Growing up with two younger brothers, we would occasionally have misunderstandings,and our mother would catch us fighting. She would have us tell each other we were sorry. There was no repentance just sorry we got caught. Randy and I always misbehaved at church in worship. We did it so often, when we got home, we would go in the bathroom, bend over the commode, and wait for dad to give us our licks. Again, sorry we got caught, but no repentance.
Many times growing up, I would do something I shouldn't, and say I was sorry. I am more mature now, and if I do or say something wrong or disrespectful to another, I will sincerely say I am sorry. I back it up with a change of heart(repentance) not wanting to damage the relationship with the person involved.
Even in my marriage, I have said things or acted in a way that I shouldn't toward Debbie. Not only do I tell her I am sincerely sorry, I try my best to repent and never do it again. Why? Because I love her and I do not want to damage our relationship.
Many today, when caught doing wrong, will say they are sorry. It is usually a worldly sorrow. Just sorry they got caught. One time before church services I met with a young man who professed to be a Christian which had the reputation of drinking and partying. I asked him about his behavior, and he admitted his wrong doing and said he would go forward after the sermon to confess and repent of this sin. He did, but he was partying again in a few days. We have all been there sometime in our life.
Repentance is a change of direction in your thinking. Whatever sin you may be involved in, you want to change direction and not continue in that sin. What makes us want to repent? For many, it is a fear of going to hell, and for others it is a desire to go to heaven.
I would like to go to the Bible and read about a few cases of repentance. First, let's go to 1 Samuel 15:22-26. Saul disobeyed God, and his rebellion was as bad as the sin of witchcraft. He later blamed his sin on the people. Saying, he feared them and obeyed their voice. No godly sorrow here, nor do we ever see Saul having a good relationship with God again. Now let's turn to a story we are all familiar. In II Samuel 12:7-13, David was confronted by Nathan about his sin with Bathsheba and his murder of Uriah. David said he had sinned against the Lord, but in Psalms 51 we see his heart flow out to God. He had a heart which did not want to lose the relationship he had with God. Psalms 51 is a beautiful prayer of repentance.
The New Testament gives us the account of Peter, who said he would die for Christ. Instead, he denied Him three times. In Matthew 26:69-75 we see Peter went out and wept bitterly. Why did he do this? He had a relationship with Christ, and it devastated him in knowing he denied Him three times. Later in Acts, we see the great servant of God that Peter became. In Matt.27:3-5, we read were Judas was sorry, but instead of having a change of heart(repentance) went out and hanged himself.
What do we have to do, before we are willing to repent? First, we have to know what sin is,which sin we are committing, and who ultimately we are sinning against. For us to change our hearts and go in a different direction, there has to be a reason. In my life as I get closer to God, when I do something contrary to His will, I repent of the sin seeking His forgiveness. I do not want to loose the relationship I have with Him. I want to be walking in the light and having full fellowship with Him. I had to be taught this. I was taught at an early age about sin, and also the love God has for us. I began to search the scriptures daily to help me grow my Christianity in this life. Can I still sin? Yes I can, but I hope when I do, I will have the same godly sorrow that Peter had and repent.
I have said many times, the people in the United States need to humble themselves before God and repent of their sins, turning to Jesus, and obey the Gospel. I ask you a serious question. What would make them repent? We now have a second generation that does not know God. The only glimpse of God they may have is Christians. Many have tried to take God out of the public life. Others make fun of Christians for standing against sin.They cannot have godly sorrow until they know how much God loves them and how much He abhors sin. Many do not believe in hell. Some think when you die you just die.
Christians, we have an enormous and critical task before us. I myself need to repent of the idea someone else will spread the Gospel of Christ. I need to have a faith as the early Christians had. One that the whip, sword, being thrown to wild animals, or being burned alive could not stop.
Times were terrible in the 1st century. Twelve men full of the Holy Ghost, on a mission for God, preached Christ crucified, shed His blood for the sins of mankind,and raised from the dead. No TV, No Text Messaging, No emailing, No Facebook, not even a copy of the New Testament. Those twelve turned the world upside down. They lived right, obeyed God, did what was right in God's eyes instead of their own eyes, and all were one, speaking the same thing. They knew how much God loved humanity, and they wanted to teach the Gospel to as many as possible. What faith, persistence, and courage they had. Then the early church went on the same mission, teaching the lost.
Christians, I am going to ask some hard questions that may not be easy for you to answer, but I am asking myself first. Do we need to go and repent before we ask someone else to? How does the world and other Christians see us? Do we love unconditionally, and are we forgiving? Do they see us putting God first in our lives? Do they see us as hypocritical or strong in our faith? When they are around us do we show them that we care about them? Do we come across as being humble with the message or self righteous? Most importantly, do they see our relationship with God as one we value so much that we never wish to hurt God by habitually sinning against Him?
When we Christians get our lives on the right tract and others see God's word living in us, the word will attract the world. And yes, they will want to repent from the life that has brought them hardship and no hope. How blessed it will be when we see people repenting and obeying the Gospel of Christ. Seeing the hope of heaven in their eyes will be more of a reward than anything this world can offer.
Christians, we can do this. We have chosen to be Christians and along with this choice there is a mission.
God is good! Let's live like He is!
I am going to have to cut back to writing 3 or 4 post a week. I have started writing a book and need to spend time on it. I haven't decided on the title yet, but it may be: Christians-Can We Talk?
Please send this to family and friends. I am trying to increase the number of readers. Other than here in the good ole USA, I have had people from, Germany, United Kingdom and Australia. Many of you have commented and some have helped in editing. I am very grateful.
Please send comments to rhepler52@gmail.com .
Thanks so much!
Rick Hepler
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Friday, August 12, 2011
Defeat Worry With Trust
This has been a loaded week. One loaded with encouragement one day, shock another, grieving, stressful, and one filled with hope. In our world of instant communication, if we allow it, we can have outside influences affect our emotions all throughout the day. Sometime I feel my emotions are on a roller coaster ride. I should not let this happen. When I have an up and down day, I use the evening to set it all in perspective. When I've had time to pray and meditate on God's word, the concerns I had in the morning lose some of their strength over me.
At an early age, the culture in which we live instills in us to be successful. We take it to mean success must be every minute of the day. When our view of our daily activities veer from our success plan, we get stressed, worried, and many times just give up. Failure should strengthen us, possibly shift us to another direction, and most importantly build our faith. Think of people you know that have a strong faith. Did they obtain that faith by not having any struggles, or did they obtain it because of the struggles?
Let us go to the Bible and see how Jesus handled life while He was on earth. You may be thinking, well He was the Son of God. He came from Heaven, and He knew God would protect Him. Ask yourself, did he have any problems?
Christ was born in Bethlehem, in a manger.(Luke 2:4-7) Were you, your children or grandchildren born in a manger? After Christ was born, Joseph was warned in a dream by an angel of the Lord saying "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him".(NKJV)(Matt. 2:13) Did your parents have to escape the place of your birth, fearing that you might be killed? After Christ was baptized, He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted forty days and forty nights, and Satan came to Him to tempt Him. (Matt: 3:16; 4:1-11) What happened after you were baptized?
Christ had some rewarding days. Christ went about all Galilee teaching and preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom and healing all kinds of disease among the people. His fame went all through Syria, and great multitudes followed Him.(Matt. 4:23-25) But, later, many left Him and followed Him no more. (John 6:66)
How often have you had friends leave you never again to be your friends?
Do you have a nice house to live in? Jesus told someone who wanted to follow Him, "Foxes have holes and birds have nest, but the Son of Man has no where to lay His head."(Luke 9:58) (NJKV) Not having a house did not stop Christ from His mission here on earth.
When they came to get Christ, His disciples fled.(Mark 14 :50) Read John 19:1-34; Mark 14:65,15:16-34.
He was beaten, crucified, and when He was bearing the sins of the world He cried out, "My God, My God why have you forsaken Me?" God turned away when Jesus bore our sins.
If we had experienced all of this and charted our emotions, the lines would have been all over the chart. Christ had a mission from God. Even if it met crucifixion, He was determined to do His Father's will.
As Christians, what is our mission? Is it to have a successful career, have large bank accounts, be highly educated, and have a problem free life? Read Matt. 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-18. As Christians, it's OK to have things, as long as they are not our masters and deplete our energy worrying about them. Jesus said you can't have two masters. (Matt 6:24)
Where is Jesus now? (Read Acts 2:22-36) Was Christ life on this earth pleasant? Did He die for you and me? Did He overcome death for us? If He had worried about His circumstances while on this earth, or worried about what people thought about Him, would we have a hope of heaven? We needed a saviour who would trust God and carry out God's mission exactly as He had planned.
You still may be thinking, "He is God's son". Well, think on this question, "who are we?" Read Matt. 12:46-50; Matt. 5:43-45;Matt. 23:9, Matt. 5:16 and Matt. 6:9. God is, also, our Father in heaven. Has He given us the greatest gift? If we are faithful to death what will we receive? (Read 2 Tim. 4:6-8) If God allowed His Son Jesus to be crucified for us, to live in this fallen world, and then set Him on a throne in heaven, why are we sweating the small stuff? Jesus trusted His Father and look where He is today. Let us trust our Father in heaven today and obey Him. He has a place prepared for us for all eternity.
Christ tells us to not worry. (Matt. 6:25-34) He didn't worry. He trusted His Father. If we trust our Father in heaven, should we worry?
Please think about it. After the fall of man in the garden, God never intended for His children to live on this earth forever. Let's be attached to Him, not the things He has blessed us with. Let's displace worrying with trusting in Him.
Thanks and have a good weekend! Send any comments to my email address, rhepler52@yahoo.com or rhepler52@gmail.com .
Rick Hepler
At an early age, the culture in which we live instills in us to be successful. We take it to mean success must be every minute of the day. When our view of our daily activities veer from our success plan, we get stressed, worried, and many times just give up. Failure should strengthen us, possibly shift us to another direction, and most importantly build our faith. Think of people you know that have a strong faith. Did they obtain that faith by not having any struggles, or did they obtain it because of the struggles?
Let us go to the Bible and see how Jesus handled life while He was on earth. You may be thinking, well He was the Son of God. He came from Heaven, and He knew God would protect Him. Ask yourself, did he have any problems?
Christ was born in Bethlehem, in a manger.(Luke 2:4-7) Were you, your children or grandchildren born in a manger? After Christ was born, Joseph was warned in a dream by an angel of the Lord saying "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him".(NKJV)(Matt. 2:13) Did your parents have to escape the place of your birth, fearing that you might be killed? After Christ was baptized, He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted forty days and forty nights, and Satan came to Him to tempt Him. (Matt: 3:16; 4:1-11) What happened after you were baptized?
Christ had some rewarding days. Christ went about all Galilee teaching and preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom and healing all kinds of disease among the people. His fame went all through Syria, and great multitudes followed Him.(Matt. 4:23-25) But, later, many left Him and followed Him no more. (John 6:66)
How often have you had friends leave you never again to be your friends?
Do you have a nice house to live in? Jesus told someone who wanted to follow Him, "Foxes have holes and birds have nest, but the Son of Man has no where to lay His head."(Luke 9:58) (NJKV) Not having a house did not stop Christ from His mission here on earth.
When they came to get Christ, His disciples fled.(Mark 14 :50) Read John 19:1-34; Mark 14:65,15:16-34.
He was beaten, crucified, and when He was bearing the sins of the world He cried out, "My God, My God why have you forsaken Me?" God turned away when Jesus bore our sins.
If we had experienced all of this and charted our emotions, the lines would have been all over the chart. Christ had a mission from God. Even if it met crucifixion, He was determined to do His Father's will.
As Christians, what is our mission? Is it to have a successful career, have large bank accounts, be highly educated, and have a problem free life? Read Matt. 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-18. As Christians, it's OK to have things, as long as they are not our masters and deplete our energy worrying about them. Jesus said you can't have two masters. (Matt 6:24)
Where is Jesus now? (Read Acts 2:22-36) Was Christ life on this earth pleasant? Did He die for you and me? Did He overcome death for us? If He had worried about His circumstances while on this earth, or worried about what people thought about Him, would we have a hope of heaven? We needed a saviour who would trust God and carry out God's mission exactly as He had planned.
You still may be thinking, "He is God's son". Well, think on this question, "who are we?" Read Matt. 12:46-50; Matt. 5:43-45;Matt. 23:9, Matt. 5:16 and Matt. 6:9. God is, also, our Father in heaven. Has He given us the greatest gift? If we are faithful to death what will we receive? (Read 2 Tim. 4:6-8) If God allowed His Son Jesus to be crucified for us, to live in this fallen world, and then set Him on a throne in heaven, why are we sweating the small stuff? Jesus trusted His Father and look where He is today. Let us trust our Father in heaven today and obey Him. He has a place prepared for us for all eternity.
Christ tells us to not worry. (Matt. 6:25-34) He didn't worry. He trusted His Father. If we trust our Father in heaven, should we worry?
Please think about it. After the fall of man in the garden, God never intended for His children to live on this earth forever. Let's be attached to Him, not the things He has blessed us with. Let's displace worrying with trusting in Him.
Thanks and have a good weekend! Send any comments to my email address, rhepler52@yahoo.com or rhepler52@gmail.com .
Rick Hepler
Monday, August 8, 2011
Rats on Fire!
It was a very hot and dry summer Sunday afternoon. We usually had a ball game of some sort in the neighborhood, but it was just too hot. I walked over to my dog pen, across the road, to water my hunting dogs. Just as I got to the pen, several rats ran from under the dog house. A huge maple tree next to the pen, with roots spread out on top of the ground, provided shade for my dogs. I noticed these rats ran into holes in the ground around those roots. After taking a closer look, I saw several holes near the tree trunk. The rats had a den under this tree.
Being a little bored anyway, I got the bright idea of getting rid of the rats once and for all. I went and got my brother, Randy, and my dad. I got a gasoline can and mixed gasoline and diesel fuel together. We started funneling this mixture down the rat holes all around the tree. It took us several minutes. We stepped back admiring our work. The rats were going to be toast in just a few minutes.
I need to describe the area. About 15 yards from the tree was an old farmhouse, converted into a corn crib, feed room, and storage for tools. Also, I think some straw was stored in one of the rooms. On the other side of the farmhouse was a shed where I kept my 4-H calves.
Well the moment we had been anticipating had arrived . We had given enough time for the gas fumes and diesel fuel to penetrate all throughout the rat den. I stood back, struck a match and tossed it on the little gasoline trail I had made away from the tree. It was a good plan. You would had thought we had planned it for weeks.
When the little trail of fire hit those holes, it was like a cannon going off. I thought no rat could live through that explosion. But they did! You remember, I mixed diesel fuel with the gasoline. The rats started coming out of those holes looking for a place to run for relief. The place happened to be the old farm house. Those rats were quick moving balls of fire. If we didn't get to them before they got to the old house, they were going to their fiery grave, with the last laugh, by burning it down.
We were all yelling, screaming, hollering, stomping, chasing, and giving 110 percent of everything we had to keep the burning rats out of the old house. You see, the house burned down would have been a great loss, but the bigger loss would have been our reputation. The farmers would still be laughing. We would had to moved to another state. We could not have gotten jobs, because people would think we were so stupid! Anybody pouring diesel fuel on rats, setting them on fire, and expecting them to stand still, had to be stupid. I sure am glad my dad was in on this one.
Well, with a good father's and sons' effort, we stopped every rat. I can say with pride, we only let a few get close to the house. We had cat reflexes in the end and won the victory over the "burning rats".
Now before you animal lovers get all upset, I have long since repented of my cruelty to rats. I even hate to catch a mouse in a trap. If I can catch them alive, I will take them outdoors and let them go.
Well, we have had our laugh,( I have had a belly laugh. You just had to be there.) and now on a more serious note, let's go to God's word.
Turn in your Bibles to James chapter 1:14-16. James says, "But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires, and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death." (NKJV) Satan tempts us with the lust of the flesh. Usually, it is a weakness
we have in the flesh. It always begins with a thought.(the rats in their den under that tree) Next, those thoughts get stronger and the desire grows. (the gasoline and diesel fuel on the rats) Then the thoughts of fulfilling the desire reach a breaking point, and all reasonable thinking is set aside.(the flaming match is now tossed toward the rats' den) Full blown, uncontrollable desire has been conceived. (the rats come out of the hole, on fire, going toward the old house) Sin is now full blown and unless stopped will be turned into a habitual sin. If not stopped, it will cause spiritual damage and worse, spiritual death.(If the burning rats are allowed to get into the old house, there will be considerable damage from the fire they cause or even burn the house down completely.)
It is sad to say, this happens daily in our world. I and even you could get caught up in the wrong thinking, which eventually, going unrestrained, can led to our spiritual death or causing pain and suffering to ourselves or others. None of us is immune.( Rom. 3:23)
Any of the stages of temptation can be stopped before they reach spiritual death. The thought has to be overcome before it gets so hot with passion, it ignites. If ignited, it needs to be quickly put out before the real damage is done.
How do we do this? Study God's word each day and pray for wisdom and strength. When we have God's word in our hearts as we have those thoughts, we will not let them dwell in our thinking. If we do fall into sin, we have our Christian brothers and sisters who can come and give us spiritual guidance. If our conscience has been trained with God's truths, Godly sorrow will turn us around. If sin is conceived and we are in spiritual death, we can turn around by going back to God. David did this. (Read Psa.51)
As Christians, if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.(1John 1:9) If you are not a Christian, your living in sin is like us letting those burning rats into the old house setting it on fire and burning it to the ground. But, you and I have a savior that can bury that old man of sin and raise us new men in Christ. (Read Rom 6:1-10)
Satan is very crafty, subtle, and persistent to get us to sin against God. We need to be ever vigilant. He is after us all, but Jesus our savior has overcome satan. He will save us and protect us if we let Him.
Please send comments to me at rhepler52@gmail.com We all need to help each other stomp out the "burning rats" before they get to the old house.
Thank you so much for reading!
Rick Hepler
Being a little bored anyway, I got the bright idea of getting rid of the rats once and for all. I went and got my brother, Randy, and my dad. I got a gasoline can and mixed gasoline and diesel fuel together. We started funneling this mixture down the rat holes all around the tree. It took us several minutes. We stepped back admiring our work. The rats were going to be toast in just a few minutes.
I need to describe the area. About 15 yards from the tree was an old farmhouse, converted into a corn crib, feed room, and storage for tools. Also, I think some straw was stored in one of the rooms. On the other side of the farmhouse was a shed where I kept my 4-H calves.
Well the moment we had been anticipating had arrived . We had given enough time for the gas fumes and diesel fuel to penetrate all throughout the rat den. I stood back, struck a match and tossed it on the little gasoline trail I had made away from the tree. It was a good plan. You would had thought we had planned it for weeks.
When the little trail of fire hit those holes, it was like a cannon going off. I thought no rat could live through that explosion. But they did! You remember, I mixed diesel fuel with the gasoline. The rats started coming out of those holes looking for a place to run for relief. The place happened to be the old farm house. Those rats were quick moving balls of fire. If we didn't get to them before they got to the old house, they were going to their fiery grave, with the last laugh, by burning it down.
We were all yelling, screaming, hollering, stomping, chasing, and giving 110 percent of everything we had to keep the burning rats out of the old house. You see, the house burned down would have been a great loss, but the bigger loss would have been our reputation. The farmers would still be laughing. We would had to moved to another state. We could not have gotten jobs, because people would think we were so stupid! Anybody pouring diesel fuel on rats, setting them on fire, and expecting them to stand still, had to be stupid. I sure am glad my dad was in on this one.
Well, with a good father's and sons' effort, we stopped every rat. I can say with pride, we only let a few get close to the house. We had cat reflexes in the end and won the victory over the "burning rats".
Now before you animal lovers get all upset, I have long since repented of my cruelty to rats. I even hate to catch a mouse in a trap. If I can catch them alive, I will take them outdoors and let them go.
Well, we have had our laugh,( I have had a belly laugh. You just had to be there.) and now on a more serious note, let's go to God's word.
Turn in your Bibles to James chapter 1:14-16. James says, "But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires, and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death." (NKJV) Satan tempts us with the lust of the flesh. Usually, it is a weakness
we have in the flesh. It always begins with a thought.(the rats in their den under that tree) Next, those thoughts get stronger and the desire grows. (the gasoline and diesel fuel on the rats) Then the thoughts of fulfilling the desire reach a breaking point, and all reasonable thinking is set aside.(the flaming match is now tossed toward the rats' den) Full blown, uncontrollable desire has been conceived. (the rats come out of the hole, on fire, going toward the old house) Sin is now full blown and unless stopped will be turned into a habitual sin. If not stopped, it will cause spiritual damage and worse, spiritual death.(If the burning rats are allowed to get into the old house, there will be considerable damage from the fire they cause or even burn the house down completely.)
It is sad to say, this happens daily in our world. I and even you could get caught up in the wrong thinking, which eventually, going unrestrained, can led to our spiritual death or causing pain and suffering to ourselves or others. None of us is immune.( Rom. 3:23)
Any of the stages of temptation can be stopped before they reach spiritual death. The thought has to be overcome before it gets so hot with passion, it ignites. If ignited, it needs to be quickly put out before the real damage is done.
How do we do this? Study God's word each day and pray for wisdom and strength. When we have God's word in our hearts as we have those thoughts, we will not let them dwell in our thinking. If we do fall into sin, we have our Christian brothers and sisters who can come and give us spiritual guidance. If our conscience has been trained with God's truths, Godly sorrow will turn us around. If sin is conceived and we are in spiritual death, we can turn around by going back to God. David did this. (Read Psa.51)
As Christians, if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.(1John 1:9) If you are not a Christian, your living in sin is like us letting those burning rats into the old house setting it on fire and burning it to the ground. But, you and I have a savior that can bury that old man of sin and raise us new men in Christ. (Read Rom 6:1-10)
Satan is very crafty, subtle, and persistent to get us to sin against God. We need to be ever vigilant. He is after us all, but Jesus our savior has overcome satan. He will save us and protect us if we let Him.
Please send comments to me at rhepler52@gmail.com We all need to help each other stomp out the "burning rats" before they get to the old house.
Thank you so much for reading!
Rick Hepler
Friday, August 5, 2011
I Now Repent Of My Complaining
I talked to a young mother of two young daughters this week. She was in Memphis trying to get medical treatment for hepatitis C. She does not have a job, is presently getting a divorce, and has no money or health insurance. She was a drug user, but says she is now drug free. My understanding is she has found a hospital willing to administer the medication she needs, even though she has no insurance or money. She only wants to live to see her daughters again. They are the only pleasure she presently has. I thought I had problems. I can't imagine how she faces each day. I don't know her well, but I have prayed for her and her daughters the past two nights. I know her grandmother is praying, but I wonder if anyone else has ever mentioned her name to God in prayer. I pray I will have an opportunity to talk to her about the gospel of Christ.
I got up early this morning because I could not sleep. I walked to my office door and saw the sun coming up over the trees. Peeking through the clouds, it was absolutely beautiful. It was at this time, my uncertain approaching day turned into a day of thanksgiving. Notice, I walked to the door. There are people on this earth who would give anything to be able to barely walk. I saw the sunrise. There are many people who would love to see the sunrise with just one eye let alone two. I recognized the sunrise as being beautiful. Some do not have the ability to recognize beauty due to a brain defect. As I am writing, it is raining. I just heard thunder softly rumbling in the distance. Some are born deaf. I have shelter to keep me dry from the rain. There are those homeless. I am not hungry due to the amount of dinner I ate last night. Some are hungry in this world and would love to have our leftovers. I am never lonely because I have a close, loving family. Many feel unloved and very lonely. I have no health problems at the present. Many are sick and in severe pain.
I have said all of this to lead up to what I heard yesterday. I am sure this will upset you as much as it did me.
There was a poll taken in July asking 928 Americans to give God an approval rating of the way He is handling the world. (Go to http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/ and scroll down to July 21, 2011 National Congressional Poll to read it.) The question was: If God exist, do you approve or disapprove of its performance? Notice the words if and it. They used it to not be gender specific. They didn't want to offend anyone. They could care less about offending God. 52% said they approved, 9% disapproved and 40% not sure. (Dumb,Dumber and Dumbest) The commentator I heard this from thought it was ridiculous. Although, he added, "people question God because if He is a loving God why does He let bad things happen to good people." I am furious at this point.
Let me go to God's word to help me explain what I am about to say. In Matthew chapter 8:28-33, Jesus cast demons out of two men. The very important part of this is, the demons cried out saying, "What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come to torment us before the time?" Notice in Matthew chapter 16:15-17, Jesus asked Peter, "who do you say that I am? Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God". Christ went on to say that" flesh and blood did not reveal this to you but My Father Who is in heaven". The demons knew and know Jesus. They recognize Him as the Son of God. They also know that on judgement day they are going to be in torment. They go about getting mankind to deny Christ, and yet they know who He is and confess He is the Son of God. Read also James 2:19 were James says, "You believe there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe and tremble. They know better than mankind who God is, and the place He has prepared for them.(Matt. 25:30,41; Rev.20:10) How can we believe the lies of the devil? He knows the truth and the upcoming eternal punishment to him and his angels along with all those who disobey God.
Now, let's answer the age old questions. Why does a loving God let bad things happen to good people and where was God when they were going through their darkest trial? Before I answer, I want you to remember what you have read in Job chapters 38-41 where God questions Job. Remember what God tells Isaiah in Isaiah chapter 55:8. "For my thoughts are are not your thoughts, nor My ways your ways." says the Lord.
Also, you read in 1 Cor. 2:9 "But as it is written: "eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him."(NKJV)After the fall of man, it has been God's desire for those who love Him to be with Him again. Those who do not love Him will see His wrath and be cast in outer darkness along with the devil and his angels on judgement day.
Now let's go back to the question. He is a loving God. We were doomed to a devil's hell because of man's sin. God has a plan for us to escape all of our trials, tribulations, tears, heartaches, and what ever else happens to us. He sacrificed Jesus, His only Son, so we could have hope of living with Him in heaven forever and escape the devil's hell of torment forever. This is the answer to the question, "if he is a loving God, why...?" I think this shows with an exclamation point that God loves us. The answer to "were was God when...?" God was right there at Calvary turning His back on His only begotten Son, as He had the sin's of all mankind on Him, dying in our stead. God saw His created mankind, spit upon, mock, beat and crucify His Son. Yes, God still loves us. He never has left us. We have ungratefully left Him through our ignorance.
Do you remember the story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:20-25? Do you think for one minute that Lazarus would want to be raised from the dead to go back to life on this earth as the rich man or is he so thankful he was a beggar. I understand now, why Habakkuk says, in Habakkuk 3:17-18, Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; though the flock be cut off from the fold, and there is no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
Our salvation is better than anything this world has to offer. If everything was wonderful here in this life, we might not get excited about heaven. I hope we realize what our salvation means to us and want to hang on to it. We need to be so grateful to God , that we want to tell everyone.
Back to the poll. Only someone ignorant of God and His word would even think of such a thing. God does not need our approval on anything. God has shown His longsuffering for them by not striking them down. God used to wink at ignorance, but now commands all men to repent. (Acts 18:30)
Christians, we need the courage to let our light shine brighter and the desire to be the salt of the earth to change mankind on the inside. It is left up to us. (Matt. 28:19-20)
The moment I value my salvation to the price paid for it, my attitude will be greatly adjusted. My devotion and love to God will be given to the fullest of my abilities.
Please, think about what God has said and how much He loves us. Don't ever let the devil deceive you in believing that God does not care about you. The devil already knows how much God loves you. He just does not want you to know.
I am trying to increase the readers of my blog. Please tell your relatives and friends to check it out. www.rick-hepler.blogspot.com Send comments to rhepler52@gmail.com
I hope you have a good weekend.
Thanks,
Rick Hepler
I got up early this morning because I could not sleep. I walked to my office door and saw the sun coming up over the trees. Peeking through the clouds, it was absolutely beautiful. It was at this time, my uncertain approaching day turned into a day of thanksgiving. Notice, I walked to the door. There are people on this earth who would give anything to be able to barely walk. I saw the sunrise. There are many people who would love to see the sunrise with just one eye let alone two. I recognized the sunrise as being beautiful. Some do not have the ability to recognize beauty due to a brain defect. As I am writing, it is raining. I just heard thunder softly rumbling in the distance. Some are born deaf. I have shelter to keep me dry from the rain. There are those homeless. I am not hungry due to the amount of dinner I ate last night. Some are hungry in this world and would love to have our leftovers. I am never lonely because I have a close, loving family. Many feel unloved and very lonely. I have no health problems at the present. Many are sick and in severe pain.
I have said all of this to lead up to what I heard yesterday. I am sure this will upset you as much as it did me.
There was a poll taken in July asking 928 Americans to give God an approval rating of the way He is handling the world. (Go to http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/ and scroll down to July 21, 2011 National Congressional Poll to read it.) The question was: If God exist, do you approve or disapprove of its performance? Notice the words if and it. They used it to not be gender specific. They didn't want to offend anyone. They could care less about offending God. 52% said they approved, 9% disapproved and 40% not sure. (Dumb,Dumber and Dumbest) The commentator I heard this from thought it was ridiculous. Although, he added, "people question God because if He is a loving God why does He let bad things happen to good people." I am furious at this point.
Let me go to God's word to help me explain what I am about to say. In Matthew chapter 8:28-33, Jesus cast demons out of two men. The very important part of this is, the demons cried out saying, "What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come to torment us before the time?" Notice in Matthew chapter 16:15-17, Jesus asked Peter, "who do you say that I am? Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God". Christ went on to say that" flesh and blood did not reveal this to you but My Father Who is in heaven". The demons knew and know Jesus. They recognize Him as the Son of God. They also know that on judgement day they are going to be in torment. They go about getting mankind to deny Christ, and yet they know who He is and confess He is the Son of God. Read also James 2:19 were James says, "You believe there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe and tremble. They know better than mankind who God is, and the place He has prepared for them.(Matt. 25:30,41; Rev.20:10) How can we believe the lies of the devil? He knows the truth and the upcoming eternal punishment to him and his angels along with all those who disobey God.
Now, let's answer the age old questions. Why does a loving God let bad things happen to good people and where was God when they were going through their darkest trial? Before I answer, I want you to remember what you have read in Job chapters 38-41 where God questions Job. Remember what God tells Isaiah in Isaiah chapter 55:8. "For my thoughts are are not your thoughts, nor My ways your ways." says the Lord.
Also, you read in 1 Cor. 2:9 "But as it is written: "eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him."(NKJV)After the fall of man, it has been God's desire for those who love Him to be with Him again. Those who do not love Him will see His wrath and be cast in outer darkness along with the devil and his angels on judgement day.
Now let's go back to the question. He is a loving God. We were doomed to a devil's hell because of man's sin. God has a plan for us to escape all of our trials, tribulations, tears, heartaches, and what ever else happens to us. He sacrificed Jesus, His only Son, so we could have hope of living with Him in heaven forever and escape the devil's hell of torment forever. This is the answer to the question, "if he is a loving God, why...?" I think this shows with an exclamation point that God loves us. The answer to "were was God when...?" God was right there at Calvary turning His back on His only begotten Son, as He had the sin's of all mankind on Him, dying in our stead. God saw His created mankind, spit upon, mock, beat and crucify His Son. Yes, God still loves us. He never has left us. We have ungratefully left Him through our ignorance.
Do you remember the story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:20-25? Do you think for one minute that Lazarus would want to be raised from the dead to go back to life on this earth as the rich man or is he so thankful he was a beggar. I understand now, why Habakkuk says, in Habakkuk 3:17-18, Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; though the flock be cut off from the fold, and there is no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
Our salvation is better than anything this world has to offer. If everything was wonderful here in this life, we might not get excited about heaven. I hope we realize what our salvation means to us and want to hang on to it. We need to be so grateful to God , that we want to tell everyone.
Back to the poll. Only someone ignorant of God and His word would even think of such a thing. God does not need our approval on anything. God has shown His longsuffering for them by not striking them down. God used to wink at ignorance, but now commands all men to repent. (Acts 18:30)
Christians, we need the courage to let our light shine brighter and the desire to be the salt of the earth to change mankind on the inside. It is left up to us. (Matt. 28:19-20)
The moment I value my salvation to the price paid for it, my attitude will be greatly adjusted. My devotion and love to God will be given to the fullest of my abilities.
Please, think about what God has said and how much He loves us. Don't ever let the devil deceive you in believing that God does not care about you. The devil already knows how much God loves you. He just does not want you to know.
I am trying to increase the readers of my blog. Please tell your relatives and friends to check it out. www.rick-hepler.blogspot.com Send comments to rhepler52@gmail.com
I hope you have a good weekend.
Thanks,
Rick Hepler
Thursday, August 4, 2011
The Garden Of Our Mind
I enjoy planting a garden in the spring. The smell of the tilled soil reminds me of when I was younger, plowing with a tractor. It is something about planting seeds and watching them break through the ground. As the plants grow, you have to keep the weeds out. When the weather is cool, working in the garden is not a bad job. In August when days and nights are very hot and humid, the job gets harder.
A mid summer, weed free garden is a beautiful sight. If you do not work in the garden every day, the weeds will slowly overtake the plants robbing them of moisture and nutrients. When the days are hot and humid, it is harder to keep the weeds under control. When weeds over take your garden, vegetable production will almost come to a stop.
Weeds hinder vegetable production in the garden just like negative thoughts from the devil hinder the growth of a Christian. Many of us, in our Christian lives, have periods of springtime. We diligently watch our thoughts and our lives as Christians. We seem to be doing fine, then the devil robs us of spiritual nourishment by planting weed seeds to over come us.
Christians think of your mind as a garden. The good thoughts are the vegetables, and the negative thoughts are weeds. Every day we have to hoe this garden to keep the weeds out. What are weed thoughts? Thoughts of doubt, lust, pride, discouragement, cares of this world, fear, and unbelief are some big weeds Satan uses to rob us of our Christian strength. Take notice, all of these are thoughts that can be controlled or weeded out of our mind. There are many others, but let's just discuss these.
First, let's talk about what these thoughts can do to our Christian lives. Doubt can hinder our prayers to God. In James 1:6, James talks about asking God with faith and no doubting.The fall of man was caused by doubt. Read Genesis 3:1-6 and notice how Satan caused Eve to doubt what God said. He said "You will not surely die". She doubted the truth, God told her, and sinned against God by following her own desires.
You notice that before Eve was tempted with the lust of the flesh (saw it was good for food), lust of the eyes (saw it was pleasant to the eyes), and pride of life (a tree desirable to make one wise) Satan placed in her mind what God said not to be truth. She then doubted God, which led to her sin. (Gen. 3:1-6)
In just a moment, lust can cause us to take our focus off God and gratify our desires.Yes, lust is a powerful thought in which the devil tempts us. It is like morning glories in a garden, you have to chop them out every day. They are continually sprouting.
Also, the pride of life gives us a feeling of independence and self reliance leading us away from God. We get into trouble when we live our lives like we don't need God.
Discouragement is another weed of thought that can destroy our faith. Satan uses this to make us give up trying to live the Christian life. Read Rev. 12:10. Satan is our accuser. He wants us to feel so bad in our sins, that we give up hope for God's forgiveness. But John says, "If we confess our sins and repent, He is faithful and just to forgive us". (1John 1:7-9) I have seen many young righteous Christians leave their Christianity because of discouragement.
The cares of this world are weeds of thought Satan uses to keep God from being first in our lives. In Matthew 13:22, Christ says, the cares of this world choke out the word. Daily, failing to read God's word will gradually let these weeds grow into thoughts leading us away from God.
Satan uses fear to destroy our trust in God. When we are praying daily about affairs effecting our lives and God does not answer as we expect we become afraid and our trust in God waivers. Along with this, fear, and the weeds of unbelief start to totally confuse us. If we do not remove these thoughts from our thinking, they will destroy our faith.
Satan puts thoughts in our minds, like these, consistently. Just as we daily weed our garden, we have to be persistent weeding our thoughts, or they will get ahead of us and make us unfruitful.
How do we chop these destructive thoughts out of the garden of our mind? Here are a few scriptures that may help.(Jer. 32:17) Jeremiah says there is nothing too hard for God. We need to believe this. (Mark 10:27) Jesus says," all things are possible with God". Proverbs 3:5 tells us to trust in the Lord with all our heart. Paul tells us, in Romans 8:39, nothing created can separate us from the love of God. We are to pray without ceasing, 1Thess. 5:17. We are to meditate or study God's word. (2Tim. 2:15) Paul tells us what to think on in Phil. 4:8. We also need the help of one another (1Thess 5:11) and to be with one another. (Hebrews 10:25)
With God's help and the help of other Christians, we can overcome these destructive thoughts Satan introduces to us each day. If we let them, they will grow like weeds in a garden and eventually choke out the good plants, our Christian life. It takes an hourly vigilance.
In today's turmoil and trouble let's help each other have a weed free garden in our minds.
Comments welcomed at rhepler52@gmail.com
Never give up, no matter what the circumstance. God has not and will not leave us. He loves us.
Thanks,
Rick Hepler
A mid summer, weed free garden is a beautiful sight. If you do not work in the garden every day, the weeds will slowly overtake the plants robbing them of moisture and nutrients. When the days are hot and humid, it is harder to keep the weeds under control. When weeds over take your garden, vegetable production will almost come to a stop.
Weeds hinder vegetable production in the garden just like negative thoughts from the devil hinder the growth of a Christian. Many of us, in our Christian lives, have periods of springtime. We diligently watch our thoughts and our lives as Christians. We seem to be doing fine, then the devil robs us of spiritual nourishment by planting weed seeds to over come us.
Christians think of your mind as a garden. The good thoughts are the vegetables, and the negative thoughts are weeds. Every day we have to hoe this garden to keep the weeds out. What are weed thoughts? Thoughts of doubt, lust, pride, discouragement, cares of this world, fear, and unbelief are some big weeds Satan uses to rob us of our Christian strength. Take notice, all of these are thoughts that can be controlled or weeded out of our mind. There are many others, but let's just discuss these.
First, let's talk about what these thoughts can do to our Christian lives. Doubt can hinder our prayers to God. In James 1:6, James talks about asking God with faith and no doubting.The fall of man was caused by doubt. Read Genesis 3:1-6 and notice how Satan caused Eve to doubt what God said. He said "You will not surely die". She doubted the truth, God told her, and sinned against God by following her own desires.
You notice that before Eve was tempted with the lust of the flesh (saw it was good for food), lust of the eyes (saw it was pleasant to the eyes), and pride of life (a tree desirable to make one wise) Satan placed in her mind what God said not to be truth. She then doubted God, which led to her sin. (Gen. 3:1-6)
In just a moment, lust can cause us to take our focus off God and gratify our desires.Yes, lust is a powerful thought in which the devil tempts us. It is like morning glories in a garden, you have to chop them out every day. They are continually sprouting.
Also, the pride of life gives us a feeling of independence and self reliance leading us away from God. We get into trouble when we live our lives like we don't need God.
Discouragement is another weed of thought that can destroy our faith. Satan uses this to make us give up trying to live the Christian life. Read Rev. 12:10. Satan is our accuser. He wants us to feel so bad in our sins, that we give up hope for God's forgiveness. But John says, "If we confess our sins and repent, He is faithful and just to forgive us". (1John 1:7-9) I have seen many young righteous Christians leave their Christianity because of discouragement.
The cares of this world are weeds of thought Satan uses to keep God from being first in our lives. In Matthew 13:22, Christ says, the cares of this world choke out the word. Daily, failing to read God's word will gradually let these weeds grow into thoughts leading us away from God.
Satan uses fear to destroy our trust in God. When we are praying daily about affairs effecting our lives and God does not answer as we expect we become afraid and our trust in God waivers. Along with this, fear, and the weeds of unbelief start to totally confuse us. If we do not remove these thoughts from our thinking, they will destroy our faith.
Satan puts thoughts in our minds, like these, consistently. Just as we daily weed our garden, we have to be persistent weeding our thoughts, or they will get ahead of us and make us unfruitful.
How do we chop these destructive thoughts out of the garden of our mind? Here are a few scriptures that may help.(Jer. 32:17) Jeremiah says there is nothing too hard for God. We need to believe this. (Mark 10:27) Jesus says," all things are possible with God". Proverbs 3:5 tells us to trust in the Lord with all our heart. Paul tells us, in Romans 8:39, nothing created can separate us from the love of God. We are to pray without ceasing, 1Thess. 5:17. We are to meditate or study God's word. (2Tim. 2:15) Paul tells us what to think on in Phil. 4:8. We also need the help of one another (1Thess 5:11) and to be with one another. (Hebrews 10:25)
With God's help and the help of other Christians, we can overcome these destructive thoughts Satan introduces to us each day. If we let them, they will grow like weeds in a garden and eventually choke out the good plants, our Christian life. It takes an hourly vigilance.
In today's turmoil and trouble let's help each other have a weed free garden in our minds.
Comments welcomed at rhepler52@gmail.com
Never give up, no matter what the circumstance. God has not and will not leave us. He loves us.
Thanks,
Rick Hepler
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Who Knows Me?
Debbie and I were returning home from a business meeting in Little Rock, AR. We stopped at a convenience store to fill up our car with gas. I noticed the guy next to me starting to laugh. I thought that was a little strange, then he said, "Rick, how are you doing?" Immediately, I tried to remember his name. Was he an old classmate, friend of the family, had I previously met him in one of the meetings I just attended. He could tell by the look on my face that I didn't have a clue who he was. He started rolling with laughter and pointed at the name tag I was still wearing from my meeting. We had a good laugh and went on our way.
In our fast paced culture today, it is special for someone to know our name. I have to admit, sometimes when I meet new people I forget their name before we finish shaking hands. At work, when I call home office, I have to put my advisor number in before they will talk. Social security numbers are a necessity if you are going to do business. We are just a number in many areas of business and health care.
When people call me over the phone I can usually identify if it is a business call, friend calling, or family calling by which name they use. If they ask for James Hepler, I know it is a business call or someone who does not know me. When they ask for Rick, it is mostly my clients or friends that I have made the last 20 years. If they ask for Rickey, it is a family member, a close family friend or someone that has known me since I was a child. We feel comfortable when people know us, when they call our name.
Does God know my name? In the book of Jeremiah chapter 1:5, the Lord tells Jeremiah, " before I formed you in your mother's womb I knew you;" Psalms 139:13-14 David says "For you formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made." Yes, I think God knows our name. The key thought is, "do we know Him"? We need to know Him and live our lives pleasing Him.
God loves us so much, He knows our names, but He also wants our names recorded in the Lamb's Book of Life. Read Revelations 20:15 and 21:27. If we are faithful, our names are entered into the Lamb's Book of life. The saddest verse in the Bible is vs. 15 of chapter 20, "And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire". The Book of life is one book that we want our name written.
Many people know my name, but more importantly, God knows it. I need to live like He knows my name. How about you?
Send comments to rhepler52@gmail.com .
Thanks for reading!
Rick Hepler
In our fast paced culture today, it is special for someone to know our name. I have to admit, sometimes when I meet new people I forget their name before we finish shaking hands. At work, when I call home office, I have to put my advisor number in before they will talk. Social security numbers are a necessity if you are going to do business. We are just a number in many areas of business and health care.
When people call me over the phone I can usually identify if it is a business call, friend calling, or family calling by which name they use. If they ask for James Hepler, I know it is a business call or someone who does not know me. When they ask for Rick, it is mostly my clients or friends that I have made the last 20 years. If they ask for Rickey, it is a family member, a close family friend or someone that has known me since I was a child. We feel comfortable when people know us, when they call our name.
Does God know my name? In the book of Jeremiah chapter 1:5, the Lord tells Jeremiah, " before I formed you in your mother's womb I knew you;" Psalms 139:13-14 David says "For you formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made." Yes, I think God knows our name. The key thought is, "do we know Him"? We need to know Him and live our lives pleasing Him.
God loves us so much, He knows our names, but He also wants our names recorded in the Lamb's Book of Life. Read Revelations 20:15 and 21:27. If we are faithful, our names are entered into the Lamb's Book of life. The saddest verse in the Bible is vs. 15 of chapter 20, "And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire". The Book of life is one book that we want our name written.
Many people know my name, but more importantly, God knows it. I need to live like He knows my name. How about you?
Send comments to rhepler52@gmail.com .
Thanks for reading!
Rick Hepler
Monday, August 1, 2011
Are We Easy To Approach?
Next door to us, across the barn lot on Mr. Olan Gray's place lived Esau and Annie. They have since died, but my memories of them have not. The time was in the 50's and 60's. Our country was getting ready to undergo some needed changes. You see Esau and Annie were black folk. I had seen Esau, on several occasions being humbly, silent as the other farm hands called him the N word. He just laughed it off as I remained silent. I was young, accepted things as they were, and did not have the courage to do otherwise.
I regret not getting to know him and Annie better. They were good hard working people. They went through hard times. I have seen Annie picking blackberries, gathering polk salad, and catching fish out of the farm pond. I have plowed, cut and raked hay, driven cattle and hogs with Esau. Many days in the summer I worked along side him maybe 10 hours. We never really got beyond small talk. I called Larry Gray today and he told me Esau served as a deacon at the Baptist church, but Annie went to the Methodist church. I had forgotten that he was also a barber on Saturdays.
I went to see Esau shortly before he died. He had lung cancer and finally died at his home. I miss him, but what I really miss, is not acknowledging my respect for him. He was a very humble man and seemed always to have a smile. I could have learned from him how to handle adversity with humility and kindness. I wished I had helped him more and showed him that I really cared about him and Annie.
I wear the name Christian, but sometimes I wonder if I act in a way that people from all walks of life feel comfortable in approaching me. I always felt comfortable around Esau. I believe anyone could.
When Christ walked this earth, he showed kindness and love to all of every walk of life. I would like to point out the impression that Christ gave to those who needed him most. Turn in your Bible to Luke 7:36-50. In reading this I had to ask myself this question. Do people come to me when they have messed up their lives knowing I will be compassionate and forgiving and offer them comfort? Let's read an example of this in God's word.
She was publicly known by the Pharisees as a sinner. Did she approach them for comfort? Remember they were the religious people of the day. But, she had seen this One who had shown so much compassion to the poor and down trodden. He healed the sick, raised the dead, cast out devils, and promised a new way of life. Can you imagine how she was feeling? She was ashamed of her reputation. Up until this time no one had given her any comfort or hope.
Now a Pharisee,Simon, invited Jesus to eat with him. He neither kissed Jesus or offered to wash his feet as was the custom. I believe he just invited Him out of curiosity. When this sinner knew that Jesus sat at the table, she came in and stood behind Him holding a flask of fragrant oil. All Simon could think, if this man is a prophet he should know this woman is a sinner. Did this man care about Jesus or the woman? His religious life was sure not going to attract anyone in need.
We now see her weeping and washing Jesus' feet with her tears.She also anointed his feet with the fragrant oil and wiping them with her hair. Oh, what an impact Jesus had made on her. She was willing to take the risk of being publicly humiliated honoring Jesus at the Pharisees house. In verse 50, Jesus told her, "Your faith has saved you. Go in peace."
How many times have any of you witnessed someone coming into your worship service, off the street, sobbing and crying because of their sins, wanting the forgiveness of God? Was your answer 0?
The church represents Christ's body here on earth. Should we not attract as Christ did? How would we look upon them? Would we act like the Pharisee or Christ?
Unless, we as his body live like Him, believe in Him 100% ourselves, love like He does, forgive like He does, and have the compassion for the lost that He does, we may never see someone off the street coming in, sobbing for their sins, and so grateful for Jesus and what He did for them. We also have to call sin what it is and have no pleasure in sin.
If we build a Christ like reputation for ourselves that the lost world has not seen, they will come. They will come because we see them like us, sinners that needed a savior. Do you think Simon seemed a little self righteous? I now ask myself that same question. I am nothing without Jesus. Where are you? Where are they?
Christ mixed with all to let His Father's light shine on everyone. We, His children, are asked to do the same.
Let's reach out to all walks of life making friends and sharing the Gospel of Christ.
WE HAVE HOPE, LET'S SHARE IT. MAY THOSE IN NEED FEEL COMFORTABLE AROUND US.
Comments welcome at rhepler52@gmail.com
Thanks,
Rick Hepler
I regret not getting to know him and Annie better. They were good hard working people. They went through hard times. I have seen Annie picking blackberries, gathering polk salad, and catching fish out of the farm pond. I have plowed, cut and raked hay, driven cattle and hogs with Esau. Many days in the summer I worked along side him maybe 10 hours. We never really got beyond small talk. I called Larry Gray today and he told me Esau served as a deacon at the Baptist church, but Annie went to the Methodist church. I had forgotten that he was also a barber on Saturdays.
I went to see Esau shortly before he died. He had lung cancer and finally died at his home. I miss him, but what I really miss, is not acknowledging my respect for him. He was a very humble man and seemed always to have a smile. I could have learned from him how to handle adversity with humility and kindness. I wished I had helped him more and showed him that I really cared about him and Annie.
I wear the name Christian, but sometimes I wonder if I act in a way that people from all walks of life feel comfortable in approaching me. I always felt comfortable around Esau. I believe anyone could.
When Christ walked this earth, he showed kindness and love to all of every walk of life. I would like to point out the impression that Christ gave to those who needed him most. Turn in your Bible to Luke 7:36-50. In reading this I had to ask myself this question. Do people come to me when they have messed up their lives knowing I will be compassionate and forgiving and offer them comfort? Let's read an example of this in God's word.
She was publicly known by the Pharisees as a sinner. Did she approach them for comfort? Remember they were the religious people of the day. But, she had seen this One who had shown so much compassion to the poor and down trodden. He healed the sick, raised the dead, cast out devils, and promised a new way of life. Can you imagine how she was feeling? She was ashamed of her reputation. Up until this time no one had given her any comfort or hope.
Now a Pharisee,Simon, invited Jesus to eat with him. He neither kissed Jesus or offered to wash his feet as was the custom. I believe he just invited Him out of curiosity. When this sinner knew that Jesus sat at the table, she came in and stood behind Him holding a flask of fragrant oil. All Simon could think, if this man is a prophet he should know this woman is a sinner. Did this man care about Jesus or the woman? His religious life was sure not going to attract anyone in need.
We now see her weeping and washing Jesus' feet with her tears.She also anointed his feet with the fragrant oil and wiping them with her hair. Oh, what an impact Jesus had made on her. She was willing to take the risk of being publicly humiliated honoring Jesus at the Pharisees house. In verse 50, Jesus told her, "Your faith has saved you. Go in peace."
How many times have any of you witnessed someone coming into your worship service, off the street, sobbing and crying because of their sins, wanting the forgiveness of God? Was your answer 0?
The church represents Christ's body here on earth. Should we not attract as Christ did? How would we look upon them? Would we act like the Pharisee or Christ?
Unless, we as his body live like Him, believe in Him 100% ourselves, love like He does, forgive like He does, and have the compassion for the lost that He does, we may never see someone off the street coming in, sobbing for their sins, and so grateful for Jesus and what He did for them. We also have to call sin what it is and have no pleasure in sin.
If we build a Christ like reputation for ourselves that the lost world has not seen, they will come. They will come because we see them like us, sinners that needed a savior. Do you think Simon seemed a little self righteous? I now ask myself that same question. I am nothing without Jesus. Where are you? Where are they?
Christ mixed with all to let His Father's light shine on everyone. We, His children, are asked to do the same.
Let's reach out to all walks of life making friends and sharing the Gospel of Christ.
WE HAVE HOPE, LET'S SHARE IT. MAY THOSE IN NEED FEEL COMFORTABLE AROUND US.
Comments welcome at rhepler52@gmail.com
Thanks,
Rick Hepler
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