The Cost Of Everything, The Value Of Nothing

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he reception area was filled with the buzz of voices as people entered, anticipating the dinner and the conversation that would ensue in the brief moments ahead.  Men dressed in coats and ties and ladies in lovely dresses stood all around the room smiling, laughing, shaking hands, and enjoying the before-dinner refreshments and the company.  As more and more guests arrived, the room began to fill and people moved to other parts of the room to continue their conversations.

At the far end of the reception hall, a photographer was busy snapping photographs as announcements were made for individuals to pair up and have their pictures made.  After everyone had been photographed, the entire entourage was ushered toward the banquet hall where a scrumptious dinner was waiting.  Since there was no seating arrangement, people shared their tables with others whom they did not know. This provided a wonderful opportunity for introductions and interesting conversation.  At the end of the meal, the guests were entertained with a wonderful musical performance and several individuals gave very encouraging and heartwarming addresses.

Sounds as if this took place in New York or in Hollywood, doesn’t it.  Actually, this event occurred on the campus of Southwestern Seminary.  This is an annual event where student recipients of scholarships are paired with those who donate the monies for these funds.  It was my pleasure to attend this event as the recipient of a scholarship that helped me complete my studies at the seminary.

As I looked around the room, listening to the hum of all the conversations and watching all the interaction between the guests, I couldn’t help but reflect on a great truth Jesus shared with his disciples about the idea of value.  This idea is almost lost on us in our present society.  We are constantly concerned with the “price” of something while we neglect its “value.”  Jesus, however, understood that the price of something is merely a function of the value we place on things.  Let’s take a look at his claim about cost and value.

In Matthew 13:44, Jesus says the following, "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.”OK, let’s take this sentence apart, shall we?  First, Jesus is making a direct comparison between cost and value.  The man in this story found a great treasure.  This man, however, was no dummy!  He knew that the treasure had great worth and value.  He determined that the price required was worth it because the treasure had value that exceeded its price!  It cost this man everything he had but he paid the price without hesitation.  He looked beyond the field and saw the treasure.  He saw the infinite worth of that field and bought it, rejoicing in his discovery.

Wow!  What this man found had a finite price but infinite worth.  Do we really understand that concept?  Even if something costs me all I have, I know how much that is.  It has a dollar figure beside it, albeit a small one.  But when something has infinite worth, it is priceless. It is impossible to buy it because no amount of money, effort, or good intention can secure it.  This is what heaven and the good news of Jesus Christ are like.  To become a Christian has a price, it will cost us our lives meaning we must give them to God.  But the joy and the wonderful relationship we have with God is of infinite value—it is priceless!

It has been said that a cynic is a person who knows the cost of everything and the value of nothing.  I very much agree with that statement.  We all know people who can tell you exactly how much they paid for a certain item.  They can point to the day and the time they bought it and they may still have the original receipt to prove how much they paid for it.  But that is where their vision and their understanding stop!  These people understand cost but they do not understand value!  The two terms are not synonymous!!! 

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ren’t you glad we serve a God who not only understands the concept of value but one who demonstrated it!  If you want to get a good grip on God’s concept of cost and value, you need look no further than the cross of Jesus Christ.  Man’s sin carried a hefty price and God paid it without hesitation!  The death of Jesus on the cross of Calvary paid the price for man’s fall from God’s grace.  But it doesn’t stop there!  God paid that price because we are of infinite value to Him!  Jesus looked beyond the cross and saw the glory (Hebrews 12:2).  He looked beyond the field and saw the treasure!  He looked beyond the sin and saw us!  What better example of value is there?  Now, the hard question: Does the life we are living today reflect the value of the price God paid for our salvation?  Think about it!

A Time For Praise And Worship

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immy was a bit confused.  He had made the varsity football team without question but he was having a difficult time making sense of the coach’s letter informing him of the upcoming practice schedule.   Each day’s practice began precisely at 9:00 and he was to report to the locker room at 8:30 to dress out in his pads and practice uniform.  All of this information seemed perfectly logical to Jimmy, who had been playing football since he was six years old.

The information concerning practice times was followed by a brief explanation of how each practice would be conducted.  The players were to take the field at 9:00 for warm-up exercises. This, however, is not what caused Jimmy’s confusion.  Pre-practice exercising was standard and to be expected.  The source of the confusion was one brief statement made by the coach in the middle of this paragraph.  The statement read, “You will exercise your muscles for thirty minutes and then you will play a full game.”

The words, “and then” bothered Jimmy terribly.  Wasn’t playing the same thing as exercising?  Wasn’t’ he using every fiber of his body to play the game just has he had used those muscles during warm-up?  How could there be only a thirty-minute practice session?  Did the coaches not want him to exercise his body during the game?  If this were the case, the season would be a long one and not very productive.

Jimmy’s dilemma may seem a bit elementary but when you stop and think about it, he does ask a good question.  What about playing a football game is not exercise?  A player on the field must be in constant motion, using all his muscles, all his knowledge, all his mind, and all his heart to give his best performance.  He must do this from the beginning of the game to its end if he intends to be victorious.  Otherwise, he will probably find himself on the bench watching the game instead of participating in it.

There seems to be a growing trend in our churches that can be equally confusing to worshipers.  Bulletins and orders of service from all types of churches more and more set aside a special time in their services called, “Praise and Worship.”  Now, let’s stop and think about this for just a moment and we will find ourselves in the same predicament as Jimmy.  Can praise and worship be relegated to a specific time or to a specific place in our services?  What about the remainder of the service is not praise and worship?

Now, don’t misunderstand me, I am not being critical of preparing people for worship.  However, I find it confusing to separate praise and worship into small segments.  The entire service, especially the sermon and prayer time, should be a time when we praise and worship God.  In fact, there should be no time in our lives when God is not praised and worshiped.

David said as much in Psalm 34:1, “I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.  Here, David gives us the correct perspective on praise and worship.  We are to continually praise and worship God. In fact, our lives are to be a source of continual praise and worship of our Lord.  There is no time when we should cease to praise God and we should make praise and worship our lifestyle.  Worship should not simply be something we do; but it must emanate from who we are on the inside.  We must worship God in spirit and in truth, as Jesus told the woman at the well, or we do not worship Him at all.

   

Although true worship is what God wants us to offer Him the mere act of worshiping, of just going through the motions, does not make us worshipers. True worship must come from the heart from an intimate knowledge of who God is and what He has done for us. Our worship, then, should dictate our actions instead of our actions dictating our worship.

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s we seek to enter into more effective and God-centered worship in our churches, let us remember that we are to worship God always.  Worship is not to be found in a building and we cannot look to the pastor to do worship for us.  We should pray for him and look to him as he leads us in corporate worship.  But if we don’t worship personally, if there is no worship in our daily lives, if we don’t take time individually to worship and praise God, then there will be no true praise and worship in our churches.  We must worship individually if we are to worship corporately.  How is your praise and worship time coming today?

The View From The Top

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y first visit to Paris wasn’t what I had expected.  For years I had studied the French language and had learned some of the history of Paris and the stories behind its most famous monuments.  I had learned to recognize the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum, the Cathedral of Notre Dame, the Basilica of Sacré Coeur, the Arc de Triomphe, as well as other famous landmarks around the city.

However, when we arrived, Paris looked nothing like I had imagined.  Buildings blocked my view of the Eiffel Tower, the Seine River, and none of the monuments seemed to relate to the map I held in my hand.  In addition, the subway diagram only added to my confusion as I tried to figure out the best way to get from one part of the city to the other.  What I needed was another perspective on Paris, one that would provide me with a better understanding of the city and its layout.

While visiting the Cathedral of Notre Dame, I saw my opportunity.  The cathedral has two great bell towers.  From the top of the bell towers, I knew I could get a bird’s eye view of the city.  So, I started to climb, beginning the long, upward journey at the base of the left tower.  The spiral stair case was built along with the tower so workers could reach their stations and could also carry provisions with them.  I thought the stairs would never end but just as I was about to give up, I saw a shaft of sunlight coming through the door just ahead.

I stepped out, fully expecting the see the city.  Much to my disappointment, however, I had only climbed half the distance between the ground and the top of the cathedral.  I crossed over to the next tower, took a deep breath, and began climbing again.  After several minutes of going in circles, and almost at the point of physical exhaustion, I emerged at the top of the right bell tower. The entire city of Paris lay at my feet.  To my left was the Eiffel Tower, to my right was the Basilica of Sacré Coeur and the Seine River was flowing in the right direction.  The Left Bank was easily discernible from the Right Bank and the entire layout of the city made sense.  What a difference the view from the top made.  The long climb, the sore muscles, and the dizzying heights were all worth the view!

The Christian life is exactly like this.  We spend so much time studying God’s word, making sure we understand his commandments and requirements.  However, when we start walking in earnest with God, we find the road ahead to be vastly different from how we imagined it would be.   

Moses found this to be true as well.  For forty years he had led the people in a great circle, wandering in the desert, wondering where they were going.  He was sure he had understood God’s directive and directions, but the terrain around him didn’t remotely resemble a “land flowing with milk and honey.”  That’s when God took him to a higher plane to gain a different perspective.

Deuteronomy 32:49 gives God’s final directions to Moses: "Go up this mountain of the Abarim, Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, across from Jericho; view the land of Canaan, which I give to the children of Israel as a possession;”  From Mount Nebo, Moses could see all of God’s provision in one glance.  From that perspective, Moses knew the journey had been worth it.  However, he was not allowed to cross over into the Promised Land because he had disobeyed God.  Nonetheless, God let him see all the land, to make sense of his life’s journey, and to understand God’s faithfulness better.

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oday, you may be wondering just where your journey with God is going.  Circumstances around you may seem unfamiliar and the landscape may indeed look foreign.  Although you have studied God’s word and have faith in him, you long for just a glimpse of where you are going and where you’ve come from.     That view is always encouraging and inspiring but it will mean moving to higher ground.  Are you ready to tackle Mount Nebo today?  I hope so!  There’s nothing like the view from the top!

No Parking!

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owntown Fort Worth is a wonderful place to visit.  There are all types of shops, numerous restaurants, wonderful bookstores, great places to get a cup of coffee, a superb performance hall, and good movie theaters where you can catch the latest flick.  Yes, it is a wonderful place, provided you can find a parking space!  This is especially true in the evenings and on the weekends when the entire population, it seems, pours into the downtown area to enjoy all it has to offer.   

On more than one occasion I have ventured downtown and found myself in a battle to find an empty space to park my car.  The lots are either full or I find myself confronted with ever-present and all-to-familiar information sign, “No Parking!”  One Saturday afternoon, I decided to spend some time looking through the various shops downtown.  I got in my car and took the fifteen-minute drive into the city.  But there was no where to park!  All the lots were full, all the spaces were taken, and there literally was no available space to be seen.

After several minutes of circling the city, after putting several miles on my car, and after wearing down the tread on my tires, I gave up in desperation and decided to return to the seminary to bandage my wounds.  I was frustrated and angry.  Everywhere I looked I saw a “No Parking” sign so I just kept driving until I returned home!  Have you ever been there?  Have you ever been frustrated by a traffic sign?  To top it all off, someone had written me a nice letter requesting that I pay my phone bill!  What a day!  All I wanted was a parking space, not a headache!

But after I returned home and cooled down a little bit, I realized there was actually a blessing in my little afternoon adventure.  Had I found a parking space downtown, I would have been tempted to stroll into the shops, get some coffee, buy a book, or see movie and spend more money than I had anticipated.  Then I would have been hard-pressed to pay the phone bill which was more of a priority than a cup of coffee.  Now, please don’t get me wrong. I can afford a cup of coffee and my phone bill, the question here is one of priority.

The Apostle Paul understood the idea of not parking in the Christian life.  He knew that following hard after Jesus and walking with God is the single most important priority of life.  Parking spaces, Paul knew, sometimes lead to trouble.  They get us off the road; they stop our forward progress for a while, and allow our minds to wonder through all the shops life has to offer.  When we are in the shops, it is easy for us to get our priorities skewed and out of balance.

In his letter to the Philippians, Paul writes, “forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13b-14). This is the great secret of the Christian life—forward motion!  Notice that Paul admonishes his readers to keep pressing on toward the goal.  The one focus, the one goal, the one aim of our lives must be Jesus Christ who alone can supply all our needs and satisfy our souls.

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ut in modern terms, Paul would be telling his readers to take notice of the “No Parking” signs and to keep moving forward.  The world offers many things but these things can never fulfill us in the way God does.  Browsing among the world’s shops, drinking from its fountains, and walking idly along can lead us to confuse our priorities and to get our eyes off of Christ!  However, if we keep our eyes on him, if we keep moving forward, we will find that our priorities are in the right place, that our needs are met, and our souls will be satisfied.  Are you looking for a parking place today?  Pay attention to those “No Parking” signs!  They just might be blessings in disguise!

Buried Treasure

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ne of my favorite books is Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island.  I have read the book several times and have often pretended I was on some deserted island in search of lost treasure.  What little boy, or big boy for that matter, hasn't imagined what it would be like to hunt for buried treasure?

I played out this scenario quite often, especially while looking for quarters to do laundry when I lived in the men’s dorm.  Finding the correct change involved rummaging through drawers, looking under the bed, and checking in pants’ pockets.  Unlike Treasure Island, though, there was no map and ‘X’ never marked the spot.

Laundry and money never seemed to be a problem when I was growing up.  My clothes magically appeared, washed, pressed, and folded.  Whenever I needed money, and it seems I needed it often, I would ask my mom to give me some.  Her response was always the same: “Bring me my pocketbook.”

I learned at a very early age that a woman’s pocketbook was a wonderful thing.  They have everything in there, from paper clips to super glue.  However, I also learned not to go poking around in them for the very simple reason that they are impossible to navigate.  More than once I have gotten lost in there.  My mom, however, always knew where everything was in her purse. How she knew, I never figured out, and, although I could never find her billfold, she always located it.

What, you may be wondering, does rummaging around in my mom’s purse have to do with today’s devotional?   How could there ever be a connection between Psalm 119 and my mother’s pocketbook?  Well, actually the two have quite a bit in common.  Psalm 119:11 reads, “I have hidden your word in my heart. that I might not sin against you.”  David’s message is very clear in this passage from his longest psalm.    We must hide God’s word in our hearts and make it a part of our daily lives.  We must be able to retrieve it at a moment’s notice, to be able to find the hidden treasures and the wonderful promises God has made to us all.

When God’s word is securely hidden in our hearts, when it becomes a part of who we are, when it penetrates to the deepest levels of our being, then we will indeed have buried treasure.  We can tap this resource at any time, in any situation, and draw upon it for strength, comfort, assurance, and help.  We hide God’s word because it is precious and of infinite worth.  Just as we base our physical lives upon the treasures hidden in our bank accounts, so must we base our spiritual lives upon the treasures God’s word hidden in our hearts.

At any given moment, most people can tell you how much money they have in the bank or in a stock portfolio.  However, most of us would be hard-pressed to give an accurate balance of our knowledge of God’s word.  In fact, most of us are severely lacking in this area. 

If we believe God’s word is our source of strength, knowledge, and the basis upon which we build our relationship with him, doesn’t it make sense to hoard as much of it as possible?  Doesn't it make sense to hide this treasure, to bury it deep in our hearts and guard it with all diligence?  Remember, Jesus himself said, “For where you treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew6:21).

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es, when I needed some money, a Band-Aid, or a cough drop, I always asked my mom for help.  She always asked for her purse because whatever I needed at the time was in there.  God’s word is the same.  Everything we need is contained inside.  However, if we never read it, it we never store it, if we never hide it deep inside, we won’t have enough of it or of him to sustain us in our time of need.  So, how much hidden treasure is there in your life?  If its secret hiding place were discovered, would you be rich or poor?

Open, Save, or Cancel?

Carp's Daily Tidbits

"Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits." Psalm 103:2

Date: Thursday, March 5, 2015

Today's Title: Open, Save, Or Cancel?

Today's Scripture: Matthew 13:1-23

The Bible never ceases to amaze me.  Every day there is something so current, so applicable, and so timely, that it could have easily appeared in the newspaper or on the morning news.  I receive news updates throughout the day in my e-mail from various news agencies.  These help keep me updated on current world situations and alert me to important events occurring in various places around the globe.  It is amazing what technology can do these days and it is alarming how vulnerable we feel without it.

However, what is more amazing to me is when I find a twenty-first century example of a Biblical truth.  Every now and then I just stop, staring in total amazement as one of God’s immutable truths hits home to me.  It could be in the car, walking down the street, watching television or just reading a book.  I will come across a story, see a show, hear something in a conversation, or notice something along the roadside, and God speaks so clearly and so distinctly that I wonder why I haven’t heard Him before.

Today’s Tidbit comes out of such an experience.  A few days ago, I was downloading some software for a project I am currently working on at the university.  The process wasn’t difficult because the computer did all the work. The only thing I had to do was to wait until the computer finished downloading the software.  After the download was complete, I installed the program, made sure it was saved correctly and launched the program.   

While downloading from the Internet, I had time to think about what I was doing.  This is a relatively new idea for me.  Usually I act first and think after, but not this time.  Since the computer needed several minutes to download, I had time to think about what I was doing.

As soon as I requested my download, I got a message on the computer screen.  It asked which of three activities I wanted to perform in regards to the program I sought to download.  The three choices I had were: Open, Save, or Cancel.  I really didn't take notice of the message at first and clicked the save button.  However, during the next 30 minutes, God showed me how this process was actually a twenty-first century application of one of Jesus’ most famous parables.

In Matthew 13:1-23, Jesus shares the parable of the sower (the farmer who sowed seed) with his audience.  The story is very simple but its truth is profound.  A farmer went out to sow his seed and the seed fell on four different kinds of soil.  Some fell by the wayside, some fell on soil that was full of rocks, some fell among thorns, and the last of the seed fell on good soil where it produced a crop.

Now if you stop to think about it, you will see that in twenty-first century terms, Jesus has described the process of a download.  We are not downloading the latest technological advance in programming or the hottest game off the Internet.  No!  Instead, we are downloading the very word of God and the option we choose for its integration into our lives speaks volumes about our relationship with God.

The seed that fell by the wayside represents the cancel button.  These are people who have no desire to even hear God’s word so they cancel the process at the very beginning.  The seed falling on rocky soil represents the open option.  They open the Scriptures, read them briefly, but they never apply its truths to their lives and do not grow spiritually.  The third soil has thorns in it.  These are the people who decide to save the word but when they find out it takes patience, time, and space in their lives, they cancel out of the process.  They started the download but they didn't finish it.  The last type of soil was good soil.  This means that the program is opened, downloaded, saved, and used!!  The process is complete.  These are the people who store, save, and apply God’s word to their lives daily. They use the program all the time, returning to it again and again because they can’t operate their lives without it!

The human heart is far more important and far more intricate than any hard drive on any computer.  God has offered us the most up-to-date, the most reliable, and the most useful software tool available.  All He requires of us is to download it into our lives and use it as our operating system.  But the choice to do so is ours.  Today what will you do with God’s word?  Will you open, save, cancel, or incorporate it?  Are you in need of a download today?

False Advertisement?

Carp's Daily Tidbits

"Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits." Psalm 103:2

Date: Monday, February 23, 2015

Today's Title: False Advertisement?   

Today's Scripture: Galatians 2:14 

Like most people these days, I have a collection of musical CD’s.  My tastes in music are varied, ranging from classical to James Taylor to easy listening piano selections by Jim Brickman. I love listening to my collection and find it very entertaining and relaxing to peruse my CD’s and select a series of albums to listen to while I work around the house, study, or write.

Selecting a CD is easy. I simply thumb through the different discs, looking at the pictures in the front of the case as I make my decision.  I know what songs are on each CD and depending on my mood; I either select a CD or go right past it.  This system usually works flawlessly but, as I found out a few days ago, the CD cases can’t always be trusted.

I was in the mood for a particular kind of music, something upbeat and snappy that would spurn me on as I cleaned.  After thumbing through two rows of CD’s, I finally came upon one that exactly fit the moment.  I opened the case, inserted the CD into the player, hit the play button, and got ready for some “cleaning-the-house-like-you-love-it” music!  I had the cleaning supplies all laid out and I was ready for that first note to provide the necessary mood for the task ahead. 

The very first note I heard, however, was not what I expected.  The music was more like a funeral dirge than a “grab-that-vacuum cleaner-and-go-like-mad” kind of song.  I just stood there dumbfounded, not believing what I was hearing.  I stopped the CD player, ejected the disk and compared it to the tile found on the case.  The CD was something completely different than the advertised artist.  I located its case and, sure enough, the CD I was searching for was inside.  I had switched them at some point and didn't realize it until I placed the CD into the player.  The player read the information on the CD and reveled what was written on it even though it contradicted the cover.

There is a story in the New Testament that goes right along with my experience today.  It involves a conversation between Paul and Peter during Peter’s visit to Antioch. Let’s take a look at Paul’s comments about Peter and this occasion where what was advertised on the cover didn't match up with what was on the inside.

Galatians 2:14 gives us a brief overview of this conversation:  “When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, "You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?” At first, it’s difficult to understand what Paul’s meaning is here.  A little background would help, wouldn't it?

The believers in the Galatian churches were under intense pressure to conform to the law and customs of the Jews.  Since the first converts were Jewish, some of them insisted that the Law of Moses had to be followed in addition to faith in Christ.  Paul was very much against this notion and said so throughout his writings. 

Paul’s difficulty with Peter stemmed from the fact that Peter was being inconsistent.  While in Antioch, he ate with the Gentiles and acted as they did. But as soon as a delegation arrived from Jerusalem, Peter changed his tune.  He distanced himself from the Gentiles and reverted to Jewish customs and ritual.  Paul would have none of this so he confronted him.

Peter’s actions did not line up with the truth of the Gospel.  What he portrayed on the outside was not compatible with the truth that lived inside him.  When Paul saw it, he was dumbfounded and immediately wanted to compare Peter’s life with what Paul knew to be the truth.  Peter’s life did not give forth the witness that Paul was expecting. Essentially, Peter was practicing false advertisement; and he was doing so willingly.

This should lead us to examine our own lives today.  When we are placed into many of life’s situations, does the music we produce line up with what we claim to know about Jesus Christ.  Does the cover advertising our claim to be Christians measure up when we are put to the test?  Are we giving those around us cause to enjoy and consider the gospel of Jesus Christ or do they stand dumbfounded, mouths agape because what they see and hear from us doesn't match what we claim to be?  Does the music of our lives match the cover art we show to the world? Are we practicing false advertisement today?

            

Tell Him I Sent You

 Carp's Daily Tidbits

"Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits." Psalm 103:2

Date: Friday, February 13, 2015

Today's Title: Tell Him I Sent You

Today's Scripture: John 14:13-14

When I was a small boy, I was forever breaking things.  It seemed at times that everything I touched ended up in need of repair.  You might say I had the “other” Midas touch.  Instead of everything turning to gold, however, it turned into a disaster.  That’s usually when I took whatever needed repair to my dad, confident he could restore my bike, my toys, anything I had, to its original condition.

My dad didn't disappoint me.  Although he was busy, he would take the time to repair my broken toys.  This usually required some kind of replacement part or a tool that daddy didn't have.  So he would send me uptown to Ferguson’s hardware to get the things necessary to make the repairs.

Mr. Ferguson owned a large hardware store downtown.  It was located at the corner of Main and Mountain streets, right on the town square.  Each time daddy sent me there, he gave me the same set of instructions.  “Go to Ferguson’s and ask for such and such an item.”  I always protested just a little, saying Mr. Ferguson wouldn't listen to a little kid and I never had any money of my own to pay him.  Daddy always said the same thing, “Tell him I sent you and to charge it to me!”  This was a magic formula and when I used it, I got exactly what I needed to get the job done.

Over two thousand years ago, Jesus told his disciples essentially the same thing.  However, he wasn't sending them to Ferguson’s Hardware to buy parts to fix things that were broken.  Instead, Jesus shared a wonderful truth concerning prayer and the right way to ask God for the things needed to live the Christian life.  In John 14:13-14 Jesus tells his disciples, “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”  

At first glance, it seems that Jesus has given us a blank check to ask for whatever we wish and, unfortunately, many Christians believe just that.  They see God as the owner of a huge warehouse ready to dispense whatever we want as long as we ask for it in Jesus’ name.  This is a very dangerous understanding and use of the name of our Lord.  God hears and honors our prayers because of our relationship with Jesus but He does not simply fill out material requests whenever the mood strikes us.  The name of Jesus means so much more, it is above every name, and is the name at which every knee will one day bow.

Please notice in today’s passage a very interesting condition that Jesus places on this statement.  Jesus says he will answer requests made in his name so that “the Son may bring glory to the Father.”  This means that requests made in Jesus’ name must be requests that will glorify God Himself.  Since this is the condition, we have to ask ourselves if asking God for a new car will glorify Him.  It is not the car that is the problem but the reason for which the request is made.  When we come to God in Jesus’ name we must do so understanding just how precious that name is to God.  It is not a credit card used to purchase everything our hearts desire; it represents the very Son of God, the one who died for the sins of the world, the one whose every thought, action, and word glorified the Father.

When I went to see Mr. Ferguson, it was because of a legitimate need.  The store was filled with all types of things people needed to make repairs.  Since I had no money, I simply told Mr. Ferguson my dad had sent me and that he would pay for whatever I needed.  This was enough for Mr. Ferguson to give me what I needed to get the job done.  Mr. Ferguson never once gave me anything I didn’t need when I used my dad’s name.  You see, my dad was paying the bill so I had a great responsibility to obtain only the items necessary for the job at hand.

Do you see the parallel today in the Christian walk?  God has promised to meet all our needs according to His riches in Christ.  He is concerned and has obligated Himself to attend to our needs and to provide for them.  This is a wonderful promise and one that should give us much encouragement today. But we must also realize that using the name of Jesus in prayer carries with it great responsibility on our part.  Coming to God in Jesus’ name with a legitimate need is exactly what we are supposed to do.  Anything more is presumptuous; anything less is not biblical.  We must ask ourselves if our use of Jesus’ name is bringing glory to God today.  

A Good Look Around

 Carp's Daily Tidbits

"Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits." Psalm 103:2

Date: Monday, February 9, 2015

Today's Title: A Good Look Around

Today's Scripture: Psalm 19:1-3

Working at a major university is a very humbling experience.  At any given moment, in various classrooms all over campus, men and women stand in front of students and spew forth knowledge that spans the whole of human learning.  Courses are taught in all subjects ranging from ancient Greek literature to evolutionary psychology.  I have no idea what this last field of study entails.

But then again, that’s the way it is on every campus the world over.  There is so much to learn and so much to consider that it would take several lifetimes just to scratch the surface.   Every day on my way from our classroom building to the parking lot, I walk past the main library.  This building is several stories tall.  Inside is a wonderful collection of books, journals, newspapers, magazines, and computers.  It is indeed possible to access the whole of human knowledge in this one building.  What a daunting and humbling task that would be!

The seminary too has its own library.  It is a large building filled with books, articles, journals, magazines, and computers.  It represents the sum of knowledge written about God’s word.  As with the university’s library, it would take a lifetime to go through every book and article written on the various aspects found in the Bible.  On more than one occasion I have found myself overwhelmed as I perused the stacks, looking for a particular commentary or article about a specific idea found in the Scriptures.

All of this learning and knowledge can be, as I said, overwhelming.  It can also lead us to believe that without an academic degree we aren't truly educated and without a seminary degree we can’t fully understand God’s word.  Nothing could be farther from the truth, especially where this last statement is concerned.

The vast majority of the men and women in the Bible had no seminary training.  Abraham never studied theology, King David never took a class in Greek, Moses didn't study homiletics (preaching) and none of the twelve disciples had the credentials to be considered a serious candidate for the pastorate of a church by any present-day search committee.  However, their knowledge and understanding of God’s word was decidedly profound.  Their classroom was life and their library consisted of the things around them and in their history.  All they needed was a good look around to see God and to understand His work.

David speaks directly to this point in Psalm 19:1-3, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.”  David reminds us today that all creation speaks to us about God.  Every tree, every plant, every star in the sky, and the face of everyone we meet remind us of the great God we serve.  Study is important, spending time delving into God’s word is essential, but God makes Himself known to us everyday is so many different ways.

Wherever you are today in your walk with God, I trust you will take time to stop and take a good look around.  You will see Him at the office, you will see Him at lunch, you will see Him at the grocery store, and you will see Him in the night sky before you go to sleep.  God is the creator of all you see and He is constantly aware of where you are at any given moment.  Have you taken a good look around today?  Perhaps you should!

Life's Street Corners

Carp's Daily Tidbits

"Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits." Psalm 103:2

Date: Friday, January 9, 2015

Today's Title: Life's Street Corners

Today's Scripture: 2 Chronicles 28:22-24

Almost every afternoon, the ladies from the office and I would take a walk around campus.   We did it for our health and also to get away from the hustle and the bustle and the “little” challenges of the office. As the weather turned nicer and warmer, all of us looked forward to that little 30-minute escape and we carved out a special time on our calendars for this one purpose.

Our walks always took us the same way but we never saw the same things from day to day.  We met different people, heard different conversations, and talked about different subjects.  We discussed the progress of new construction occurring around campus and we discussed our respective days.

Our jaunts eventually brought us to the math building which is built in the shape of a huge triangle.  We made a right-hand turn at the corner of the building and continued our walk.  On several occasions, however, that corner was a source of deep reflection.  It was not so much the corner itself; it was what it represented.

If you think about it, we are faced with corners every day and at every one of them a decision must be made.  As I leave the university, I make no fewer than seven turns at seven different corners just to get to the Interstate.  At any one of those corners, should I make the wrong turn, my journey home becomes much more frustrating.  That’s the thing about corners; you have to make a decision.  Do you go right, left, or straight?  The decisions made at a corner will have a definite impact on everything done from that point forward.

Nestled in the book of 2 Chronicles, the Old Testament records the story of King Ahaz, a man who was challenged at the street corner’s of life.  In 2 Chronicles 28:22-24 we read, “In his time of trouble King Ahaz became even more unfaithful to the LORD. He offered sacrifices to the gods of Damascus, who had defeated him; for he thought, "Since the gods of the kings of Aram have helped them, I will sacrifice to them so they will help me." But they were his downfall and the downfall of all Israel. Ahaz gathered together the furnishings from the temple of God and took them away. He shut the doors of the LORD's temple and set up altars at every street corner in Jerusalem.”

There are many lessons to be found in this passage but three stand out above all the rest.  Firstly, Ahaz was an unfaithful man.  Notice the scripture says he grew more unfaithful during his time of trouble.  In times of trouble, in times of great difficulty, our one refuge is in the Lord. Ahaz chose not to seek this refuge and he began a downward spiral that affected not only him but all Israel.

Secondly, we see that Ahaz offered sacrifices to other gods, seeking to solve his problems by any means other than looking to the God of his fathers.  In her history, God had protected, provided for, and given victory to Israel.  Ahaz had the opportunity to continue in that tradition and he chose not to.

Thirdly, Ahaz’s decision to abandon God utterly is complete.  Notice that he took the sacred things of the temple, closed its doors, and set up altars on every street corner in the city.  Not only did he refuse to worship God, he prevented everyone else from doing so.  The decision to set up altars on every street corner tells us that Ahaz’s decision was complete and permeated every area of daily life.

What a tragic statement but one that has bearing on us today.  The Scriptures tell us that our bodies are the living temples of God.  How often do we take the sacred things of the Lord, close the temple doors of our hearts, and seek to worship and serve other things around us?  How often do we, like Ahaz, set up altars to our jobs, to our ambitions, to our possessions, and to our wants?  How many people are we leading astray by our actions? What decisions are we making at life’s street corners today?