Monthly Archives: June 2016

There was a time, not that long ago, when no one questioned the Bible as the inspired Word of God. Today, it is attacked on every front. Many sneer that the Scriptures are nothing more than a book of myths, fables, and legends produced by the imagination of man, not the inspired, inerrant revelation of God.

Author Dan Brown advanced this theory through the fictional character Sir Leigh Teabing in his best-selling novel, The Da Vinci Code.

The Bible is a product of man, not of God. The Bible did not fall magically from the clouds. Man created it as a historical record of tumultuous times, and it has evolved through countless translations, additions, and revisions. History has never had a definitive version of the book.

What do you say? Was the Bible produced by man? Or is it a product of God? How would you respond to someone who believes the Bible is simply an ancient text written by ancient men? In the following verse, the apostle Paul tells us that the entire Hebrew Bible (the Old Testament was the only Bible they had in the 1^st Century) was “God-breathed.” He could have only been speaking about the Old Testament because the New Testament had not yet been completed, much less printed and distributed at this time.

All Scripture is God-breathed . . . (2 Timothy 3:16)

What Paul tells us regarding the Old Testament, our Lord tells us about the New Testament. On the night Jesus was betrayed, He gave final instructions to His disciples in the Upper Room. One of the most striking statements Jesus made gives us the confident assurance that the Bible we read is truly the Word of God:

All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. (John 14:25-26)

The Holy Spirit inspired the writers of both the Old and the New Testaments to write down the very words of God. Certainly, the writers were shaped by their personalities and their life experiences, but the Spirit of God “inspired”—that is, He superintended—their writings, making the Bible the very Word of God. You can trust that the Scriptures are the work of God, not the work of man. All of the 66 books in our Bible are God-breathed and designed to help us grow and mature into the person God is calling us to be.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Let me leave you with one last thought: if the Bible is to be “useful” to you, you will have to make use of the Bible. As I frequently remind our congregation, The book you don’t read . . . won’t help!

This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!

In a culture consumed by the concept of instant gratification, we must be careful not to bring that sort of “I want it now!” thinking into the service of our Lord. We must not expect (nor will we receive) immediate reward for the good we do in the name of Jesus for the glory of God.

Hear the message from the Wise Preacher:

Cast your bread on the waters: for you shall find it after many days. (Ecclesiastes 11:1)

For the servant of God, the good received is to be found in the service itself. To be sure, God is gracious and often returns a harvest to His workers; but the real harvest is reaped in the service alone, not in the hope of what it may one day yield.

We have been commanded to simply “Cast our bread on the water” and leave it up to the good Lord to fulfill the promise He has made . . . in His time and in His way. When we understand this truth, we find it far easier to serve all those whom God sends our way, giving no thought to what we will receive in return. No labor is in vain when we labor for our Lord!

So . . . why do you do what you do? Reflect on that question for a moment and prayerfully consider your response. Why do you do what you do? Is it because of what you hope to receive in return? Or is it simply because you are grateful to be serving your Savior?

Notice a very important truth contained in the verse from Ecclesiastes: We have all been given bread from the hand of our God, not to hoard and store, but to cast upon the waters. We have been blessed to be a blessing. We have been helped to help others. We have been served to serve others. We have been loved to love others. Jesus Christ died for us so that we might die to self and live for others. God has given to us that we might give to others.

Often we find ourselves serving people who are indifferent and ungrateful. But that gives us no excuse to shrink our service, because it is the Lord we are truly serving when we are serving others . . . all others. Do you remember what Jesus said to His disciples? In describing the Final Judgment, Jesus described a scene when . . .

The King will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”

Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?”

The King will reply, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”  (Matthew 25:34-35)

Often we find ourselves serving where we are unlikely to receive a recompense for our labors, and this is a good thing. In God’s economy, He has ordained it to be this way so that we would look to Him and Him alone for the reason why we do what we do. True servants of God, who understand what it means to cast their bread upon the waters, look for opportunities to serve those who cannot pay them back. Often they serve in the shadows, where nobody knows who has brought them the blessing. They do not seek the applause of man, only the acclaim of their God. In so doing, they find their harvest . . . not after so many days, but moment-by-moment.

Who in your life needs your service today? Who has God laid on your heart to pray for or give to? What are you waiting for? Cast your bread on the waters through your faithful witness, and receive the blessings God pours out on those who serve for the sake of serving.

This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!

The dictionary definition of the word blush is as follows: to develop a pink tinge in the face from embarrassment or shame. When was the last time you had a “pink tinge” on your face and embarrassment in your heart? I pray that today’s word will bring you great comfort and encouragement!

Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth. (Isaiah 54:4)

Every one of us can think back to times we would rather forget. We have all done some things that have caused us great embarrassment. But when it comes to our relationship with Jesus, we have been given the sure and certain promise that we will not be put to shame. Our Savior will shelter us from all shame. We have no cause to blush when we have put our trust in Jesus Christ as our Lord and our Savior.

The world will try to shame us for believing the Bible. They say, “You don’t really believe in a talking snake, Noah’s ark, or Jonah’s whale of a tale do you?” Such comments are, of course, designed to shame us by implying that we are simpleminded Neanderthals who believe in myths and legends. But the prophet Isaiah says we will not be put to shame and we are not to fear disgrace.

The truth is on our side and the truth will ultimately set us free. It gives us the faith that looks to no other than Jesus Christ, a faith that will not be shamed or shaken. The world knows nothing of the truths of Scripture and does everything in its power to shame us for believing it. But we need not fear the slings and arrows of this world, because Christ has overcome it all (John 16:33).

Remember, the world laughed at our Lord Jesus and mocked Him. They condemned Him for being a madman, crucified Him for claiming to be God and having the authority to forgive sin. They spit on Him, beat Him until He was unrecognizable (Isaiah 52:14), crowned Him with thorns, and nailed Him to a wooden cross. Should those who are His expect anything less? Should we expect a crown of glory from this world when they were happy to give to our Lord a crown of thorns?

Believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, do not blush as the world belittles you for your faith! Learn the truth Moses knew, that the treasures of Egypt are not to be desired when they stand in direct opposition to the treasures of the Truth (Hebrews 11:26).

When Jesus said He was “the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6), He meant what He said! And one day soon, every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is indeed Lord. Until that day, choose the way of the reproach of Christ and do not blush as you reach out with the Good News of the Gospel. Tell all those you come in contact with that you are not ashamed of the Gospel, which is the power of God unto salvation!

This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!

When was the last time you felt alone . . . really felt all alone? Well, the next time you’re experiencing one of those “dark nights of the soul,” let me encourage you to hold tight to this promise from God:

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff comfort me. (Psalm 23:4)

I have shared these profound words of comfort with many men and women who were preparing to pass from this life to the next. Sweet are the sounds of absolute assurance that our Lord Jesus Christ will be our companion as we pass through the valley of the shadow of death. But sweet, too, are the sounds of absolute assurance that our Lord Jesus Christ will be our companion through the common circumstances of life! If He is with us in our death, make no mistake, He is with us in our life too. Remember, as servants of the Most High God, we, like the great apostle Paul, “face death every day” (1 Corinthians 15:31), and find great comfort in knowing we do not face it alone. You’ll recall Paul’s glorious assurance in Romans 8:38-39 . . .

I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Think back to some of the difficult times you have endured in this life. Perhaps you were struggling mightily in a personal relationship. Did Jesus not get you through it? Maybe you can remember a particularly perilous storm wind that blew through your professional life. Did Jesus not get you to the other side safely?

Christian, there was never a time when you were you without Christ, your companion. Never were you alone in anything you ever faced. And never will you be alone in this life or in the next. He has promised—and it is impossible for God to lie—“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:8).

I’m sure you can remember a time when the Great Shepherd of your soul used His rod and His staff to comfort you. We all have a tendency, due to our sinful nature, to wander away from the Truth and into trouble. And yet our great Shepherd-Savior will do everything He must to make sure we get through the trouble and back to green pastures and still waters.

Do you remember when the disciples were fearful for their lives in the boat that was buffeted by the storm winds . . . yet their Lord lay sound asleep on a cushion? The terrified disciples woke Him, crying, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” (Mark 4:38). They totally missed the point! Storms do not shake our Savior . . . and neither should they shake us, because He is with us always.

So . . . how does this truth speak to you today? Who do you know in your life who would benefit from hearing this truth from you right now? The Lord Jesus Christ is a companion to all who are His, by grace through faith, and He sticks closer than any other companion we have. He will never leave us; He will never forsake us. He is our eternal Friend who sticks closer than a brother. The One who created you also sustains you and He will continue to sustain you, whether you are down in a dark, stormy valley or basking in the sunlight atop a mountain peak.

Christ is our companion always and that, beloved, should encourage, empower, and equip you to walk by faith, not by sight, all the way into glory!

This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!

At first glance, today’s title might seem a bit strange. Doesn’t it contradict itself? After all, if something is unseen, how can we possibly see it?

Let’s go to the Bible for our answer. Paul wrote . . .

We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:18)

Charles Spurgeon, often referred to as “the prince of preachers,” had a wonderful way of setting forth the truth of this Scripture.

In our Christian pilgrimage it is well, for the most part, to be looking forward. Forward lies the crown, and onward is the goal. Whether it be for hope, for joy, for consolation, or for the inspiring of our love, the future must, after all, be the grand object of the eye of faith. Looking into the future we see sin cast out, the body of sin and death destroyed, the soul made perfect, and fit to be a partaker of the inheritance of the saints in light.

The apostle Paul made it clear to the Corinthians what an enormous difference there is between fixing our eyes on what is seen or what is unseen. It is the difference between the temporary and the eternal. This is the way we are called by God to rise above the circumstances of this life. As the British philosopher James Allen once said, “Circumstance doesn’t make the man . . . it reveals him.” Our focus truly reveals where we are placing our trust.

The man who is fixing his eyes on what is seen finds himself at the mercy of the strongest wind that is blowing at the time. He is building his house on shifting sand. But the man who is fixing his eyes on what is unseen is building on the Rock; he finds an almighty anchor to help him weather any storm.

The promise of what is unseen is truly overwhelming. When we are received into glory, we will find that we have arrived in the place where there are no more tears, no more sorrow, no more pain, and no more death. This is the eternal promise we have from God in Christ Jesus and this is where we are to fix our eyes of faith. This promise is what empowers us to “keep on keeping on,” even when we would rather not. The darkness of the present will soon turn into the light of the promised eternity.

When was the last time you thought about the promise of eternal life that you have been given as a follower of Jesus Christ? I believe that we shall not be in heaven but a moment and every sorrow in this life will be swallowed up in the lake of our Lord’s unimaginable love. And let me remind you, it won’t be long before we find ourselves standing at heaven’s gate, seeing for the very first time the unseen that will, once and for all, meet us in our deepest place of greatest need.

So . . . where have you been fixing your focus lately? If you’re not fixing your eyes on what is unseen, perhaps this is a good time for a truth tune-up!

This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!

When I was still working in the field of personal development, I heard a story that I hope will be a source of great encouragement to you today.

A man was walking past a block-long construction site and saw some workers laying bricks. He asked one of the workers what he was doing; the man replied, “What does it look like I’m doing? I’m laying these dumb bricks!” The man walked a little further and asked another worker the same question. “I am part of the team putting up the walls,” the second worker replied. Walking a little further, the man asked a third worker the same question. This man replied with a smile, “I am building a magnificent monument to the glory of Almighty God!”

How would you respond if someone asked you what you were doing in your work today? The mark of excellence is found only on the person who can honestly respond by saying, “I am building a magnificent monument to the glory of Almighty God!” It really doesn’t matter what it is you are doing in life . . . whether you are a butcher, baker, or candlestick maker. It is not what you do that matters so much as why and how you do it that creates the mark of excellence.

Regardless of your gifting, you have the opportunity to create excellence in all you do simply by doing it all for the glory of God. If God’s glory is your goal, then the work you are doing is marked by excellence. The very first question of the Westminster Shorter Catechism asks, “What is the chief end of man?” And the answer is . . .

The chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.

Notice there is no job classification or higher education indicated here. The chief purpose for you and me in everything we do is simply to glorify God.

So . . . are you glorifying God is all you are doing today? How could you bring God more glory in your current calling? Don’t be one of those people who think they will rise to the level of excellence when they finally find that perfect job in life. For one thing, there are no perfect jobs this side of heaven, just as there are no perfect people. But, more importantly, if you don’t rise to the level of excellence right now, right where you are, I can assure you that it will not suddenly appear—voila!—at your next place of employment.

I will never forget the first time I saw the motto in front of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church years ago: Excellence in all things and all things to God’s glory. That was the driving force behind everything we did at Coral Ridge under the leadership of Dr. D. James Kennedy. This goal made all boats in the harbor rise, simply because the driving force behind everything we did was to bring honor and glory to God.

Take a quick look back to the story about the three bricklayers; which one do you most identify with? Is what you are doing simply “work” . . . or is it God’s work? Are you marking time . . . or are you marked by excellence? Remember: it is always up to you!

This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!

One of the most common objections I hear from skeptics regarding the truth claims of Christianity is, “The stories in the Bible are no different from Aesop’s Fables.” The skeptic insists that the stories in the Bible developed over time, based on myths which were passed along orally over the years until the New Testament was completed. They believe the stories of Jesus and His miraculous healings’ simply evolved over time into what we read today.

How would you respond to a claim like that? As usual, Scripture is not silent on this subject:

We did not follow cleverly devised fables when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

(2 Peter 1:16)

Even secular skeptical historians acknowledge that the Christian church began the year Jesus was crucified (AD 30) in Jerusalem, because the apostles (who were eyewitnesses) were preaching both the crucifixion and the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. This message did not develop over time. This was not a “legend” that grew and became more fantastic as the years marched by. Peter states that he and the other apostles saw both the crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. These were not fables that the apostles were repeating; they were recording factual accounts of actual events that occurred right in front of their own eyes.

Here is how John explained it:

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ.

(1 John 1:1, 3)

One of the most compelling proofs of the truth of the New Testament is the fact that all of the disciples refused to change their stories about the risen Savior. Their unwavering witness caused them to endure great persecution and suffering. While historians debate how many of the original apostles were executed for their faith, we can be certain that Peter, Paul, and James, the brother of Jesus, died as martyrs. Church tradition tells us that of the 11 original apostles (Judas Iscariot, the betrayer of Jesus, is not counted among that group), all but John died for their faith. If these men knew that what they were preaching and teaching was a lie, would not at least some of them recanted their “story” in order to save their own skin? Yet not one of them did. Not one.

Most younger readers are familiar with the Prison Fellowship ministry and its wonderful “Angel Tree” outreach to the children of incarcerated prisoners. Many young Christians, however, are unaware that Charles (“Chuck”) Colson, Prison Fellowship’s founder, came to faith in Christ at age 42. Prior to his conversion, Colson was known as President Richard Nixon’s “hatchet man,” who once famously boasted that he would “run over my own grandmother” to help the president. Colson pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice as part of the infamous Watergate scandal and served 7 months in federal prison. It was during this time that Chuck Colson placed his trust in Jesus Christ. The old Colson died; he was Born Again (the title of his most famous book). Chuck Colson spoke of how the Resurrection profoundly affected his thinking:

“I know the Resurrection is a fact, and Watergate proved it to me. How? Because twelve men testified they had seen Jesus raised from the dead, then they proclaimed that truth for 40 years, never once denying it. Every one was beaten, tortured, stoned and put in prison. They would not have endured that if it weren’t true. Watergate embroiled twelve of the most powerful men in the world—and they couldn’t keep a lie for three weeks. You’re telling me twelve apostles could keep a lie for 40 years? Absolutely impossible.”

– Chuck Colson

Christianity is not a myth, legend, or fable. It is a fact as certain as any fact in history!

This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!

When was the last time you thought about just how much Jesus cares for you? Now, I’m not talking about the last time you thought briefly about God’s provision during a prayer offered before a meal; I mean really meditating on the message of the Scriptures regarding how much God cares for you.

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

(1 Peter 5:7)

God instructs every believer to do some “cosmic casting” of the cares that are confounding us. And Scripture makes the reason for this clear: Because God cares for you!

Whatever care you may be facing today . . .

• Struggles in school
• Difficulties in your singleness
• Trouble in your marriage
• Prodigal child
• Challenges at work
• Financial shortfall

. . . the Word of God instructs you to do some cosmic casting in the direction of the Christ.

So how do we cast our cares on our God? We do it by earnestly praying for God to intervene on our behalf. We should never feel like we are “bothering” God with those prayers, because He delights in hearing from His children. No doubt you’ve heard these inspired words dozens of times: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV). You’ve heard God’s encouragement to come to Him with every care . . . but do you still feel like some of your cares are too trivial to bring before the Sovereign Lord of all the universe?

Let me encourage you to banish that notion! As a father of four, I can tell you that I delight in hearing from my children at all times, but especially when they are dealing with some difficulty in life. What father doesn’t want to help shoulder the burden of his child? And Scripture assures us that our Father in heaven delights even more in meeting us in our place of need! Jesus said, “If you, then, though you are evil [sinful], know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:11).

Let’s take a second look at 1 Peter 5:7 and see what it does not say: it does not say, “Cast some of your anxiety on God,” but rather, “Cast all your anxiety on Him.” Why? Because God cares for you! He cares for your small irritants and He cares for your dreadful fears too. God cares for you regarding every aspect of your life. Think about that for a moment! Can you think of any greater love than that the God of the universe—the God who created everything out of nothing, who sustains all things by the power of His word—cares enough for you to command you to cast your cares . . . all of them . . . upon Him?

So how well have you been doing with your cosmic casting of cares lately? Have you been dealing with the struggles of life in your own strength, rather than in the strength of the Almighty? Remember, with Omnipotence on your side, there is nothing you can cast His way that He will not carry on your behalf. What an incredible privilege we have been given, to be tenderly invited into the throne room of heaven to call upon the God of the universe!

Take a moment to consider some of your cares today. Why not cast them upon your God, who cares enough for you to remove your sins from you as far as the east is from the west . . . the God who cares so much for you that He gave His only begotten Son so that you would not die, but have everlasting life with Him?

This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!

I don’t know about you, but every time I have used Super Glue, it never really sticks or delivers on its promise. But I have a word of comfort for you today about a bonding agent that actually does deliver on its promise.

In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loves us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

(Romans 8:38-39)

In spite of the fact that we have been promised trials and troubles on every front in our personal and professional lives, we have this Supernatural Super Glue promise from our Savior, Jesus Christ. Nothing can separate us from the One who loved us and gave Himself for us!

If you meditate on this promise for even a moment, you will find yourself swimming in a sea of unimaginable comfort. Your sin cannot separate you from your Savior. Your adversary Satan cannot separate you from your Savior. Your own strongholds cannot separate you from your Savior. If you have placed your trust in Jesus Christ, nothing you have done or will do is able to separate you from the love of God! When connected to the Word of God, “nothing” really means NOTHING!

Now, notice that Scripture does not say we will be protected from the struggles and challenges of life. What it does promise is that we will be protected in them. In my work as a pastor, I counsel with far too many people who believe God is angry with them because they are currently facing some of the storm winds of life. That is simply not true! I have noted here on more than one occasion that Jesus promised us that we will all be confronted with storms. Just a cursory glance through the New Testament will reveal the many difficulties that even the most faithful followers of Jesus faced. Yet God’s promise is sure: nothing will ever be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

That truth should empower us to advance confidently in the direction our God is calling us to go. If nothing can separate us from our Savior, what have we to fear? We need only to fix our eyes upon Jesus, knowing that we are held firmly in His nail-scarred hands.

Remember, regardless of the circumstances you are facing today, Jesus always gets the last word! “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” He assures us, “the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End” (Revelation 22:13). And His last word over your life is VICTORY, because He has made you more than a conqueror.

Peter knew this truth after he denied Jesus three times. He was convinced that he had blown it, but he learned the truth of this Supernatural Super Glue promise just a few days later: nothing—not even calling down curses on himself and denying Jesus three times—could separate him from his Savior and Lord.

Do you know this truth today? Are you living it out in every area of life? If not, what’s stopping you? When God makes a promise you can take it to the believer’s bank and rest assured that your check will be cashed for the full amount. You have His Word on it!

This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!

For more than two thousand years, a question Jesus asked has haunted and hounded the human race . . .

What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?

(Matthew 16:26)

When you take a moment to meditate on this question and marinate in it, it seems to be as comforting as it is challenging. And never in the history of mankind has this question been more relevant and more demanding of a carefully and prayerfully thought-out response than it is today in the 21^st century.

What good would it do you to gain the whole world if you were to forfeit your very soul in the process?

This profound question is rooted in a single word: contentment. In our Western society, contentment seems to be as far away from many of us as the east is from the west. Everyone is seeking contentment, but few find it. From Madison Avenue to Hollywood, we are bombarded daily with advertising in print, movies, television, and the Internet—messages designed to manipulate us from the inside out, causing us to crave all sorts of stuff we don’t need, buy it with money we don’t have, in order to impress people we don’t even care about.

But this is not for you! Our Master’s words stand in stark contrast to the messages we receive through the media. Jesus knows exactly what we need and what is best for us in every given set of circumstances. Can you think of any moment in your life, right up to this moment now, when our Lord did not give you exactly what you needed?

Notice I did not way “what you wanted” in the previous sentence, because “needs” and “wants” are not the same thing. Every one of us gets caught up in the latest fads and trends; we want stuff we don’t need, which pulls us away from the godly life in order to chase after what the world tells us is “the good life.”

Yet experience has taught us well that the only truly good life we will find on this side of the grave IS the godly life, which is rooted in a right relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ. It is not sinful to desire some of the “stuff” of life, and our God graciously gives us many of those things. But when the desire for stuff dominates our lives, we are in danger of drifting away from the only One who truly matter in both life and death: the Lord Jesus Christ.

So let me close with this question: What is the deepest desire of your heart today? If it is anything smaller than Jesus, it is too small to pursue and will leave you on the wrong side of the cosmic cost-benefit analysis.

This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!