Prayer in Small Groups
May 3rd, 2010
Archive
Archive for the ‘Culture’ Category
A Healthy Accusation
February 21st, 2009
“And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?” Mat 9:11
“The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!” Luke 7:34
Early in His ministry our Lord set forth a model of Christian witness that reveals a lifestyle and His heart for souls. This lifestyle got Him into immediate trouble with the religiously respectable. For you see, He sought out a publican to be one of His disciples! His name was Levi or Matthew. Matthew, in his excitement, hosted a dinner inviting all his “friends” (Luke 5:29)! This criticism was embellished over time to include accusations of gluttony and the consumption of alcohol and therefore our Lord most certainly was “the friend of publicans and sinners”! This criticism was again reinforced later when Christ ate with Zacchaeus the tax collector (publican).
“And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.” Luke 19:7
Read more…
Don’t Waste Your Church Attendance – J. Harris
February 5th, 2009
Who Is In Control?
January 20th, 2009
There is no doubt that today, January 20th is an extraordinary day as the first black man takes the oath of office as the President of the United States. For many of us who didn’t vote for President Obama, today may be a bit of a bitter pill and for some worse. With his pro-abortion position, his ambiguity over homosexuality, black liberation theology, his apparent lack of understanding concerning militant Islam and terrorism, and his socialist world view, etc., there is plenty to be concerned about. But thankfully we serve a God who is not only in control of the affairs of men, but it is He, who ultimately appoints rulers (Dan 9:23; Rom 13:1), and uses the affairs of men in His continuing redemptive plan, of which we are as believers are to be engaged in. When we take a long look at the nation of Israel and God’s dealing with His people there can no doubt as to this fact. As we personalize our times, there is no better to look at than Job.
Job 24:1 (NKJV) 1 “Since times are not hidden from the Almighty, Why do those who know Him see not His days?
Job 33:13 (NKJV) 13 Why do you contend with Him? For He does not give an accounting of any of His words.
As I reflect upon the words found here in Job, I am taken back a minute. Here is a man who underwent a testing that could hardly be considered fair or easy and yet his reflection upon the sovereignty of God is rock solid. I am also convinced that hidden in his responses here and throughout the book of Job, he also had a firm confidence in the goodness of God. While we might not see the whole picture or understand what is happening, the events of life and nations are not hid from God. What we can take solace in, is the fact that our times fit perfectly the plan of God and He can use what ever circumstances we find ourselves in to bring us into conformity to Christ (Romans 8:28-29).