Marching Forth!

When I was a kid, one of my favourite places to go at Sea World in San Diego was the shark exhibit.  Sharks always piqued my interest, and to see them slowly swimming overhead in the aquarium was nearly awe inspiring.  I was impressed by the thickness of the glass and was glad to be on the safe side of it!  But I always wondered:  what kept the sharks from eating all the other fish in the exhibit?  I later found out the primary secret, one that really isn't too complicated:  the sharks are so well-fed they are not hungry to feast on their tank mates.  Sharks in captivity are similar to most animals who learn quickly when it is feeding time.  When they are full there is little motivation to expend effort to feed. This morning I read a scripture which shed light on God's dealings with His people after delivering them from slavery in Egypt in  Deuteronomy 8:3 :  " So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which ...

" But reject profane and old wives' fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. 8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come ." 1 Timothy 4:7-8 The past decades have brought new awareness to the importance of physical exercise for optimal health.  From the leg-warmer Jazzercise look of the 80's to the modern gym membership or fitness camps with participants sweating through circuits in a park, many have embraced physical exercise.  For some exercise is a craze, but it is here to stay.  The fact Paul said exercise of our bodies is profitable almost 2,000 years ago is proof gymnasium junkies are not going anywhere. What I find intriguing about the passage written to Timothy is the admonition to " exercise yourself toward godliness ."  Physical exercise, while beneficial for the body, has its limits.  Whether you run, lift weights, or pl...

During my travels to Cambodia over the years I have heard the phrase "Same same but different" repeated many times.  It is used so widely and frequently by some people the meaning can become a a bit hazy!  I have seen the t-shirts in shops, but have not bought one.  A native English speaker might say of an item, "It is the same tool but a different brand."  "Same same but different" takes on a new meaning entirely when you see vendors in the Russian Market repackaging knock-off items in plastic to look like the real thing.  There are brand-name sunglasses, electronics, and clothing sold cheaply in many shops because they are not genuine.  I don't know about you, but if I am going to spend money on a product I want it to be the real thing.  I want the logo to match the genuine product and the protective plastic sealed by the manufacturer, not by a vendor in a shadowy kiosk. When it comes to following Jesus, an authentic correlation between our belief...

Though the word "indispensable" is not often used in casual conversation, the meaning is plain enough:  absolutely necessary.  The Word of God, the Bible, is absolutely necessary to the Christian walk of knowing God and His perfect will.   Romans 10:17 says " ...faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God ."  Without the revelation of God's Word there is nothing definite to place our faith in.  When the Bible touches a believing heart, it is most profitable.  The writer of Hebrews pointed out the importance of God's truth to mix with faith by using the example of Jews who did not enter into the land of promise in  Hebrews 4:2 :  " For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it."   Faith combined with knowledge of God's Word leads to obedient action. The Bible is not merely a launching pad for faith, but it is the...

" Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God ." 2 Corinthians 5:18-20 These verses were read during announcements at church this morning and they were a useful exhortation to me.  A key word and theme repeated in this portion is reconciliation.  To be " reconciled" is " to restore to friendship or harmony; to make consistent or congruous ."  We are not God, and as sinners we are completely opposed to and incompatible with God.  Since repenting and believing the Gospel, God " has reconciled us to Himself ."  No amount of effort on our part can recon...

" They also took some of the fruit of the land in their hands and brought it down to us; and they brought back word to us, saying, 'It is a good land which the LORD our God is giving us.' 26 "Nevertheless you would not go up, but rebelled against the command of the LORD your God; 27  and you complained in your tents, and said, 'Because the LORD hates us, He has brought us out of the land of Egypt to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us ." Deuteronomy 1:25-27 The children of Israel had been brought out of Egypt by God, but their actions reveal they did not know Him.  Their unbelief and subsequent rebellion exposed their ignorance of God and skewed perceptions.  They had seen firsthand the good land God promised to given them in Canaan.  They did not doubt God's existence or the signs and wonders He had performed among them.  He miraculously supplied bread, meat, and water for their needs, but when they considered their e...

The Law of Moses and the whole Bible is a comprehensive testament of God's reality, character, and righteousness.  Thankfully the God who inspired the Bible is accessible and available to guide us into all truth, to make sense out of specific dilemmas the Word of God does not explicitly cover.  The Bible is relevant for today because God nor His Word will ever change:  He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. After the children of Israel entered the Promised Land, the five daughters of Zelophehad expressed concern the inheritance of their father's house would be lost because he did not bear any sons.  Though the Law was detailed, it did not expressly say what should happen in their case.  They boldly approached Moses so their situation could be addressed.  They said in  Numbers 27:4-7 , " Why should the name of our father be removed from among his family because he had no son? Give us a possession among our father's brothers."  5 So Mose...

The Bible is filled with amazing accounts of valour and courage in God's people.  One notable example took place in the cave of Adullam where David hid with his mighty men.  After David fled for his life from the face of King Saul, many men gathered to him who were distressed, in debt, or discontented.  From these David's "mighty men" were forged through the grace of God and the leadership of David.  This man after God's own heart made a profound positive impact in the lives of the people he led. 2 Samuel 23:13-15 reads, " Then three of the thirty chief men went down at harvest time and came to David at the cave of Adullam. And the troop of Philistines encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. 14 David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. 15  And David said with longing, "Oh, that someone would give me a drink of the water from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate !"  As the men rested durin...

In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus made one distinction between wise and foolish men ( Matthew 7:21-26 ).  Both the wise and foolish man heard the words of Jesus, but the wise man is revealed through putting it into practice.  We do not become more wise through knowledge alone, but by doing what Jesus says.  Like Richard Bennett said in a sermon preached in Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa titled "Church of Laodicea," " The Bible is not a textbook to be studied, but the Word of God to be responded to ."  Our response to God's word separates the wise from the foolish, even as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. Because sinners are saved by grace through faith, we may not think the way we live matters.  Based upon what Jesus says, how we live is the best indicator of what we truly believe.  What we say reveals what is in our hearts.  Sin avoidance is not as important as walking righteously.  Jesus does not commend the righteous for sins they a...

I have been reading through the small but useful book How To Pray by R.A. Torrey.  I appreciate his clear, concise, and logical approach to interpreting and applying scripture.  I am thankful for books like this which allow seasoned believers to share the practical truth of God's Word in a way those who desire to learn can grow. Of the many verses he shares in the book, two passages have stood out to me.  The first is found in  1 John 5:14-15 :  " Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him ."  One point of emphasis is the will of God is a very definite thing which can be known through the Word of God.  This is plainly spelled out many times like in  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 :  " Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this ...

Jesus clearly expressed His desire for His followers to dwell in unity together, choosing to forgive one another even as God forgave them.  In Matthew 18 Jesus explained that offences will occur and how to biblically resolve them.  Out of love for God and one another we are to approach those who have wronged us one-to-one and privately resolve the matter.  If the offender does not recognise his error or sin, escalating measures should be employed ultimately resulting in the removal of the unrepentant person from fellowship.  Even if this were to happen, the victim of the wrong ought to forgive the offender. Then Jesus said something which by itself would be open to broad interpretation, but in context with the following parable is most enlightening.  He said in  Matthew 18:18 , " Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven ."  When I used to hear of "bindi...

I've watched a lot of flight safety videos in my time, and they all basically convey the same information:  where the emergency exits are, how to put on a life vest, when to inflate it (which includes a light and whistle to attract attention), smoking is prohibited, and what happens if there is a sudden decrease of cabin pressure.  Though I have never experienced this firsthand, the presentation says oxygen masks will drop down from a compartment above.  Instead of fitting the oxygen mask to children first, parents are told to put on and adjust their own mask first. It makes sense that in a frantic moment a parent's primary desire would be to protect their children and ensure their safety.  That is why the video addresses this small but important detail.  An adult without ample oxygen won't be able to help others or provide direction for their little ones.  It is responsible for all involved for the adults to properly wear their own mask supplying the ox...

The other day I read Mark 7:1-13 , a portion where Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for their hypocrisy in rejecting the commandments of God and teaching instead the traditions of men.  Having laid aside God's word, they found fault with followers of Jesus.  He declared in verse 13 they were guilty of "... making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do ."  The implications of making God's Word of no effect are enormous, and this caused me to ask the question:  what are effectual benefits of God's Word? In the Parable of the Sower, the Word of God is compared to good seed which will produce fruit in the lives of faithful followers of Christ.  This reveals substituting traditions for God's Word inhibits fruitfulness.  In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said those who hear His words and do them are likened to a man who builds his house on a rock which can endure any storm.  Without God's W...

As I walked past this shrine in our hotel, it had me thinking.  The shrine was supplied with fresh fruit, incense, and what caught my eye was stacks of hundred dollar bills - fake ones.  If those bills were real (as someone mused who passed by), they wouldn't remain there for long!  Why sacrifice real dollars for an idol which can't tell the difference?  This is the epitome of utilitarian religion.  Put on a good show and potentially receive a blessing.  If it doesn't pan out, no big loss.  Pretty weird to worship a god you take for a sucker. It is most fitting fake money would adorn the altar of a false god.  What good is a god who has carved eyes but cannot see, ears but cannot hear, and a mouth which cannot speak?  What purpose does a god serve which cannot move itself but must be carried as dead weight?  Can such a god save?  Can it bless, protect, or provide anything?  I wonder if those who laid the fake Benjamins do...

When we met for group devotions the first morning in Cambodia, we were given a sheet titled, "What is Dying to Self?"  I believe it paints very well the picture of what dying to self is, that it is directly connected to attitude.  As much as dying to self is something Christ enables us to do, it is also a godly response when things are done to us or our expectations are not met.  It's not just on short-term trips we must die to self, but to be the hallmark of our lives as we walk in love.  I have typed out the sheet and hope it is useful to you! WHAT IS DYING TO SELF?   When you are forgotten or neglected or purposely set at naught, and you don't sting and hurt with the insult or oversight, but your heart is happy being counted worthy for Christ... THAT IS DYING TO SELF! When your good is evil spoken of, your wishes are crossed, your advice disregarded, your opinions ridiculed and you refuse to let anger rise in your heart or even defend yourself, bu...