Sin is no match for grace

by Barrett Vanlandingham

February 27, 2018

          Everyone sins. The Bible says so, and in our heart of hearts, we know so. Some sins are intentional or willful, others are accidental. So even though we all have free will, nobody is exempt from stumbling into the long arm of temptation.

          “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

          We also know that any sin, great or small, is enough to send us to hell if we are not in a spiritually saved condition.

          “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

          The phrase “in Christ Jesus” is important. The apostle Paul tells us that believers get “into Christ” (where eternal life is) by being baptized (Romans 6:3-5 and Galatians 3:26-27). It is only because of God’s grace that He allows any of us to follow this path of righteousness that leads to salvation (Romans 5:20-6:2).

          Grace is an amazing thing. We really would be lost without Jesus’ commitment to saving us in spite of our continual shortcomings. We can do and do and do, but none of us can earn a spot in heaven. It is God’s grace that not only makes up the difference for our failures, but gives our faith, trust, and obedience one more great reason to exist in the first place, in other words, a legitimate place in helping decide our eternal destiny.

          Jesus said, “For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done” (Matthew 16:27).

          If you’re like me, you sometimes have difficulty accepting and forgiving struggling sinners, while rejecting the sin. But God is patient with us (2 Peter 3:9), and he forgives us even though we are not deserving. God wants us to do the same for others (Matthew 6:15). God also wants us to love and pray for those who hurt us, and to be merciful to the ungrateful (Luke 6:27-36).

          This week, let’s strive to forgive and accept struggling sinners, and let God deal with their sin and ours, too.  Have a good day!

There is no reason to live in confusion

by Barrett Vanlandingham

February 20, 2018

          One day it’s 15-degrees, another day it’s 75, then 40.  Ice, sunshine, then rain.  Nothing seems to be consistent with the weather these days except for the inconsistency. People who live life like this experience no peace and no joy here on earth.

          There is One who can offer us everything we need, because He is the Creator of all things, and He is always consistent. He is our Lord God. The writer of the book of Hebrews reminds us of the importance of putting God first.  He alone is the answer to all of our worries and problems. The writer also reminds us to take note of faithful Christians whose priorities are evident by the fruit of their lives.

          “5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. 9 Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings” (Hebrews 13:5-8).

          Notice this passage does not say you will live a life free of problems. It says God will help us every step of the way when we make the choice to walk His righteous path. The Bible reminds us trouble will come even for those who live righteously, citing “a servant is not greater than his master” (John 15:18-21). But Jesus reassures us that since He overcame the world, we will too if we follow Him (ref: John 16:33).

          Even though these sporadic weather days make no sense to us any more than the struggles of life, we’re not God, and there is no way we can understand life’s challenges and disappointments, and how “God works for the good of those who love him” (Romans 8:28). But we can know for sure that God understands, and He sees clearly the victory that is ours because of His Son. Have a great week!

Love, it’s the best!!

by Barrett Vanlandingham

February 13, 2018

          Articles I’ve read say the 55-percent of Americans who celebrate Valentine’s Day will spend about $140 a person. That’s nearly 20-billion dollars in cards, candy, flowers, going out to dinner, and other gifts.

          Love is an amazing thing. And even though God created it, people have tried for generations to improve upon it. But anything other than God’s description of love is not love at all. The apostle Paul wrote 1 Corinthians 13 to describe “the most excellent way” of life:

          “1 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

          4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

          8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

          13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

Have a great week!

Jesus loves you

by Barrett Vanlandingham

February 6, 2018

          In just about a week or so, expressions of LOVE, LOVE, and more LOVE will be spoken, written, and delivered in many different ways as Valentine’s Day takes center stage. And other than the extreme commercialization of it all, and the bank breaking prices of roses during February, no one can argue against those old song lyrics: “What the world needs now is love, sweet love.”        By the way, your local flower shop is not totally at fault for the higher prices. But that’s a story for another day.

          Jesus is a huge fan of love!  During the last supper, he said to his disciples, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35).

          This passage coupled with His previous statement in Mark 12:28-31 about the greatest command being that of loving God with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and also loving your neighbor as yourself leave no doubt where Jesus’ heart is.  He wants us to show love, by looking out for one another’s highest good, and by obeying His teachings (John 14:23). Jesus loved us enough to die for us, but He also wants to give us a home in heaven (ref: John 3:16). It’s a guaranteed prize for those who do God’s will (Matthew 7:21), even though we mess up (Romans 5-6).

          The benefits of loving God and loving others far surpass that of simply making God and others happy. Jesus says, “Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them” (John 14:21).

          This passage is a comfort and a challenge: a comfort in knowing we have a relationship with the One who will represent us to God on Judgement Day, and a challenge because it reminds us to teach and model God’s commands to those who do not have the truth. Understanding and obeying truth results in a special love both for God, and from God. Have a great day!