So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:26-28 NIV) [1]
Monday, August 26, 2024
Sunday, August 25, 2024
Getting Right With God
"We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.
For everyone has sinned;
we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace,
freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he
freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the
sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus
sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was
being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times
past, for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in
this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he
himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they
believe in Jesus." (Romans 3:22-26 NLT) [1]
Sunday, August 18, 2024
Is This 2022 All Over Again?
Before the midterm national election in 2022, a lot of the conservative political opinion makers were predicting a landslide victory for the Republicans. The opinion polls showed that likely voters believed that the Republicans would do a better job of dealing with what the voters agreed were the key issues in the election. The polls showed that most voters felt dissatisfied with the direction the country was heading under the leadership of President Biden and the Democrats. It was widely believed that the 2022 midterms would give the Republicans control of the US Senate and House of Representatives.
It didn’t happen. When the dust settled, the Democrats were in control of the Senate, and the Republicans held a slim majority in the House.
Following the Trump/Biden debate in June, and the Republican convention in July, President Trump was favored to win the 2024 presidential election. Leading Democrats persuaded President Biden to withdraw his candidacy, and at this writing, Vice President Harris is being confirmed as the Democratic candidate.
With an unnerving similarity to the 2024 midterm election, the polls show that likely voters trust the Republicans to do a better job of managing key issues like border security, the economy, and inflation. The Democrats win on the issue of abortion.* Yet, the polls show Kamala Harris with a slight lead over President Trump.
To be fair, at their core opinion polls are surveys, the accuracy of which may be influenced by things like pollster bias and whether the sample populations polled are truly representative of the entire population. Further, to my knowledge these opinion survey polls are not replicated. That is, the surveys are not readministered exactly, and the results are, therefore, not compared for reliability. Consequently, poll results cannot be viewed with certainty as valid and reliable. That is why the polls usually have a disclaimer – a margin of error of “plus or minus 3 percent.”
Polls showing Donald Trump to be ahead of Kamala Harris, or vice versa, are usually within the margin of error. Presently, we can view the race as a dead heat. Those who support President Trump are almost fanatically loyal, and VP Harris is riding a wave of popularity ginned up by the Democratic political machine. We can expect to see Ms. Harris get a brief, temporary “bump” in the polls when the Democratic convention is over.
It is very concerning to most conservatives that Donald Trump is not well ahead. The prospect of a Marxist/Socialist presidency led by Kamala Harris and Tim Walz bodes ill for the United States, and it is believed that it will continue, and accelerate, the decline of our nation begun by President Joe Biden and whoever has been calling the shots behind the scenes.
There is a very real possibility that Vice President Harris will win in November. An objective analysis of ability to solve the nation’s problems favors President Trump. However, a lot of people will vote for VP Harris based on how they feel, rather than on a sober consideration of the facts. Others will vote for the Democrats because they offer a “cradle to grave” system of government programs to take care of their needs.
The Republicans offer a greater opportunity for higher rewards resulting from hard work and sound money management. The Republican offer is the better one, but it does not appeal to the crowd that thinks they are owed a living and wants that living without working for it.
Donald Trump is still not a politician. For many voters, he is just not “likable.” It shows in his style of campaigning. His style sometimes alienates people unnecessarily. So, it is up to us – for the good of the country – to do what we can to help him get elected. Talk to your friends, relatives, and neighbors. If you use social media, put it to work. Explain why Mr. Trump must be elected. Convince people to vote for Donald Trump, or against Kamala Harris as the case may be. If you are able to work for the campaign, contact your local Republican party headquarters and volunteer.
Remember, no president can
bring about lasting change by themselves.
They need a majority in both houses of Congress as well.
Sunday, August 11, 2024
Peace and Rest
We all have problems occasionally. Lately, it may seem that we are having problems all the time. People are having trouble obtaining the basics: adequate food, clothing, medical care, housing, a good education, and transportation.
We live in troubled times. It is easy to become anxious about the future and discouraged with the present. We long for rest from our burdens and for peace.
Jesus said:
“In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 ESV)
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27 ESV)
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30 ESV)
To be clear, Jesus did not say He was bringing peace to the world we are living in now. (Matthew 10:34, Matthew 24:6-8, Luke 12:51-56) However, He offers us a way to find inner peace and rest from our struggles.
Know this also, at the end the present heaven and earth - with all our troubles – will pass away (2Peter 3:10), and God will create a new heaven and earth. Jesus revealed to the Apostle John what it will be like:
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:1-4 ESV) [1]
In God’s glorious new universe, all who believe in Jesus – the Prince of Peace – will enjoy perfect peace and rest forever. Until then, please take comfort from the words of this old hymn:
Near to the Heart of God
By Cleland B. McAfee
There
is a place of quiet rest,
Near to the heart of God;
A place where sin cannot molest,
Near to the heart of God.
o Refrain:
O Jesus, blest Redeemer,
Sent from the heart of God;
Hold us, who wait before Thee,
Near to the heart of God.
There
is a place of comfort sweet,
Near to the heart of God;
A place where we our Savior meet,
Near to the heart of God.
o Refrain:
O Jesus, blest Redeemer,
Sent from the heart of God;
Hold us, who wait before Thee,
Near to the heart of God.
There
is a place of full release,
Near to the heart of God;
A place where all is joy and peace,
Near to the heart of God.
o Refrain:
O Jesus, blest Redeemer,
Sent from the heart of God;
Hold us, who wait before Thee,
Near to the heart of God. [2]
Friday, August 9, 2024
Temptation
Each and every human being struggles with temptation – the desire to do wrong, break the law, disobey God, and to advance our own interests at the expense of others. The Bible says:
When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. (James 1:13-15 NIV)
Jesus Christ is fully God. (Colossians 2:9) Since God cannot be tempted, then how could Jesus be tempted? He could be tempted because He was also fully human.
Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. (Hebrews 2:14-17 NIV)
Jesus understands our struggle with temptation because He endured it Himself – for our sake. The Bible gives a clear account of how Christ was tempted, and how He resisted temptation. He countered the Devil’s snares, and even his twisting of scripture, with a clear and correct use of the Word of God.
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” (Deuteronomy 8:3)
Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:
“ ‘He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’ ” (Psalm 91:11-12)
Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” (Deuteronomy 6:16)
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’ ” (Deuteronomy 6:13)
Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. (Matthew 4:1-11 NIV)
The Bible tells us we can rely on Jesus when we are tempted. He will help us if we ask Him.
Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. (Hebrews 2:18 NIV)
For
we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses,
but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did
not sin. (Hebrews 4:15 NIV) [1]
Tuesday, August 6, 2024
Evangelism
While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:18-19 ESV) *
Now the eleven disciples
went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And
when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came
and said to them, “All authority in heaven and
on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father
and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that
I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:16-20 ESV) **
** https://biblehub.com/esv/matthew/28.htm
Saturday, August 3, 2024
Discipleship
And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. (Luke 9:23 ESV) [1] (See also Matthew 16:24 and Mark 8:34)
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