The Gathering Place Where Family Matters

Today I witnessed it myself.

It took me back to a class taught by Dr. Paul Griffis at the Practical Bible Training School in Johnson City, New York. He laughed as he taught through this passage. Looking up, he emphasized it, laughed and told us that he hoped none of us drove like this.

The passage was 2 Kings 9:20, “And the watchman told, saying…The driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for he driveth furiously.”

Yes, today I witnessed a modern-day Jehu driving furiously. I was traveling at the speed limit when I could see a vehicle behind me darting around to pass with an eighteen-wheeler oncoming. That didn’t stop him. The trucker and I both had to jam on the brakes and make room for him to just squeeze in ahead of me.

Life is fragile.
Life is precious.
Life is a gift from the Lord.
We all would do well to live and drive respectfully.

For today: By the way, several miles down the road was a traffic light. You guessed it. I caught up with him. May the Lord bless you in your driving today as well as the respect that you have for life.

“God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of His holiness” (Psalm 47:8).

I’m afraid I’ve never been very politically correct. I don’t want to be rude and unfriendly. But I will tell you dear friends that I believe this horrible wave of political correctness that is sweeping our beloved country is from the devil himself. Political correctness pronounces everyone to be right. It includes every belief and ascribes correctness to every belief. It bends over backwards never to offend people unless they are conservative Christians.

With all my heart I do believe that everyone from every ethnicity, tribe, and language can place their trust in the true and living God. But they must come ONE WAY.  There are not many ways to get to God. There is only ONE way.

The Lord Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). Once coming to Christ for salvation, believers from all around the world, of every tribe, nation, and ethnicity rejoice in the joyous insistence that there is one God who rules and reigns in His sovereignty. He is absolutely awesome!

For today: I am so glad to belong to the true and living God Who rules and reigns over all. How about you?

Have you ever known a cantankerous person? The word “cantankerous” is an adjective that means “disagreeable to deal with; contentious.”

Bob was speaking to his brother-in-law about his family’s neighbor. “I mean to tell you that our son and daughter-in-law have the most cantankerous, miserable neighbor I have ever seen. I would not have responded so nicely to that old man. He has treated them miserably for over a year,” Bob continued. “Then sweet Caryn did something that that miserable neighbor didn’t see coming. She made him supper. She baked homemade bread, a full three course supper, and homemade apple pie!

That little lady who is barely five-foot marched right up to his door and handed him his supper. She said to him, ‘Mr. Charleston. You don’t seem to like us, but I want you to know that we surely love you. Good night,’ and she walked off the porch and came home. You won’t believe the difference in the old man,” Bob said laughing.

“You know,” Bob said, “I think that the Apostle Peter must have had Caryn’s neighbor in mind when he wrote, ‘Not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing’ according to 1 Peter 3:9.”

For today: How about you? Do you have anyone who is cantankerous that needs you to be a blessing? I cannot guarantee that simply making supper for someone will make a change. But to tell you the truth, living your faith as a Christ-follower will give you opportunities to witness, even to the cantankerous!

“And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, Who hath enabled me, for that He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 1:12-14).

The last few days we have spoken about believers who confess their sins to the Lord and live in one of two ways. Those who believe the Bible and rejoice in being forgiven are like runners in the race who drop anything that is unnecessary. They keep looking ahead, ever mindful of the finish line which they anticipate with joy and gladness. On the other hand are believers who even though they have been graciously forgiven by the Lord are like runners who carry an umbrella, picnic basket, change of clothes, a skateboard, golf bag, and a carry-out lunch from McDonalds!

They are encumbered with carrying about the guilt and shame of the past. That was how Elmer lived until he was counseled by Pastor Kenward. Pastor read Philippians 3:13 to him and explained that the word “forgetting” means to drop it and not hang on to it. He explained that Paul hadn’t blanked his past from his mind (1 Timothy 1:12-14); however, he didn’t live in defeat and guilt either (Philippians 3:14). How is it with you? If you are a believer and have confessed your sins to the Lord, live in the joy of His glorious forgiveness. Don’t be a runner carrying unnecessary guilt and shame.

Stop and remember today, Memorial Day 2023. Not only do we remember those who bravely fought for us and gave their lives, we believers remember the Lord Jesus and His sacrificial death, and the shedding of His blood to take our place. We remember His glorious resurrection three days later, and joyfully we celebrate the wonderful fact that we believers are forgiven. WE ARE FORGIVEN!

For today: Take the Lord at His Word. Believe the promise of 1 John 1:9. Give thanks.

“Brothers, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before” (Philippians 3:13).

Yesterday I shared with you the ridiculous picture of a runner in a race. He’s straining with all his might to get to the finish line. But foolishly, that runner is carrying an umbrella, picnic basket, change of clothes, a skateboard, golf bag, and a carry-out lunch from McDonalds.

Have you ever witnessed a runner in such a situation? Of course you have not. But there are many believers who have been forgiven for sins confessed who still live under the self-imposed shame and guilt of those sins that God has long ago forgiven.

Elmer was such a person. In his younger years he sinned greatly. God had convicted him of his sin, Elmer confessed those sins and turned from them. Yet he had never gotten over the shame and guilt of those sins. He kept on confessing and telling the Lord of his sorrow. He often called himself a failure. Instead of living in the glorious joy of forgiveness, he lived a miserable, pitiful, defeated life.

He lived that way until he made an appointment with Pastor Kenward. More about this tomorrow! But for now, are you living under such a cloud of misery, defeat, and guilt? You need to join Elmer and forget those things which are behind.

For today: What a wonderful blessing it is to know that I’m forgiven! Those things that are behind, I need to forget.