I Have Fought the Good Fight

2 Timothy 4:7

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

One of the things I do as a pastor – is to encourage the Saints of Christ in their final days. I have done more funerals than I’d like to count – losing some dear friends along the way. Along with being blessed and called upon to help folks in their last days or hours – I’m also called to encourage and guide the rest of us. We do not know when those last days and hours will come for us. We need to be ready – for it could come at any time.

I came to believe in Jesus Christ as a 12 year old. Oh – I was raised in a Christian home and would have told you – before 12 – that I was a Christian – but my faith was based upon my parent’s faith and my upbringing in the church. It wasn’t until a revival – the summer when I was 12 years old (57 years ago) – that my faith became personal and mine. I went to the altar and accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. I asked the evangelist to pray over me after the service – because I felt a tug on my heart to do so.

Trusting in God

Psalm 20:7

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

Where do we place our trust? I retired 2.5 years ago – thinking I had enough saved along with retirement money that should come my way. I was placing some trust in my method of saving for the future. But – did I save enough? Did I calculate correctly how long I will live and my health? I have a financial advisor who has helped me plan for most of my adult life. I have placed a lot of trust in this person. Did I prepare enough to make ends meet until I transcend to heaven for eternity?

Where do we place our trust? I’e had the same primary physician for most of my adult life. I go in for 6 month checkups and try to abide by what my doctor tells me (most of the time). I also have a heart doctor who did my heart surgery. I also have an orthopedic surgeon who repaired both shoulders (rotator cuffs) and continues to work on my arthritic knees. When I had back pain – I found a specialist who found two herniated disks and gave me meds for the pain and I went to physical therapy (I have a favorite PT specialist). I have placed a lot of trust in individuals – professionals – with my daily and on-going health. I try to listen to their advise and have actually lost 40 pounds of late to help my knees and my health.

Go Now and Leave Your Life of Sin

John 8:11

“No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

This is a devotional thought that we all need to read. The Bible records these words of Apostle Paul. Romans 3:23 – for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. The Bible also records these words of the Apostle Paul – Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death…

If we have all sinned and fallen short of God’s plan for us – and – if because of that sin – we have earned the wage of eternal death – hell – what hope do we have? Our sin nature will keep us eternally separated from God – right? I mean – we are selfish creatures – we’re very myopic (self absorbed and focused). What hope do we have? Can anything keep us from the eternal flames of hell?

Jesus – during His earthly ministry – came upon a woman of ill repute – a woman who sold her body for sexual pleasure (for others). Some old manuscripts don’t have this story included in them. Whether an original story of Jesus or a later inclusion – this story is where our hope lies.

Here’s today’s passage in partial context. John 8:2–11 – ² At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. ³ The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group ⁴ and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. ⁵ In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” ⁶ They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. ⁷ When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” ⁸ Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. ⁹ At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. ¹⁰ Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” ¹¹ “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

Growing Closer to Jesus

John 3:30

He must become greater; I must become less.

I cannot believe that we are ready to enter September – already. Football season is upon us. I learned a lot from football as a teenager.

It was in football – in High School – that I learned – that practice doesn’t make perfect – perfect practice makes perfect. Our football coach told us that – he used to say it often. It wasn’t going through the motions in practice that would make us a better football team – but rather it was doing things right – over and over again – that would make us better. Through perfect practice – we would soon be able to do the right things without even thinking about it. It would become natural and would flow from our actions and reactions.

Salvation is a free gift from God – for those who receive what Jesus did on the Cross of Calvary – who received Jesus as Lord and Savior. Ephesians 2:8 – For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—.

Once we have salvation – we are called to walk out our faith in such a way that God is glorified. Matthew 5:16 – In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. We are to let our light – the light of Christ in us – shine so that others see Jesus and give Him glory.

Loving One Another

Ephesians 4:32

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Have you ever been hurt? Silly question – right? We’ve all been hurt. Some of us – more than others. Some – more than we can handle – at times.

Our reaction to the hurt is very revealing. Often – when we are hurt – we hurt back. My wife often reminds me – hurt people – hurt people! When some are hurt – they tend to hurt others. Misery loves company – the old saying goes. When someone is down – they seem to feel better when they have company.

Who has hurt you – dear readers? And – who have you hurt? Forgiveness is not easy – most times. Asking for forgiveness is also not easy. Have you ever had to apologize to someone for hurting them? It is not easy.