Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, "How long do You keep us in doubt? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly." (John 10:24)
 
Although the above request was most likely in jest, it is nonetheless an interesting one.  How often does anyone really desire straight-talk?  In our day of soft diplomacy the desire for reality is rare.  Most of  our speech, especially in religious circles, is couched in diplomatic terms.   We call a "used car" a "pre-owned car", and we call "sin" something besides what it is - sin!
 
Politicians and celebrities try their best to cover up the blemishes.  They try to remove the warts, birthmarks, and wrinkles.  They try to cover up the lies and false promises.  Remember President Clinton’'s: "“It all depends upon what is is?”"  Vanity dies a hard death.
 
Perhaps that is why so many, however, are drawn to the message of the Bible.  There is no other book that tells it more like it is!  Jesus skipped the diplomacy for the sake of truth!  He called adultery, adultery and not an affair.  He called wine a mocker and homosexuality an abomination.  He condemned laziness and lying.  He made no excuses!
 
About the only time most  folks want plain talk is when they go to the doctor.  If it is a life threatening disease and causes much pain, they are ready for the cure no matter what!  Man’'s greatest threat is sin!  Jesus, the physician, will tell you what the problem is and offer a solution.
 
So, open your life to the scrutiny of God'’s word.  Acknowledge the transgression.  Make the commitment to do whatever God asks to remove it from your life.
 
By George Slover

Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:"”  (Hebrews 10:35-36)
 
During my boyhood days we spent many hours on a lake enjoying the outdoors with boating, camping, swimming, and water skiing.  I remember my father patiently teaching someone how to water-ski.  The slack would come out of the rope and suddenly Dad’'s student would pop up on those skis only to quickly fall.  This process would be repeated a number of times until the novice was able to get his balance on those skis.  Finally, because of my father’'s patience and the student’'s perseverance, the mission was accomplished and the student was able to enjoy his ride.
 
Like water skiing, being successful as a Christian takes many hours of work and perseverance.  We are like the boxer who gets knocked down, but keeps getting up.  It involves doing God’'s will even when we don’t feel like it.  It is being satisfied with the rewards that don’'t come instantly, but in the next life.  It means not giving up our connection with other Christians.  It may be working and earning a paycheck even when we are not wild about the job.  It includes resolving conflicts with others, and accepting help from others to do the right thing.
 
The message is clear.  It is never God’'s will for us to run from a problem, but to press on so that we can go to the next level.  The message is clear:  Perseverance under pressure pleases God!
 
George Slover 

Then He said to them, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?" But they kept silent. And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.” (Mark 3:4-5)
 
The occasion was the Sabbath, and on this particular Sabbath, Jesus had encountered a man with a withered hand.  Jesus commanded the man to stand in the midst of the crowd.  The critics began to question,  “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”  The response of Jesus to the critics is revealed in the verses above.
 
In this story Jesus displays an attitude of anger and grief.  Such grief is not directed toward those involved, but toward the sin itself.  Jesus was grieved by their hypocrisy and hardness of heart.  Instead of accepting the impetus behind the miracle (i.e. proof that He is the Son of God), their prejudiced minds found reason to criticize.  The very “blessing of God” was in their midst, but they turned the blessing into a curse!  Jesus was sick and tired of this heinous attitude!
 
Do you ever feel like Jesus?  Are you sick and tired of this world and its lawlessness?  Do you get tired of reading and hearing about violence and immorality?  Are you fed up with dishonest businessmen and politicians?  Have you had it with delinquent parents and torn marriages?   Are you weary of selfish brethren?  Does it grieve you to hear of another false doctrine?  Why does the world make life so difficult when the will of God is so simple and easy to accomplish?
 
If you have such feelings, then congratulations!  You may be in the elite remnant!  You could be God’'s child!  You share the same feelings as the Christ, the Son of God!
 
by George Slover

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” (1 John 2:15-17)
 
It is impossible for one to claim fellowship with God and to pattern their life after the world.  John repeats this theme throughout this letter.  He informs us that we must (I John 1:7)  “walk in the light” and that we cannot simultaneously walk in the light and walk in darkness.   “Don’t love the world’s ways or the world’s goods”, John says.  To John, the “world” represents everything that is contrary to keeping the faith.
 
Indeed, the world has a different view of how we should live.  Our postmodern culture believes that all ideas are valid.  We are free to believe and practice whatever we desire, in the name of diversity and tolerance.  In our broadminded world more and more folks have gravitated toward the hedonistic view – “Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die”.  It is easy for the Christian, in this environment, to have a Playboy view of the world rather than a biblical view.
 
Before his departure, Jesus told his disciples,  “"If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” (John 15:19)   James said, “Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”(James 4:4-5)  Looking, dressing, acting, and talking like the world are not the marks of followers of Christ.
 
If I intend to be all that God wants me to be, I must hear and do what he says day by day, and moment by moment.  So determine to stop that affair you’ve been having with sin.  Get busy enjoying the rewards of living for God.
 
by George Slover

For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. (1 Thessalonians 5:9-10)

The letter to the Thessalonians begins with a reminder that they had received the gospel in much affliction. (1:6) To encourage the brethren, Paul pens this letter full of faith, hope, and love. (1:3). We may not be facing death or affliction due to our profession of Christ, but surely every disciple should find comfort in the verses we are considering.

First, our Divine appointment is not to receive wrath. The Bible says that the wrath of God is revealed against all unrighteousness and sin. (Romans 1:18) For this reason, all believers were once children of wrath. (Ephesians 2:3) Paul has been contrasting the condition of the sons of light with the children of darkness.  Among the later are those who under the cloak of night, stoop to debauchery and shame. Unlike these, Christians are not destined to wrath.  

Second, our Divine appointment is to salvation.  The word “appointment” signifies an arrangement or definite order. The redemption of the sinner is not due to the hasty after thought of God.  God determined long ago to provide a way for reconciliation and fellowship with him.  Though salvation has been ordained by God, it cannot be enjoyed unless it is received and accepted.  

Third, the means of our salvation is through the Lord Jesus Christ.  The redemption of every believer was purchased by the blood of Christ.  “For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.” (1 Corinthians 15:3) Because he died for us, we will not die. The person united to Christ by an obedient faith “does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life”. (John 5: 24). There is no wrath or condemnation because Christ has appeased God’s wrath.  

Finally, the end of this Divine appointment is that whether we are dead or alive we may live with Jesus. Life with Christ is not solely about our final reward, but enjoying the fellowship with him while we live in this world.  Faithful disciples who walk in the way of God are offered communion and the consolation of Christ.  And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit. (1 Thessalonians 1:6)

These amazing truths afford disciples of Christ a basis for mutual comfort and edification. There is no need for despondency, but encouragement and hope. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)


By George Slover