by Pastor Cecil | Nov 14, 2012 | Romans
Romans 7:14-15
For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.
I am not sure if you will agree with me or not, but it just seems to me that with our modern electronic devices there are a lot more glitches than I ever knew existed. It seems that just about the time I get one thing functioning correctly, another device starts acting up or quits entirely.
My computer decided to die on me over the week-end. One minute it was functional and the next minute there was nothing but blank screen staring back at me. When I returned it to the store where I purchased it, the technician discovered that indeed I was right. The screen was blank and there was nothing that could be done at the store. It had to be returned to the repair depot and I am looking at up to two weeks for the repairs. I was happy that I had kept my old computer—the one I am using right now—in order to continue my ministry. It does not function as conveniently as the other computer, but I am able to get by.
The glitches of my life are nothing in comparison with the struggles that have confronted God’s people across the ages. It is one thing to know what God has called us to do, but sometimes we make a wrong decision and a glitch suddenly appears.
I have come to realize that these glitches can be a blessing. It is when things go wrong that we spend more time with the Lord, seeking His direction for our life. It is not spiritually critical that we live a life of ease. It is, however, very critical that we listen to the Lord as He directs our steps to the path He has chosen for us.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 16, 2012 | Romans
Romans 7:18-20
For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
If you notice, I have used the same Scripture reference that I did in yesterday’s Daily-E-Votional. There is a reason for that. It has to do with the idea that there is a sin nature within our flesh. It is not something that has to be developed, it is there as part of the original equipment we were born with.
Several years ago I experienced sudden pain in my left leg. It became more and more painful and reached the point where I had lost the use of the leg. When I went to see our doctor I was shocked to be diagnosed with shingles. In my particular case the nerves in the leg had been attacked. Only a few surface sores ever became visible, but I had to use crutches for several weeks.
The thing that surprised me was a statement the doctor made. He said that if you ever had chicken pox, the shingles virus is already inside you and could manifest itself at any time.
Wow! That bit of information reminded me that it is the same with sin. It is like a horrible virus that is already inside us and can manifest itself at any time. That is why it is so essential to stay near the Lord by reading His holy Bible and communicating with Him in meaningful prayer. I know from personal experience that shingles paralyzes, and I also know that sin paralyzes. Stay close to the Lord!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing to others!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 15, 2012 | Romans
Romans 7:18-20
For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
If there were ever two words to mark my earliest recollections it is the words of today’s Daily-E-Votional, You Behave! I really could never quite figure it out since I really never intended to misbehave, but it seemed as if I always did. I lived in the day of corporal punishment and it was years before I discovered that kindling wood was intended to start fires rather than tan my behind.
I am so glad that I had parents who loved me enough to give me the discipline that I needed (as often as they caught me doing wrong). They did not discipline me because they were abusing me, but because they were shaping me to be aware that the results of sin always carry consequences.
There are many people in our modern world who picture God as a tyrant who sits in the heavens and delights in lowering the boom on those who sin. I have come to see that our Lord is a loving God who loves us so much that He disciplines us in order that we might escape the consequences of our sinful actions.
Following the passage that I quoted above is the answer to our sinful disposition. Paul almost cries out about his sinful condition and how it depresses him, but then shouts with joy in verses 24 and 25; “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!” There is our answer. When we confess our sin to Jesus we find His great love reaching out to welcome us back into His arms. Thank you Jesus!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing to others!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 18, 2012 | Romans
Romans 5:9-11
Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through Him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life! Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
I love to cook and I enjoy watching cooking shows on TV. Frequently I hear one of the chef’s exclaim: “Perfect!” I know that they are not necessarily expressing that their creation is perfect, but that they have accomplished what they desired and the rest is in the eating, so to speak.
Listen to those around you who use the term perfect and try to determine what it is that they consider perfect. It may be a painting that has great beauty or perhaps a musical score that has been performed in a magnificent fashion.
The truth of the matter is that we live in an imperfect world. The things we describe as being perfect may not be as perfect as we would like for them to be. We do not want others to know that we are dissatisfied with our efforts so we cover up by saying that something that is imperfect is perfect.
There was only one person who ever came into this world and lived a perfect life. He was and is our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. This perfect God became perfect man in order that He would satisfy the requirement to atone for our sins. He had never sinned yet He became sin in our behalf. What a price! What great love! All I can say is that Jesus is the sum expression of that which remains perfect in every detail!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing to others!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 3, 2012 | Romans
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
In November the voters in the State of Washington will be voting on a referendum to overturn the vote of the State Legislature to approve gay marriage. Recently there has been a television ad in which a minister and his wife support gay marriage because their son and his gay partner love each other and are so happy. Since they are so happy it is the conclusion of this couple that marriage should be approved by the state. Pardon me! I seem to be missing something here! I cannot for the life of me discover any Scripture that even hints at happiness being the determination in what is right in the sight of God and what is sin.
There are several of the extended members of our family who are living in alternate lifestyles. They are homosexual. That is a sin in God’s eyes and displeasing in His sight. There is no other way to get around the issue and no amount of legislation or denominational approval that will alter the fact. When God’s Word says something is sin, believe me, it is sin. Stop it!
This is not restricted with being in a homosexual relationship. A far more prevalent sin in our modern world is fornication. That is the sin of engaging in sexual relations outside of the bonds of marriage. So many people live together before marriage that couples who remain chaste before their wedding are considered to be abnormal. God hates sin and this is a sin. Stop it!
We need to examine our conduct in light of God’s Holy Word. If we see things that we are doing that conflict with the Word we must confess it and turn back to God.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 30, 2012 | Romans
Romans 11:33-36
Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments, and His paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor? Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them? For from Him and through Him and for Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen.
Unscrutable. What a strange sounding word. The actual spelling is inscrutable, but I much prefer the wrong spelling. Chuck Swindoll recalls one of his professors in seminary saying to his class, “Never try to unscrew the unscrutable!” Basically the word means the qualities and ways of God that are so far beyond the intellect and reasoning capacity of our human minds that we can never fully know them.
I think it was in this context that Chuck commented that probably one of the first words that will be uttered when we get to heaven will be: Ahhhh! Our questions will all be answered. We will finally be able to understand it all. Like the song we used to sing; By and by, when the morning comes, when the saints of God are gathered home, we’ll tell the story how we’ve overcome, for we’ll understand it better by and by. I think it will be more that we will finally be able to see things from God’s perspective.
As we walk through this life trying to please God there will be many things that we will not understand. I want to encourage each of us that it is not the understanding that God is looking for, but the trust in Him even when things seem to have no reason. Have faith, trust totally in the grace of God and we will understand it completely by and by.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
