:: To Worship Him ::

“You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire.  He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him.  When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”  John 8:44

 

Some early studies concerned with prejudice show that we’re quite capable of reordering our perceptions of the world in which we live in order to maintain our conviction that we’re right.  A group of white, middle-class New York City residents were presented with a picture of people on a subway.  Two men were in the foreground.  One was white, one was black.  One wore a business suit, one was clothed in workman’s overalls.  One was giving his money to the other who was threatening him with a knife.  Now as a matter of fact it was the black man who wore the suit, and it was he who was being robbed by the white laborer.  But such a picture didn’t square with the prejudices of the viewers.  To them, white men were executives, black men were blue collar workers.  Blacks were the robbers, whites the victims.  And so they reported what their mind told them they saw–that a black laborer was assaulting a white businessman.  As human beings who desperately desire our lives to be consistent and untroubled, we’ll go to great lengths to reject a message that implies we’re wrong.  

 

Surely a mind that is stayed on the Lord would not assess this scene so erroneously.  We know that our flesh does not always see things in focus. Because of that, we must keep our minds saturated with the Word of God.  Only then can we determine where the plumb-line is.  If satan is the father of deception, the peddler of lies, we must guard against tasting some of his handiwork. 

 

Here is a great poem that came in a devotional from Riverbend Church.  Wish I knew the author to pass along the credit. 

 

The shouts of the peddler can be heard long before he can be seen

bringing back forgotten memories and distant times as if in a dream.

People and places that I thought I had left behind

unexpectedly return for no reason or rhyme.

 

The past becomes clearer and nearer still

with each taunt from the peddler’s ill will. 

As I approach his cart and peer inside,

I notice it is full of all my mistakes that I have chosen to hide.

 

“This is who you are; buy some more guilt for the road ahead,

Or maybe weakness, selfishness or callousness will do instead.

These things have served you so well in the past.

creating vicious memories that must forever last.”

 

“For you can never be what you are not,

you are all these things even those you wish you had forgot.”

 

His deception seeks a familiar grasp,

one that has origins in my past.

For he pedals what I fear most might be true,

hoping I will purchase old failures and make them new.

 

Life strangling lies take hold with his telling,

lies made more bold by my buying what he is selling.

As the chains of the old nightmare begin again,

in panic I moan, “Oh God, not that same old sin.”

 

Then in answer to my desperate cry,

the Spirit of God breaks through to fight satan’s lie.

 

“No purchase necessary”  the Spirit cried,

“All was bought when the Savior died.

Just accept what He freely gives.

His only desire is that you might live.”

 

“Free to live in the Father’s presence,

claiming as yours your eternal residence.

For you are only who God says you are,

His most precious creation under sun, moon and star.”

 

“Only one moment in your past means anything,

that moment when you chose Christ as your king.

He will define who you will be,

trust in His guidance to set you free.”

 

“Leave the peddler’s wares to rot.

They are only what you were and now are not.”

 

   “If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it.  But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will find true life.”  Mark 8:35 

 

   It is amazing how some people live their lives; not in the least concerned about their reason for existence or purpose.  Not knowing your purpose is a scary place to be in.  Some people live so far in the future that they are not efficient in their ‘today’ world.  Some live so far in their past that they are not effective in the here and now.  Either way is an escapism from the responsibility of today.  President Harry S. Truman said that ‘Men who live in the past remind him of a familiar toy.  The toy is a small wooden bird called the Floogie Bird. Around the Floogie Bird’s neck is a label reading, I fly backwards, I don’t care where I’m going.  I just want to see where I’ve been. 

 

   Another story is told about some prison convicts in Saltillo Prison in northern Mexico.  In November, 1975, 75 convicts started digging a secret tunnel designed to bring them up at the other side of the wall and into freedom. On April 18, 1976, guided by pure genius, they tunneled up into the nearby courtroom in which many of them had been sentenced.  The surprised judges returned all 75 to jail. 

 

   Question?  Who is in control in our lives?  The question we must ask is like the song the American Idol winner, Carrie Underwood sings;  “Jesus Take The Wheel.”  When things seem to get out of control, who is at the wheel?  Who is our guide?  If the answer isn’t God, we are in trouble.  Imagine riding with an inexperienced driver.  One that doesn’t have license to drive.  We couldn’t be safe, could we?  Without Jesus as the wheel of our life, neither are we.

 

   Jesus take the wheel, take it from my hands, I can’t do this on my own.  I’m letting go, so give me one more chance, save me from this road I’m on.

 Jesus take the wheel!—Carrie Underwood

 

 

   “You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned?  It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.  You are the light of the world.  A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify you Father in heaven.”  Matthew 5:13-16

 

   The dictionary says that influence is an emanation of spiritual or moral force; the act or power of producing an effect without apparent exertion of force or direct exercise of command; corrupt interference with authority for personal gain; or the power or capacity of causing an effect in indirect or intangible ways.  To sway.

 

   The Matthew passage clearly speaks that for us to be salt and light to the world, we must have influence.  We are called by God to be an influence to this world.  My world is different from yours.  Your world is different from mine.  To be effective, I must change the culture around me, or influence it rather than it influence me.  The sad story of Eve is a good example.  She was living in peace in the Garden of Eden when one day the serpent was able to plant a seed of  influence in her heart.  The tree had not changed her, but the seed of influence the serpent planted in her ears changed her image of the tree. 

 

   Years ago the communist government in China commissioned an author to write a biography of Hudson Taylor with the purpose of distorting the facts and presenting him in a bad light.  They wanted to discredit the name of this consecrated missionary of the gospel.  As the author was doing his research, he was increasingly impressed by Taylor’s saintly character and godly life, and he found it extremely difficult to carry out his assigned task with a clear conscience.  Eventually, at the risk of losing his life, he laid aside his pen, renounced his atheism, and received Jesus as his personal Savior. 

 

   Our example, whether we realize it or not, leaves an impression good on bad.  Story is also told of Dr. John Geddie when he went to Aneityum to work for God in 1848.  He worked there for 24 years.  On the tablet erected to his memory, these words are inscribed:  When he landed, in 1848, there were no Christians.  When he left, in 1872, there were no heathen.  Wow!  To have that kind of influence!

  

 

One wonders when the day will come when nations will agree and ignore their different theologies and ideologies and come together, as they mount the hill of the Lord. It seems the opposite of that in our world today.  Everyone feels that their way is the right way.  The only WAY is God’s way!  God’s Word says in Micah; “He has showed you, O man, what is good.  And what does the Lord require of you?  To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” 

 

We, individuals as well as nations, are currently walking a path.  Micah says: So we may walk in His paths.  We each have a personal path.  Each path represents our life.  There are times on our paths when it is difficult, easy, peaceful, and at times stressful.  Times when everything is rosy and days when it is the opposite.  Everyone’s path is unique to the individual.  It also seems that as we progress along our path we see and observe things differently.  The older I become, I observe more closely things that I ignored as a youth.  Thank the Lord that when we are in His care, He plans our trail and puts markers along that trail.  In Psalm 25:8-10 we read: “Good and upright is the Lord; therefore He instructs sinners in the way.  He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble His way.  All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep His covenant and His testimonies.”  When those bends in my path occur, or there are forks, and I have to make decisions about which fork to take, I can turn to the Lord for His direction. 

 

The sad thing about my path or a nation’s path is that our paths can become cloudy, or overgrown with weeds to the point that we cannot see the markers and boundaries.  Markers are very important in real estate.  They show us where our property lines are.  When the stakes have been lost or overgrown, a survey must take place to establish where that line is.  The line is always there but we have to hunt for it.  Same thing with our spiritual paths. God’s Word never changes.  It is always there for us.  Nations and individuals must walk within the paths that they are called to be effective, productive and under the shelter of the Almighty.  If we have veered from the Trail of God, no wonder that we can’t get together to go up to the hill of the Lord!  There are no shortcuts, no moving of the stakes or markers, only the path God has placed for us.  Even though our paths are different, the road map of God is the same.  Without the Bible and God’s Holy Spirit to teach us His Word, we are vagabonds!  The End will come unfortunately too soon!

  

 

   Sometimes it is difficult to know when to help someone or get involved in a situation, and when to just back away and pray.  Everyday we see so many needy people that need someone to care and minister mercy and hope to them, but it would be foolish to believe that we could even scratch the surface.  There are those that abuse our concern by expecting too much from us, and then there are those that refuse any help from us. What are we to do?

 

    In Luke 10:30-37  in reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers.  They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.  A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.  So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.  But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.  He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine.  Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him.  The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper.  ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’  “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”  The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”  Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

 

   There is a saying that God gives birds their food but He doesn’t throw it into their nests.  This may apply as well when we ‘Go and do likewise.’  Sometimes we want to help others so much that we don’t see when it is time to walk away.  Like the poor beaten man in the parable, there are times when we help because the needy one hurts so bad that they can’t ask for help.  Once their situation is subsided and they are again on their feet, we must let them go on their way.  At that point our role is to lift them in pray and be watchful, ready to reinforce and steady them if needed.  That is showing mercy.  That is being Christlike.