“But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of coveting. For apart from the law, sin was dead.” Romans 7:8

“No Ice Cream for YOU, mister!” Those weren’t the exact words on my medical order. But that’s what my brain heard. Preparing for a blood test, I was very clearly told… ‘FASTING is REQUIRED! No food or water 12 hours before they draw blood.’ The Doctor wants to check for any signs of bad things happening to me… like too much cholesterol or sugar. But something bad DID happen!

The desire wasn’t even shifty or sneaky. In fact, it didn’t even wait for the “12 hour before” mark. I started getting this hankering for some salted caramel, fudge and pecan covered ice cream about 18 hours before! And it was RELENTLESS! The craziest part is, I rarely ever eat the stuff anymore. But last night, I just happened to see some in the back of the freezer! Seeing it, made for WAR!

I can’t think of many more powerful words than “DON’T!” Sharp parents and teachers know to avoid that negative word as much as possible. “Don’t look,” or “Don’t touch” are almost guaranteed to produce the desire TO ‘look’ or ‘touch.’ It’s just a natural law that comes along with inherited sinful blood. God wrote the ‘don’t’ commands, and rebellious man ‘DID!’ It’s a bad law!

It was a victorious night. I was able to fight off the urge and not ‘give in’ to the temptation to scarf down a bowl of that rich, gooey evil. But I don’t feel victorious. Because I wanted it so badly just proves Jesus saying that ‘if I lusted after it in my heart, I’m just as guilty as if I had.’ And while there may be no sign of foul play in my test results, I feel a little guilty, as if I’d given in and eaten it all.

Thank God for Jesus and Grace! Because, while the ‘DO NOT’ rules actually make me WANT to… Jesus paid for ALL of my guilt. Even when it simply lies in the form of a rebellious thought. That Jesus can overcome even my craziest desires makes me want to serve Him even more. Are all of YOUR thoughts and deeds removed by the blood of Jesus? Are you rejoicing in His Grace?

I think… after my blood test, I’m going to get some ice cream!!!  

“And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:18

“It’s Friday… and Noon!” Katie said as she walked through the door from work. Holding the Butterfly container, I clearly saw 2 butterflies hanging from the top. A chrysalis hung from a stick inside, awaiting it’s turn to transform. We used to have butterflies and chrysalises around here a lot. But it’s been a long time. Her class named them for when they were born. Friday and Noon!

It all started when a parent brought the container into the school and dropped it off, thinking that it would be a good thing for kids to see. Unfortunately, the parent didn’t know that plucking them from the limbs they hung from, would prevent them from their new life. Katie, experienced at the subject of butterflies, glue-gunned the chrysalises to a stick and hung them inside the container.

I don’t really need to say more. The process of a caterpillar becoming a butterfly is incredible. Sadly, as I looked at some websites, most laid the multi-complex process as a product of evolution. Katie and I just stared at them all in wonder. I mean, how God came up with such an amazing and complex idea just hints at what the New Earth will be like when we are there with Him.

Friday and Noon hung out for the weekend, but after we got home from church today, I took one last look at the chrysalis before going back to the bedroom to change. 10 minutes later, Katie hollered out.. “HE’s HERE… I’m calling him Sunday!” I couldn’t tell if Friday and Noon were cheering at the transformation. But we were. I’m not sure how Katie knew it was a boy!

‘While I cannot explain transformation, I can testify to its reality. God came to me, I received Him, and my life has been in a transformation ever since. I KNOW Him.. PERSONALLY.. And I KNOW what He is doing as I contemplate His work in me. He is making me to look like His Son… with ever increasing Glory. What a joy it is to be a miracle of God. Are YOU being changed too?  

“When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?” Psalm 11:3

Overall, it was a very, very bad day. I praise God those don’t come very often. But, like it or not, there it was. Sitting at the car dealer, I was awaiting repair on a recall notice for my truck. In my dark mood, I had taken a book off my shelf that had been there for decades… “The Joyful Christian.” by C.S. Lewis. In it was written, “to the most joyful Christian I know! THANK YOU. Katie.”

The date of her writing was 1979, a year and half into our marriage. I remembered that in that year, there were some big issues, too. But overall, ‘Joy’ was winning. Yesterday, and 45 years later, it didn’t feel that way. So I did what I learned to do long ago… I grabbed a book and crawled into a hole. I hadn’t checked out long when I got a text from my daughter containing MORE bad news!

A friend her age, with 2 small children her kid’s age, was being rushed to the hospital. Cancer has moved though her quickly with shocking speed. I’d met Fernanda once near Christmas. She was bubbly and full of life… her husband and kids were a joy. Now, with what’s been going on in the world, news of her makes me want to dig deeper to flee from the pain. A condition even Jesus experienced.

Psalm 10:1, 13:1, and 22:1 are questions that implicate God as the originator of bad news and events. Even Jesus said, “My God, my God WHY have you forsaken me?” So how am ‘I’ supposed to understand and help my daughter with an answer? Then I came upon today’s verse. It doesn’t have a solid ‘do this’ answer, but presents me with a better question God can answer. “What can ‘I’ do now, God?”

When bad news, dark days, hard times and impossible odds ring my doorbell, I have discovered that the best thing to do is to run to God and simply WAIT. Trust. Lean in. And ask. I know God didn’t CAUSE the bad issues that face us, most of those come from living in a sinful world. But God IS ACTIVE and ‘working things out.’ (Romans 8:28). So today.. I pray… and listen. Will you join me?

Please pray for Fernanda, her family and her friends. It is something we ALL CAN DO. Thank you. 

“God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished.” Romans 3:25

Going to put another dish in the dishwasher, I noticed something out of place. I don’t know what made me see it, but after getting the idea that something was wrong, I investigated further… only to discover I had been loading dirty dishes into a dishwasher full of clean dishes! The previous load was clean, but not put away. After a day or 2, the cycle of ‘clean and put away’ had been broken.

Trying to figure a way around the problem really had no other solution. Not knowing what dishes were clean or dirty, the only real choice was to run the dishwasher… again. Because there are only 2 of us, we can go a long time without having to run the dishwasher. That means situations like this can sometimes happen. But God is perfect! And because He’s perfect, He doesn’t get a redo.

This verse is rather tricky because it uses the Old Testament word “atonement.” Atonement means ‘to cover.’ Once, when the neighbors were stopping over, I atoned for the dirty floor by brushing it under the rug. It was covered… but not removed! When it came to sin, God had NO choice in the matter of what to do with it. It HAD to be PAID FOR IN FULL. And only Jesus could pay God’s anger.

The real word is ‘propitiate’ and it means to appease, conciliate, pacify or placate. God’s anger and judgment against sin was a matter that HAD to be taken care of. NO dirty dishes allowed! So, God chose the only choice He had. To sacrifice His own Son. Now… “I” have a choice. If I want to be clean before God, I only have 1 path for propitiation. And that is to choose Jesus! And I have. Have you?

“I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.” Revelation 3:18

‘We’re going fishin’, I told Katie. Grandson Cash was with us for the weekend, and after finding out what HE wanted to do, MY goal IMMEDIATELY became ‘Catch Fish!’ But to do that, a lot of other things had to happen. Not having fished in a long time, I had to search and find all my fishing gear. That done, we then had to stop off at the bait store to buy gear and bait.

Riding in the truck, Cash began asking me questions about fishing. “Where’s a good place to go? Is this a good time to go. What kind of bait do certain fish like?” His questions had answers, but none that I had. Not having really fished in years, my experience and expertise were no longer valid. So I answered as best I could. “I don’t really know Cash. Let’s see.”

When we got to the water, old memories began coming to mind. Trying to tie hooks on lines, then having them snag and tangle, reminded me WHY I hadn’t fished in a long time. When fish started biting, they weren’t the big dreamy kind on the end of the hook. But mostly unwanted catfish! We saw many BIG Snook in the water. But they didn’t really want our crummy bait!

Starting to get discouraged, I looked at Cash and asked, “Are we having fun yet?” His smile was all I needed to remind me of my original goal… which was to go  fishing and catch fish with my grandson. My old gear, plus $17 at the bait store, was all it took to see joy on my grandson’s face! Not a bad trade!  We caught over 25 fish! SUCCESS?  Kinda.

Reflecting back to today’s verse, I can see that Jesus wants to take me fishin’! He wants me to come to Him and do what is necessary to acquire from Him, not just ANY kind of life, but a vastly rich and rewarding one. He wants me to exchange ALL MY meager hopes, for a REAL life in HIM! Cuz Jesus doesn’t just want me fishin!’ He wants me CATCHIN’!    Am I?  Are you?

This article NAILS it!  What is IT?  Read on and you will know.

Article by Greg Morse, Staff writer, desiringGod.org

What is the difference between those welcomed into heaven and those thrown into hell? Can we imagine a more relevant or urgent question? While depicting the final judgment in parable form, Jesus gives us a surprising answer: their thoughts.

“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us,” wrote A.W. Tozer (Knowledge of the Holy, 1). Jesus shows this true for the evil servant in the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14–30). In the parable, Jesus gives us a glimpse into one difference between those welcomed into heaven and those thrown into judgment: their beliefs about God’s goodness. We get beneath actions into the psychology of the lost man, a window showing what squirmed beneath his disobedient life.

As we consider him, be asking yourself questions such as: What comes to mind when I think about God? Who do I assume he is? What does he love? What does he hate? What kind of Person governs the world? Is he good? Is he happy, blessed, disposed to give freely, or not? Beliefs about his goodness can lead to a useful life with heaven to follow or a worthless life with hell close behind.

At Journey’s End

The master finally returns from his long journey to meet with his three servants “and [settle] accounts with them” (Matthew 25:19). Before he left, he had entrusted them with his property, each according to his ability. He gave the ablest man five talents; the next, two talents; and to the last, he gave one. Jesus focuses the parable on their report of their stewardship in his absence. Had they been watchful for his return and about their master’s business (verse 13)?

The first two report, rejoicing with their lord that, by their trading, they had each doubled what their master left them. Eyes then turn to the third servant. “He also who had received the one talent came forward” (verse 24).

Had he set off to the happy work like the first two servants? No. He buried the treasure in the backyard. But why? For the same reason as many today: he did not know the goodness of his master.

The God He Thought He Knew

Note the first words out of the servant’s mouth: “Master, I knew you to be a hard man.” What a different assessment from the first two, and what a strange conclusion given the facts we know. Do many masters entrust such valuable property to their servants’ keeping? Pharaoh withholds straw to make bricks, but this master hands over precious jewels from the vault. A talent is not a single coin; it is a treasure chest of precious wealth, twenty years of wages. The master hands him up to one million dollars in today’s wages — and simply leaves. Who is the servant to steward such wealth?

To account for this unbelievable opportunity, the servant twists the interpretation to excuse his thanklessness. “Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed” (Matthew 25:24). He thought he knew an exacting master, a groping master, a severe man about the bottom line.

His lord — seemingly generous beyond any master earth has ever seen — was really grasping, not giving; extracting, not investing; extorting, not enriching. We even hear an accusation of laziness against the master — he was one who didn’t get his own hands dirty. Don’t we sometimes project our own sins upon God, as this “slothful” servant did (verse 26)?

So, he saw his master as a giant fly, rubbing his greedy hands in anticipation of profit. Faceless were the slaves who built his house. Should this servant stoop to be ridden as a donkey? Was he an ox to tread grain? This master’s yoke was not easy, nor his burden light.

Finally, his wickedness curls up in the fetal position. “I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground” (verse 25). Thus, he knew a God to be feared, but not obeyed. This man knew his master’s will and thought to lazily hide from the failure of trying in the failure of disobedience. He committed his talent to nature’s vault. Better for his master to lose benefit than go bankrupt. “Here, you have what is yours” (verse 25).

The God He Did Not Know

That was the God he thought he knew: a hard and severe master whose generosity was pretense for profit, a master who fed his cattle well. He did not know the master that animated the service of the other two servants.

1. He did not know the master eager to commend.

The passage stresses that the two faithful servants left “at once” to do their master’s work (verses 16–17). I imagine them going forward with excitement. Really, me? I get to serve my Lord in this way? And that same excitement brought them to show their master the fruit of faith-filled trading, as children with a Father: “Here are your five talents, master, and five more!”

And how does the master respond? With that fatherly twinkle of satisfaction in his eyes, he will not let them do one thing more without warming them with his pleasure: “Well done, my good and faithful servants!” (verses 21, 23).

2. He did not know the God who gives for keeps.

In the end, how false and foolish this servant’s meditations of the miserly God. Wonder with me: the master didn’t give the talents for his own profit, but for theirs. He gave for keeps. This Lord designed for loyal stewards to keep their talents and the increase.

The worthless servant learned this lesson the hard way: “Take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents” (Matthew 25:28). He doesn’t say, “Give to the servant who made me five talents.” The talents now belong to the servant, as confirmed in the next line: “For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance” (verse 29). From before the journey, this master gave intending to make them rich. His joy — “Well done, good and faithful servant!” — was not in what he gained, but in what they gained. Is this your hard and stingy God?

3. He did not know the master who gives in order to give more.

“You have been faithful over a little,” he tells the good servants. “I will set you over much” (Matthew 25:21, 23). Do not let that humble word little pass by unnoticed. The five-talent servant gained another lifetime of value by his trading. Jesus calls this stewardship little compared to the much on its way.

Have you placed your life and all that you own upon the altar before God? Have you left family or fortune for the gospel? Have you despised your life in this world, looking to that country to come? Little your trading, great your promotion. Remain constant, as Joseph governing in prison: soon, you shall stand second-in-command in the new heavens and new earth; he will set you over much. Our greatest labor for Christ in this world is but the small beginnings to our real labor for Christ in the next.

4. He did not know the God of spacious joy.

What did the wicked servant think as he overheard the master’s final remark to the truehearted? “Enter into the joy of your Master” (verses 21, 23). The evil servant did not know that this Master’s joy was a country of happiness. He thought him a hard man, an unhappy man, but he is the happiest of all men. “Leave your joys behind and enter mine!” Or, “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full” (John 15:11). Here is a God to labor under. Here is a God to trust. Here is a God who can happify his servants forever.

He Hides a Smiling Face

If he only believed in the blessedness of this master’s heart, that the master really meant to reward and welcome him into his own joy upon his return, how things might have changed. The problem was not his master; the problem was his heart. The problem was not his abilities; the problem was his sloth. The master’s assessment proved him an evil, lazy, unreasonable servant (Matthew 25:26–27). In the end, he is cast into outer darkness. Sinners who spin lies get caught in webs.

So, my reader, what do you think of God? Does he give us serpents when we ask for bread? Is he watching with an eagle’s eye to strike you when you stumble? Is he stingy, heartless, selfish? Does he tax at high rates and offer mere rations to strengthen for tomorrow’s slavery? How does your life answer?

If we think high of him, he is higher. If we think well of him, he is better. If we think base of him, he shall not always correct us. Unjust beliefs that lead to unjust lives provoke his justice. “With the merciful you show yourself merciful; with the blameless man you show yourself blameless; with the purified you show yourself pure; and with the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous” (Psalm 18:25–26).

Some of you do not serve him because you do not know him. Others have let hard and bitter circumstances deceive you into thinking he is hard and embittering. Business is not going as planned. You just received news that you lost the baby, again. Life should have been so different by now.

And the perfectly aimed question comes: Is this your good Master? O saints, Satan is asking God about some of you just now — “Does this ‘faithful servant’ really keep his integrity? Does he fear God for no reason? Touch his health, touch her fertility, touch his money, and they will curse you to your face.”

O saints, the Master is so good — above our deserts or imaginings — and he proved it for all time. How? By handing us his property, taking the long, faraway journey to Golgotha, and dying on the cross to pay our debts that we might keep his blessings. The Master not only gives his property to us — he offers himself for us. On the cross, Jesus lifted God’s goodness high above any of our earthly circumstances. “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

So,

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust him for his grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face. (William Cowper, “God Moves in a Mysterious Way”)

Greg Morse is a staff writer for desiringGod.org and graduate of Bethlehem College & Seminary. He and his wife, Abigail, live in St. Paul with their son and two daughters.

“One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” Acts 18:9-10

I held 3 items in a box on the way to the checkout line. The last man had a cart FULL. Seeing my few items he said, “go ahead of me!” Blessed by his kindness, I blurted out, “Oh, God Bless you!” His response was, “Oh… I wouldn’t go THAT far!” And I IMMEDIATELY detected a divine appointment! “Oh… I go that far all the time!” I said. And then started sharing Jesus!

I’ve been doing it that way for decades. That doesn’t mean it always came naturally and without fear. In fact, I’d been pressed by Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, for a LONG time before I actually started DOING it. When I did, it took time and perceived failures before I learned to rely on HIM instead of my own speaking skills. I’m His witness cuz He SAID to be!

The power of words is powerful. But I’ve learned that the power of His NAME is even more-so! Anyone can mention ‘Buddha’ or ‘spirituality’ and never offend a soul. But just say the name ‘Jesus,’ and watch people cringe. But that’s true because Jesus IS Power! I have learned that opening up my mouth for Jesus is the greatest honor and adventure on the planet.

Acts 18 gives today’s verse as kind of a comfort to Paul. I don’t know if Paul was having second thoughts or was worried, but for whatever reason, Jesus personally came to him with the nudge to flap his gums! Then Jesus gave him the task, ability and the power to do so. I find it interesting Jesus said the last line. Because He didn’t really HAVE them until Paul spoke!

If you are a saved Believer in Jesus Christ, this Bible verse is meant for you too! We didn’t come to salvation until someone SPOKE the Good News to us. And your family, friends or associates won’t either. Leaving the job of witnessing to someone you care about, to someone else, is just cruel and dangerous. Paying attention and saying ‘Jesus’ will get you in.

I can attest to the truth of this verse, at least so far, in that I have never, EVER been threatened, hit or abused by ANYONE I’ve shared the Gospel with. True, they may have never wanted to have anything to do with me after that! But hey! If they don’t want my Jesus, why would I want to hang with them? So… are YOU boldly learning and proclaiming the Gospel?

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” Colossians 3:23

Most every week I get a local grocery store flier in the mail. I like to look and see if there are any savings on products I use regularly. After seeing several items on sale, I headed to the store to purchase them… 1 item being some cooked ham. Growing up, Isaly’s in Pittsburgh was known for ‘Klondikes’ and ‘chipped ham.’ At $1.99/lb… I suddenly wanted some!

At the Deli counter there was 1 man already being waited on. With at least 5 other people walking around behind the counter, I waited for 10 minutes as the man in front of me kept ordering items. I was wearing a Jesus shirt and hat, so decided I’d better put on my outer Godly-patience outfit. When the man was done, he walked away. And so did the deli gal!

It took some time but I finally called the gal and asked where the $1.99 ham was. The answer was, “we don’t carry that in this store!” Later, checking out with other items I told the cashier how often I come for sales, only to find the items not available. She told me,” they are supposed to offer you another brand at the same price!” She sent me back with a name!

The deli gal wasn’t happy to see me, & I figured it was the shirt. I gave her the name of the manger and asked her to please give me 1 pound of the $4.99 ham for $1.99. “Company policy, I was told!” She grunted. When I said, please ‘chip it,’ she said, “you’re asking a LOT!” When done, I gave her a $2 tip saying, “it’s for your helpful arm AND a righteous principle!”

OK. I know I didn’t make a fan for Jesus. But standing there the entire time, and being treated as I had been, my hat and shirt were the only explanation. Before I’d said a word, I was judged. But I get it all the time and have learned to deal with it by giving a little extra Jesus kindness. The deli gal has a job. But then, so do I. But MY boss’s policy is today’s verse.

Because I am His, I KNOW when unrighteousness comes my way. But I ALSO know when ‘I’ slip and become the AUTHOR of unrighteousness. My Master expects me to work harder, more diligently and with HIS HOLY Spirit always present. Because EVERYTHING I DO MATTERS. Are YOU obeying the unctions of the Holy Spirit through YOUR hands, heart and life?  

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?” Luke 6:21

As we ended our walk around the block, Katie stopped under the house and intensely gazed upward at the rotted fascia. It must have been the intensity of her stare that got my attention, because I followed her eyes up to the corner of the house, finally seeing what she was looking at! There, sticking out like a sore thumb, was the fascia I started to fix LONG ago.

OK. I don’t know how long it’s been, but it has been quite a while. I had started the repair, when I saw that it was going to take more effort, time and material than I had anticipated. Then something else caught my attention. My lovely wife never spoke about it, and I simply removed the offensive sight so far from my memory that it never came back to my mind!

The older I get, the more I suffer from ‘selective seeing!’ This morning I saw, and walked passed, a dying palmetto bug on the floor 6 times before I finally remembered I was going to pick it up the first time! Yesterday, after I set up the ladder to fix the fascia, I remembered that I’d left my saw at my son’s place. Sadly, I felt relieved that I COULDN’T fix it! WEIRD!

I’m beginning to see that one of the greatest enemies of redemption and sanctification is simply ‘wanna!’ I have worked 10 times harder doing things for other family members and Jesus than what it would take to fix that fascia. Even now, embarrassed that I am even sharing it, is not enough for me to care. I simply do not WANNA fix it! OK… I realize now… I’m a pig!

The mystery of my NOT being able to see and make adjustments to OBVIOUS repairs to my house, gets magnified when I look at my own heart. Even Jesus is baffled because He ended His story with the ‘WHY’ question (see today’s verse)! Fishing for an answer gets me no bites because honestly (dare I say it?) I simply don’t care! I now recognize I have a serious problem!

It’s just me and Jesus alone in the room now. And I can see him tapping his fingers on his crossed arms. Which forces me to see the nail scars on the back of his hands. UGH!!! I HATE it when He does that! (just being honest). But HE asked the question… and He expects an answer! Knowing Him as I do, He’ll wait as long as it takes for an answer. So I’m thinking!

And what about YOU? Are YOU facing a confused Savior awaiting YOUR response to WHY YOU’RE not DOING what is OBVIOUS to everyone else? Uh-huh! Tick-Tock baby!  Have a nice day!