“YOU CAN’T MAKE ME!”

by | Apr 2, 2009 | Psalm

Psalm 51:10-12

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”

Some people seem to have the idea that children are born innocent, perfect, and with sinless little hearts. That is before they have children of their own and experience the temper tantrums which occur when they are hungry, wet, sleepy or just out of sorts. It confirms the reality that we are born of the sinful seed of our first parents, Adam and Eve.

As a little boy, I can recall some of the gigantic arguments we would get into. Each one of us wanted to be the boss of the others, so we would be barking orders which nobody seemed to want to heed. There was one expression which stands out in my mind as a true indication of rebellion: MAKE ME! Those two words very often preceded a scuffle.

I hadn’t thought much about those words until recently. I don’t know why, but I have been struck by the words we use in many of our prayers; “Lord make me—.” I wonder if we do much thinking before we phrase our prayers. When we pray; “Lord make me- – -.” Do we imply that God is to do to and for us what He tells us to do in obedience?

Let me think for a minute here. That is hard for me to do, so please be patient. When I pray, “Lord make me loving,” does that mean that the Lord is to over-ride my unloving behavior and suddenly make me loving? When I pray, “Lord make me a blessing to others,” does that mean I can remain indifferent to the needs of those around me and expect God to send a bolt of lighting from heaven to open my eyes to see the needs of others?

I hate it when I ask these types of questions. I always get the feeling that I am talking to myself and start squirming! But that is what we all need to do. We need to be in constant evaluation of our words and actions. They should be guided by the Holy Spirit to show us our inner motives.

For years I have recalled a portion of a poem by the Scottish poet, Robert Burns. I think it was in a work called “To A Louse.” Here are the words and a brief interpretation: “O wad some power the gifie gie us to see oursels as ithers see us! It wad frae mony a blunder free us, An’ foolish notion!” Cecil’s interpretation: Oh would some power the gift giver (God) give us to see ourselves as others see us! It would from many a blunder free us, and foolish notion!”

I desire that my prayers be so transparent and open that there is no hint of pride and pretense. Yes, that is what I said. It is very possible that even our prayers are areas in which too much self shows through. You may want to go back to Luke 18:10-14 and read Jesus parable of the Pharisee and Publican. Both prayed in the temple. The Pharisee had great, boasting words of his spirituality, but the Publican only looked within and saw his sinful condition and asked for God’s mercy.

What does this all mean? I think what I am trying to get across, is that we need to go beyond our words. It is not enough to merely pray that God will “MAKE US” into what we envision, but that we will act in obedience to what He says in His Word. God always wants us to be more like Him in all ways. It is not so much asking Him for what He says we are to be, but in acting on His commands.

Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!

– – – Pastor Cecil

“APRIL FOOL!”

by | Apr 1, 2009 | 1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 3:18-20

“Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, ‘He catches the wise in their own craftiness.'”

April Fools’ Day or All Fools’ Day, although not a holiday in its own right, is a notable day celebrated in many countries on April 1. The day is marked by the commission of hoaxes and other practical jokes of varying sophistication on friends, family members, enemies, and neighbors—or sending them on a fool’s errand, the aim of which is to embarrass the gullible.

Traditionally, in some countries (UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada) the jokes only last until noon; someone who plays a trick after noon is called an “April Fool.” Elsewhere (such as in Ireland, France, and the USA) the jokes last all day.

Harmless deception may elicit laughter, but in the spiritual realm we are faced with deception that has eternal consequences. There are evil minded people who have no qualms about leading others down a slippery path to hell.

They do this by saying that you can be assured of heaven by being baptized, attending church, performing good works, giving money to worthy causes or other such deceiving advice.

The truth of the matter is that there is only one way by which we may be saved and that is by the shed blood of Jesus Christ. In Hebrews 9:22 the writer says: “Without shedding of blood there is no remission.” In verse 26 we read: “He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.”

There are a great many people who know about Jesus, even profess faith in Him, but have never repented of their sins and turned their life over to Him. There must be a broken grief for our sins and allowing our sins to be cleansed as we receive His atoning sacrifice in our behalf.

The best way to prevent being deceived by Satan is by getting into the Word of God and letting the Word of God get into us. Remember that in the wilderness, Jesus repelled Satan’s temptations by accurately quoting Scripture.

Satan used the “devised version” of Scripture to tempt Jesus, but Jesus knew the full Word of God and thus was able to defeat Satan’s subterfuge. We also can and should use God’s Word against the enemy.

The simple truth is that we cannot use what we do not know. Make this April 1st a new beginning to read, study and hide God’s Word in your heart. Then the next time you are deceitfully attacked by Satan, pull out the Word and repeat it over and over. Victory will be yours. Praise the Lord!

Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!

– – – Pastor Cecil