DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- Wise and Simple

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – WISE AND SIMPLE
Romans 16:19-20, 25a, 27
 
"For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good and simple [innocent] concerning evil. And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. .... Now to Him who is able to establish you ... – to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen."
 
The wisdom to know what is good does not come from my own understanding, but from the only wise God. Proverbs says to not be wise in my own eyes, but to fear the Lord and depart from evil (Proverbs 3:7), because the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of the Holy One (God) is understanding (Proverbs 9:10). Paul also says not to be wise in my own opinion (Romans 12:16). There are some things that I don't need to be a rocket scientist to know are evil. I'm glad that I am simple about drunkenness, prostitution, robbery, murder and many other things that are blatantly wrong. I know they are bad even though I have not experienced them. But other things take God's wisdom to discern, because they look and sound so pleasant and alluring; but they are a trap set by Satan to bring me into bondage. I want to major in what is good and flunk the rest. God is able to establish my life in what is good until Satan is crushed for good.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: God's wisdom helps us stay simple in regard to evil.
 
Have a wise and simple day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- Useless and Unprofitable Arguments

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – Useless and Unprofitable Arguments
Romans 16:17-18
 
"Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you have learned, and avoid them. For there are such who do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple."
 
Some people just like to argue about things that are inconsequential – foolish disputes, genealogies, and strivings about the law which are unprofitable and useless (Titus 3:9). They do not serve the Lord Jesus by their arguments, but their own egos as they try to persuade people to follow their teachings. By their smooth talk they cause people who don't know the Scriptures very well to be caught up in their deception. The best way to handle them is to avoid them. Debating with them is useless because they do not want the truth of the Scriptures. This does not mean that I automatically dismiss everything that does not agree with my beliefs. It does mean that I must reject everything that does not conform to the Authority – Holy Scripture. All else is unprofitable and useless and only causes division in the Church.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: Beware of people who like to argue about doctrines that are not based in the Holy Scriptures.
 
Have a profitable day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- The Enigma of Prayer

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – The Enigma of Prayer
Romans 15:30-32a

"Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me, that I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to God for the saints, that I may come to you ...."

Prayer is an enigma. We pray, but God does what He want to do, regardless of our prayers. Sometimes the prayers of the Church are answered dramatically, as when the Church had a prayer meeting while Peter was in prison, and he was miraculously delivered by an angel (Acts 12:5-19). In Paul's case, the Church prayed and Paul was indeed delivered from the Jews and he did go to Rome, but as a prisoner. I'm sure that was not the answer Paul expected when he asked for prayer. So why pray, if God is going to do what He wants to do anyway? The short answer is, "God told us to pray for one another." We pray in obedience and trust God to answer our prayers in the best way, and then accept the answer as a product of His great love and wisdom. The effective, powerful prayer of the righteous avails much (James 5:16b), but we still have to let God be God.

TODAY'S THOUGHT: God calls the Church to pray and then leave the results to Him.

Have a prayerful day. Love you.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

                            MERRY CHRISTMAS

"That's what it's all about."

 
How often I hear this phrase, especially at Christmas time. It is usually about doing a kind deed – giving to the poor, helping a neighbor, or a touching story about a family which was reunited after a long separation. We often think of Christmas as a celebration of family gatherings, shopping, giving gifts, fudge, snow and sleigh bells, and seasonal music. And often the ending line is, "That's what it's all about."
　
These are all good but they are not what Christmas is all about.
 
Christmas is about God coming down to earth in the form of a baby, born in a manger to a couple of newlyweds. It is about the birth of a child that would grow up to die on a rugged cross in great pain and suffering to be the Savior of mankind. It is about an act of love that brought humans into relationship with the God of the Universe.
 
So when you hear the tag-line, "That's what it's all about," remember Paul Harvey's famous saying, "Now for the rest of the story."
　
                        Have a Wonderful Christmas
                               Love
                               Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- Giving With Pleasure

DAD'S RAMBLING – Giving With Pleasure
Romans 15:26-27
 
"For it pleased those from Macedonia and Arcaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem. It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things."
 
Christmas is a time of giving because God gave His Son to us wrapped in a baby blanket. The churches in Macedonia, especially the saints in Philippi (Philippians 4:10-15), caught the spirit of giving, even though they were in great poverty (I Corinthians 8:2). They not only gave to other Christians who were poor, but supported Paul in his missionary journeys (II Corinthians 8:1-5). The saints at Jerusalem gave spiritual leadership and Paul gave them the truth of the Gospel. It is a principle in God's kingdom that those who sow spiritual things should reap material things (I Corinthians 9:11). And even though Paul said it is a "duty," we give without grudging because God loves a cheerful giver (II Corinthians 9:7).
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: We have a duty to cheerfully support those who minister spiritual things to us.
 
Have a cheerful day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- Deferred Dreams

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – Deferred Dreams
Romans 15:22-25, 28, 32
 
"For this reason [missionary work] I also have been hindered from coming to you. But now no longer having a place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come to you, whenever I journey to Spain, I shall come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey .... But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints .... Therefore, when I have performed this and have sealed to them this fruit, I shall go by way of you to Spain ... that I may come to you with joy by the will of God, and may be refreshed together with you."
 
Paul had a great desire to go to Rome and then on to Spain, but there were other things he needed to do first. As I come to the New Year, I think of the things I would like to do in 2014. As good as it is to have goals and dreams for the future, they can't keep me from doing what I need to do right now where God has placed me. Daydreaming may be a part of life, but reality is where I live, and there are pressing needs I have to attend to. I can't live in some hazy vision for the future; I have to live in the now. As far as I know, Paul never did make it to Spain, but he did get to Rome by a different route than he had planned – as a prisoner. God's plans are different than my plans, and my job is to yield to His plans. My goals must always defer to the "will of God."
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: Life is not lived in the dreams of the future; it is lived today, a day at a time.
 
Have a "today" day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- Driven!

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – Driven!
Romans 15:20-22
 
"And I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man's foundation, but as it is written: 'To whom He was not announced, they shall see; And those who have not heard shall understand.' For this reason, I have been much hindered from coming to you."
 
Paul's driving passion in life was to take the Gospel to new lands where the message had not yet been proclaimed. He was not content to rest on his past ministries which were "in mighty signs and wonders" (vs. 19). It is so easy to let up and rest on past accomplishments, and say, "Look what I've accomplished for Christ and His Kingdom. It's time to take it easy." But there is still a world out there that is going to hell without Christ. Oh Jesus, renew my fire and desire to spread the good news to those who have never heard that You came to save, so they will know and understand Your great love.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: The mission to spread the Gospel of the Kingdom will never cease until Jesus returns.
 
Have a driven day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- The Trap Of Self-Sufficiency

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – The Trap of Self-sufficiency
Romans 15:14-15
 
"Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another. Nevertheless, brethren, I have written more boldly to you on some points, as reminding you, because of the grace given to me by God."
 
Paul expressed his confidence in the Roman believers of their righteousness, knowledge, and ability to teach. But he also recognized that no matter how mature they were, his position as an apostle gave him authority to continue to exhort and teach them, and they needed to listen. God has put godly men in the Church to remind and teach me. I am over 70 years old, have been saved over 60, have studied God's Word for over 50 years, and have seminary training. I think I have some insight into God's truth and am able to teach it. But woe is me if I ever so proud and self-sufficient that I think I know it all and don't need to be instructed and reminded by godly ministers. There is still much I need to learn from God's messengers.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: No matter how much a person knows, he never outgrows his need to receive instruction of God's truth from God's messengers.
 
Have a "reminding" day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- The Power Of Hope

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – The Power Of Hope
Romans 15:13
 
"Now may the God of all hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
 
There is one thing that keeps a person pressing on: hope. I've experience the depression that comes when it seems that things will never change. It is a dark and joyless place. Hope is the light at the end of the tunnel that says that my problems will pass and I will come into sunshine. Without that light, life is a dark and depressing pit – hopeless. "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined" (Isaiah 9:2). Jesus came as that light to give hope that there will be a better day. That is the power of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus. He came into this dark world as light to give hope and peace that thing will get better. There is a better day ahead!
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: Belief in Jesus brings joy and peace because of the hope that there is a better day ahead.
 
Have a hopeful day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- Christmas Is For Everyone

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – Christmas Is For Everyone
Romans 15:8-9a
 
"Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant [minister] to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers, and that the Gentiles might glorify God...."
 
Jesus was born in Bethlehem to a Jewish family, was circumcised as a Jew, and ministered to the Jews as a Jew. Yet, He did not come only for the Jews, but for all mankind, as the prophecies Paul quotes clearly demonstrate (vss. 9b-12). On the night Jesus was born, an angel appeared to the Shepherds tending their flocks announcing the tiding of great joy that a Savior was born "to all the people" (Luke 2:9-14). And when Jesus was presented in the temple, Simeon blessed the babe saying that He would be a light to the Gentiles (Luke 2:32). Even though Jesus was born as a Jew to the Jews, Christmas is celebrated mainly by the Gentiles. We were not left out of God's great plan of redemption, and we bring glory to God by receiving His Son. Without this great "truth of God," we would be eternally lost. "To as many as received Him, He gave them the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name" (John 1:12). Praise God that Christmas is for everyone.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: Even though Jesus was born as a Jew, He came for everyone that all people might be saved.
 
Have a rejoicing day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- Warts and All

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – Warts and All
Romans 15:7
 
"Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.
 
The Lord Jesus accepts and loves us – warts and all! We don't have to measure up to some standard of perfection.  After all,   He chose to include the Gentiles in His great plan even though they were not of the chose race of Abraham (vss. 8-12). In this, God is glorified because it demonstrates His mercy and grace. We also glorify God by extending mercy and grace to others who do not meet our standard of doctrine or holiness. If they have come to faith in Christ, God accepts them, and so should I.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: We can love others – warts and all, because Jesus loves us – warts and all.
 
Have a "receiving" day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- Patience With Idiosyncracies

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – Patience With Idiosyncracies
Romans 15:5-6
 
"Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to [in the same manner as] Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."
 
Not only do we receive patience and comfort from God's word (vs. 4), but just think of the patience and comfort that God Himself has shown to us by the Lord Jesus.   I need to remember how patiently God deals with me. He puts up with a lot of my foolishness. He calls me to accept other people and their idiosyncracies in the same manner that He puts up with me. When we have that attitude toward each other, the Church can be in unity, and that kind of unity brings glory to our Father as we praise Him together in the harmony of one mind and mouth.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: Just as God puts up with our idiosyncracies, we should have patience with other peoples' idiosyncracies.
 
Have a patient day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- God's Written Word

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – God's Written Word
Romans 15:4
 
"For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope."
 
I know that all Scripture is given by God for doctrine, correction, reproof and instruction in righteousness (II Timothy 3:16). But it is also the basis for my faith. Without the written text, my hope of salvation would only be an unfounded, unproven theory – much like the theory of evolution. My faith would be based on whatever my mind conceived to be true. I have a more sure word (II Peter 1:19) – a patient (steadfast, constant) word that brings comfort (paraklesis – help, comfort, encouragement), a word that is a solid basis for faith. I am so thankful for God's written Word.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT – God's  written Word is a solid basis for faith.
 
Have a "patience and comfort" day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- Falderal

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – Falderal
Romans 15:1-3
 
"We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, 'The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.' "
 
One mark of maturity is the ability to put up with the weaknesses of other people. I can either criticize and put them down, or I can come underneath and encourage them. I can put my finger on them and press down, or I can put my arms under them and lift them. I don't have to condone their actions nor embrace their beliefs to help them in their walk with Jesus. (Note: this is in regard to "doubtful things," and does not apply to blatant sin or heretical doctrine.) Oh, how much falderal (yes, it is a word; look it up!) Jesus puts up with in my life. It is called "love."
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: Love makes room for other people's weaknesses.
 
Have a loving day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- Personal Faith

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – Personal Faith
Romans 14:22-23
 
"Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin."
 
There is a "common faith" (Titus 1:4; Jude 1:3) that all true Christians affirm: that Jesus died and rose again for our salvation. This cannot be compromised and needs to be proclaimed to the world. But there are other areas of faith – "doubtful things" – that are not basic Christian doctrine because they are not explicity commanded in the Bible. They are individual and personal and should not be imposed on other believers. If I violate my personal faith by participating in and giving approval to things that I consider wrong, it becomes sin to me. I feel condemned and lose my peace. The happy Christian lives according to his personal faith, and does not try to live according to someone else's personal faith when it comes to areas that are not essential Christian doctrine.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: The happy Christian does not violate his personal faith by doing what he feels by conviction is wrong.
 
Have a happy day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- The Work Of God

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – The Work Of God
Romans 14:20-21
 
"Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things are indeed pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense. It is good neither to eat meat nor to drink wine nor do any thing by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak."
 
What is the value of something I consider good but another considers sin? Is my liberty worth destroying God's work in other peoples' lives, causing them to stumble or lose their faith? I cannot think of anything that is more precious than another person's faith for salvation – certainly not any pleasure I might enjoy in this world.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: Following Jesus requires that I deny myself – even good things – for the sake of the work of God and His Kingdom.
 
Have a following Jesus day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- Offenses

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – Offenses
Romans 14:16-19
 
"Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil, for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. Therefore let us pursue ;the things which make for peace and the things by which we may edify another."
 
Offenses are a normal part of life. I will offend someone unwittingly. But if I knowingly offend someone intentionally just to express my rights, then I am wrong, even if what I do is good and acceptable to God. Jesus said, "It is impossible that no offenses should come [a double negative], but woe to him through whom they do come. It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones" (Luke 17:1-2). The greater goal is not to exert my liberty in Christ for personal gratification, but to pursue peace and edification of my fellow-believer. The Kingdom of God is about righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit – not satisfying my own desires at the expense of another person's conscience.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: The goal of the Kingdom living is not self-gratification but encouraging other people in their faith and walk with God.
 
Have a peace-filled and edifying day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- Sacrificial Love

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – Sacrificial Love
Romans 14:15
 
"Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died."
 
Love gives up rights and liberties for the good of someone else. Jesus taught the ultimate expression of love: "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends" (John 15:13). Then He put his money where His mouth was and gave up His own rights to die on a rugged cross. If Christ died for me and for my brother because of His great love for us, shouldn't I also be willing to deny myself some pleasure that is offensive to a brother? I will if I truly love him and care about his eternal salvation.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: Just as Christ sacrificed His rights because He loved us, so we should we willing to give up our rights for others.
 
Have a "sacrificial" day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- A Matter Of Faith

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – A Matter Of Faith
Romans 14:14, 23
 
"I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything unclean, to him it unclean .... But he who doubts is condemned if he eats because he does not eat from faith: for whatever is not from faith is sin."
 
Paul was particularly addressing an issue in the early church between Jewish and non-Jewish believers – the eating of certain foods. This is not much of an issue for us today, but the principles laid out in this passage of Scripture apply to other "doubtful" things. One believer may consider something wrong and another believer may not see anything wrong with it. For example, there is nothing inherently evil about motion pictures. But I cannot watch some movies because the vulgar content or ungodly philosophy makes them unclean to me. If I watched those types of movies, I would be sinning because I would violate my faith. Another believer may not have that view and can watch without conviction. I need to be careful not to impose my faith on another believer when there is no specific biblical basis for my judgment. I can share my convictions about doubtful things, but if the Holy Spirit is not convicting the other person, then I should not impose my conviction on him or her and make it a litmus test for fellowship.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: Personal convictions about doubtful things is a matter of personal faith and should not be imposed on other believers.
 
Have a "faith" day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- Stumbling Blocks

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – Stumbling Blocks
Romans 14:13, 21
 
"Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way .... It is good neither to eat meat or drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak."
 
Am I my brother's keeper? I am to the extent that I should not do anything to make him stumble in his faith. Paul addresses two ways that Christians cause other Christians to falter: Judging, and by my condemnation cause a brother to lose heart and become discouraged; and Flaunting My Freedom in front of a weaker brother that would encourage him to sin against what he believes is wrong.   In both cases, my goal is to encourage others in their walk with Christ instead of putting obstacles in their paths that would cause them to trip.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: I can either encourage other Christians in their faith or I can cause them to stumble by my words and my actions.
 
Have an encouraging day. Love you.