DELINQUENCY

I Was Just Thinking About – DELINQUENCY.

Delinquency is defined as: “Failure or neglect of duty or obligation; Wrongful, illegal, or anti-social behavior; any misdeed, offense or misdemeanor.” The word origin is from 1630-1640 where the meaning was fault or to do wrong. In modern times, there is evidence of delinquency in credit obligations; mortgages (resulting in  foreclosures); military desertion (AWOL); juvenile misbehaviors; marital infidelity, etc.

Of far greater concern is Spiritual Delinquency. Many individuals affirm membership vows that are not kept. Some are given leadership positions of oversight and service and the ensuing negligence and avoidance of duty. Average Church attenders and members participate in rituals of the Church and do not implement them in practice. Jesus Christ has directed that all of His followers should represent true light in the world. Why? If we are to lead others out of the darkness of sin, they must see the light of Jesus Christ in one’s life. Do they see that light in you?

There are too many missed opportunities to do that which Jesus Christ has directed His Followers to both be and do. This is where spiritual delinquency becomes apparent. Jesus has given sufficient example and instruction on the need for forgiveness to be the practice of His followers. In His own hour or greatest opposition, He gasped out the words: “Father forgive them…” In Worship Services in our churches there is a place designated for the recitation of The Lord’s Prayer. How many of those who dutifully recite that prayer actually obey and implement the prayer in their lives?

WHAT IF in the area of forgiveness we truly meant the words: “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors” or “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us”? It is provable that this petition is recited but not fully practiced. In the Gospel of Matthew, on two occasions Jesus instructs His followers about what they should/must do in terms of dealing with forgiveness – not sometime in the future but immediately in the present. Matthew 5:23-25 (NLT), “If you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God. When you are on the way to court with your adversary, settle your differences quickly.” What is it that we don’t understand about this basic and clear word from Jesus Christ? Why is it almost never practiced or obeyed?

Additional instruction by Jesus Christ is given in Matthew 18:15-17 (NLT), “If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back.  But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses.  If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector.” How many professing Christians actually do this? How important is reconciliation within the body of believers?

There are Church situations where men establish their requirements before they will forgive or restore another. It is tantamount to a “rule or ruin” approach. It also avoids a very simple directive in Romans 15:7, “Accept one another just as Christ accepted you for the glory of God.” Once again, this is infrequently being done. Regardless of what one may think or demand, there are any number of people who crave forgiveness by those who claim to be Christ’s followers. They long for reconciliation and restoration. Those who refuse to forgive and restore should be ashamed before the Lord and seek His forgiveness of them (First John 1:9) so they will be inclined to forgive others. Some die without ever experiencing this forgiveness and restoration by so-called fellow-believers. Shame on you who are delinquent and who refuse the words for Jesus to forgive others and to be reconciled with them.

Prayerfully – consider these things with me.

CARELESSNESS

I Was Just Thinking About – CARELESSNESS.

During my pre-teen years, a faithful Sunday School teacher had the boys in his class memorize Proverbs 4:23 and frequently recite it at the start of the class: “Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life (are the issues of life).” In the NLT, it states: “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” Along the way, verse 24 has become significant as well: “Put away deception from your mouth; keep your lips from perverse speech.” It is too easy for one to become matter-of-fact regarding guardedness. It is in the unguarded moments when expressions and comments occur that can have negative implications. There is a good reason for the words of Jesus to be remembered and implemented, Matthew 12:36, "But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment.”

For one thing, one’s thoughts and words are known to the Lord, and if they are unamended and not corrected, secondly, they will be judged accordingly. Additionally, one’s personal and frequent exposure to the inspired Word is basic to one’s commitment to being guarded in his behavior and comments. Hebrews 4:12-13 instructs and reminds one: “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.  Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.”

For the one who persists in living an unguarded life, Leviticus 5:4-5 gives the stern instruction and warning: “If a person swears thoughtlessly with his lips to do evil or to do good, in whatever matter a man may speak thoughtlessly with an oath, and it is hidden from him, and then he comes to know it, he will be guilty in one of these. When you become aware of your guilt in any of these ways, you must confess your sin.” What is the context for this stern instruction? What is the cautionary instruction of the Lord for a generation of people who are receiving religious guidelines? Verses 1 through 3 make mention of:

Verse 1: “If you are called to testify about something you have seen or that you know about, it is sinful to refuse to testify, and you will be punished for your sin.”

Verse 2: “Or suppose you unknowingly touch something that is ceremonially unclean, such as the carcass of an unclean animal. When you realize what you have done, you must admit your defilement and your guilt.”

Verse 3: “Or suppose you unknowingly touch something that makes a person unclean. When you realize what you have done, you must admit your guilt.”

The direction of Jesus Christ, (Matthew 5:16), is that His people are to be light in a world of darkness. First John 1:5-7, clearly specifies: “And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you: God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.  But, if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

Are you careful or careless in the way you live your life in the culture and world? Are you guarded or unguarded in what you say or in the things you do? Do you keep short accounts with the Lord or do you act as though your words, deeds and actions are insignificant and unimportant in terms of what constitutes sin?

Most Sunday School and Church attenders are familiar with a chorus that was taught to the children: Be careful little mouth what you say… Be careful little feet where you go… Be careful little hands what you do… Maybe all of us should begin each new day by singing the words of the chorus and reminding ourselves that our carelessness is observed by the Lord and he will hold every one of us accountable for our thoughts words and deeds.

Carefully and Prayerfully – consider these things with me.

QUASI-CHRISTIANS

I Was Just Thinking About – QUASI-CHRISTIANS.

My original thought for this Blog pertained to the number of “Christians” who have allowed themselves to be numbered among the feckless of this world rather than with those who are being light and salt in a world of darkness. The feckless individual is one who is deemed to be ineffective, incompetent, indifferent, lazy, having no sense of responsibility and/or becoming worthless. The feckless word origin is from the 1590s when the Scottish created the word as an abbreviated form of “effect-less.” When used as an adjective, it has in view those who have become feeble, weak, ineffectual and irresponsible.

In an A. W. Tozer Devotional, Bowing To Christ’s Lordship, he wrote: “The quasi-Christians follow a quasi-Christ. They want His help but not his interference. They will flatter Him but never obey Him.” In a concluding Thought, he wrote: “To confess Christ as Lord without obeying Him reveals a shallow understanding of who He is. It is to live as the foolish builder (Luke 6:49) and ultimately experience complete destruction. Our obedience demonstrates our commitment to Christ’s Lordship.” The words of Luke 6:49 have Jesus asking a type of rhetorical question: “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”

One would do well to spend quality time in study and prayer in two passages of God’s Word. First, Matthew 7:21-23 (NLT) addresses one’s knowing and doing the will of God. It’s not based upon what one thinks or says. Jesus stated that it is based upon what one does, namely, the will of God.  “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’  But I will reply: I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.”

The second passage, Matthew 25:31-46 (NKJV) describes the actual judgment scene and the separation of the sheep from the goats. Jesus gives this description of what it means to be a DOER of the word. To the goats (quasi-Christians), Jesus said (Verses 41-43): "Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.”

For the Church in the contemporary culture, Jesus is indicating that the ones whom He favors are not those who say “Lord, Lord” but those who believe and follow through by active commitment that is evidenced by doing His will rather than merely saying I am a member of a particular Church; I have been baptized; I faithfully tithe; and I am kind toward people who pass my way.

Jesus is saying that those things may have merit IF ONLY they were accompanied by one’s concern – and action - toward those with basic needs and physical restrictions. Jesus is also indicating that it is one’s walk that matters most with Him – not one’s talk! James 1:21-23 (NKJV)  encapsulates and clarifies this distinction when he wrote:“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.” 

Did you take note of the basic statement regarding the quasi-Christian? If one is a hearer only, with what does that equate? James states it clearly – “deceiving yourselves.”  If one deceives himself, he has made a choice to believe and practice a lie. The Bible is likened to a mirror. It reveals whether or not one is a quasi-Christian of a genuine follower of Jesus Christ. If you used the Holy Scriptures as your spiritual mirror, would it reveal that you are a spiritual sheep or a goat? Would you be categorized as a doer pf the Word or a mere hearer only?

Prayerfully – consider these things with me.

CHANGED PERSPECTIVE

I Was Just Thinking About – CHANGED PERSPECTIVE.

In recent blogs, I have referenced those who have experienced being downcast or depressed. Shortly after my diagnosis of Stage 4 Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, I had brief moments where I thought about my life and how soon it might come to an end. I began by making a list of different things that I believed would help my precious wife in the transition of her becoming a widow and living alone. In my devotional reading today the following words from God’s Word encouraged my heart:

Psalm 71:9, 18, “Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone. Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come.”

Psalm 63:3-4, “Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.”

First Samuel 2:30, “The Lord declares: Those who honor me I will honor…”

Amid my own transition of dealing with the unexpected (and unwanted) cancer, a dear man of God whom I did not know reached out to me with words of encouragement and hope. Just this week, he posted his testimony of his dealing with the same diagnosis I had been given. Yesterday he wrote: “On this day 5 years ago I was sitting in an infusion room hooked to an IV full of drugs I cannot pronounce and of course never could spell. My body did not welcome the first Chemo treatment into it. I became cold, shaken, nauseated, and itching. Emotionally, a tidal wave of fear roll me over pushing me to the bottom. A nurse asked me did I need anything, my cry was: Please take my Bible and read Psalm 91 to me. As this sweet lady read from Psalm 91 I felt the Master’s Hand reach for me through the stormy waters of fear and pull me up into His Arms of Grace. There was no lecture from Him telling me what a failure I was and I react poorly. He just loved me a fearful child and listened my cry - His hurting boy. So today is a Day of Praise to my Lord, for so many reasons. Praise to my Healer for His healing touch. Praise to my Shepherd who was with me guiding me through the Shadow of Death called Cancer. Praise to The Master Potter the one who did not cause it, but used it to help me be a more usable vessel to Glorify Him and to show His Love to others along the way in the journey.”

Another dear servant of God and new friend posted a powerful and precious testimony earlier today – Numbering My Days – where he shares God’s faithfulness to him in very special ways. He wrote: “Today I celebrate 80 years which, by God's infinite grace I've lived on earth. I praise Him for the home in which I was reared under solid godly influences that were enhanced by my participation, from a tender age, in influential Christian congregations. I thank a multitude of individuals who not only loved me greatly, but also did so much to enrich my life throughout these many years…I'm honored to have taught in colleges, graduate schools, and in post-graduate programs until recent years, as well as for the labors I was engaged in through pastoral roles in influential congregations packed with people I still love, and am most grateful for. But of all the privileges and blessings, the greatest of all is my eternal salvation in and through Jesus Christ unto Whom, at the age of nine, I gave myself wholeheartedly, thus embracing His gift of life everlasting. For several years I've been singing the popular song that follows, though only the final stanza reflects my current concerns as death approaches:

In the evening of my life I shall look to the sunset,

At a moment of my life when the night is due.

And the question I shall ask only I can answer:

Was I brave, and strong, and true?

Did I fill the world with love my whole life through?

During my brief moments of feeling forsaken, unneeded and no longer useful or necessary, the Lord graciously brought into my life three men who are separated from each other by many miles – (Florida,  Pennsylvania and Alabama) – who have been an encouragement and inspiration. I praise the Lord for His ministering servants – angels (Hebrews 13:2).

Prayerfully – consider these things with me.