Spiritual Viewpoints

by Rick Smith

Christian Life

GRACE TEACHES US

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“But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving” (Ephesians 5:3-4). When reading these verses you can either throw your arms up in frustration ~ I can’t do that ~ or you can throw your arms up in praise ~ I’ve been called higher.

How do we overcome the temptations of impure thoughts and potty mouths when we are bombarded from every side? Parents must be selective with what their children watch on television or play on the laptop. Social media has become very unsocial when it comes to living a righteous life. Today children often know more about SpongeBob SquarePants than Jesus. So, what’s the answer to our spiritual dilemma?

The answer circles back to grace. The apostle Paul continues in Titus 2:11-14, “…and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope — the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.” For the grace of God that brings salvation…teaches us to say ‘No’. God’s grace teaches us to change the channel or turn the TV off when our house is being trashed with ungrace! We must not allow the world to be like a leech draining the goodness out of lives.

Grace isn’t limp, sterile, or timid. Rather, it teaches us strength, courage, and the will to do right. Because Jesus gave himself for us and redeemed us from all wickedness we may turn to him in times of temptation. “I can do everything through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13). When grace motivates us we will feel God calling us higher. Begin by recognizing the need in your home, for your sake, and the children.

Thank you Lord Jesus for your grace!

Inner Peace

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Is a peaceful life something that eludes you? Are you out of tune with the work of the Holy Spirit in your life? Those two questions are connected.

As Paul contrasts the life controlled by the flesh and the life controlled by the Spirit, he shares an insight that allows us to understand why we’re searching for lost peace. Those who allow their fleshly desires to dominate/control their behavior will demonstrate sinful behavior and not find peace. Those who allow the Holy Spirit to control their behavior will produce things in line with the Spirit, including a peace only the Spirit can provide. Paul calls these things the “acts of the flesh” (Gal 5:19) and the “fruit of the Spirit” (Gal 5:22).

The third fruit that Paul lists is “peace.” This word in Greek is used 91 times in the New Testament and it can mean harmony or well being. The word peace in Hebrew and Greek are less about an absence of war and disruption as they are about an inner state of being. When the Holy Spirit dwells in you, the Spirit produces within the believer an inner harmony that will not be shaken by the things of the world. What is more, this inner harmony works as an inoculation against the acts of the flesh because the acts of the flesh are produced by and perpetuate inner conflict.

That means the peace the Holy Spirit brings is not based upon circumstance and feeling. God is constantly working to transform us by the Spirit. This transformation by the Spirit gives Christians a peace and consistency that is not shaken by externals.

Oddly enough, often our churches are not characterized by peace and I cannot help but think that also means that the members who gather are struggling to be in tune with this aspect of the Holy Spirit’s work in their life. This may also have something to do with a denial of the Spirit’s working in the life of the Christian. If we don’t believe the Spirit is at work in our lives then how would we expect to have produced in our lives those things the Spirit alone produces? I say that with one disclaimer and that is this…I don’t think the Spirit is fully limited in what the Spirit can do based upon our beliefs about what the Spirit is or isn’t doing. I refuse to put the Holy Spirit in a theological box.

We must get more in tune with the Spirit. When we do so we will find an inner peace like we have never had before because we are no longer resisting or ignoring the work of the Holy Spirit, rather we are working alongside or in accordance with what the Spirit is doing in our being. We will find that the acts of the flesh are no longer so appealing and that working in partnership with the Spirit is much more fulfilling. We will finally find the peace our soul so longingly desires.

Draw Near To God

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I recall in my early twenties people saying, “You’re really going to make a preacher when you get older.” Now that I’m in my 70’s they say, “I bet you were some preacher when you were younger.”

Have you failed to meet others’ expectations? Some folks are miserable because they’ve never felt good about themselves. They’ve always been second fiddle, last to be picked for the team, or fourth place in a three-person race. I was looking at my Florida Christian College yearbook yesterday and saw my picture with Edward Fudge and others. We were giving speeches to the student body in an election for Freshman Class President. I lost. (Edward won.)

In spite of my last place finishes, I’m not a loser! In fact, I’ve already won at life. I’m not a big shot. I’m just a little shot that kept on shooting. I never gave up on seeking the Lord. At my age, seventy-none-of-your-business, I’m still like a kid in a candy store when it comes to the Word of God. I want more! When it comes to my relationship with God, I want more. I just keep plugging away. “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14)

I’ve won the greatest prize any person could win. I can boldly step without fear into the presence of God. “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water” (Hebrews 10:19-23).

When everything’s said and done, when it’s all over, it’s not what you know, but who you know. Knowing Jesus will put you on the first team, heaven-bound, and in the best company ever. Jesus makes this possible. He makes it available for everyone who calls on His name and humbly submits to His Lordship.

By the way, if you’ve never become part of His family, He’s still knocking at the door of your heart. Open the door and let Him in!

Like Little Children

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It was at least fifteen years ago I sat in a circle with about 45 children from the Tree of Life Christian Elementary School, a ministry of our church. My daughter, Rachel, was the Principal and first grade teacher. At her request, I joined the children and teachers in prayer during our daily chapel time. Before I said the last prayer, each child had an opportunity to pray. I was amazed at the way children, from kindergarten through third grade, were in tune with God. Nearly all of them began their prayers with thanksgiving, “Thank you Lord for my teacher, my mommy and daddy, my goldfish, etc.” Other than asking the Lord to help them “be good”, there were very few requests for anything else, which is different from most adult prayers.

Sometimes I find myself teetering between superficial prayer and serious ones. If I’m in a hurry, I might do a quick “thank you” for a meal. I’m not saying that’s the thing to do, I’m just telling you how it is. During the daytime I pray with people in person, on the phone, or for them without their knowledge. But at times I’m so occupied with busy work that prayer takes a backseat. Finally, at night when my wife and I pray together, we have serious prayers.

Listening to the prayers of these school children reminded me of an occasion when Jesus scolded his disciples. “Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them” (Matthew 19:13). It seems the apostles didn’t have time for this prayer stuff either. But, “Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these'” (v. 14). Find opportunity to listen to a child pray. Be sure to pray with your own children ~ teach them ~ or learn from them how to pray. Both they and you will be blessed!

Lord, Jesus, thank you for little children. I want to be like them. I want a heart that expresses my joy and thankfulness for being your child. I love you, Lord. Because of Jesus. Amen.

Martha

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To me the greatest joy of being a preacher is witnessing people as they open their hearts to heaven and accept Jesus as Lord and Savior.

December 25, 2016 was one of those Sundays that began with four teenagers being baptized at Victory Road Church of Christ. The same night around 9:30 pm we received a call that beckoned us back to the church building to witness one more baptism. Before going any further, let me tell you that my heart jumped within me full of joy. Martha Huskins, daughter of Allan and Charlene Huskins, was the one immersed into Christ. That’s why I’m writing now ~ I want my heart hitting the keyboard.

I so glad Martha knows both the “plan of salvation” and “the man of salvation”, that is, Jesus our Lord. If anything, when we are baptized into Christ, we are a trophy of His grace just like every human being that ever humbly accepted Jesus into their lives.

I stood by and watch Martha’s daddy, Allan, immerse his daughter into God’s forever family. I got to watch a daddy participate with God in bringing a new child into the world. Wow!

Martha is young, but insightful regarding spiritual things. She will start a new life in Christ and become a living letter of what young people can be when they surrender to the Lord instead of the world. Her mother, Charlene, and daddy, Allan Jr., have taught each of their three children well. Martha knows only Jesus can give her eternal life, real joy, and a constant companionship with God. The Holy Spirit will live in her heart and begin His process of growing this young lady into a godly woman. Between God, Martha’s parents, and two Christian brothers, Samuel and Allan III, she will shine for Jesus!

I sat back and enjoyed watching God working in the life of a beautiful family, and I know God has already influenced Martha through those who taught her: parents, grandma, grandpa, aunt, cousins, etc. You see, this family goes back generations with the Lord in the lead. I’ve been blessed to watch some of it happen for over 53 years: her parents, grandparents, Allan Sr. and Faye Huskins, Great Grandparents, Jack and Essie Whitehead, and Martha’s Great-Great Grandmother, Janie Whitehead.

You can begin, if you haven’t already, preparing future generations for accepting the Lord. But if you’ve not begun the journey ~ it’s time you do! The Lord is knocking on the door of your heart. Open the door and let Him come in.

God Chose You This Christmas

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God is not arbitrary about who he chooses to use.
God is looking for people to use. And if you’ll get usable, God will wear you out. You haven’t really lived until you experience being used by God to bless somebody else.

Some of you are saying, “God could never use me.” You’re wrong. Dead wrong! Not only can God use you, but he wants to use you.

Just look at Mary, the mother of Jesus. There are a lot of misconceptions about Mary. The Bible doesn’t say we’re to worship her. It doesn’t say she was perfect or sinless.

In fact, what is special about Mary was her plain ordinariness. God took an ordinary woman and used her in an extraordinary way. That’s what makes her special.

Mary had all kinds of fears, but she never let her fears control her. Instead, she modeled attributes you must have in your life in order for God to use you. If you’ll incorporate them into your life, you’ll find God using you in ways you can’t even imagine.

God uses people who want to do his will.
If you want to be used by God, you’ve got to want to do his will more than anything else. God has a custom plan for you, but it’s not automatic. You must choose to cooperate with God’s purpose for your life or you’ll miss it.

There are two attitudes that Mary showed that made it clear she wanted to be used by God. They’d also be good attributes for us to emulate.

• Enthusiasm. Shortly after an angel tells Mary that she will give birth to the Messiah, she sings, “Oh, how I praise the Lord. How I rejoice in God my Savior!” (Luke 1:46-47a NLT) Does that sound like someone who is just grinning and bearing it? Of course not! Nothing great is ever done without enthusiasm. God wants you to be an enthusiastic participant in his plan. You’ve got to get your get up to go. After all, you can’t follow a parked car!

• Humility. Then she says, “Thank you for thinking of your humble servant girl.” (Luke 1: 48) None of us deserves to be used by God. We’re all trophies of God’s grace. Mary understood this. God works in our lives and blesses us because he wants to, not because we deserve it. We show God we want to do his will when we are humble.

What do you want most in life? To get married? To be financially independent? To retire? You’ll need greater desires than those or you’ll miss the boat.

In fact there’s really only one place to start when discovering God’s purpose for your life. “The thing you should want most is God’s Kingdom and doing what God wants. Then all these other things you need will be given to you.” (Matt. 6:33 NCV) It starts with a desire.