Just One Thing

On October 13, 2021   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

John 13: 34 – 35

I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples: if you have love for one another.”

What does it mean to be a Christian? What are Christian values? What makes a good Christian? These can be challenging questions, but Jesus simplified them for us.

There really is only one Christian virtue. The rest of our value system flows from it. God is love. Christianity is love. Jesus took God’s nature, His very essence and built his kingdom upon it. The one Christian virtue is love.

Jesus commands one thing of us so the question we should seek to answer in everything we do, everything we say is, “What does love require?” It’s all about love. In your job, in your family, what does love require? This is the same as asking, “What would Jesus do?” Jesus was always motivated by love. He has commanded us to love one another even as he has loved us. What does that mean? It means this virtue which Jesus has called us to is unselfish, even sacrificial.

The theology of Christianity is love. Any other theology is empty. It becomes quite easy to understand and explain Christianity when you realize that love is the pinnacle. It is the pillar upon which Jesus built his ministry and his kingdom. The whole of the law, the prophets; the whole of Judeo-Christian philosophy and theory is tied up in this one commandment. Love one another as Jesus first loved us. Christianity, from God’s perspective, requires us to put the needs of others before our own. It requires us to consider what is best for others, instead of ourselves. It forces us to look through another’s eyes and to walk a mile in their shoes. It demands we not be needy and demanding but rather to be compassionate and considerate. The entirety of Christian philosophy and theology, hundreds of years of debate and thought can be boiled down to this one simple question, “What does love require?”

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Promises, Promises

On October 12, 2021   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Psalm 119: 49         (NLV)

Remember your promise to me, for it is my only hope. Your promise revives me; it comforts me in all my troubles.

Has God given you a promise? You may struggle with this question a little and I understand that, but here is something that will help you. Yes, He has given you an entire book of promises. The Word says that Yahweh is no respecter of persons (Acts 10: 34 KJV). The NASB Bible says that He is not one to show partiality. That means that what God has done for any one of His children, He will do for another, including you. So, if Yahweh God made a promise to Israel, for example, that is a promise to you. In fact, where I see Israel, I line through it in pencil and write in “Ivey”. This is especially true for a verse which resonates in my heart. Sometimes you read a passage and it comes alive for you. I don’t want to lose that verse or that sense of promise, so I highlight it, write the date beside it and perhaps also make notes in the margin.

Maybe you have a personal promise from God about something specific. If you have not written it down, do so because there will come a time when you will doubt that word from God. The permanence of the scriptures is one of the features I like about Biblical promises. I can always go back to that written Word and refresh myself.

These promises from God, whether from the Bible or received personally can be a source of comfort and encouragement. When the skies look cloudy with a definite chance of rain, the promises of God breakthrough like the sun banishing fog and haze. I find it helpful to write verses on 3 X 5 cards and post them around my desk and home. These represent the promises of God to me. I have a scriptural promise for everything I am hoping for. They keep me on target and revive my hopes and dreams. Keep the promises of God before your eyes and never give up.

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Truth be Told

On October 11, 2021   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Proverb 19: 5

A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who declares lies will not escape.

I hope you are enjoying the book of Proverbs. It is the first book of the Bible I latched onto when I began studying the Word. This book of wisdom made sense to me. One is not required to mine the passages for the deep meaning. Solomon makes strong, clear statements. If there is anything hard about the Proverbs, it is in being the person who will receive Solomon’s wisdom and guidance.

Today’s verse is a good example. What is difficult to understand about this passage? It is not a lack of understanding that trips us up here. I am continually amazed, though, at how Christians have not put lying behind them. It is not convenient to be a truth teller. I certainly appreciate that. Sometimes there are consequences to telling the truth. Well, the consequences are usually tied to some other activity, an activity we would rather lie about than face consequences and that is where the genesis of lying often, well, lies.

Conversely, truth telling can have a positive effect on behavior. If you know there is a chance you will be questioned about an event, and you are a person who is wedded to the truth, you are more likely to behave in a way that allows you to avoid unpleasant circumstances. For example, I don’t like getting up early in the morning. However, I know there is an average chance that someone in my circle will ask me about my day and even ask what time I arose. Since I do not lie, I am more likely to push myself out of the bed in the morning. I do not want the consequences of having to confess that I slept in. When we allow ourselves the luxury of lying, we also allow ourselves the luxury of other misdeeds.

So, the difficulty is not in understanding. I mean face it; this passage is as clear as fine crystal. The hard part is obeying. We are like petulant children. We don’t want to grow up and face the consequences of our actions, so we lie about them.

God is listening to every word we utter. We have studied the power of words and I constantly encourage you to use positive, edifying words at all times. If we buy into the idea that guarding our speech is important, how can we justify using our words in a false and misleading manner? Afterall, lies are intended to mislead others. How can that be good use of our words?

Lastly, Jesus is the truth (John 14: 6). Shouldn’t that be sermon enough for us all?

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Hovering Near

On October 8, 2021   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Isaiah 55:6

Seek the LORD while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near.

This is one of my favorite verses. It is very present tense. What I like is not only the bit about seeking God. That is great stuff, of course. What draws me to this verse is that God is near. That shouts at me and just makes me happy.

I have encouraged, begged, pleaded and cajoled this congregation of believers to continually seek God and, further, to seek Him with all your heart. Today is a nurturing reminder that God is hanging around wanting to be engaged. He is like the friend who is awaiting a phone call from you. He is the Father who longs to help you but knows He cannot intervene unless invited. It sounds like a Hallmark movie, the best friend or parent kept on the sidelines of our lives awaiting the call to enter the game. Just call, just seek Me and I will immediately spring into action.

There is also a moment of trepidation in reading this verse though. There is a hint that if we do not seek Him while He is near, we may not find Him. That is a very uncomfortable thought for me, but it motivates me, not out of fear but out of a sense of urgency. I know our Father will never abandon us, but it is best to form firm bonds with Him now, while He is hovering near so that in the day of great need, He is as close as a breath.

I guess the moral of this story is seek the Lord today. I dare you to write that down on your to do list for today.

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Wise Counsel

On October 7, 2021   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Proverb 12: 15

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man is he who listens to counsel.

First things first; you need to see this verse in some other translations.

God’s Word: A stubborn fool considers his own way the right one, but a person who listens to advice is wise.

Living Bible: A fool thinks he needs no advice, but a wise man listens to others.

Passion Translation: A fool is in love with his own opinion, but wisdom means being teachable.

Does this remind you of anyone? I remember someone said to me one time, “I wouldn’t have said it if it wasn’t right.” Wow! Can you say, “Fool!” Hopefully this person has grown since then and now appreciates how we are all learning and growing. Well, I hope we are learning and growing.

Does the different rendering of this verse make the meaning ultra-clear? Does it alarm you at all? It does me because I wonder if I think I have all the answers or whether I am willing to receive advice. I can tell you this, after reading this verse I am determined to listen more.

Bottom line – the wise person seeks counsel and listens to counsel. So, who wishes to be wise?

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It’s Midnight

On October 6, 2021   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Psalm 119: 62             (NLV)

At midnight I rise to thank you.

My Bible doesn’t record who wrote this psalm, but I have to guess it was David and for the purpose of this discussion, let us presume it was. The question that came to me is how and why David was awake at midnight. He didn’t set a clock. The rooster wasn’t crowing. So, did he just awaken and then because he was awake his mind turned to God?

Do you ever have trouble sleeping? Well, take some guidance from this psalm. When you awaken, pray. Literally take time to thank God. Perhaps you awaken several times in the night? Imagine if you only prayed a few minutes each time. Would it have an effect on your life? I think it would make an excellent experiment. Try it and let me know how it impacts your life and even your sleep.

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Blessing or Labor

On October 5, 2021   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Proverb 10: 4

Poor is one who works with a lazy hand, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.

What about this? I wrote you recently that it was the blessing of the Lord which makes rich (Proverb 10: 22). So, which is it, the blessing or the work of your hand which makes rich?

I heard an expression years ago that stuck with me, “God can’t steer a parked car.” The message was that we are to begin moving and then He will direct us. In recent years you have actually heard me teach this under the moniker, “Partnership.” Therein lies your answer.

Deuteronomy 28: 12 reads, “The Lord will open for you His good storehouse, the heavens, to give rain to your land in its season and to bless every work of your hand; and you will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow.” This chapter is about the blessing and you can surely see it in this passage. If you look closely, though, you will also see our part in the partnership. Let me rephrase this combining the verses from Proverbs and Deuteronomy. It is the blessing of the Lord which makes rich as God blesses the work of our hands. We must set our hands to something. Second, we must do so in the name of the Lord, committing our work to Him.  Third, we must allow Him to steer us. The outcome is blessing. If we will allow the Father to be our partner in everything we do, He will anoint and bless the work of our hands. He will show us the way to go.

Neither looking to the might of our hand nor sitting around waiting for God to do something will result in the success we desire. It is the combination of allowing God to direct us and then putting our hand to the plow which yields results. God is waiting to bless you, but you must pull away from the curb and then let Him navigate. It is the combination of our joint labors that wins the day.

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