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Just Like Sin

Can you imagine having to scream, “Unclean! Unclean” as you cross the street at a busy intersection so those around you would immediately distance themselves from you? In Bible times, people who had leprosy were forced to announce that about themselves whenever they went outside. Having to admit you're unclean was probably very embarrassing. But once someone contracted leprosy, they also contracted a stigma that never left them. They weren't allowed to be in public places such as markets, temples or schools. Friends stopped associating with them and family members often shunned them.

Leprosy is a disease that still exists today. It's commonly referred to as Hansen's disease and there are treatment facilities in various parts of the United States. We don't hear much about any more, because with the proper medication, it's very treatable. People tend to think having leprosy means that a foot or hand suddenly falls off. That's really not what happens.

Leprosy is caused by a bacteria called Mycobacterium leprae that's from the same family as the organism that causes tuberculosis. Leprosy destroys the nerves, which makes the patient insensitive to pain. For example, if you have leprosy in your foot, you may walk barefooted over a rusty nail and not know it-even though the nail has broken through your skin, caused an open wound and is now getting infected. If you continue to walk on that foot without realizing you're hurt (because you're now insensitive to pain), the foot will become severely infected and may eventually need to be amputated.

Can you imagine an extremely severe case of leprosy throughout the entire body? Eventually, if it's untreated, it can be fatal.

Sin works in a similar way. It's possible to become so accustomed to the sin in our lives that eventually it no longer bothers us. As we continue to sin, and as we allow our hearts to harden, we become desensitized to evil. It becomes difficult to even feel the pain we're causing our heavenly Father. Eventually, sin will destroy us . . . unless we turn to God with a repentant heart.

Like leprosy, sin is treatable. God is willing not only to forgive our sins but to completely remove them from His mind. But if we continue to ignore the tender prompting from the Holy Spirit, we allow our heart to harden and the sin simply spreads through our spiritual lives.

Know It!
Have you asked the Great Physician to treat the sin in your life?

Read It!
Isaiah 64:5; Jeremiah 31:30; John 1:29; 1 John 1:7.

Pray It!
Ask God to reveal any unconfessed sin in your life and seek forgiveness from Him. Tell Him you want a tender heart that's sensitive to the prompting of His Spirit.

Strength

So often, when we are met with trials, "we" try to solve them and usually fail to do so. "We" discover just how weak "we" are when "we" are alone. In the passed few weeks, I have been in the middle of a valley, being attacked from every direction in my life. Yes, of course "I" tried to handle it myself. Didn't take to long to lose that feeling of peace. During this time, I was reading the Bible, going to church, going to Bible college, fellowshipping, and praying for others. Yet losing the battle!!!! Couldn't understand why??? I have told so many people that "God is our strength," yet forgot about that when it came to me!

Once this realization occurred to me, I began to ask God to help me. I couldn't do it myself! God lead me to Daniel 10:19, And what a message it was!!!! "O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened. And said, Let my Lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me." Wow! As I read this, I felt the weight of my burdens leave and was replaced with that wonderful peace that I have been longing for!!! "WHAT AN AWESOME GOD WE SERVE!!!"

Our God said He will strengthen us, and He is a God of His word. David said it like this in Psalm 119:28, My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word. We need to "always" depend on God for strength, if we don't we will surely fail. In all things we need to think of God first! If we are confident in God, He will give us the strength to endure. In Isaiah 30:15, God says it like this; "For saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and "confidence" shall be your strength. In other words, God is saying to us; have faith in Me, I will set you free!!" Paul says it very clear in Philippians 4:13, "I can do 'all' things through Christ which strengthens me." I will close with a message from God to all of us from Isaiah 41:10, "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of righteousness!"

After God leading me through this study, I can honestly say that once again I have that peace in my heart that surpasses all understanding and the confidence knowing God is my strength. Though I am still in the valley, Jesus is now carrying me and I have nothing to fear!!!!

Real Love

Genuine love always gives a part of itself. Imagine you've ordered a thick crust pepperoni pizza with extra cheese. It's just been delivered to your door, and you're sitting at the table with the first gooey bite in your mouth. The doorbell rings, and you welcome your friend Rachel inside.

“Hi, Rachel! Great to see you. Listen, uh . . . I'm just now eating a pizza in the kitchen. Why don't you have a seat in the dining room, and I'll be right back.”

You run down to the Chinese food at the corner, and bring back egg rolls, sweet and sour chicken and egg drop soup. You then set Rachel a place at the dining room table and place the Chinese food in front of her. “Hope you enjoy it, Rachel! I'll be in the kitchen finishing my pizza.”

Even though you would have done a great job providing for your friend, you probably would hurt her feelings as well. After all, she came over to see you, but by putting her in the dining room and not offering to share your pizza with her, you've shut her out.

Real love doesn't simply give nice things or provide well; genuine love gives a part of itself. It was said of a now-deceased multimillionaire, that while he lived a wild life and enjoyed all the material things he wanted, he never showed any interest in God. But once in a while, he was known to give large sums of money to religious enterprises. Even though the organizations surely appreciated his lavish gifts, he made it known he was not giving because of his personal faith; he had none. He was giving simply to be giving.

God doesn't just want your gifts. He wants you! And those around you don't really need a slice of your pizza; they need a piece of your heart. What specifically are you doing to give yourself away?

Know It!
God didn't simply give you a plan for eternal life; He gave His one and only Son-the biggest part of Himself He could give. And Jesus didn't simply give you a prayer to memorize; He gave His blood. What are you giving to those around you?

Read It!
Leviticus 19:34; Numbers 14:18; Joshua 22:5; 1 Corinthians 13.

Pray It!
Ask God to show you specific ways you can give yourself to those around you with genuine love.

The Simple Truth
Dr. Owen pastured an average-sized church and had come to his congregation with high credentials from a prestigious seminary. After he had been at the church for almost a year and had not seen much growth, he became concerned that his preaching might be too affluent; too complicated; too educated.

So he worked extensively on his upcoming sermon for Sunday, and on Wednesday he decided to try it out on Betty, one of the kitchen workers. She listened to about 10 minutes of his sermon, before he stopped and said, “Betty, do you understand what I'm preaching?”

“No, I really don't,” she responded. Dr. Owen repeated his ideas in simpler language and asked her again if she understood it. “I see it a little,” she said. Again, Dr. Owen simplified his sermon and repeated the question. “Take it down a little more,” she said. Once again, the pastor simplified his language and Betty looked at him with a spark in her eyes he'd never seen before and said, “I get it! I understand it now!”

Dr. Owen returned to his study and rewrote his entire sermon in the most simplified language he could. He kept Betty in mind as he wrote it and imagined that he were giving the sermon only to her.

Sunday morning approached, and Dr. Owen went to church a bit apprehensive. He was nervous that his congregation might be offended at his simplistic style, but he was determined to try his experiment. He began preaching, and to his amazement, he noticed the people in the pews were paying attention more than they ever had before. There were even tears in the eyes of many of his congregation. From that time on, Dr. Owen changed his style of language and watched the church grow numerically as well as spiritually.

We often think we need to “doctor” up the gospel. We assume if we simply tell it like it is, it will come across too plain, too elementary, or too boring. But guess what - the gospel is simple!

God doesn't want his message to be complicated. His desire is that everyone would hear, understand, and respond to the gospel in a positive way. If it took a rocket scientist to understand the fact that God's forgiveness of sins and eternal life is a gift, many of us would be excluded.

Know It!
Never be ashamed of the gospel! Instead, share it with joy and pride knowing that it's for everyone who's willing to listen.

Read It!
Romans 1:16; 15:16, 20; 1 Thessalonians 2:4

Pray It!
Ask God to give you a burden for those who don't know him. Tell him you want to share the gospel in a confident manner.

Trust the Master With Your Key

Years ago, an elderly church organist sat on his bench and played for the last time. He was a good organist and had served his church faithfully and well over the past several years. But a new organist had moved to town, and the elderly man wanted to step aside with dignity. Though he knew he'd miss playing each Sunday, he was excited to be blessed by the new young man and the gift of music he would give the congregation.

The elderly man struck the last chord, closed the organ, locked it and carried the key to the back of the church. And in the foyer, the new young organist was anxiously waiting for him. He asked for the key, and then he literally ran through the aisles in the sanctuary to get to the organ. He excitedly unlocked and opened the great instrument and began to play.

Though the old organist had played each note with precision, this new musician played with more intensity, more depth and more passion. His music brought tears to the elderly man's eyes as he stood in the back of the sanctuary watching the young man's hands glide gracefully over the keys.

Within just a few months, the reputation of the new organist spread for miles around, and people began coming to church just to hear him play. The new organist was definitely a master of his craft. It was obvious he had more skill than anyone in that area had ever heard. The young man's name was Johann Sebastian Bach. As the elderly man left the sanctuary, he thought to himself, My! What a shame if I had never given him the key!

Your Master-Jesus Christ-wants the key to your life. He has special gifts, talents and skills He wants to bless you with. His desire is that you'll use those gifts to glorify the Giver. But He needs the key. When you place control of your gifts in the hand of the Master, He can do extraordinary things through you!

Know It!
You have no idea how God wants to use your gifts and abilities, but know this: He dreams BIG dreams for you! Your gifts in the hand of the Master are worth so much more than if you maintain control of them yourself. Have you given the Master the key to your life?

Read It!
Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:12-26; Ephesians 3:20; Ephesians 4:4-13.

Pray It!
Commit your gifts, your talents, your self to the Master's control. Let Him use you in ways you've never imagined.

Complaints

The following are actual complaints from letters sent to landlords.

• This is to let you know that there's a smell coming from the man next door.

• The toilet is blocked, and we can't bathe the children until it's cleared.

• I request your permission to remove my drawers in the kitchen.

• Our lavatory seat is broken in half and is now in three pieces.

• The toilet seat is cracked. Where do I stand?

• I am writing on behalf of my sink, which is running away from the wall.

• Will you please send someone to mend our cracked sidewalk? Yesterday my wife tripped on it and is now pregnant.

Though we laugh at the above, it's probably hard to be a landlord-or someone in a similar position-who has to deal with complaints throughout the day. As a Christian, the world is closely listening to your words, your attitudes . . . and unfortunately, your complaints. What kind of impression are you making on those around you? Knowing that you may be the only “Bible” many non-Christians read, strive to fill your language with encouragement and affirmation instead of negative remarks.

Think of that one person in your life whom everyone loves being with. He or she is probably great with encouragement. Affirming others may come naturally, or it may be something your friend has to work at, but chances are he/she has made a good habit of making others feel good about themselves. The complaints are most likely kept to a minimum.

People like that are magnets. Others are drawn to them. Everyone loves to be around someone who doesn't complain. Jesus was a natural at drawing out the good in those around Him. He built others up, He loved genuinely and people followed Him. They wanted what He had.

If you needing to break the habit of complaining, try this:

Practice praise. It may feel awkward at first, but consciously decide to praise those around you for specific things.

Curb the complaints. When you do start to complain, counter it with something positive. At the end of the day, ask God to help you review your language for that day. Did you complain more or less today?

Count your blessings. When you're tempted to complain, STOP! Before the negative talk even comes out of your mouth, silently thank God for three blessings in your life.

Ask for accountability. Confide in a close Christian friend that you're trying to break out of the complaining habit. Allow your friend to hold you to your resolution.

Know It!
You can make or break someone's day simply by the language you use with him. Strive to lace your words with positive remarks and encouragement. Barnabas was known as “the encourager.” Ask God to make you a Barnabas.

Read It!
Acts 4:36; Acts 13:15; 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17; Hebrews 3:13; Philippians 2:14-15.

Pray It!
Ask God to help you curb your complaints and to multiply your encouragement to others.

How To Write a Term Paper

Having a little trouble getting those assignments completed before the approaching Christmas holidays? Here are a few suggestions.

1. Sit in a straight, comfortable chair in a well-lighted place with lots of sharpened pencils.

2. Read over your notes about the assignment very carefully, just to make sure you really understand it.

3. Walk into the kitchen and pour yourself a Coke or a cup of coffee to help you concentrate.

4. Make a quick phone call to your best friend. If she hasn't started her paper yet, you can both grab a hamburger first to discuss ideas.

5. When you return home, sit in a straight, comfortable chair in a well-lighted place with lots of sharpened pencils.

6. Read over your notes about the assignment again, just to make sure you truly understand the concept.

7. Wow! It sure has been a long time since you've written your cousin. Go ahead and shoot him a quick e- mail right now so you can get it out of the way and concentrate on your term paper.

8. Go check your nose in the bathroom mirror. You think you feel a zit starting to grow. Better put something on it now while it's still in the beginning stages.

9. Listen to your favorite CD-just to relax your mind-so you can jump right into starting your term paper.

10. Alphabetize your CD collection.

11. Sit in a straight, comfortable chair in a well-lighted place with lots of sharpened pencils.

12. Read over the assignment again. Roll the words across your tongue. Savor the special flavor of this particular assignment.

13. Check the TV guide to make sure you're not really missing anything truly important. Catch the last part of a Mary Tyler Moore rerun.

14. Phone your best friend to see if she's watching. Discuss the plot.

15. Brush your teeth. They can never be too clean, you know.

16. Open the fridge just to make sure there isn't any spoiled food inside.

17. Sit in a straight, comfortable chair in a clean, well- lighted place with lots of sharpened pencils.

18. Read over the notes for your assignment one more time, just to make sure you really, truly, definitely understand it.

19. Call your best friend to make sure she truly understands the assignment as well. Offer to answer any questions she may have.

20. Scoot your chair close to the window and watch the sun set. Scream!

It's funny how we often make excuses and procrastinate important projects, isn't it? When you're not really “into” something, it's easy to put it off. If you've never really disciplined yourself to spending daily time in prayer and Bible reading with your heavenly Father, it can be tempting to make excuses and fill your time with other things.

But the truth is, your spiritual strength will come from reading the Bible and prayer. Without those two ingredients, your spiritual life will suffer. Other things are important as well, such as fellowship with other Christians, ministry involvement and sharing your faith. But without making time for a daily infusion from the Lord Jesus Christ, you'll never feel very close to Him.

Know It!
An intimate, growing relationship with Christ requires spending time with Him. Pledge to set aside time on a daily basis to make this happen.

Read It!
Colossians 1:10; Colossians 2:19; 2 Thessalonians 1:3; 2 Peter 3:18.

Pray It!
Ask God to give you a hunger for His Word. Tell Him you want to get to know Him in an intimate way.

Reverence

The place that Beethoven lived is called the House at Bonn, and the piano he used is still preserved inside. This is the piano the master used to create his great musical compositions. Many visitors enjoy touring the shrine and discovering more about one of the world's greatest musicians.

Years ago, an American girl visited the House at Bonn. She skipped airily to the piano, sat on the bench and began playing a careless tune. She then turned to the custodian and struck up a conversation. “I guess you get quite a few visitors here, huh?”

“Yes, we do. Every year,” the janitor said without emotion.

“Any famous people ever visit?” she asked.

“Yes, Paderewski was recently here.”

“And he probably played this very piano,” she said as her fingers carelessly thumped the keys.

“Oh, no,” said the custodian. “He didn't consider himself worthy.”

It's easy to adapt a flippant attitude when we enter a hallowed place such as church. If you're plugged into a growing church with a youth group, it's probably a fun place you love and enjoy. Church may be home to some of your best pizza parties, hide and seek games and close relationships. And because of that, it's easy to forget that when we enter the church for worship, we're entering a sacred and holy environment.

Jesus Christ wants to be your best Friend, the One you share your secrets with and your church Pal. But He also wants-and deserves-so much more. He also needs to be your holy Savior, your reverenced Father and your almighty God. When we overlook that aspect of Him, we're like a flippant teen approaching a great instrument and carelessly plunking the keys.

How can you learn to reverence and worship God? Try the following strategy:

• Pray before entering. Before you walk inside your church building, spend some time in prayer. Ask God to remind you that you're already in His holy presence. And while He wants you to enjoy worship and have fun in church, He also wants you to remember that He's much more than a buddy.

• Be still. It's natural to want to talk with our friends when we're in church, but if you'll make a point to stop chattering and learn to quiet your heart before God, it will help place your mind into a proper frame of worship.

• Carry your Bible. Many churches provide Bibles in the pews, and it's not really necessary to actually bring your own Bible to church. But if you'll make a point to carry your own Bible with you and arrive a few minutes early, you can spend some time meditating on favorite Scripture passages. Having your own Bible serves as a reminder that your relationship with Christ is extremely personal. This, too, will move you into a reverent frame of worship.

Know It!
As your relationship with Christ deepens, you'll not only feel closer to Him as your ultimate Friend, but you'll also grow in your reverence for His holiness.

Read It!
Nehemiah 5:15; Hosea 10:3; Malachi 4:2; Revelation 11:18.

Pray It!
Tell God you want to see Him not only as your best Friend but also as your holy and sacred heavenly Father.