“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”As a Christian you are saved from your sin and given a home in Heaven once you leave this world. But in the mean time remember two very important things. Mainly, it is vital to understand that you have an enemy. This evil being wants nothing more for your life than to destroy its potential and testimony. The Lord Jesus warned Peter that Satan desired to “sift” him as wheat. Through temptation and deception, countless young adult have found their hope for joy and blessing turned into sadness and regret. Your enemy is cunning and even the most deligent among us has a heart with a potential of being led astray.

Yet, the most important truth to remember and live by is that you have a Saviour who loves you and desires to bless you. The choice is yours. But sometimes, especially if you have not yet decided to do the right thing, situations will call unto you strongly to sin and the draw is exceedingly intense.

Who are you? Who do you want to be? How do you want others to see you? How do you want God to think of you? These can all be answered when you first decide that your life is worth far more than to be squandered in sin. But rather build your life upon God and His Word! The outcome wil be that Christ is Lord of your life and the generous giver of amazing blessings!

But sadly, we see in Luke chapter four a very different outcome for the returning carpenter’s son. As He gave them an introduction to His Divine ministry they reacted terribly. Instead of joy and support they gave Him anger and rejection. They even went so far as to attempt to kill Him by throughing Him off a cliff. But even though death was His future, it was not His time to die. The Lord released Himself from their hands and walked away. And I can imagine as the demonic fever wore off from the angry residents of Nazareth they were left in disbelief at how things spiraled out of control. Yet the damage was done. Jesus had gone. Never again do we see the Lord returning to accomplish some great miracles in His hometown.

With Nazareth in the distance, our Lord set His face to go to Capernaum. This city was nothing new to Him. He had been here before performing miracles. This city on the Northwest corner of the Sea of Galilee had no reason to open their hearts to the Lord but they did nevertheless! Demons were cast out (Demons who recognized the Lord’s deity more than any in His hometown ever would) sicknesses were healed and the message of repentance was preached.

Yes, Capernaum was a very different experience from Nazareth. However, these two cities were similar in many ways. They both were Jewish. Both were classified as Galileans. Both cities were very religious. Yet both reacted fundamentally different to Christ’s ministry. In your life, were do you reside? Do you fit in with those people who do not see God’s power or enjoy His richest blessings? Are you “too” familiar with Christ that His Word or Will is not held in adoration and respect?

Hopefully, you can better identify with the people of Capernaum! Considering Christ their hearts were open. When His blessings were given they were partakers!

Where do you live today?

Imagine his surprise when in walked his brothers searching to buy food from the great leader who had foreknown of the famine and prepared for it. They did not recognized him but he knew them! In the early verses of Chapter 45 he reveals himself to them and demonstrates more grace than we could conceive. But then he tells them to go to his father and let him know how God has blessed him. Now it was bad enough of a shock to these brothers to find themselves at the mercy of the one whom they had wickedly mistreated. This experience alone would have been most distressing (not to mention cause for cardiact arrest!). However, Joseph demonstrated such grace and mercy to them it helped to calm their terror.

BUT! Then they were sent to the one person they really did not want to explain this new turn of events. Do you remember the scene shortly after they sold their brother? The coat of many colors Joseph was given from his father was torn and colored with animals blood. It was with this awful object they displayed before the eyes of their father and painted a tragic tale of a gruesome death. Jacob morned his beloved son. The loss he felt was very real to him. Now it was their sad duty as repentant offenders to lay before their father what they were guilty of and plead for his forgiveness.

And so it can be for us if we do not show care in our lives. We may find ourselves making a similar journey to lay openly our offense before our Heavenly Father or a wronged loved one. Instead, live with integrity and always treat others in light of the truth that our actions, after years gone by can haunt us when we least expect it!

Just like Dwight Moody in his shoe shop, David Livingston at his Loom, Billy Sunday on the Baseball field the Lord finds us and lays the call of service upon us. However, you may be startled at the suggestion, but probably all the mighty band of men and women who have responded to His Call, were similarly startled when first the summons awoke them to action. Samuel was startled when the Divine voice rang out in the night; Gideon was startled, and replied: “Behold my family is poor, and I am the least in my father’s house”; Jeremiah said, when the call came to him: “Ah, Lord God! Behold I cannot speak, for I am a child.” Moses drew back, and said that he was unequal for the task to which God summoned him.

Yes, all can be saved, many who are saved will walk faithfully for the Lord, but only the chosen of the Divine will know the special burden of having a the Call of service upon their lives. Listen to the appeal of Christ on behalf of the millions of souls for whom He died, and to some of whom He wants to send you. Yield yourself to Him, and let Him infuse into you His mighty passion for their salvation. Do not look at your circumstances, or count your five loaves and two small fishes, wondering if they will suffice; or at the waves, questioning if they will bear you up. Keep your eyes fixed on Him, and your ears open to His voice, and when once you are sure of His leading, go forward in His Name. Jordan will divide before you, and the walls of Jericho will fall flat.

As independent baptists we are very much concerned with truth. One could probably say that spiritual foundations are one of the main things that denote who we are as a particular group of baptists. We have always been known by the stands for scriptural truth and inerrancy. Yet, alas we are not the same! In reality we are probably more different than we are the same even though we hold to the same framework of doctrinal belief and practice. Some go to movies, while others only rent and still others abstain altogether. Some ladies wear pants, while other ladies wear only dresses or skirts. Some use drum sets, while others would never dare. Some allow CD accompaniment while others will not. Some fellowship in Hammond while others fellowship in Springfield. These are just a few of the many ways we differentiate ourselves from one another. Although it is hard for two to walk together if they do not agree there can still be mutual respect and Christian love dispite the inability to continue on a path of direct fellowship.

Please do not misunderstand, I certainly believe in standing up for what I believe and will do my best to convince those to come around to my way of thinking! If my positions are not worth advocating for then they would not be worth much. However, no matter how much I believe in my standards or convictions it is never God’s will for them to lead me to pride. This is certainly an area that all of us seem to have a propensity to fall into. Many today seem to be spreading their positions through an attitude of superiority. We will look down upon those who are not as “Enlightened” or as “Sanctified” as ourselves. Most would probably never say it openly, but in the heart a person knows if pride exists.

A different stand than mine is not an attack upon my stand. Nor does a difference of conviction demonstrate a need to reevaluate your own positions. What this difficult time requires is for Christians to stand gladly for what they believe in and let others have the freedom to follow their own path. We must always remember that it is Christ Who is our Lord! And we are no better than anyone else!