Category: Strength for Today

Mark 12:14
“And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?”

The Pharisees and the Herodians were masters at misconstruing someone’s beliefs. In their attempt to distort the care and love of Jesus, they used their rhetoric to lay the foundation for a question. They made a statement in a question more to address the crowd about what they thought of Him than truly wanting an answer. They wanted to force Jesus to misstate the law by trickery so that they could prove the statement in their question.

The Pharisees said that Jesus “carest for no man.” This was the biggest lie, and they knew it. Their argument for His lack of care was that He always told the truth no matter who it hurt, He treated everyone the same no matter what the situation and He taught truth no matter who it offended. This was their foundation for why He didn’t care. Yet, the very reason they used for His lack of care really proved His love and care for mankind. Someone who tells the truth all the time is someone who truly cares. Someone who treats everyone the same and doesn’t use situation ethics to determine their actions is someone who truly cares. Someone who is willing to teach truth without compromise is someone who truly cares for they don’t want people to experience the heartache of untruths. The Pharisees simply misconstrued the love and care of Jesus Christ.

Liberals never change their tactics or rhetoric. They use the same rhetoric that the Pharisees used against Jesus. They will accuse you of not caring because you offend people by always telling the truth. They will say that a person who truly cares will lie if they must so they don’t hurt someone, and this is wrong. Moreover, they will accuse you of being a hate monger when you treat everyone the same no matter their race, background or situation. Furthermore, liberals will accuse you of being divisive and hateful if you tell the truth at all times. All they are trying to do with their rhetoric is to shame you into acceptance and condone their sinful and worldly lifestyle.

Friend, don’t let the misconstrued rhetoric of the liberals shame you into changing. You are to tell the truth all the time, even if at times truth may be offensive. You are to treat people the same no matter what their situation may be. This is simply being just. You are to preach and teach truth without compromise even if it may divide or offend people. These things have nothing to do with your love and care for people, these things have everything to do with being right with God.

The greatest way you can love and care for people is to always be truthful with your words, actions and delivery of truth. If these things are heeded, then they will keep someone from sin’s death and heartache. The person who doesn’t care is the person who will lie to make people feel better. Truth obeyed and displayed is the greatest evidence of love and care for truth leads to happiness and life.

Genesis 41:14
“Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh.”

“Son, go back to your room and change your clothes. You are not going out looking like that.” These were the words of my mother whenever I put something on that she did not approve of me wearing to wherever it was that we were going. Let me make this clear, my parents never bought us clothes that we should not wear, but my mother was very adamant about me wearing the right clothing for each occasion.

Joseph seemed to understand this principle. He had spent several years in prison, his face was unshaven and the prison garments were not something that a person should wear going into the palace. When Joseph was called, “he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh.” His appearance was important to who he was going to see, what he was going to do and where he was going.

If anybody ought to dress right, it ought to be God’s people. We live in times when people seem to think that a person’s appearance is not important. It is sad when I fly on Saturdays to my meetings in a suit and tie that most flight attendants think I’m going to work. I am, but I don’t dress this way because I’m going to work, I dress this way because of whom I represent. The verse above sets a principle of God’s people dressing right.

First, you need to dress right for the places you go. You shouldn’t wear casual clothing when you are going to a place of reverence. Likewise, you shouldn’t wear formal clothing to go work in the yard. You should be sure to dress appropriately according to what you are going to do.

Second, dress right for who you are going to see. When you are going for a job interview, be sure to dress right for that type of job. A well-kept person presents themselves better than a person who looks like they have just robbed a bank. Whether or not you like it, authority will judge you by your appearance.

Third, dress right for what you are doing. If you are going to a funeral, dress accordingly. If you are going to a wedding, then dress accordingly. You wouldn’t put a tuxedo on to go work on your car because it is not the right clothing. Your clothing should represent what you are going to do.

Fourth, dress right for who you represent. A Christian always represents Christ, and they should dress like they do. Stop trying to stay up with the world’s dress styles and dress like you believe Christ would. Everywhere you go you represent Christ. People should look at you and know that you represent someone important because of how you dress. People should never hear that you are a Christian and be surprised because your attire doesn’t match who you represent.

I know this is not a popular subject, but the principle of dressing right is important to God. If it wasn’t important, then God would not have placed the verse above in the Scriptures. Always make sure your appearance is God approved and not world approved. God’s people should dress like they are His children and stop dressing to be accepted by the world. Your appearance matters to God, so dress accordingly.

Mark 6:52
“For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.”

Preachers or those who minister to people in church oftentimes will say someone has a hard heart. Their reasoning for saying such a strong statement is because someone they are trying to help seems to have no emotion or response to the help. Saying someone has a hard heart is not an out for the one who has made this statement, but when a person shows no signs of desiring spiritual help that is evidence of a hard heart.

Although the hardness of a person’s heart who doesn’t respond is very easy to identify, there are other symptoms of a hard heart that many times we overlook. It might be surprising that many of those who are stating the hardness of another’s heart may have a hard heart themselves. The Scriptures show several symptoms of a hard heart.

First, a hard heart causes one not to see God’s ability to work. In the verse above, Jesus said the disciples did not believe Jesus could walk on the water or calm the storm because “their heart was hardened.” Jesus didn’t say this about people who were not responding to His preaching, but He was saying this to the very one’s who were traveling with Him in the ministry. Friend, when you get to the point where you don’t think anything is possible, you need to check your heart. God can still perform the miraculous today, but your hardened heart will tell you it can never happen.

Second, a hard heart causes one not to forgive. In Mark 10:5, Jesus said the only reason someone would not be willing to work through marital indiscretions is because of their hard heart. It doesn’t matter what a person has done to you, your heart is hard if you are not willing to forgive. Consider what we do to Christ on a daily basis, but He still forgives us; yet, we won’t forgive someone who has wronged us and the reason is because we have a hard heart.

Third, a hard heart discounts the miracles of God. In Mark 16:14, the disciples didn’t believe that Jesus rose from the dead because of hard hearts. You must be careful that you don’t get to the point in your Christian life where you are always downplaying the works of God. Don’t let your hard heart question whether the great number of people who responded to an invitation truly got saved. A heart that is softened towards God will rejoice in what He is doing.

Fourth, a hard heart keeps one from responding to God. In 2 Chronicles 36:13, Nebuchadnezzar wouldn’t respond to God because he had a hard heart. The only reason someone will not respond in an invitation is because of a hardened heart. The invitation doesn’t reveal the sinner, but oftentimes it reveals those who have hardened hearts. I’m not saying that everyone who doesn’t respond to an invitation call has a hard heart, but I am saying a person who never responds to an invitation call has a hard heart. If you have a tender heart towards God and truly want to be more like Him, He will regularly show you areas you need to change. Your heart will determine whether or not you respond.

Do you have symptoms of a hard heart? Instead of looking at others, look at yourself and see if you find any of these symptoms in your life. Those whom God uses the greatest are those whose heart is tender to His voice and His will for their life.

Genesis 31:2
“And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and, behold, it was not toward him as before.”

Everyone will face strained relationships several times in their lifetime. Sadly, many will simply let that relationship go by the wayside instead of dealing with the issue and making it stronger. Jacob saw that his relationship with his father-in-law was strained, and instead of trying to fix it he left in the middle of the night to go back to his homeland thinking that he would never have to worry about seeing him again. What Jacob didn’t realize was that action further strained the relationship until his father-in-law took the high road to finally restore the relationship.

Denying that you have a strained relationship is destructive. Many people have simply let what caused the strain in a relationship to fester and destroyed a relationship that could have been restored. You know when there is something not right in a relationship with someone, and denying it will not make it better. Acting as if everything is the same when you know it’s not will not fix the problem. At some point you need to stop denying your strained relationship and deal with it.

Moreover, running from the strained relationship is lazy and cowardice. Too many people run from a strained relationship when they could have taken the difficult road of dealing with it and fixing the problem. You can run and think that you will never have to face that person again, but I have always found that at some point you will see them again. This happened to Jacob with his brother and father-in-law, and it will happen with you if you don’t deal with it.

The best thing you can do when you have a strained relationship is to find a way to fix it. Dealing with it head on is the only way to make your relationship better. It is never easy to have to sit down and deal with whatever has strained the relationship, but this is the only way you will be able to move on. Go to the person with whom you have a strained relationship and tell them that you know something is not the same. They may deny it, but you are going to have to be the better Christian and try to solve the problem. I’ve always found the best way to deal with strained relationships is to ask them what you have done wrong. Most likely they won’t want to tell you, but you must assure them that you truly want to work things out.

Furthermore, get whatever caused the strain right with that person. Most of the time we already know what caused the relationship to be strained, and you know you need to do whatever you can to fix it. Don’t try to get them to fix what they may have done wrong, but you need to fix what you have done wrong whether or not they do.

Finally, if you can’t work out a way to fix the problem, then learn to avoid what causes the strain when you are together. Sometimes you must agree to disagree and avoid that situation to make things work out. Life is too short to run from strained relationships. Some of the greatest relationships you will have will be the ones where you face the strained relationship head on and fix the problem.

Matthew 23:26
“Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.”

“Ma’am, could you give me a new glass? There is some dirt on the inside.” When this happens, your mindset of that restaurant changes because you wonder about the cleanliness of the kitchen. The dirt on the inside of that glass can change your whole outlook on that restaurant’s quality.

This is what Jesus was teaching when He scolded the Pharisees about their lifestyle. The Pharisees were more interested in putting on a show so that others would think they were spiritual. Jesus rebuked them because they spent more time on the outside than they did in cleaning up the inside. Jesus showed that if you would clean up what is going on inside, then your outside would naturally be clean. There are four things that God is teaching in this verse.

First, God is not teaching that the outside is not important. God didn’t say that the Pharisees needed to ignore the outside; rather, He was teaching to first work on the inside. There are many who think that the outside doesn’t really matter. This is not true. Matthew 5:20 says, “For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Notice that Christ used the outward righteousness of the Pharisees as an example because He is interested in Christians having an outward righteousness.

Second, God places a priority on inward righteousness. Yes, God is interested in our outside being clean, but He truly wants the inside to be clean because of its affect on your outward righteousness. There are many who may not have committed outward sin, but Matthew 5:28 makes it clear that inward sin is just as bad. You can outwardly portray that you are a good Christian, but what goes on inside is the true revelation of your Christianity.

Third, when you clean the inside, then the outside will naturally be clean. You can’t clean the inside of a cup without the outside getting clean. Likewise, you can’t clean what is going on in your heart and mind without your outward appearance being clean. Whether or not you like it, your outward appearance truly reveals what is happening on the inside. The Christianity that wants to look like the world is only revealing their worldly heart. If you clean up the sin and worldliness on the inside, then your outside will not have a hint of sin or worldliness.

Fourth, your inward and outward righteousness will ultimately determine the world’s mindset of Christianity. Maybe one of the reasons many lost people don’t want anything to do with Christianity is because they’ve seen the dirt on the inside, and it changed their whole mindset about Christianity. The greatest way to influence the lost is to let the outside be a true revelation of what is going on inside.

Are you only rinsing the outside of your life and leaving the inside dirty? What is going on in your mind and heart? You may think that you can hide what is happing on the inside but you can’t. Yes, your outward appearance matters, your inward appearance is most important to God. If the inward and outward appearance match, then God’s influence will shine through your life to show the world what real Christianity is all about.

Genesis 27:12-13
“My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing. And his mother said unto him, Upon me be thy curse, my son: only obey my voice, and go fetch me them.”

The Devil’s attack against the home is a never ending attack. Unfortunately, the Devil doesn’t have to do much work in many homes because they do the work for him. He certainly sets the trap for them to take, but once the destructive forces begin the damage they cause will often affect several generations.

Isaac and Rebekah fell for one of Satan’s traps. From the time they had children, their home seemed to allow the destructive forces damage their home to the point that it became a dysfunctional home. You read the story of how Rebekah helped Jacob deceive his father in the affair of the birthright. You see manipulation going on with the whole family. Isaac loved Esau, so he was going to make sure he got the best. Rebekah loved Jacob, so she was looking out for him. This passed on to the children, and the chain of events affected this family for at least three generations.

The same forces that destroyed Isaac and Rebekah’s home seem to be prevalent in many homes today. The first force that destroys the home is manipulation. When those in the home begin to manipulate each other to get what they want, then you will find a home filled with strife and deceit. The husband knows how to manipulate the wife to get from her what he wants. The wife knows how to manipulate her husband to get what she wants. Then, the children learned that manipulation is how you get things, so they do it.

This manipulation leads to deceit and lies. A little lie here and there becomes acceptable so as to make yourself look good. Yet, those little lies sow discord in the home. You may think that a little lie is innocent, but you must realize that at the core of every problem in the home is deceit. From whence did the deceit come? It came from manipulation and lies. A marriage damaged by indiscretions is the result of manipulation and lies. A home damaged by dysfunctional children is the result of manipulation and lies. You will find that manipulation and lies are at the core of every problem in the home.

What is the answer to avoiding manipulation and lies in your home? The answer is to love each other and always tell the truth. Love is the antidote for manipulation. Instead of trying to manipulate someone to get what you want, you need to learn to love those in the home whether or not they give you what you want. Love quenches the fires of manipulation because love simply wants to meet the needs of others.

Furthermore, truth is the antiserum to lies. Truth must be the foundation of every home. There can be no secrets in your home if you want it to be filled with love and a sweet spirit. Truth keeps deceit away. The husband and wife must always be truthful to each other and never have any secrets they withhold if they want at strong marriage filled with love. Truth must be demanded in the home at all times to keep the destructive forces of manipulation and lies away. If you allow truth to be the foundation of your home, then you will never experience the destructive forces of a dysfunctional home.

Matthew 14:15
“And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals.”

Jesus had taught the crowds all day, and when the evening was come the disciples thought that He should send them home because there was no food for them to eat. They saw the negative of the situation which in reality seemed like a real problem that could not be overcome. Jesus, on the other hand, saw the opportunity of the situation. Instead of sending them home, Jesus took the food he had, which was five loaves of bread and two fish, and turned it into a feast with twelve baskets of food remaining when they were done. What seemed like a big problem in the desert was truly turned into an opportunity by our Saviour.

You have a choice in life to look at your desert and see the negative, or you can roll up your sleeves and get to work and turn it into an opportunity for God to get the glory. Every situation you face is either a problem or an opportunity. It is like what a man I worked for years ago said when I approached him with what I saw as a problem. He said, “In this company we don’t have problems, we have opportunities to learn and work.” That statement turned my mindset around to look at my desert and turn it into an opportunity. There are some things you must do when you are faced with your desert.

First, determine you are not going to let your desert be a problem. Jesus didn’t let the desert stop Him, but He turned it into an opportunity which allowed Him to teach another truth to the crowds. Your mindset towards your desert will determine whether or not it becomes an opportunity.

Second, take what you have and start working with it. Jesus didn’t complain about what He didn’t have, but He took what He had and started working with it. You can stop progress because you don’t have enough, or you can continue progress and work with what you do have. Your desert will stay dry and barren if you only look at what you don’t have. Take what you do have and do the best with it. Make what you have better than what it is.

Third, work with what you have as if you had what you needed. This is so important to turning your desert into an opportunity. Don’t work as if you have nothing, but work as if you have everything. Organize as if you have what you need. One of the greatest reasons God doesn’t give people more is because they never organize themselves for more than what they already have. If you organize and work as if you are not going to get more, then there is no reason for God to give you more. God only gives you what you are prepared to receive; therefore, work with what you have as if you already have it.

Fourth, ask God to bless your faith and work. It always takes God for miracles to happen. When God sees your faith in His ability to do something, your preparation and organization as if you already have it and your work ethic that sees the opportunity of His blessings, then He will step in and reward it. How you view your desert determines whether God should even consider blessing. Don’t let your desert stay barren, but ask God to turn it into an opportunity and prepare, organize and work as if He has already given it to you.

Matthew 7:14
“Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”

Across every country you have interstates, highways and roads. Most people choose the interstates if they are traveling a long distance. Oftentimes the interstate is not as direct a course as a highway or road, but it is often the most traveled way. With every trip you take, you have to decide which way you are going to go.

Likewise, you must decide which way you are going to walk in the Christian life. You can take God’s way or the populist’s way. God says there are two ways in life that you can take. You can take the wide way which leads to destruction, or you can choose God’s way which leads to a fulfilling life. God’s description of His way shows us some important things we need to know about the Christian life.

First, God’s way is not always the popular way. You will notice that few people follow God’s pathway. You will never be successful in the Christian life if you are always looking for the popular way. If you must always be with the accepted crowd, then you will never find yourself walking God’s way. Rarely does the populace follow the right way. Just because everyone you know is going a certain direction doesn’t make it right. Always remember that the right way is not determine by how many are walking in it, but the right way is determined by the Word of God. Don’t get caught up in following a certain way because everyone is doing it; rather, follow the path God commands to walk whether or not anyone is walking it.

Second, God’s way is narrow. The word “strait” means to be very precise. In other words, God’s way is not always the easiest way. Just because it seems easier to do something doesn’t always make it right. Yes, God’s way has restrictions on it. God’s way will restrict His people from walking in the lifestyle of the broad way. God’s way will keep you from dressing like the world, listening to the music of the world or talking like the world. Yes, God’s way may seem narrow, but His way always has a great ending.

Third, God’s way is not easy. God says His way is “narrow.” This word implies that there are trials and afflictions along the way. In other words, you will never walk God’s way without have to endure trials. Friend, the reason the broad way is so populated is because you will find many have quit to walk that way thinking it will be easier. You cannot give up on God just because your way is harder. It takes stronger people to walk God’s way.

Fourth, God’s way is the fulfilling way. The verse above says that God’s way leads to “life.” When you look at the end of the strait and narrow way, you will find those who walked that way are happy and fulfilled with their life. There are no regrets in this way. No, it wasn’t easy walking down that way, but they found the fulfillment in life that they sought.

Which way are you going to choose? Let me encourage you to choose God’s way. It may not be the most popular way, but it is the fulfilling way. It may not be the most traveled way, but it is the most satisfying way. It may not be the most accepted way, but it is the most gratifying way. God’s way must be the way you daily walk if you want to have a fulfilled life.

Genesis 1:18
“And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.”

God’s creation is a perfect creation, not only in what was created, but how it was created. One part of this great creation is the firmament. The Scriptures teach us that in this firmament, God made “…two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night…” Of course, we understand those two great lights are the sun and the moon. Each have their own importance to the firmament, but God made it clear that they were to be separated for that purpose to “…rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness…” After the powers were separated and at the end of that day God said, “… and God saw that it was good.”

Here in this part of creation, God established the importance of powers and the importance of separated powers. Every business, organization, church or home would operate properly if they understood and followed this principle of separated powers. If these principles were followed, the complaining, squabbling and drama would cease in each place. Let me show you four principles God is teaching about separated powers.

First, there must always be a greater power. God made the “greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night.” There cannot be equal powers for that will never work. Someone ultimately has to be in charge. In every institution God started, He always appointed a greater power. You will never stop the division and strife until you establish who is the greater power.

Second, every power is important to the other power. The moon contributes to the power of the sun just like the sun contributes power to the moon. The purpose of separated powers is not to have each power run rogue, but to contribute to each other so that the work can go forward. Just because one power is lesser doesn’t mean that it is not important. You may not be the one in charge, but your position is just as important to the work as the greater power’s contribution.

Third, no power should ever go unchecked. This is what keeps corruption from happening. When each power is separated and performs their duty, then they keep all the other powers in check. You may be the greater power, but the lesser powers are there to make sure the greater power is not abusing their power. You must never give unchecked power to anyone, for unchecked power always leads to corruption.

Fourth, each power must stay in its own area. For the sake of harmony, you must not allow yourself to use your power in another’s area. Organizations struggle when one power interferes in another’s area. Separation of powers is critical to the operation of an institution. You may be the greater authority in one area, but you must submit to the greater authority in another area. This is what keeps everything working smoothly.

You may wonder how this is applicable to you. Let me remind you that if these principles are applied to your home and life, you will find that undue tension from strife will be avoided. Don’t fight the greater power in your life, but submit to it while performing your duties in your area of power. These principles will keep peace and honesty in every area of life.