Disguised Deception

2 John 4-11

From reading this text many times, and from different perspectives, I found it interesting how the apostles would speak to unique congregations, on different occasions. Oftentimes, the crowds which gathered under the apostles, consisted of only men, and the messages delivered were centered on certain duties that pertain to fathers, and their roles as men in the body of Christ, as well as in their homes. This lesson’s text specifically identifies John’s audience as “the elect lady and her children”. Whoever this elect lady was, she was relevant enough for the apostle John to hold an audience with, to warn her and her children about false teachers.

Men who are under the authority of satan, typically plot to infiltrate the minds of woman, because they are considered the “weaker vessel”, and if convinced, they can spoil the minds of their husbands and children as well. In the garden of eden, the serpent knew this truth, and took advantage of his opportunity to beguile the woman, who in turn convinced the man to disobey God. Women aren’t inherently dumb or naive, but when under pressure or confused, they have a tendency to making emotional decisions. John knew full well the susceptibility of the woman, so he gave warning to the elect lady, and taught her how to recognize a deceiver, and their wicked presentations.

John was filled with joy upon hearing that the children of the elect lady were all walking in the truth of God’s commandments. For those who have children, imagine how you would feel, if all your kids were living a committed life to God. I’m certain your days would be filled with love, joy, peace, and laughter. Well, John’s gladness provoked him to deliver a message of warning, so that the elect lady could be fully equipped to guard her children against those who would attempt to steer them away from holiness.

It is mentioned in the text, that “many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh”. Satan is known for mixing a wee little lie, with a lot of truth, but that small bit of deception is powerful enough to turn men away from the truth. Those who know God, and abide in the doctrine of Christ, are easily recognizable by the fruit they bear. But, those who are of the devil, will reveal themselves by their tainted doctrine, and unholy lifestyles. John told the elect lady to turn away from men who dilute the Word of God, with their deceptive words, and refrain from bidding them God speed, or engaging in greetings with them, because doing so would deem her a partaker of their evil deeds also.

As you continue to live for God, allow your excitement for knowing Him keep you focused, and committed to doing His will, but don’t forget to guard yourself, and your children, from deceivers who are littered all over the world, and seek only to pull you away from your heavenly Father.

Keep your chin up… it’s easier to see Heaven that way,

Ell

Selfless Consideration

Romans 15:1-6

In our society, working together is promoted in all areas of business, education, and entertainment. Businesses thrive on increase and productivity, but their success can only go as far as their unified organization allows them to. Teachers work hard to ensure that their students learn and develop the skills required to advance to the next grade level. When done for the right purpose and with right intentions, teachers can impact the lives of their students far beyond their initial expectations. Without unity and togetherness, it would be unwise for any team, of any sport, to attempt to challenge an opponent, because their lack of teamwork would weigh heavily against them, causing them to suffer a great and embarrassing loss. From these examples, it’s safe to presume that working together as a single unit, will always produce better results, than operating from a system of dysfunction.

While teamwork involves all members working together toward a common goal, each individual must exhibit behaviors of humility, compassion, and understanding, in order for the “team” to “work” effectively. In our text, the apostle Paul helps Roman believers grasp a better better understanding of the importance of unity, amongst the body of Christ. Although each member of the body performs different functions, not one area holds more importance than another. The Bible does teach that we are to honor our leaders, and give them respect, but we must not consider our own callings irrelevant, in comparison to theirs.

The church is at its best, when all members perform their duties with all their heart, aiming to give God glory from their lives. Unfortunately, times will arise when those who are weak in faith, may tend to get weighed down by the heaviness of life’s struggles. During these critical moments, those who are strong in the Lord, ought to make haste to cover, protect, edify, and restore those who may fall, because at any moment the enemy could come and sift them as wheat. The Bible doesn’t teach us to be “people pleasers”, but we are commanded to live to please others. In pleasing others, we make ourselves available to lift them up during times when they feel down, supply their needs during seasons of lack, or simply loaning an ear or shoulder for someone to cry on, giving them hope that they’re not alone in the fight of faith.

Keep your chin up… it’s easier to see Heaven that way,

Ell

Straighten Up And Fly Right

Galatians 6:1-10

As a whole, the church should conduct themselves totally opposite of what the world represents. Whether a member of the body of Christ lives in California, China, Sudan, or Germany, all who are deemed as children of God are expected to maintain a standard that is holy, and acceptable unto the Lord, at all times, and in all places.

When the Bible is taught, and the pages of Scripture preached, those who deliver the oracles of God should always do so under the leading of the Holy Spirit. When done this way, the message will always be brought forth as God intended, and the Spirit won’t allow man’s pride to take precedence over God’s intended purpose.

I mentioned the previous statements to establish a grounds for this lesson. In order for the church to remain unified, we must all have equal understanding of the Word of God. God’s Word has been the same since its inspired recording, and its relevance is of the upmost importance to all who are in Christ Jesus. Without God’s Word, there would be no sense of direction or purpose for the church, and we’d be left to traverse the earth on our own wisdom and judgment. Fortunately, God made sure to provide a means by which all men can have equal opportunity to learn, study, and meditate on the things He expects from His people.

In our text, some of the most important principles of holy living are mentioned. The apostle Paul taught the church in Galatia the importance of teamwork, humility, and reaping and sowing. Believers are to stick together in times of good, and not so good. Paul taught that we are to bear one another’s burdens, because doing so fulfills the law of Christ (to love thy neighbor as thyself). All members of Christ’s body are dependent upon each other to function properly, and when one member falls, the others are to restore them with meekness. This is very important, because men are known to point the finger, and make those who fall, feel bad, but they forget that while their pointing their finger at someone who made a mistake, a situation is awaiting them around the corner, to test them in the same area. Christians are to walk in humility at all times, remembering how Jesus carried Himself among those who followed after Him.

Lastly, Paul encouraged the Galatian church that sowing to the Spirit, will bring everlasting life, but sowing to the flesh will reap corruption. The world is expected to sow seeds to their flesh, because they are of their father the devil, but the children of God should always be found investing their time and energy, into building God’s kingdom. Be sure your attitude, behavior, and actions are aligned with God’s expectations, and allow His love to shine through you, as you walk in obedience to His Word.

Keep your chin up… it’s easier to see Heaven that way,

Ell

Wisdom For All

Proverbs 1:1-11, 20-22, 32-33

Why do foolish men hate knowledge, and the simple-minded shun wisdom? Most people who lack basic knowledge of God, are easily attracted by sin, because it presents to them ways to make easy money, and feel like they are a part of the crowd. The average person wants to be accepted by their family, but more so by those in society. Yearning to be accepted by the world is the first step to falling into pride, and God despises those who seek after the things of the world, rather than His spiritual gifts. Wisdom, knowledge, and understanding work in unison, to guide the child of God in the ways of holiness, but when those life-saving virtues are rejected, the path one walks will soon become darker, and more broad.

God is more than willing to pour out His wisdom on all who ask for it, but many fail to understand that without the wisdom of God, life will literally deceive them. Men seem to prosper by obtaining things in life such as cars, homes, college degrees, business, and the like, but all things gained in this life, that doesn’t bring glory to God, is a waste of time, effort, and possibly money. The wisdom of God keeps us from falling into temptation, investing time in futile things, and focusing too much attention on worldly matters. Don’t be like the foolish, who despise wisdom and instruction, but in all things, seek the wisdom of God, so that your actions and decisions will always render positive results.

Keep your chin up… it’s easier to see Heaven that way,

Ell

The Wise Ones

Proverbs 4:1-9

Those who place the wisdom of God at the forefront of their character traits, will consistently show forth the behavior of Christ in their daily living. Wisdom is the ability to carefully assess and understand a thing, then judge accordingly. King Solomon had taken on the mantle of his father David, and realized his shoes were too great to walk in by his own intellect, so he asked of God to give him wisdom, so that he would be properly equipped to judge millions of men and women, under his watch. Without the wisdom of God directing his hand, Solomon’s reign would have no doubt ended in great ruin, like others who refused to abide by the oracles of God, but because he put God first, his legacy has become one that will be remembered forever. Godly wisdom offers tremendous benefits, that can literally advance one’s life to levels far beyond the wisdom gained of men. Aside from one being molded into the image of Christ, by becoming loyal, kind, trustworthy, righteous, humble, and teachable, wisdom ensures that the life of the believer has a great chance of being lengthy, favorable, successful, prosperous, peaceful (most of the time), approved by God, and reputable in the sight of God and men. As you journey through this life, be sure to allow the wisdom of God to lead and guide your every move. This way, you can rest assured, your thoughts and actions will be pleasing to the Father, and He will bless you abundantly in the earth.

Keep your chin up… it’s easier to see Heaven that way,

Ell

A Stroll Down Memory Lane

1 Kings 4:29-34

When you finally transition from this life to the next, what do you think people will remember most about you? All the men and women in the Bible, who lived by God’s example, are long dead, but they are still referenced today by their noteworthy lifestyles. Abraham will always be remembered as the father of faith, while Jacob proved that God could use someone, who once took pride in deceiving others, and change the heart of that same person, causing them to take delight in steering men from being deceived. Joseph was a man who endured unparalleled levels of injustice (by the hands of his brothers, and others) and was elevated to heights he would have never reached on his own. Moses grew up in the house of the Pharoah, and was possibly on his was to soon rule, or hold a position of great authority, but he sacrificed fame, riches, and glory, in order to promote the will of God instead. Balaam was widely know for his effective blessings and curses, but when he disobeyed God’s command, not to go with the princes of Moab, God allowed a donkey to speak, and warn him of the angel of the Lord, who was prepared to slay him for his disobedience. This miraculous event quickly changed the heart of Balaam, and set him right to walk in obedience to God, to bless Israel, and not curse them. Joshua was Moses’ assistant, and eventual successor, and He was one of two faithful men, unafraid to take over the land of Canaan. His effective leadership was the product of good preparation, and continuous encouragement. Rahab was a young lady, known to give up her goods, for the right price, but her act of protecting God’s people during their spy mission, caused her to be listed in the Bible’s Hall of Faith (Hebrews 11). This is proof that God can still use us to do great things, regardless of how dirty our past is.

Other great men and women including Deborah, Esther, Samuel, king David, all the prophets, and king Solomon, will forever be known for their unyielding dedication to the service of God, and caring for the needs of His people. I present the question again: When your time on this earth runs out, will you be remembered as someone who was full of evil, lies, deceit, and other vices, or will your name run through the hearts and minds of others, and cause them to smile, and take great delight in knowing you touched their lives in a good way?

Keep your chin up… it’s easier to see Heaven that way,

Ell

Peaceful Protest

Psalm 34:11-18

Whether being done peacefully, or with aggressive intent, protests have become the way by which free men exercise their 1st amendment right, expressing the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people to peaceably assemble, and petition the government for a redress of grievances. When unexplainable occurrences take place within our cities and states, the only power citizens have is their voice. While not much has been gained in favor of those who have assembled in protests throughout history, those who rule in seats of authority, are fully aware of the people’s feelings toward injustice.

The Bible teaches that believers are allowed to be angry, but are to refrain from turning that anger into sinful practices. While I’m unaware of whether or not those who are presently protesting for the cause of the late George Floyd are Christians, I do know that those who are acting out in violent behavior, are either babes in Christ, or not converted at all. My reasons for expressing such concern is based on the lesson’s text. King David gave a descriptive account of the behaviors of a mature disciple of Christ. This man, after God’s own heart, mentioned that Saints keep their tongues from evil communication, and their lips from speaking guile, or words of deceit. The ancient king went on to express that children of God remove themselves from ungodly situations, and focus their attention on doing good things, seeking peace in all situations, and making it their business to continue this pattern regularly.

The body of Christ must always remain conscious of their behavior, knowing that the face of the Lord is against them that do evil, and He yearns to remove them from the earth. The text also mentions how the eyes of the Lord are upon those who walk in righteousness, and He’s attentive to their prayers and requests. God is in full support of those who express themselves, but with His motives in mind, but to men who willingly allow their anger to cause them to commit insensitive acts of violence, God has judgment awaiting them, in due time.

Keep your chin up… it’s easier to see Heaven that way,

Ell

Pass It On

2 Timothy 1:3-9

The most valuable treasure adults can leave behind for the youth is not money, property, or any type of investment. Instead, passing on the knowledge of God’s Word will benefit the next generation far more than anything else. By default, children are born into a world tainted with all manner of evil and wickedness, so establishing a solid foundation in the Word of God, will help children develop a better sense of what’s right and wrong, according to the Scriptures. Not only is establishing a foundation of holiness in the hearts and minds of our youth vital, but continuous encouragement is also a great way for seasoned Saints to nurture young people, as they develop.

One of the biggest problems plaguing the modern-day church is, lack of Bible knowledge being transferred from the elderly to the young. One reason for this stems from the fact that the world has put a firm grip on the minds of the youth today, by distracting them with all types of technology, and social media. I’d be surprised to find a handful of children in any area of the county, who’s eyes aren’t glued to their cell phone, tablet, laptop, or smart TV. Children spend more time on social media, than doing things that could potentially help them become better adults. Although it’s become more of a challenge to reach the young in these last days, the message of the Gospel is still as potent as it was in the past, and is very much capable of reaching as far as possible, to grab the attention of our wavering generation.

Keep your chin up… it’s easier to see Heaven that way,

Ell

Just An Average Joe

Acts 6:1-7

“But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:” (Philippians 2:7 KJV). Contrary to popular belief, there was nothing fascinating about Jesus physically, that stood out amongst those He encountered. All the pictures and images of the long hair, blue eyed angelic Jesus, are highly exaggerated, and inaccurate. Not only was Jesus visually an “average Joe”, He made certain to keep a low profile, while focusing all His attention on redistributing the Words that came from His Father, to preach and teach to the world.

“For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.” (Isaiah 53:2 KJV). When God prepared Himself a body, He was wise enough to refrain from molding an image like James Dean, Marlon Brando, Cary Grant, Rock Hudson, Denzel Washington, Idris Elba, and Shemar Moore, because people would more than likely gravitate toward them due to their outer appearance, rather than the message they presented. While it’s good to dress modest, and present ourselves decent while doing the Lord’s work, we should be focused more on increasing the reputation of God, rather than promoting our own.

In our text, the twelve disciples were persistent in their efforts to spread the message of the Gospel, and the more they preached, the more the church grew. Unfortunately, they were unable to balance preaching, and maintaining the well-being of the church, so they decided that it was wise to appoint others to handle the domestic duties of the church, while they preached the Gospel, unhindered. This idea was received well by the church, and they identified seven men, whom they deemed fit to carry out the daily ministration. Rather than make known the physical attributes of the chosen men, the Bible was sure to acknowledge that Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas were men with strong spiritual attributes. What an honor it is, to be acknowledged by others, not for vain and irrelevant characteristics, but for traits that are relevant to the God of all creation.

Is the reputation you seek to gain, the same as God’s, or do you flaunt looks, money, and other things to gain the attention of men? Do you receive the message of the Gospel the same from all God’s people, or do you tend to give more attention to those who have mega churches, and may be more fit to star in Hollywood films? “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”(Colossians 3:17 KJV). “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;” (Colossians 3:23 KJV).

Seek not to gain vain glory, but desire that the body of Christ grow together. Whatever God called you to do, give it your best effort, and be proud of rendering your reasonable services to the Lord.

Keep your chin up… it’s easier to see Heaven that way,

Ell

Fatherly Love

Hosea 11:1-2, 7-10, 12:1-2, 6-14

Children born into this world are sweet and innocent bundles of joy, that at the very sight of them, brings indescribable happiness to the strong mothers who endure intense labor pains to birth them. Parents are tasked with the responsibility of caring for literally 100 percent of a baby’s needs, but as the child grows, and learns to do certain things on their own, this is helpful in relieving certain duties from the parent.

In their early stages of development, children are unaware of the strenuous labor it takes to raise them, but the joy of a good parent comes from seeing their hard work pay off in the life of a respectful, and disciplined child. Unfortunately, every family doesn’t get the opportunity to share a “Huxtable” experience. Oftentimes, children reach a point when they feel that they can do better traversing through life on their own wisdom, while disregarding the teachings, sacrifices, and foundation they were blessed to have in their home. Those who walk the path of their own wisdom and understanding, usually end up in places and situations that aren’t favorable, but no matter how far away some may stray, they can always rely on their parents bailing them out of their messes.

Why do some parents willingly go above and beyond, for children who deserve the worst punishment? Well, there comes a time in the life of a parent, when the love they render to their children, cannot be described. This same love stems from God above, and was put on display throughout the Scriptures. God showered fatherly love over His people without hesitation, and made certain they were properly cared for, even when they were unable to provide for themselves. Time and time again, God’s people would continue the cycle of rebellion and disobedience, only to return to a loving God, ready and willing to forgive all their sins.

Why didn’t God execute the fierceness of His anger, and destroy the people He chose as His own? Verse nine of our text gives the answer to that question where it reads, “for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee:” God is AWESOME! He can do as it He pleases Him. He blesses whom He chooses to bless, and brings judgment on whom He sees fit. Although I don’t understand all the ways of the Lord (and I doubt I will ever be able to fit all of God’s awesomeness into my tiny 3 pound brain lol) I’m grateful He has power and authority over all things.

I strive daily to live according to righteousness, and God takes note of my good deeds, but there are times when I drift away from God’s presence, and when I come to my senses to return, He’s always waiting for me with His arms wide open. It’s time that the church learn to appreciate God more, not only for what He does for us, but mostly for what He doesn’t do to us. We deserve to be punished severely for our sin, but Christ made it possible for us to be able to come to our Father, and receive a love like no other (I’m literally reaching up toward Heaven, trying to give God a hug lol). Be blessed Saints.

Keep your chin up… it’s easier to see Heaven that way,

Ell