Leading up to this time of year, world-wide, children and adults alike express a belief in Santa Claus. ‘If you’re good enough, then he’ll leave something for you under the tree’, is what we’re told from a young age. We
have put so much trust and devotion into ‘being good’, so that we won’t be disappointed come Christmas morning. However, as we grow older, we lose that desire to trust and believe in Jolly ‘ole St. Nick. In the 2004 movie, The Polar Express, a boy is whisked away on a magical train all the way up to the North Pole. All throughout the movie, he is skeptical of the fact that Santa even exists and at the end {SPOILER ALERT} he meets the Santa and is even given a silver bell that comes off of the Santa’s sleigh. Before meeting Santa, the boy repeats these words several times out loud, “I believe…I believe…I BELIEVE!”. After so much skepticism, this boy comes away with so much faith, or belief, in someone he had only heard stories about. There’s a song we sang this morning in worship called Bethlehem, Galilee, Gethsemane, and the lyrics go as such.
“Bethlehem, He was born there, I believe, I believe.
Galilee, Jesus walked there, I believe, I believe.
Gethsemane, my Savior prayed there, on Calvary, He died alone
But the tomb, He left there, I believe, I believe…”
As much as we believe in the physical things in this life, no matter what they are, they will not take us or give us as much fulfillment as our belief in Christ. Belief in Christ, means that we believe in truth (which He is…2nd Thessalonians 2:13).
Belief in Christ is not something you can proclaim only when it suits you, when it’s most convenient or when everyone else is doing it. Belief has to be genuine, from the heart and intentional. He was born, walked His earth and died for us to allow everyone of us access to the greatest gift we could ever have. I believe that He gave up everything for me, and I try everyday to live and show that to those around me.
-Do we believe the stories and historical events that we grew up hearing about from our parents and grandparents as they read from God’s word?
-Do we believe in the God that we know sent His Son to die for our sins, so that we would be able to be with Him one day?
-Do we proclaim our belief in God as much as we encourage our children to believe in a magical being that rewards kids for being good one time a year?
Who has more of your belief and trust? Christ or the things of this world?
Each Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings I look forward to a text from my daughter. She is a sophomore at Freed-Hardeman University in Henderson, Tennessee and her first class of the morning is at 7:30. Her ‘wake up’ call to me is a picture of the sunrise silhouetting the newly erected Bell Tower on campus. For me, those pictures are inspirational. And perhaps some architect was ‘inspired’ with this yet to be seen image. But regardless, we can find benefit in the final product.
Many in the world today find the words of God to be inspiring to them. They read (or hear) God’s word and it gives them a ‘good feeling.’ Perhaps they are even moved to be a better person, but is that the extent of God’s word? Is the inspiration good enough. Would it even be inspiring if it weren’t inspired? When we consider the inspiration of scripture we come face to face with a life altering decision. Sunday let’s consider the Word and ask the question…inspired or inspiring?
“…I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.” I Corinthians 14:15
Sunday morning, November 16, 2014
The following songs are found in the hymnal, Songs of Faith & Praise.
“Holy, Holy, Holy” – 47
“Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God almighty…early in the morning our songs shall rise to Thee.” The ladies start us off as they sing this old hymn, but with each verse we’ll add a different part. For those who might have missed it, this hymn comes from the inspired word found in Isaiah chapter 6 and verse 3 as well as Revelation chapter 4, verse 8 as the prophet and the apostle write, “And one (of the Seraphim, vs. 2) called out to another and said, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of host…” (Isaiah) and “And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings and full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God, the Almighty…” (Revelation).
“The Lord is in His Holy Temple” – 108
As a segue from our song of praise, we’ll remember the words of Habakkuk in the 2nd chapter and 20th verse, “But the Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth be silent before Him.” (Read the whole chapter to get a better feel of this statement.) But where is His temple? Is it found in the heavenly realm? Read the words of Paul as he wrote to the church in Corinth, “Do you not know that you are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” And so now we sing, “The Lord is in His holy temple…” Humble yourself, be quiet and realize, the Lord is in YOU!
“The Lord’s Supper” – no book
Simply entitled, “The Lord’s Supper,” this spiritual song brings to mind the reason we gather together each first day of the week. “When we meet in sweet communion where the feast divine is spread. Hearts are brought in closer union while partaking of the bread. Precious feast, all else surpassing, wondrous love for you and me. While we feast Christ gently whispers, ‘Do this in My memory.” Luke chapter 22, verse 19 provides us with the basis; “And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
“Take My Life and Let it Be” – 669
Several arrangements of this poem can be found in a number of hymnals, yet lest we miss the message for the tune, notice the words. “Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee; Take my hands and let them move at the impulse of Thy love. Take my will, and make it Thine, it shall be no longer mine; take my heart, it is Thine own, it shall be Thy royal throne.” Within these two short verses we proclaim our life, our hands, our will and our heart belong to God. And in case we miss something, the chorus continues, “Lord I give my LIFE to Thee…”
“Rescue the Perishing” – 639
A familiar song, but Sunday we’ll sing the often, over looked 3rd verse. Notice the condition of the lost; “Down in the human heart, crushed by the tempter, feelings lie buried that grace can restore; touched by a loving hand, wakened by kindness, chords that were broken will vibrate once more…” Let’s rescue the perishing and care for the dying. Because we know that Jesus is merciful and He will save!
“Faithful Love” – no book
Our song before the lesson speaks of the love God has for His children. A faithful love that is manifested in His Son. “Faithful love from above came to earth to show the Father’s love. And I’ll never be the same, for I’ve seen faithful love face to face and Jesus is His name.” No man alive today can say he has seen Jesus. So how could I say I’ve seen Jesus face to face? However, as a child of God, I have seen (poetically) His faithfulness in that, “…God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were (I was) yet sinners, Christ died for us (me).” Romans 5:8 Have I seen Jesus face to face? Not yet! Have I ‘come to know’ (seen) His faithful love? Every Christian would say, Praise be to God…Yes, when I was buried with Him in baptism!
“Thou Art the Way” – 280
Inspiration in life is knowing the inspired Word. The inspired word is the Way, the Truth and the Life. We must never forget that God’s word is more than just inspirational…it’s inspired.
“Where Could I Go?” – no book
Our closing song is a question even the disciples once asked. John records the situation in the 6th chapter as Jesus asks, “You do not want to go away also, do you?”Simon Peter replies, “…to whom shall we go?” And so we sing, “Where could I go but to the Lord?” Inspired words of God directing us in this life just as Peter said, “You have the words of eternal life.” (John 6:67, 68)
Decisions on the ‘road of life’ are basically easy. Either I keep going straight ahead, I stop altogether, or I turn around and go back where I came from. Stopping on the road of life isn’t desirable, and as much as we’d like, ‘going back’ isn’t an option. So we forge ahead and keep on going. But when the road I’m traveling comes to a fork, I have to make a decision. Either turn left or right. How do I know which way to turn? The answer is so ridiculously simple; just ask yourself, ‘where do I want to go?’ If you have a map, you know which fork to take. But without it you’re left up to guessing. And to be honest, an uninformed decision could be deadly.
Of course our ‘forks in the road’ may be as simple as whether we chose to discipline our children or ‘be their friend.’ Even the decision of whether or not to ‘go to church’ is a fork in our road. Realizing our decisions may impact our destiny should make us consider the ‘map.’ Remember the words Joshua said to the people of Israel; “…choose for yourselves today whom you will serve…but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15) They had a decision to make as the road they were traveling led them into the promise land. Their fork was either ‘serve God,’ or serve ‘other’ gods. And like them, we too must consider, “the Fork in the Road.”
“…I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.” I Corinthians 14:15
Sunday morning, September 7, 2014
The following songs are found in the hymnal, Songs of Faith & Praise.
“Step by Step” – 15
“O God, You are my God, and I will ever praise You…” Each step we take on our road must be taken with Him. And we take each step by seeking Him every morning (daily), and learning how to walk in His ways (following the scripture). Once we’ve patterned our lives after Him and walk in His steps, then we’ll know which fork we should take.
“The Love of God” – 122
With the love of God inside our heart, we can impart kindness and warmth to those we meet on the road of life. We can…but will we? The love of God brightens our way and gives us a clearer understanding of what to do when we come to the forks in the road. Take comfort in singing the third verse, “…He has shone us the road…”
“Savior, Thy Dying Love” – 667
“Savior, Thy dying love Thou gavest (gave to) me…” Christ died for us and we sing about His love in this old hymn, but do we just take His love and store it away? Are we willing to give the love He shows us to others? Do you have something, anything you can give to Him? Can you bring to Christ ‘some wanderer’ who is lost in sin. Is there some song you could sing in praise to God? Do you have some offering you could give…something, anything to give to your Savior?
“Oft We Come Together” – no book
A song we no longer have in the Faith and Praise hymnal, but one that reminds us to come together and remember the Lord’s Supper. Often we come together to sing and pray. To bring an offering and to keep in memory all the things Jesus said. To worship our God as we eat the bread and take the cup of blessing. Then in the chorus we sing, “Help us Lord, to see Thy love…”
“Once to Every Man and Nation” – 696
Good or Evil…that’s the choice and to be brutally honest that is the ultimate fork in the road. Which direction will we take in life. We can ease our minds and say we’re taking the ‘right road,’ but if it’s not God’s way…it’s the wrong way. Notice the wording in this old, spiritual song, “By the light of burning martyrs, Christ, Thy bleeding feet we track, toiling up new Calvaries (difficult situations) ever with the cross that turns not back; new occasions teach new duties, ancient values test our youth; they must upward, still and onward, who would keep abreast of (stay with) truth.”
“He Leadeth Me” – 410
Understanding that God leads me in this life, I’m able to know what to do and how to turn when I face the fork in the road. The question we have to ask…is God leading me? “By His own hand, He leadeth me. His faithful follower I would be…”
“What Will Your Answer Be?” – no book
What road will you take? What is your decision? We sing as our invitation song, “Some day you’ll stand at the bar on high, some day your record you’ll see. Someday you’ll answer the question of life…” What road did you take?
“Who Will Follow Jesus?” – no book
We close our song service together with this wonderful song of confirmation. The question we sing (ask) demands an answer; “Who will follow Jesus, standing for the right, holding up His banner in the thickest fight? Listening for His orders, ready to obey, who will follow Jesus, serving Him today?” We have a choice to make, either we will or we won’t follow Him. Let’s do more than just sing the chorus together, let’s live saying…“I am on the Lord’s side; Master, here am I!” Walking down the road of life we will eventually come to a fork. With God as our Guide and the Bible as our map, we’ll know which road to take.
