by Pastor Cecil | Jan 29, 2015 | Genesis
Genesis 4:7
“If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”
Yesterday I wrote about having Bible study with inmates at the Idaho State Penitentiary back when I was Deputy Director of the Idaho Law Enforcement Criminal Justice Planning Commission. It was refreshing to be around offenders willing to admit their crimes and be able to accept Jesus Christ as the Lord of their lives.
There was one inmate that I will always remember. His name was Virgil. My wife, Joyce, worked for the Warden and Virgil was assigned to clean their office area. She always remarked about how impressed she was with this older man. One day Virgil asked if I might be able to help him get a parole. When I asked him why I should help him, he replied that he did not want to die in prison. Now in his sixties, this man had been in jail or prison for almost all of his life. I did help Virgil and after his release he was hired to clean our building in downtown Boise.
I made a point of inviting Virgil to drop by my office at lunch time, and we discussed eternity. I pray that Virgil truly made a decision for Christ because only a few months after his release from prison, he died in his sleep.
Sometimes the opportunities of sharing the Gospel of Jesus with the lost may take unexpected turns. While we are not responsible for the way people will react to our message, we need to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading. There are many reasons why formerly hard hearts may suddenly be open to the Word. Lead on, Lord Jesus, and give us wise discernment.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jan 28, 2015 | Genesis
Genesis 4:7
“If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”
Isn’t it strange the way our sinful minds work? Our old sinful nature is so self absorbed that even when we do something wrong we try to rationalize our way out of it. Generally, we just do not want to admit that we are wrong.
In my years of experience in the field of law enforcement, I have observed and been involved in many court cases. Almost always, the offender denies the charge. Any officer who stops a driver he suspects of being intoxicated is quite often met with the claim that he (or she) “only had two drinks.”
More serious offenses that go to trial require much evidence and often a jury trial to find the offender guilty. The judge then pronounces the sentence for the guilty party.
I have had a unique opportunity to meet with a group of sentenced offenders who faced many years behind bars. Such a group of men came to know the Lord, and we regularly met for Bible study inside the walls of the Idaho State Penitentiary. It was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life to hear these men openly confess their offenses and tell how Jesus had come into their hearts to give them new lives. They were quick to point out that they had done wrong and wanted to encourage others to turn from the path they had taken.
I will continue this message tomorrow.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jan 27, 2015 | 1 Thessalonians
1 Thessalonians 2:9
“Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.”
Several years ago I bought a number of small notepads and distributed them to members of our congregation so they could jot down prayer requests or take study notes. My precious wife chose a red notepad and carried it in her purse each Sunday.
Several of our members mentioned that is the thing they will always remember about Joyce. She would quietly write down any prayer concerns that were given. They knew that when Joyce wrote it down, she would be remembering them in her prayer time.
Last week I finally mustered the courage to go through her purse. One of the most precious things I found was that small notebook. As I thumbed through it I saw all of those requests that she had noted. But I saw something else — she had also written a few requests for her own spiritual walk with the Lord. I was humbled! I type this with tears in my eyes as I recall this precious saint who loved the Lord, and she loved me!
Our precious friend, Don Hartman, officiated at Joyce’s memorial service. He shared how he had so often had the best intentions to pray for people when they had requested, but then forgot! I think we can all relate to that. But when Don saw Joyce writing requests in her little red notebook, he knew she would not forget. Joyce has taught me never to forget to remember! I can hardly wait to see her again!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jan 26, 2015 | John
John 9:4-5
“As long as it is day, we must do the works of Him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
As a boy I recall going with my mother to pick up my dad from work at a lumber mill. Through a little boy’s eyes, it was exciting for me to watch the huge machines hauling, dumping, sawing, and sorting the giant Douglas fir logs. It was not long after that time when Dad bought a café near the mill. Today both the café and the mill are closed.
Over the years I have seen towns where mills once hummed with activity and production, but now sit silent as they slowly decay. The workers who once thought their futures were secure began cutting corners and doing substandard work.
As the shoddy work practices continued, orders for the products decreased. Suddenly the workers were searching for other jobs and even moving to other towns. In many cases, nothing was left but a dead mill town.
I only wish that this illustration was restricted to mills and towns. The sad reality is that it often applies to individuals, churches, and denominations. In many cases people once felt the fire of God burn bright in their hearts. Little by little they allowed humanistic thinking to replace the true Word of God. The terrible result is a closing of their spiritual mills. Is there life or death in your relationship with Christ? Jesus promises to turn on the light in our lives when we turn to Him.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jan 22, 2015 | Genesis
Genesis 50:16-17
“So they sent word to Joseph, saying, ‘Your father left these instructions before he died: {This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.} ‘Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.’ When their message came to him, Joseph wept.”
It may come as a shock to you, but I have been guilty of some things the Lord made me aware of and people have been hurt by my actions. I have always attempted to ask to be forgiven. In most cases forgiveness has been given, but in others there remained anger and resentment.
In many cases when we hurt someone the only thing we are able to do is to confess it to God and also confess it to the one or ones who have been hurt. If they accept our confession we can have restoration of our relationship. The most difficult thing is when they say they forgive, but refuse to forget. It is almost as if they are crouching in the shadows waiting for us to sin again.
I once heard the story of a man who had been unfaithful to his wife. He came to his senses and begged her to forgive him. She told him he would have to earn her forgiveness. Year after year he took her abuse and bitterness. She became gravely ill and he was attentive to her every need. When she finally recovered she told him that she now forgave him. He told her that it was too late to forgive him. He had paid for his unfaithfulness by serving her and that he was leaving. How sad!
Joseph had forgiven his brothers long before they came to ask his forgiveness. It was because of the plan God had for them that he had suffered as a slave. He was a wonderful example of what it means to forgive and then forget. Can you?
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
