this text...

The text makes it clear that God requires a torn heart. In Bible times people commonly tore their clothes as an outward sign of grief and sorrow, especially after they realized they were guilty of sinning against God. In reality, this practice was meaningless to the Lord. God desires for a person's heart to be torn! Simply put, this means that a person must really have a broken heart concerning his sin! After committing adultery and murder David stated, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart- these, O God, you will not despise" (Psalm 51:17).

It seems that many people reach a point in their life where they decide to turn away from sin and "do better." They may decide to stop drinking, smoking, cussing, looking at pornography, or abusing drugs. They may even resolve to be a forgiving/generous/loving individual. Of course, we would applaud such decisions. HOWEVER, simply changing for the better is not what the Lord requires!!! The evidence that a person is genuinely being changed by God is a broken heart concerning his past sins! Simply saying, "I'm not going to do that anymore" is not sufficient.

The harsh reality is that many people have simply "outgrown" their sinful behavior. They no longer do some of things they used to do because they have jobs, spouses, kids, and other responsibilities. The problem is they have never had a torn heart! They have never truly experienced "godly sorrow" which brings about "repentance" which leads to "salvation" (2 Corinthians 7:10).

Romans 2:4 states, "God's kindness leads us to repentance." A person must recognize his guilty condition before God (Romans 3:23), see the cross as his hope (Romans 5:8), and really have a broken heart because of the sins he committed or his "new life" is simply a change for the better and not what the bible calls repentance. Genuine repentance will almost certainly include "weeping and mourning" (Joel 2:12-13) because the person's heart is torn. I sincerely hope you know what I'm talking about!!!

The Lord is with you...

This month I am going to try to use the famous story of Joseph (Genesis 37-50) to encourage someone who may be facing difficult times...


When Joseph was 17 years old his brothers sold him into slavery. He was taken to a foreign land (Egypt) where he was imprisoned and mistreated for 13 years! (Can you imagine being a slave in a foreign land at the age of 17???). Joseph was alone in a foreign land. No one searched for him (His father believed he was dead). His was wrongfully imprisoned and no one defended him. However...

In the middle of Joseph's story the Bible says, "The Lord was with Joseph" (Genesis 39:2, 39:21). Jospeh had absolutely nothing going for him except the fact that the Lord was with him! In reality, that is all he needed! In the end, Joseph was delivered from prison, exalted to the position of 'vice-president' in Egypt, and reunited with his father and his family. Today, he is remembered as a hero of the faith!

In Hebrews 13:5 the Lord promised every believer, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." At times we all find ourselves in situations that appear to be bleak. We may not have a lot "going for us". Times may be difficult. We may be alone. No one may seem to care. However, the one thing that never changes is that the Lord is with us (if you are his child). In reality, that is all we need! A job, savings account, education, home, family, and friends are all great things, but if I had to choose between having all those things, and having the Lord be with me, I would choose the Lord every time.

Today, I hope it lifts your spirit to simply be reminded that no matter where you are, and no matter how difficult and hopeless life may appear to be, if you are a child of God the Lord is with you! He has not forsaken you. Have a blessed August with the Lord!

Remember... and get excited!!!

What makes you want to be a "better Christian"? There are a lot of possible answers to that questions. Today, I am going to highlight one answer. 2 Peter 1:8-9 states,

"If you possess these qualities (goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love) in increasing measure, they willl keep you from being ienffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins."

The easiest way to become "ineffective and unproductive" is to forget that you have been cleansed from your past sins. Just a few quick points...

#1 We all have a sinful background. If we are honest, we would all fail a "background check." We all, like sheep, have gone astray (Isaiah 53:6). The sins you committed may be different from the sins I, or someone else committed, nevertheless, we all are GUILTY. The Bible simply says, "There is no one who is righteous" (Romans 3:10).

#2 If you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ you have been cleansed from your past sins. The good news the Bible contains is that God is willing to forgive us, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). Isaiah 1:18 states, "Come now let us reason together, says the Lord, though your sins are like scarlet I will make them white as snow. Though they are red as crimson I will make them white as wool." That is great news. God is willing to wash/cleanse/forgive/blot out the crimes we committed. This is possible because of the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 3:19-28). In order to be forgiven a person must confess his guilt and place his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. When one does this, he is forgiven of his past sins, and he has peace with God (Romans 5:1).

#3 The key to Christianity is remembering that we are pardoned criminals.

In reality, every Christian is a pardon criminal. According to Peter, if someone lacks goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and/or love (and if they are unproductive and ineffective in their personal life) it is because they have forgotten that they have been pardoned! If you disagree please go back and read 2 Peter 1:5-9. Peter really says that a poor memory is the problem!!!! To put it another way, the person who remembers that Christ died for him, and that God has forgiven him, is the one who is going to be willing and eager to serve the LORD.

Christianity is not complicated. A sinner is granted a pardon by God, then, in response to receiving the pardon, he serves (and loves) the King. The key is remembering (everyday) that we are pardoned. Its not good enough to have this in the back of our minds. It must be in the front, or else, as time passes, we will become unproductive and ineffective. In conclusion, I will offer you some very practical (and very easy steps) to help you remember that you are forgiven of your past sins.

1. Attend a Church where someone is preaching the gospel on a regular basis!
2. Celebrate the Lord's Supper on a regular basis (the purpose is to remember).
3. Read the Bible, particuarly the New Testament, on a regular basis.
4. Listen to extra preaching (radio, internet, etc.)
5. Find a good daily devotional.
6. Go out of your way to talk to other believers about the Lord.

Until next month, remember you are a pardoned criminal!

Pride vs. Humility

The verse of the "year" is Luke 18:14b which states, "... Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." Just two obvious comments about this passage.

First, the text makes it clear that pride prevents a person from obtaining eternal life.

It is important to understand the story that proceeds the statement. Jesus had just told a story about two men who went to church to pray. The first was a very religious man (a Pharisee) who boldly stood up and thanked God that he was "not like other men" (He claimed he was not a thief, adulterer, or unrighteous man). He even reminds God that he tithes from all of his income and fast two days a week!

However, there is a serious problem! Jesus begins the story by making it clear that he is telling a story about people "who trusted in themselves that they were righteous." Jesus concludes the story by making it clear that such people, who trust in themselves, will ultimately be humbled in the end.

The sad reality is that many people, just like this Pharisee, falsely believe they have lived a righteous life. They really feel like they are better than other people (i.e. criminals, drug addicts, alcoholics, prostitutes, etc.) The startling claim the Bible makes is that all people are in "the same boat."

Just consider...

Romans 3:10, "There is no one who is righteous..."

James 2:10-11, "Whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. For He who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.

Simply put, everyone is a law breaker. We are all in "the same boat." A person who fails to understand this is very likely to trust in their own righteousness. This is a huge mistake. Church attendance, tithing, fasting, and abstaining from some particular sins is not the path that leads to heaven.

Proverbs 14:12 states, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to destruction." The Pharisee, who believed that his "good works" satisfied God, is typical of many people. Tragically, this path leads to destruction. The person who believes he is righteous will be humbled before God at the final judgment when all the books are opened and the individual is judged according to God's law. Tragically, the individual will be pronounced guilty and enter into eternal punishment.

Second, the text makes it clear that a humble person can enter the kingdom of God.

The good news the Bible contains is that anyone, regardless of their past history, who recognizes their own guilty can obtain entrance into the kingdom of God. The second man who enters the church to pray is the exact opposite of the first man. He is a tax collector (which likely indicates that he was a lying thief). He refuses to even look up to heaven (demonstrating humility), but beat his chest, and cried out, "God have mercy on me a sinner!" Jesus concludes the story by stating, "The man (the tax collector) went home righteous before God, rather than the Pharisee (religious man).

Jesus shocks his audience by announcing that this man went home righteous before God rather than the other. Simply put, the humble man is pardoned when he pleads guilty. That is the key to Christianity. A person receives a pardon when they plead guilty, and call out to the Lord for mercy. Then, and only then, does a person obtain eternal life.

Time doesn't heal all wounds.

In Hosea 7:1-2 the Lord states, "They practice deceit, thieves break into houses, bandits rob in the streets. They do not consider in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness. Their sins engulf them; they are always before My face." Just a few quick comments on this passage . . .

Children, teenagers, young adults, middle aged adults, and elderly people all sin. Yet, it seems safe to say that people sin the most during the earlier stages of life. 2 Timothy 2:22 supports this claim when it says, "Flee youthful lusts." It seems safe to say that temptation and peer pressure are the strongest during the days of one's youth. Additionally, teenagers who are not married are very likely to succumb to sexual temptation. However, as people grow older responsibilities such as a job, spouse and children make most people settle down (at least a little bit!). They may even get back into the habit of going to church, at least occasionally. The days of "wild living" are a distant memory! However, there is 1 HUGE PROBLEM!

The days of "wild living" are not a distant memory to the Lord! Hosea 7:2 states, "The Lord remembers all their wickedness." In spite of the fact that the sins may have been committed years, or even decades ago, the sins are "always before the face of the Lord." The passing of time certainly affects our memories, but it does not cause our sins to fade out of the Lord's memory! In fact, Jeremiah 17:1 says, "The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron; with the point of a diamond it is engraved . . ." In other words, time does not remove our sin/guilt! The sins we committed years ago are still as fresh in the mind of the Lord as the day/night/weekend we committed the sin. Time does not eliminate the guilt! We may not feel as bad about it anymore because "its in the past" and we are "not that kinda person anymore." But the fact remains that we are still as guilty as we were the day we committed the crime.

The goal of this blog is to make people realize that time does not erase our guilt. In fact, it is necessary (and good) for a guilty person to "feel guilty." Unless a person realizes they are sick (have a serious problem) they will never turn to the doctor for help (Matt. 9:12-13). In reality, a person must reach the same point the Psalmist did when he exclaimed, "My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear" (Psalm 38:4). A person will reach this point when they begin to consider all the sins they have committed throughout their entire life (not just the sins this week!). Forgetting about all our past sins can easily lead to a false sense of peace. Please, do not fall into that trap!

The good news the Bible contains is that our sins really can be forgiven because of the death of the Lord Jesus Christ. 1 John 1:7 states, "If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all our sins." The Lord graciously "deletes" all our sins when we confess our guilty, turn to Christ, and place our faith in Him for salvation. All our sins (including the old ones) can be erased, not by the passing of time, but rather through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Acts 3:19 states, "Repent, and be converted so that your sins may be blotted our and times of refreshing may come from the Lord." It is only through repenting (which includes changing your mind about your guilty status) and placing your faith in Christ for salvation that you can experience forgiveness and the joy that accompanies it. I hope you have reached a point in your life where you have been overwhelmed by your guilt, and turned to the Lord Jesus Christ for forgiveness. I hope you can identify with the man in the bible who went to church, but was so humiliated by his life of sin that he refused to even look up to heaven. Instead, he beat his chest, and cried out "God, have mercy on me a sinner" (Luke 18:13). He went home forgiven. The same can be true of you.