Devotionals from Dad

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It is not how you run the race that matters it is how you finish. Several years ago I was running the “Turkey Trot” a 3 mile race in my hometown. I was in my early 50's and was more physically fit than I had ever been. At the beginning of the race I surveyed the other runners and I thought to myself. I knew most of these people and I am pretty confident I could beat them all. This was going to be my year to win the race. If you know anything about long distance running you know it is very important to pace yourself so that when you get to the finish line you still have some gas in the tank. There was a group of young kids in the race that started off with a sprint. I hung back because I knew they couldn't maintain that pace for 3 miles. Sure enough after the first mile I had passed them all. It wasn't long after that a boy about 10 to 12 years old sprinted by me. I remember him clearly for 2 reasons, first he was running with his shoes untied, a big no-no for an experienced runner, secondly he would sprint for a couple hundred yards then he would stop running and walk. Each time he started walking I would catch up to him and pass him again. This went on all the way to the last mile. At the beginning of the last mile I saw him standing at an intersection. As I got nearer he asked me which way to go. I gave him directions and he sprinted away again. At the bottom of the last hill he started walking again. I was confident I had him beat at this point because we were within a half mile of the finish line and still felt strong. I passed him for what I was thought was the last time and never looked back. To my amazement just 10 yards from the finish line he sprinted past me and won the race. He broke all the rules of successful distance running and still beat me to claim the gold medal at the finish line.

Ecclesiastes 7:8 NIV The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride. 

Samson's life could have been one of the most epic successes in all of the bible, but instead it turns out to be a story of what not to do. Samson is one of the most recognizable of the judges who ruled over Israel before the time of the kings. On 3 occasions the bible says that the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon Samson, allowing him to do amazing feats of strength. By the Spirit of the Lord He killed a Lion with his bare hands. By the Spirit of the Lord, he struck down 30 men in Ashkelon. By the Spirit of the Lord he snapped his bonds and killed 1000 Philistines with the jawbone of an ass. Samson was a Nazarite from birth. Being a Nazarite means Samson had to honor three standards. He could not touch a dead body, he could not shave the hair of his head and he could not drink alcohol. Even though he was a Nazarite, he broke the rules of the Nazarite vow. Just like my “Turkey Trot” race, the young boy broke all the rules of long distance running but like Samson he finished well. In the end Samson was defeated, shaved and shackled. Samson's enemies were celebrating their victory by making sacrifices to their god Dagon. They called for him, they stationed him between two pillars. Once he was in position, he asked God to strengthen him one more time.

Judges 16:28 NIV Then Samson prayed to the Lord, “Sovereign Lord, remember me. Please, God, strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes.” 

Even the strong can be brought to weakness. It’s important to resist those things that can derail your faithfulness to God. Although Samson had broken all the rules in the race of life in the end he repented and at the end of his life, God restored his strength. He took hold of the pillars, braced himself, and pushed with all his might. The temple fell on all the people in it. No matter how dysfunctional your life may be, God can still redeem you. It is not how you run the race that matters it is how you finish!

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People have different ideas about heaven. Many have no understanding of heaven at all, they think of heaven as a "better place" where we all go when we die. Most people don’t give heaven much thought at all until they attend the funeral or a loved one. It is popular to refer to heaven as the place where "the good people go." And of course, everyone they know and love is included in the category of "good people." No human being is holy and perfect enough for heaven. The people we call "good" are not good at all compared to the sinless perfection of God.

Romans 3:10 NIV There is no one righteous, not even one.

If God allowed sinful humans to enter the perfection of heaven, it would no longer be perfect. What standard should be used to determine who is "good enough?" God’s standard is the only one that counts, and Romans 3:23 says that "all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory." And the payment for that sin is eternal separation from God. The judgment we face at death is God bringing our accounts up to date and passing sentence on our crimes against Him. We have no way to make our wrongs right! Our good does not outweigh our bad! One sin ruins perfection, just as one drop of poison in a glass of water poisons the whole glass. So God became man and took our punishment upon Himself. Jesus was God in the flesh. He lived a sinless life of obedience. He had no sin, yet at the cross He took our sin and made it His own. Once He paid the price for our sin, we could be declared holy and perfect. When we confess our sins to Him and ask His forgiveness, He stamps "Paid in Full" over our life. So in a moment we are made perfect, sinless! I believe when we arrive in heaven we will be surprised at who we see and who we do not see. I am confident there will be people there that according to the world were terrible, but in a moment confessed their sins and asked Jesus to forgive them and are accepted into heaven. I am equally confident that there are people on earth that the world believes are saints that will not be in heaven. There will be no good people in heaven! There is nothing you can do to earn your way into heaven!

Ephesians 2: 8-9 NIV For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast.

The people who go to heaven are all alike in one way: they are sinners who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ. Even though there is nothing we can do on our own to earn our way into heaven it is very important what we do with our lifetime after the moment we accept Jesus into our hearts. God’s goal in saving us was not only to rescue us from hell, but also that we would reflect His character and goodness to the world. God delights seeing us becoming more like His Son. We were created in God’s image. Sin marred that image. When the Holy Spirit comes to live inside us, He prompts us to do things that glorify God. Our desire to please God grows as our understanding of Him grows. That desire to please God results in good works. 

Matthew 25:21 NIV “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant....

To hear those words, “Well done, good and faithful servant,” from Jesus, first make sure you are saved! The unbelieving will never hear those words, for without faith it is impossible to please God! It all comes down to this: Love God above all else and love your neighbor as yourself. After your lifetime is complete and you stand at the judgment seat of Christ, those who are faithful to the Lord who saved them will hear those words, “Well done, good and faithful servant! 

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Fall is one of my favorite seasons. I love being able to turn the A/C off, open up the windows and let the fresh air in. There is so much beauty and color in the fall. It is always easy to know when the fall season is coming. The daylight hours get shorter. The temperatures get cooler. The leaves begin to change colors and the geese began flying south for the winter. Just like the changing of the seasons the world is changing as the day of Jesus Christ return gets nearer. More than two thousand year ago Jesus promised us he was returning. 

Revelation 22:12 NIV Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. 

Revelation 1:7 NIV “Look, he is coming with the clouds,” and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.” So shall it be! Amen. 

So what are some of the indicators that the season of Christ return is upon us? Matthew 24 verses 7 & 8 tells us that nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places and all these are the beginning of birth pains. According to Google there are currently 10 wars being fought in the world. As for famine it is estimated that as many as 828 million people go to bed hungry every night and do not know when or where their next meal will come from. As for plagues how can we overlook the Covid-19 pandemic. I am 56 years old and this is the first world wide pandemic I have ever known and it is not over yet. Another notable sign is the appearance of celestial events as prophesied in Revelation 6:12. According to Accu Weather in 2022 there was the Lyrid, Perseid and Geminid, meteor showers, a black moon, a total Lunar eclipse and 3 super moons. The planets Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn aligned in order in 2022 and on December 8, 2022 the Mars opposition will occur. This is when the planet is opposite of the sun from the perspective of the Earth. As a result, it is visible all night long and shines brighter than most stars in the sky. Finally, in the book of Matthew it was prophesied that when the nation of Israel is restored the Lord's day will be near. Israel was restored as a sovereign country on May 14, 1948. These 3 signs are just a few of the signs that the season of Jesus Christ's return is upon us. 

When the fall season is here I know that winter is almost upon me. There are steps I take around my home to make sure I am ready for winter. I make sure I have purchase enough propane to heat my home for the winter. I check the antifreeze in all my vehicles. I put fuel stabilizer in the tank of my, tractor, lawn mower and other engines and prepare them for storage. I put away all my garden hoses and I insulate the crawlspace under my house so the water pipes will not freeze. So how should we prepare, how should we live, knowing that Jesus Christ could return at any moment? First, live expectantly. The greatest event ever seen on planet earth is on the horizon, and you or your children could be alive to witness it! Knowing this should encourage you to share your faith and be as obedient as possible, so that your life will receive a “well done” from the Lord when you stand before him. Second, live faithfully. God has a call on your life, and he wants you to walk that out until the day you die or the day Jesus comes again. Finally, live hopefully. Many people around us have no hope or sense of where the future is leading. Let your witness and hope shine. Our hope is an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you.

Matthew 24:42 NIV Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 

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According to the “The Sleep Foundation,” almost half of all Americans say that they feel tired during the day at least 3 days a week and up to as much as 7 days a week. 35% of Americans say that they get less than seven hours sleep per night. Believe it or not women suffer from some sort of insomnia or sleep deprivation as much as 40% more frequently than men do. My wife Joyce is the perfect example of this. It took me years to convince her that she quit breathing in her sleep. She would snore loudly and then all of the sudden it was like someone was holding their hands over her mouth and nose and suffocating her. Her body would convulse as she gasped for air. I would shake her and wake her up so she would start breathing again, then to repay me for for my act of kindness she would yell at me and say, “why are you waking me up in the middle of the night.” I finally got her to go to the doctor for a sleep study and she learned that she needed a C-Pap. Once she started getting a good nights sleep she started telling me I snored and stopped breathing in the night. My wife, together with my parents finally convinced me to get a sleep study and now we both use a C-Pap to sleep. Sleep plays an integral role in our health. A good night’s sleep empowers the body to recover and lets you wake up refreshed and ready to take on the day. 

 Matthew 11:28-30 NIV “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” 

Rest is essential for us in many ways. Without rest—and more specifically sleep—our mind and body are unable to function the way they were designed. We become unhealthy as our bodies go into chaos attempting to simply survive. The same goes for the rest Jesus provides, without it we begin to lean on ourselves and away from Jesus, driving our bodies and minds alike to exhaustion.

Resting in Jesus is more than just a physical halt from activity. It is laying everything down at His feet and trusting that He will and has already done the work, all we need to offer is our obedience. We live in a world that promotes hustle and full schedules. There is always another project to tackle, another item on our to-do lists, another goal to accomplish. We often idolize our busy schedules and even boast about weariness. We compare our schedules to others to see who is “doing more.”

So what is the difference between worldly rest and biblical rest? Rest for the world often looks like a face mask, a TV binge, or a glass of wine after dinner a do nothing day. While these things can be enjoyable, they give a false, sense of rest. Jesus specifically offers rest for our souls. This goes beyond physical rest, like sleep, or winding down from a long day with the TV and comfort food. The rest Jesus gives is unlike any other, reaching to the depths of our heart and soul. There is no striving in Jesus. He has already finished all the work that needs to be done, all He asks is that we come to Him and let Him do the work He so desires to do in our hearts. 

Psalm 46:10 NIV Be still and know that I am God! 

The next time you find yourself burning the candle at both ends just stop and say this prayer. Jesus, I come to You and ask for Your rest and peace. I pray you lift this burden off of my shoulders. Allow me to sit in Your presence and let You do all of the work. I pray you mold me into Your image, instilling in me a restful spirit. Let me radiate Your peace to others, even in the midst of chaos of this world, and show me how to to walk down the path of your perfect rest. Amen.

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When I was a teen boy one of my favorite bands was “38 Special.” They had a hit called, “Hold on Loosely.” The first verse and chorus of the song go like this. You see it all around you, Good lovin' gone bad, And usually it's too late when you, realize what you had. And my mind goes back to a girl I left some years ago (Who told me), Just hold on loosely, But don't let go, If you cling to tightly, You're gonna lose control. I didn't realize it back then, but I certainly do now. There is a lot of truth in those words. As human beings we tend to be cling to, or try to hold on tightly to, things we love!!! We hold onto things. We hold onto people. We hold onto titles. We cling onto, we clutch these thing tightly.... Desiring good things, holding onto these things is not always bad, especially when they are loved ones. There is nothing harder then going to the funeral of a loved one and realizing you have to let go, that you will no longer be able to hold onto that person ever again, at least not in this life. The down side of holding on tightly to earthly things is that God can't fill hands that are already full. There is a poem entitled, “Treasures” written by Martha Snell Nicholson that explains this thought well.

One by one He took them from me, All the things I valued most, Until I was empty-handed; Every glittering toy was lost. And I walked earth’s highways, grieving. In my rags and poverty. Till I heard His voice inviting, “Lift your empty hands to Me!” So I held my hands toward heaven, And He filled them with a store Of His own transcendent riches, Till they could contain no more. And at last I comprehended With my stupid mind and dull, That God COULD not pour His riches Into hands already full!

Matthew 6: 19-21 NIV “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 

When we loosen our grip on earthly things it can be difficult, even painful at times. But when we trust God, even when we can't understand why, God provides solutions that teach us to live with open hands. In order to hang onto earhtly things you must grip them tightly, but when your loosen your grip, when you open up your hands. The rewards God provides will surpass anything we could imagine! The world will say that you are so heavely minded that your of no earthly good, but I say the opposite is true, if your to earthly minded, if you hang on to tightly to earthly things, then you are of no heavely good! The more things we have, the more our things seem to have us. We start to organize our lives around them and spend money to maintain them. You may not want to hear this but hoarding is a form of idolatry. It puts something other than God at the center of your life. Jesus says, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also,” meaning that we will center our lives around what we value most!!!

Luke 12:18 NIV “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain.

If we prioritize the wrong things, our lives will go off the rails. So “hold on loosely” to the things of this of this earth. The chorus of the hymn, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus,” sums things up well. Turn your eyes up Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace. 

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If you were to ask my wife I am sure she would tell you that I am as stubborn as a donkey. Once I get an idea in my head I charge full speed ahead. I rarely ask for advice, because I am convinced I know exactly what I am doing, at least until I prove myself wrong. I start my projects early in the morning and sometimes I skip meals because I can't stop until I am done. As I have grown older I have realized that my mind is stronger than my muscles are. In my mind I am still a strong young man. Finally, I almost never ask for help because in my mind, you would just be in my way, also I just am not interested in your opinion about how I should be doing whatever it is I am doing! My strong will reminds me of bible scripture of Balaam and his donkey.

Balaam rode his donkey to go curse the Israelites. To end Balaam’s stubbornness, God sends an angel to block the path. But Balaam is intent on his assignment, he doesn’t notice the angel. But the donkey does. Three times. The first time, it causes the donkey to swerve away. Balaam shows his true nature and beats the frightened donkey back onto the path. The second time, the angel stands in a narrow path with walls on both sides. Again...Balaam exacts his frustration by beating the poor donkey. Finally, on the third account, the angel stands where “there is no room to turn, either to the right or the left”  The donkey is so frightened, it lays down, with Balaam still riding him. And how does Balaam behave? You guessed it. He beats the terrified animal who is already as low as he can get. At this point, Scripture tells us the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth.

Numbers 22: 28-31 NIV Then the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth, and it said to Balaam, “What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?” Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If only I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now.” The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?” “No,” he said. Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell face down.

I don't know about you but many times in my life I have been convinced that what I am doing is the right thing and I ignore all the signs and obstacles that God puts in my way until I am defeated and fall on my face before God asking for forgiveness. The angel admonishes Balaam, asking why he beat his donkey so heartlessly instead of realizing that his path was reckless. Now Balaam, a man who claims devotion to God now has the opportunity to explain his actions. He responds with “I did not realize you were standing in the road to oppose me. 

I hate to admit this but sometimes I don't see the Angels, the obstacles and obstructions God puts in the road ahead of me until I come to a point where the road ahead of me narrows to the point where I can no longer proceed. There are 2 lessons we can learn from the story of Balaam and his donkey. The first lesson is this, If God can use a donkey to teach a lesson then he can use me. I am not the smartest person you will ever meet but I am at least as smart as a donkey and God used a donkey to speak his word. Remember, God does not call the qualified, He qualifies those he calls. The second lesson we can learn from this bible scripture is this, God is love. And that love is fierce, almighty, all-knowing, and all good. Where he calls you, he will guide. Be more like the gentle donkey, and less like Balaam, seek God’s voice and follow it.

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I raised 3 girls so when my daughters were younger there was never any lack of drama in my household. My youngest daughter Sara seemed the most likely to come to me with some situation that seemed to be the end of the world, at least to her, and usually it involved a boy! To any of you that have had daughters I am sure this comes as no surprise to you. I heard a story the other day that reminded me so much of my daughter Sara. In the story this a teen girl came to her mother with tears in her eyes and begin to tell her of just how awful her day at school had been. First she had a pop test in her math class that she was not prepared, so she failed the test. Next her boy friend told her that he was breaking up with her and to top it all off she learned from her other friends that the reason her boyfriend was breaking up with her was because he was going out with her best friend. In response to the young girls disastrous day her mother said would you like for me to bake you a cake? The young girl said, “Oh yes Mom! Your sweet treats are just wonderful!” So her mother measured out some flour in a bowl and handed it to her daughter, who replied yuck I am not eating dry flour. Then her mother measured out some vegetable oil and handed to her, to which she received the response mom that is nasty. Next she cracked some eggs and handed the girl some raw eggs. With a confused look on her face the young girl said “Mom I thought you were going to make me a yummy cake?” Her mother replied to her, “Honey these are all ingredients of the cake. Separate they are really not good at all, but if you put them together in a bowel, beat them with a mixer and then bake them in the oven at 350 degrees for an hour they become a tasty sweet cake. I know all the things that happened to you at school today may have seemed terrible but God is still in control and he is working all things together for your good.

Romans 8:28 NIV And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 

Do you believe truly believe that God can work all things together in your life His glory and your good! It is not hard to see how God and use the sweet things in your life for your good and His glory, but how can he use the sorrowful things like the loss of a loved one! What about a sickness, how in the world can God use sickness for His glory? Well I tell you he can. I had a son that died of an unknown disease. If you had asked me at the time how God could use this for his glory I could not have given you an answer. Twenty years later my eldest daughter gave birth to my first grandson, James. He had the same illness as my son, but now the doctors knew how to treat it. It would require a bone marrow transplant. They gave us a grim outlook on finding a matching donor. However just 2 weeks later they found a perfect match. The donor did his part and with his bone marrow donation he sent a small stuffed animal and a card that said, “I have done my part the rest is in God's hands!” My family received a miracle that day! My grandson James will be 16 years old December of 2022. It took from 1988 to 2006 for God to work the sickness and sorrow in my life for my good and His glory but he did because God works all things together for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose. 

The rugged hope of the believer is not that we will escape distress, peril, hunger or slaughter, but that Almighty God will make every one of our agonies an instrument of His mercy to do us good! Joseph may have said it best when he addressed his brothers who had sold him into slavery!

Genesis 50:20 NIV You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. 

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Few people leave this life without any regrets. When the good Lord calls you home to heaven, how can you be certain that you don't leave behind any missed opportunities or any unfinished tasks? When Joyce and I get ready to go camping we spend several days making out a menu and grocery shopping to make sure that we have everything we need in our camper before we depart. I count out my socks and underwear to make sure I have a clean pair for every day and then pack an extra just in case. Many times in the fall I pack both long sleeve and short sleeve shirts as well as jeans and shorts because you never know if it is going to be hot weather or cold weather. The point I am trying to make here is this. Why do I focus so intently on packing my camper for a weekend get away and spend very little time packing my bags and preparing for my eternal home. How can I prepare for my journey to heaven? Here are some steps to help you make sure you are packed and ready for your trip to heaven.

Step number 1: First and most important make sure you have a valid passport. If your going to travel to a foreign country you must have a valid passport or you will be denied entry. The same thing is true if you want to enter heaven. The only difference is your passport into heaven is not a physical passport it is a spiritual passport. In order to obtain your spiritual passport you must complete your ABC's. Admit your a sinner, Believe that Jesus died on the cross to pay for your sins and Confess that Jesus is Lord of your life. Only those who have their spiritual passport will enter into heaven. Being a Baptist, a Catholic, a Methodist or a member of any other denomination won't get you into heaven. People don't go into heaven in a group they go in one by one based upon their relationship with Jesus Christ.

Step number 2: Live with a destination mind set. Have you ever thought about how difficult it would be to live in two places at once? As Christians this is the challenge we face every day, we are residents of this life with very real responsibilities, but we are also citizens of heaven. As Christians we need to learn to live with a destination mind set, while we are here on earth we have to learn to prepare to be a citizen of heaven.

Philippians 3:20 NIV But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Step number 3: Refuse to allow your departure from this life to paralyze you with with fear. Nobody leaves this life premature. God has a definite date for your departure to eternity and nobody leaves this life for the next even 1 second before God's appointed time. Death is a necessary step in order to be able to depart for heaven. As a Christian you will close your eyes on earth and the next moment you will open them in heaven.

Step number 4: Make the most of your time on earth. God has allotted a different number of years on this earth for each one of us, so make the most of them. This doesn't mean work hard, save money and pay your debts. While these are good things, they are not eternal investments. Love the lost, care for the less fortunate and share the gospel of Christ so that others may gain their spiritual passport.

Psalm 90:10 NIV Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. 

So pack for your journey to heaven carefully. Make sure the things your packing are of eternal importance. Live you life in such a way that those who don't know Jesus Christ, will come to know Jesus Christ, because they know you!!!

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Over the years different generations have been named and identified by the attributes they have in common. Some of the more recognizable generations are the “Greatest Generation,” “Baby Boomers,” and “Generation X,” just to name a few. The people that are apart of the current generation are called “Generation Alpa.” However, when this generation has passed and the historians are writing about it I wonder it might also be called the “Age of the Offended!” I used to think that if as a white person if I referred to another person as a “colored person” I was being politically correct. Now I am told that I can't say that because it is offensive. Instead I should say, “people of color.” 

It is remarkable how quickly the opinion of the public will change in the twinkling of an eye. A perfect example of that is our former Governor, Eric Grietens. He started his campaign as a respected Navy Seal. He was then elected as Governor. Greitens was charged with felony invasion of privacy and later for campaign-related offenses. He was indicted on felony charges of computer tampering in April 2018; all charges were dropped in May 2018. Greitens resigned from office June, 2018. I am not taking sides or making judgments but in a very short period of time in the eyes of the public he went from Hero to Zero. 

This nothing new, public opinion is so fickle! In Acts chapter 28 is the account of when Paul was ship wrecked on the shores of Malta. Paul says once the were safely on shore, The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the storm, justice has not allowed him to live. However moments later the natives of the island changed their opinion of Paul. In a very short period of time they went from calling him a murderer to calling him a God.

Acts 28: 5-6 NIV But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god. 

People waste so much time being offended about things. I heard this short story on Bott Radio told by Chuck Swindoll. I think it shows how dangerous it can be to be offended by someone's action. It is entitled, "Who Changed?" There was once a preacher whom I used to like. I thought he was great! His sermons were wonderful, as long as I liked him. His speech was fair his life was clean, He was a hard worker, as long as I liked him. He was the man for the job, in fact I was strong for him, as long as I liked him. But he offended me one day whether he knew it or not I don't know. Since that day, he has ceased to be a good preacher. His sermons aren't so wonderful, since he offended me. His speech isn't so good, his faults are far more prominent, since he offended me. He is not a hard worker, in fact he's really not the man for the job, since he offended me. It is really a shame he has changed so much, since he offended me.

Has anyone ever said something unkind or offensive to you or about you? I think we all have had that experience. Becoming victims of slander or gossip can be difficult to bear. However, God calls us to exhibit a very specific kind of response when we are offended. 

Isaiah 53:7 NIV He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. 

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Birthmarks are marks on the skin that a baby can develop before birth or soon after. Birthmarks can be flat or raised, have regular or irregular borders, and have different shades of coloring from brown, tan, black, or pale blue, to pink, red, or purple. Most birthmarks are harmless. Have you ever known someone that had a birthmark? I know two people that have a birthmark, my father-in-law, Garland Hendren had a reddish birthmark on his forehead and my mother has a dark birthmark on her hip. Birthmarks are often unique to people and become a part of their identity. 

When you were saved, you became a child of God. Heaven became your destination. More than that, God gave you permanent birthmarks to show you are His. What are the “birthmarks of the believer?” What are the traits of the twice-born? Here are 3 birthmarks of a believer. First, a believer submits to the Lordship of Jesus Christ! No one can be saved without first receiving Christ as Lord. You don’t say “I’ll take Jesus as my Savior—forget the Lord part.” If you say He’s your Lord but don’t live by His Word, your life is a sham. In Luke 6:46 Jesus said, “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not the things that I say?” If He’s is your Lord, you keep His commandments.

Second a believer wants to live as Jesus lived! If Jesus is your Lord you want to live, honestly. 1 John 1:6 says If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. Live a pure life. If you love pornography, if you continually act upon your lustful thoughts, than your not living a pure life. Live righteously! Righteousness isn’t passive. It isn't, I’ll just sit here and be sure I’m not doing anything wrong. Righteousness is actively doing good, just as Jesus did. Acts 10:38 says God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil. Don't just pray for you neighbor give them a helping hand, take them a meal, mow their yard, listen to them when they need a shoulder to cry on! 

Thirdly, a believer shows and shares his love! 1 John 2:9 says; Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. Hours before Jesus was crucified, He knelt and washed His disciples’ feet, saying, “A new commandment I give you, that you love one another…” He washed Judas’ feet even though He knew he was going to betray him. Jesus loves each one of us, not because we’re lovely; He just loves us and we should love others as he did!

John 13:35 NIV By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. 

To summarize, here are the birthmarks of a believer: You submit to His Lordship. You seek His lifestyle. You share His love. If you’re saved, it’s going to be illustrated by a life that is controlled by the Lord Jesus. If your religion hasn’t changed your life, you need to change your religion.

2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 

If you don’t have the birthmarks of a believer, you need to ask yourself, “Have I ever really been saved?” What does it mean to be truly saved? You come to know the Lord by faith. You trust Him as your Lord and Savior by faith. The Lord is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” He longs for you to be saved!

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