Family Character

"Family Character"

Scripture Reading:
Joshua 24:15  But if it doesn't please you to worship the LORD, choose for yourselves today the one you will worship: the gods your fathers worshiped beyond the Euphrates River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living.  As for me and my family, we will worship the LORD."

Devotional Reading:

On Monday nights, we have been going through our courageous men, Bible study.  While most of this study is found within the writings of Joshua, there is one verse that can be a great equalizer or perhaps a treasure from the Lord.   If God has blessed you with a close knit, supportive clan, offer a word of thanks to your Creator, because He has given you one of His most precious earthly possessions.  Now, before you begin thinking too much into this, you need to remember if you are married, you have cleaved and sheaved (your family is your husband and kids).  Your obligations, in response to God's gift, is to treat your family in ways that are consistent with His commands.  You live a fast-paced, demanding world, a place where life can be difficult and pressures can be intense.   As those pressures build, you may tend to focus so intently upon your obligations that you lose sight, albeit temporarily, of your spiritual and emotional needs (that's one reason why a regular daily devotional time is so important; it offers a badly-needed dose of perspective). 


Even when the demands of every day life are great, you must never forget that you have been entrusted with a profound responsibility:  the responsibility of contributing to your family's emotional and spiritual well-being.  It's a big job, but with the Lord's help your up to the task.  When you place God squarely in your family's life-when you worship Him, praise Him, trust Him, and love Him-then He will most certainly bless you and yours in ways that you could have scarcely imagined.  So the next time your family life becomes a little stressful, remember this:  That little band of men, women kids, and babies is a precious treasure on temporary loan from the Father above.  And it's your responsibility to praise God for that gift-and to act accordingly.  When it comes to "quality time" and to "quantity time" your family needs both!


Keep the Son in your eyes,

Pastor Ben J Lahay

Galatians 2:20

He said, She said

"He said, She said"

Scripture Reading:
John 21:22  "If I want him to remain until I come," Jesus answered, "what is that to you? As for you, follow Me."

Devotional Reading:

Let's work more with the wheelbarrow from yesterday's devotion.  Our building is on fire. We’re perishing. The Son of God comes to save us, offering us a way off the building, if we will only get in His wheelbarrow. If we get in, He will carry us to safety. If we do not, we will surely die. The question is, why don’t we get in the wheelbarrow? One reason we don’t abandon ourselves totally to God is that we would rather blame others than address our real issues. We play the blame game. It works like this. I have a very hard day at work, and I want nothing more when I get home than to talk to my wife, and receive some affection from her. But when I get home, I don’t say, “Silvia, I’ve had a bad day, and here’s what I need.” Oh no. Instead, I pick a fight. “Did you not get a new light bulb for the bathroom?” I might ask. “No,” she’d say, “I went to the store but I forgot.” Then she might give me a telephone message she’d taken earlier in the day. “Did you get his number so I can call him back?” I’d say. “No,” she’d say, “I thought you had his number.” And we’re off! Instead of quiet talk and affection, we’ve got hostility and harsh tones. All because someone (in this example, me!) could not own his own feelings, and resorted to blaming another instead. Blame and ensuing conflict it promotes do not equal intimacy. Some folks make the mistake of equating emotional intensity with emotional intimacy. They are not the same. In fact, they are not even close. But blame keeps us from being real, with others and with God. I don’t know what your issues are, but I do know that blame will not solve them. In fact, the blame game can keep you and me from ever addressing the real issues we need to face head on. We think we can deflect God’s piercing gaze from our own lives and onto others, hoping to escape conviction, but until we allow His light to shine on our own hearts, lasting change is impossible.

Keep the Son in your eyes,

Pastor Ben J Lahay

Galatians 2:20

Crazy Like a ...

"Crazy Like a ..."

Scripture Reading:
Matthew 17:20  Surely the arrows of the Almighty have pierced me; my spirit drinks their poison.  God's terrors are arrayed against me.

Devotional Reading:

Do you know what the definition of insanity is? A person is practically insane who keeps repeating the same behavior and expecting different results. In whatever area of life we continue to do this, we are “as crazy as a sidewinder.” And a sidewinder is crazy. It might run at you . . . or it might run away from you. It might run into the path of a car, in circles, or in an angled line. We may try to hide our particular brand of insanity, but the first step to healing is to admit we are out of control in that area, and need help. The second step is to believe that Almighty God can heal and restore us. And the third step is to abandon our will totally to Him. Imagine you are on the top of a building. There is a terrible fire, and you cannot escape. Then, from out of this burning building, you see a wire stretching from your building to another, and a man with a wheelbarrow walking on that wire toward you. He asks you to get in the wheelbarrow, and allow him to take you to safety. What do you do? You and I are like that man in the burning building. We are trapped in our sin and Jesus Christ has walked the wire of the cross to save us. We know we need to get in. We know we should get in. The question is, will we get in? We cry, along with the father of the young boy possessed, ‘I do believe; help my unbelief.” You need an escape from that area of your life in which you are “sidewinder.” Will you get in the wheelbarrow?


Keep the Son in your eyes,

Pastor Ben J Lahay

Galatians 2:20

In A Flat-Spin

"In A Flat-Spin"

Scripture Reading:
Job 6:4  Surely the arrows of the Almighty have pierced me; my spirit drinks their poison.  God's terrors are arrayed against me.

Devotional Reading:

The twelve steps of Alcoholics Anonymous are deeply rooted in Biblical authority. These steps that have helped millions were conceived when two recovering alcoholics from Akron, Ohio, hit bottom, and began to seek spiritual solutions for their battle. The first step to stop drinking: you have to hit bottom to wake up and realize you are in real trouble. Job 6 is the sound of a man hitting bottom. The book written about a man who on the surface lost everything. It records the suffering, the penalty, the incredible loneliness, and the confession of a wretched man.  I wonder how many today would read his words and say, “This is my song. This is my life?” Healing begins when a man or woman is able to say, “My life is unmanageable. I’m in a flat spin, and I cannot recover on my own power.” But because we are so intent on trying to maintain control and present an untarnished image, this is difficult to do. Instead, many of us wind up trying to exercise control over others, too, using money, anger, helplessness or other forms of dysfunction. Amazingly, we even try to control God. Isn’t it ironic that the way to victory is not to maintain control, but to acknowledge we have lost it . . . or never had it at all?  When you come out of the flat-spin, you realize the answer to suffering, is the answerer:  our Lord Jesus Christ.  If you know Him, He'll get you through it!  If you don't, "would you like to meet Him"?

Keep the Son in your eyes,

Pastor Ben J Lahay

Galatians 2:20 

Devoted...Are You?

"Devoted...Are You?"

Scripture Reading:
Acts 2:42  And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayers.

Devotional Reading:

Have you ever seen a baby being born?  I have however, witnessed the birth of my son. It is a mysterious, beautiful miracle. If I had to describe it in a word, the word would be "awe".  A newborn is a totally dependent, totally vulnerable being. They have nothing. They need everything. When we are born again, we are not born into spiritual adulthood. We are babies. But we are not meant to stay in the infant stage indefinitely.  In the first moments, days, weeks and even years of new life in Christ, the operative word is vulnerable. The babe in Christ is vulnerable to false teachings, to cults, to old habits and relationships, and to addictions. He or she needs a steady, balanced diet of sound teaching, prayer, fellowship, coaching, and “the breaking of bread.” These items are the “staples” of the Christian life, and we must have them to grow strong. Tom Landry, a coach for almost three decades, said, “A coach is someone who gets men to do what they do not want to do in order to achieve that which they have always wanted to be.” I love that. We may not always want to “do” the spiritual disciplines that are prescribed for our growth, but we do want to grow and become champions for God, with that one goal, every Christian born could live a life that’s out of this world!  Think about how much energy and effort you put into things which are going to fade away, rot, wear out, disappoint you, fail you and let you down; imagine if only you put the same measure of energy into practicing your Christian walk, attending church (not finding excuses), reading your Bible, participating in Bible study, discerning through a Sunday School class.  It is indeed a sad state of affairs we have when the only time people are in church is for a couple hours on Sunday, but everything else in life takes a higher priority and is treated as a greater calling...truthfully, a life in submission to Jesus Christ is the greatest accomplishment you can have on earth!

Keep the Son in your eyes,

Pastor Ben J Lahay

Galatians 2:20

Storms of Life

"Storms of Life"

Scripture Reading:
Matthew 7:27  The rain fell, the rivers rose, the winds blew and pounded that house, and it collapsed. And its collapse was great!"

Devotional Reading:

Storms are a part of life. You needn’t live long to discover that life’s storms can take many forms.  There's an amen to echo tonight's Thanksgiving Worship of Psalm 107. "brother you need an anchor".  Physical pain is a storm. So is mental or emotional distress. And storms hit the houses of good people. In the movie ‘Shadowlands,’ Anthony Hopkins portrayed C.S. Lewis, whose wife died soon after their mid-life marriage. In one scene from the film, a minister tries to give Lewis a “God-knows-best” kind of pat answer, and Lewis explodes. “No!” he shouts. “This is a mess, and that’s all anyone can say. It’s just a mess.” Christians believe in a loving and personal God who cares about His creation, and the Bible teaches that God is all-powerful and able to do anything. Given those two suppositions, it’s no surprise that non-believers balk when Christians suffer. It doesn’t add up. Rabbi Harold Kushner concluded in his book ‘When Bad Things Happen to Good People’ that God cares about our suffering, but is powerless to do anything about it. Eli Wiesel said of the God Kushner described, “If that’s who God is, why doesn’t He resign and let someone more competent take His place?” The answer to this dilemma lies in a thing called free will. God could intervene 100% of the time and rescue us from the fallen-ness of the world and the consequences of our own choices, but to do so would rob us of the free will to love Him. The deeper truth is that he is present in the suffering, and in His sovereignty He is able to make all of it work together for good to those who love Him. No sorrow leaves us where it found us. It drives us from God, or draws us near to Him . . . but that choice is ours.

Keep the Son in your eyes,

Pastor Ben J Lahay

Galatians 2:20

Spiritual Quest

"Spiritual Quest"

Scripture Reading:
Deuteronomy 4:29  But from there, you will search for the LORD your God, and you will find [Him] when you seek Him with all your heart and all your soul.

Devotional Reading:

People believe for all kinds of reasons. Some believe because of the way they were brought up, or because of various experiences they’ve had. Some believe because of the influence of important people in their lives. But some know the value and depth of believing because they went on a relentless search for truth . . . and found it. How should a man conduct a spiritual search? Let me make a few suggestions. First, keep an open mind. The authentic seeker must maintain a healthy balance between solid investigation and a willingness to accept what he finds. Second, pray. A seeker’s prayer might go something like this: “God, I’m not even sure I believe You are listening, but if You are, I want to find You. I really do want to know the truth. If you exist, please show Yourself to me.” Third, be honest about what you’re looking for. Most people who investigate Christianity say, “I’m after spiritual truth.” That’s fine. But others are looking for instant solutions to life-ling problems. Christianity is an eternal solution joined to a life-long process. Finally, be willing to change on the basis of what you discover. Don’t view spiritual faith as an accessory item that could complement your lifestyle. It’s a relationship that will change your life. Seekers need to ask questions. Christianity can stand up to even the most careful scrutiny. If you are a seeker let your quest begin. If you are a believer, encourage seekers. Be an apologist for your faith. That doesn’t mean apologizing for believing . . . it means giving others valid reasons to come to a belief of their own.

Keep the Son in your eyes,

Pastor Ben J Lahay

Galatians 2:20

Sons of the Father

"Sons of the Father"

Scripture Reading:
1 Chronicles 28:9 "As for you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands the intention of every thought.  If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.

Devotional Reading:

We had a great Men's study this evening discussing our family of origin and leaving a legacy.  Great time with the men.  How many times have you seen a son who follows in the footsteps of his father? Some take over businesses, the family farm. Some jump on political bandwagons. Others become preachers like their fathers before them.  Imagine a son who becomes a fireman, because his dad was a fireman.  Dad was a Christian and taught his son not just words but actions:  serving in the church, helping those who needed help, making himself vulnerable and available even when he was worn out and tired.  It’s easy to see why the son works just as diligently and conscientiously. He was taught strong work ethics, to honor God and use his talents to serve God. Throughout his life, he also worked alongside his dad in mission projects, helping hurricane victims, and ministering to elderly. Think of the conversations in which the father patiently instructed his sons in the principles of God–perseverance, diligence, patience, and honesty. King David had words of advice for his son, Solomon.


Sometimes we teach our children and pray they follow our instructions. We want them to be polite, to obey the law, to respect authority. But the greatest instructions we can ever give them is to seek God, to honor Him, to depend upon Him, to rely upon Him and believe wholeheartedly. David is instructing Solomon this way in the passage above. So many times David failed in his own relationship with God. He broke commandments. David lived with the consequences of his sins. Yet, God loved David. He forgave David. He restored David because David repented. And David, though he failed in many ways, he still trusted God. He passed on his faith in God to Solomon as he handed over the responsibility of building God’s temple.  As parents, we do not always live up to what we should. We may not always be as patient, as kind, as generous, as sacrificial or obedient as we should be. My dad knows his own flaws. Yet,  as his son, I  will always have a legacy from my father.  I will not always get it right, but I will always be real and genuine.  According to Dr. James Dobson, 8% of children who grow up in a homes where dad does not model the example of Christ and Jesus is not taught by example of Worship and church attendance will go on to have a relationship with Christ.  Do the math, without dad being active in worship (corporate, public and private) 92% of those children will not come to saving faith in Christ Jesus!

Keep the Son in your eyes,

Pastor Ben J Lahay

Galatians 2:20

Certainty of Death

"Death is Certain"

Scripture Reading:
Hebrews 10:20 by the new and living way that He has inaugurated for us, through the curtain (that is, His flesh)

Devotional Reading:

If God Himself were to ask you, “Why should I let you into My heaven?”, how would you answer? I have used that question for many years to determine someone’s understands of salvation. Some people would say, “Well, that’s a pointless question, because there is no God.” Others would say, “I’m not sure that will ever take place, so your question is irrelevant to me.” Still others would say, “I think God will let me into heaven. Although I’m not perfect, I’m better than a lot of people. I’ve done more good than bad.” And a few say, “I’ve got no chance to get into heaven, except by God’s grace and the shed blood of Jesus Christ. I’ve placed my faith in Him, and I’m counting on Him to get me in.” When folks beg the question, and say “I’m not sure,” I press a little further. “Do you think it’s an important question?” I might ask. “Oh, without a doubt,” they’ll usually say. “But I just don’t have any idea how to answer it.” It’s a big question, isn’t it? Where will you spend eternity? Can you think of anything bigger? In comparison with eternity, this life is short. And death, although it is certain, catches all of us by surprise. The Bible clearly teaches that when a man dies, he either goes to Heaven to live forever in the presence of God, or he goes to Hell, separated from God forever. With that in mind, shouldn’t assurance about our eternal destiny be given a high, high priority? I heard Billy Graham say once, “If you are not ready to die, you are not ready to live.” I’ve never forgotten that; it is absolutely true. If you have placed your faith in Jesus Christ, you are ready. His is the only Name that will gain you admittance to Heaven.

Keep the Son in your eyes,

Pastor Ben J Lahay

Galatians 2:20 

Proper Perspective

"Proper Perspective"

Scripture Reading:
1 Corinthians 4:6  Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the saying: "Nothing beyond what is written." The purpose is that none of you will be inflated with pride in favor of one person over another.

Devotional Reading:

For most of us, life is busy and complicated.  Amid the rush and crush of the daily grind, it is easy to lose perspective...easy, but wrong.  When the world seems to be spinning out of control, we can regain perspective by slowing ourselves down and then turning our thoughts and prayers toward God.  The familiar words of Psalm 46:10 remind us to be still and know that I am God".  When we do so, we are reminded of God's love (not to mention God's priorities), and we can then refocus our thoughts on the things that matter most.  But, when we ignore the presence of our Creator-if we rush from place to place with scarcely a spare minute for God- we rob ourselves of His perspective, His peace, and His joy.  Do you carve out quiet moments each day to offer thanksgiving and praise to your Creator?  You should.  During these moments of stillness, you will often sense the love and wisdom of our Lord.  Today and every day, make time to be still before the Lord.  When you do, you can face the day's complications with the wisdom, the perspective, and the power that only He can provide.


Max Lucado said, "earthly fears are no fears at all.  Answer the big question of eternity, and the little questions of life fall into perspective".  Friend what you see and hear depends on where you are standing, what type of person you are and most importantly, Whom you're standing with!

Keep the Son in your eyes,

Pastor Ben J Lahay

Galatians 2:20

"Dry" Cleaning

Scripture Reading:
Romans 3:9  What then? Are we any better?  Not at all! For we have previously charged that both Jews and Gentiles are all under sin

Devotional Reading:

Imagine you are a Marine receiving an award from the General. You’ve prepared. You look your best. You are shape and shinning. Receiving this award will mean another stripe. Before you arrive in your potential client’s office, you make one last check in the restroom, only to discover an ink stain the size of a Frisbee on your crisp, khaki shirt. Water won’t remove it. You don’t have another shirt. You try to hide it with your tie, but to no avail. You are hopelessly, horribly stained, and there is nothing you can do to remove the mark. Every single man and woman alive is sin-stained. We are not able to remove the blot of sin on our lives, no matter what method we try. But many people resist the idea that they need to be saved from sin. “Saving” is for other people – people whose marks are more obvious than their own. But the Bible says all of us have sinned, and fallen short of the mark of perfection required by a holy God. There are four realities that sinners like you and me need to know. First, the stain of sin is permanent. It will not improve on its own, nor be removed by human effort. Second, inspection day is coming. You have an appointment with the Lord God Almighty who judges sin, and there is no escaping that appointment. Third, there is only One who can remove the stain of sin. Only Jesus Christ, the Son of God is equipped to cleanse it. Finally – and best of all – Jesus is in the "dry" cleaning business! Jesus’ clean-up procedure is called salvation, and it takes place when a man by faith receives Jesus Christ into his life. “Jesus paid it all; all to Him I owe. Sin had left its crimson stain. He washed it white as snow.”

Keep the Son in your eyes,

Pastor Ben J Lahay

Galatians 2:20

The Sword and the Scalpel

Delusional Power

Scripture Reading:
Psalm 119:105  Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.

Devotional Reading:

The Bible is the living Word of God, and my life has been built around that fact. My call to the ministry is grounded in its verses, and my marriage is built upon its principles. I have sought to bring up my children on the basis of its truth. The church I serve functions daily by its precepts. We are a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching Body of Christ. So I can truthfully tell you that everything I’m about – every relationship, every role, every assignment – is based upon the authority and truthfulness of God’s Word. When God’s people meet for worship and His Word is read, proclaimed, studied and explained, amazing things happen – things that transcend music and words and offerings and emotions – because His Word is alive. It cuts, like a surgeon who would pierce the body in order to heal it. It softens, tenderizing hearts that are hard as steel. It melts icy souls that say, “Nothing can touch me here.” It convicts the complacent, leading to repentance. And lives are changed . . . every time. Every week I receive letters from people who hear the Word of god and ask, “Did my wife tell you I was going to be at church? Others say, “You must have known I was coming.” It has nothing to do with me. God’s Word is living and active, and it has the power to change lives. I know. It changed – and keeps changing – mine.  Will you allow it to change yours?

Keep the Son in your eyes,

Pastor Ben J Lahay

Galatians 2:20

Delusional Power

Delusional Power

Scripture Reading:
Jeremiah 7:11  Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of robbers in your view? Yes, I too have seen [it]."  [This is] the LORD's declaration.

Devotional Reading:

When young Adolph Hitler was an itinerant artist in Vienna, he became captivated by an artifact in the Hofburg Palace Complex: a spear purported to be the one that pierced the side of Christ on Calvary. Hitler heard museum guides describe the lore surrounding the spear, including the belief that whoever possessed this particular weapon would rule the world. Those words changed Hitler’s life. He spent many hours in the Hofburg, studying the occult and Eastern religions, and meditating over that spear. He discovered that Constantine held the same spear when he conquered Rome in 312 AD, and that some 45 other generals, kings and emperors had carried it. Years later when Adolph Hitler became supreme dictator of Germany, he conquered Vienna without a shot being fired. The night the city fell, Hitler entered the Hofburg Complex, removed the spear from its case and held it to his chest. Historians record that he said, “I knew I held the world in my hands.” He believed the spear held some supernatural power, and it is reported that the night he held it for the first time was the very night he decided to exterminate the Jews and Christians in Germany. There was a unique climate in Germany that gave a megalomaniac the opportunity to take over one of the most powerful nations in the world. There is a unique climate in our country today that encourages ordinary people like you and me to believe that they are gods, and that their subjective opinion of truth is truth. This eclectic atmosphere is called the New Age Movement – and its overriding belief (although it encompasses many) is that we are little gods who can – and should – rule our world. Beware of this subtle, but pervasive egotistical thinking that ignored the authority of God and the supremacy of Jesus Christ.  And now once again, they beleive the spear is entombed in a German U-boat of the coast of the United States.  Who will retrieve this spear and its delusional power?

Keep the Son in your eyes,

Pastor Ben J Lahay

Galatians 2:20

 

Generosity vs Greed

Generosity vs Greed

Scripture Reading:
1 Corinthians 9:5-6  Don't we have the right to be accompanied by a Christian wife, like the other apostles, the Lord's brothers, and Cephas?  Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working?

Devotional Reading:

Has God taught you the principle yet of leaving your rights with Him? Like a hitter in a baseball game who is given the signal to bunt by his coach, we must look to God to see whether we are to “sacrifice,” or “swing away.” Twenty-three year old Thomas Edison left Boston for New York in 1872. He was a brilliant inventor, but made his living as a teletype operator. Edison went to the Western Union office to seek employment as an inventor, but was told there was no such job. Instead, he was offered a position servicing and updating the teletype machines, which were quite temperamental. He was told by General Marshall Fawcett, “Just go to work, and I’ll settle up with you when we see what you can do.” Many months went by. Finally the General came in and said, “Well, son, how much do you think I owe you?” Edison was skilled with his hands, but ignorant of finances, although he had given the matter some thought. He determined that a thousand dollars would be adequate, but two thousand would be much more fair. He felt three thousand dollars was more than he deserved, but because he desperately needed the money, he decided to ask for five thousand dollars. But before he answered, he remembered the General was noted for his honesty, so at the last moment he asked, “General, what do you think my labor has been worth?” The General said without hesitating, “How does forty thousand dollars sound to you?” Edison said he turned pale, and his lips began to tremble. “F..fi…fine, sir, it sounds just fine.” He learned that day the General’s generosity exceeded his own greed. Those who demand their rights in the Christian life rarely grow. Their walk becomes stagnant and cold. But those who put their rights aside and leave the choices to God grow in grace with giant steps.

Keep the Son in your eyes,

Pastor Ben J Lahay

Galatians 2:20

Veterans, Warriors and Dead Churches

Veterans, Warriors and Dead Churches

Scripture Reading:

Revelation 5:12  They said with a loud voice:The Lamb who was slaughtered is worthy to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!

Devotional Reading:

At the center of the Word of God, Old Testament and New Testament, there is a lamb.  The greatest battle-hardened, war tested veteran that has ever existed.  Look at some of the battles this veteran has faced:  He is the sacrifice of Abel’s offering. The substitute for Isaac, slain by Abraham on Mount Moriah. The Lamb is the centerpiece of the Passover, sparing Israel’s firstborn from the death angel. It was a lamb that was killed on the day of atonement, its blood sprinkled by the priests on the mercy seat of the altar, and a lamb who received our punishment in Isaiah’s Messianic prophecy. At the baptism of Christ, John the Baptist said, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” And in John’s vision of the New Jerusalem, the Lamb is on the throne. Who could guess that beginning in Genesis, the Bible would progressively reveal the Lamb, the Lamb, the Lamb . . . until all creation would ring with the phrase “Worthy is the Lamb?” What does the Lamb mean for us today? I’ll tell you. The church that is dead and cold and lifeless is practicing the religion of Cain.  In the end of time and even today, there are a plethora of religions and religious people.  The church of the End Time will be the most religious church ever; filled with pomp, circumstance, ritual and tribute.   They are worshiping God with a bouquet of flowers and fruit, but not by the blood of the Lamb of God. The shedding of blood is essential for the forgiveness of sins – and it is the Lamb’s blood that atones for us. We don’t like the sound of that . . . it seems messy and foreign and archaic. But there is no other way. “What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus! What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus!” When the church ceases to lift Him up, it ceases to have life.  I know of many churches in our communities that are dead lifeless religious churches; they have no life and they have no faith.  Religion is of man, while Faith is from Christ Jesus.  “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.”

Keep the Son in your eyes,

Pastor Ben J Lahay

Galatians 2:20

Change Them

Change Them

Scripture Reading:

1 Corinthians 6:20 for you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body.

Devotional Reading:

If you belong to Jesus Christ, you are not your own. The Bible says you have been bought and paid for with a price: the precious blood of Jesus Christ. Let’s say you invite me to your home for lunch. You clean up the house, cook a fabulous meal, and put the Bible out on the coffee table, since the pastor is coming. I arrive in my SUV with a crew of workers, all of us in blue jeans. We get out with paint cans and brushes, and we paint your house a rainbow of colors. I also decide a wall or two needs knocking down, and your living room furniture needs re-arranging. Then I ask you for the menu, and when you say we’re having spaghetti, I suggest pizza instead. Finally you say to me, “What do you think you’re doing? I only invited you for lunch. You’re acting like this is your house and not mine.” If you have been to Calvary and received Jesus Christ as you savior, the “house” that is your body does not belong to you anymore. It is not your house. It is God’s house. His Holy Spirit takes up residence in you. And He is well within His rights when He says things like, “That ego has to go,” or “Those words don’t match what you say you believe. Change them.” Jesus Christ has paid the price for you, and you are not your own.

Keep the Son in your eyes,

Pastor Ben J Lahay

Galatians 2:20

Preparing for a Fall

Preparing for a Fall or a Walk?

Scripture Reading:

1 John 5:12 The one who has the Son has life.  The one who doesn't have the Son of God does not have life.

Devotional Reading:

Some Christians spend all their time worrying about falling back into sin. They don’t move on and up to higher ground. They don’t grow. If you focus all your energy on trying not to fail instead of training to win, you will remain a baby in the faith. Carl Wallenda was perhaps the most famous aerialist who ever lived. He was one of the “Flying Wallendas” – a family, high-wire act whose feats thrilled audiences worldwide. He wrote, “For me, to live is being on a tight rope. All the rest is waiting.” He said in 1968 that the key to tight rope walking was confidence. There was no room to think about falling. But in 1978, Cal Wallenda fell to his death from a high wire strung 75 feet in the air in San Juan, Puerto Rico. His wife said that three months prior to this most dangerous attempt, Carl talked frequently about falling. He checked the installation of the wire. He calculated the wind. He checked the guy wires that kept everything in place. “I believe Carl fell,” she said, “because he spent so much time preparing not to fall, instead of preparing to walk the rope.” Do you spend all your time saying, “Boy, I don’t want to fall. I’m a Christian now, so I want to live a clean life?” If you do, you are setting yourself up for failure. Don’t focus on maintenance. Go for growth. Spend time in God’s Word. Seek to understand and apply the truth that you discover. Think about going on to higher ground – not merely protecting the ground you’ve already covered. In other words, grow up!

Keep the Son in your eyes,

Pastor Ben J Lahay

Galatians 2:20

What's the One Thing

What's Your One Thing?

Scripture Reading:

Romans 8:17 and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ—seeing that we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

Devotional Reading:

Philosopher Kirkegaard wrote a book called Purity of Heart is to Will One Thing. He contended that a pure heart was a heart with singular focus. The apostle Paul was a man with laser focus on one thing, and one thing only; he wanted to know Christ. From His highest highs to His lowest lows, Paul wanted to experientially know Jesus Christ. He did not claim to have arrived in his quest . . . but he was focused on it. He was the original, one-dimensional man. Do the words, “one thing” ring a bell with you? When Jesus spoke to the rich young ruler, He said, “One thing you lack . . .” When he reprimanded Martha for her bitter attitude toward her sister Mary, He said, “One thing is needed . . .” The blind man who was given sight by Jesus and questioned at length by the Pharisees said, “One thing I know,” Paul said, “I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do . . .” He did not look back – he reached ahead to his “one thing:” knowing Christ, and being all that He had called him to be. When a farmer plows a field, he does not look over his shoulder, he is looking forward to a fixed point to ensure his plowing is straight and true.  Have you ever watched the runners in a track meet? When a runner nears the finish line, he strains, leans and stretches for that tape. He does not look back to see where the rest of the runners are. He does not look at the score board to check the time. He does not look down to see if he is placing his feet correctly. He runs flat out for the wire, intent on one thing: Winning the race. Jesus Christ is the author and finisher of our faith. He sounds the starting gun. He stands at the tape. He is the One who calls us higher. He is our One Thing.

Keep the Son in your eyes,

Pastor Ben J Lahay

Galatians 2:20

Dead But Alive

Dead but Alive

Scripture Reading:

Romans 6:11 So, you too consider yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Devotional Reading:

No one names his child Judas. Have you noticed? The name Judas is associated with betrayal . . . in fact, it is a pejorative term. But I do not believe Judas was Satan incarnate (as some have suggested), or even that he was a man whose intentions were evil from the start. He had the potential to become a committed follower of Christ, but he allowed his fleshly nature to sway his thinking (he did not take his high thoughts captive, nor did he surrender them to the Light of Christ) – and ultimately, his actions. Imagine that you live in an apartment house owned by a mean, spiteful landlord. You’ve been late on the rent, and he has charged you exorbitant interest. You are so far into debt to him that you could not move out if you wanted to. This landlord controls your life, and abuses you because you have no recourse. Then one day, a new landlord comes, announcing that he has bought the building. The slate is wiped clean. All debts are cancelled. But still, the old landlord calls, saying, “You owe me. You owe me. Pay up.” Guilt, fear and habit could keep you in bondage to the old landlord . . . but you wouldn’t have to be. You are under new management. You could ask your old landlord to take up his claims with the new owner. When pressure and fear and disappointment began to hammer Judas, when he was stumbling and debating about what the future might hold, he could have talked to Jesus. He was with Him every day. But he didn’t. He kept listening to the old landlord. When Satan tries to get his hooks in you, you are not doomed to fall. You don’t owe him anything. Tell him you’re under new management. Tell him to take it up with the new landlord.

Keep the Son in your eyes,

Pastor Ben J Lahay

Galatians 2:20

Unbeatable Invitation

Unbeatable Invitation

Scripture Reading:

John 1:46 "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Nathanael asked him.  "Come and see," Philip answered.

Devotional Reading:

Nathanael must have been a thinking skeptic. Maybe he was the kind of guy who organized everything – mentally and physically. You know the type. A place for everything and everything in its place. He wasn’t going to be taken in by emotionalism or hype. He was the sort of guy who hung back and studied the situation before making any kind of decision. His friend Philip knew better than to give Nathanael the hard sell. “We’ve found the One the prophets wrote about,” he said. “His name is Jesus, and He’s from Nazareth.” When Nathanael asked whether any good thing could come out of a place like Nazareth, Philip simply said, “Come and see.” Where Jesus is concerned, “come and see” is an unbeatable invitation. Because He draws man to Himself, and His winsomeness is irresistible. Seeing Jesus – the real Jesus – is the most compelling argument that exists for Christianity. (Or, as one of my sons says, “There’s only one good reason for being a Christian . . . and that’s Jesus.”) I once shared Christ with a man who was a Nathanael-type. I offered him books by C. S. Lewis, Charles Spurgeon and other brilliant apologists, but it seemed all he wanted to do was debate. Finally, I took him to see the stained glass ceiling of our church in New York. We walked around the top of the roof of the building and looked at all windows of the dome. “What do you think?” I asked him. “They’re actually not that impressive,” he said. “I couldn’t agree with you more,” I told him. “Now, let’s go inside.” When we arrived in the sanctuary, the lights were not on. Instead, the sunlight was pouring through the dome, illuminating their absolute beauty. “That’s the way it is trying to know God and Christ from the outside looking in,” I told him. “The step of faith that brings you inside is the one that illumines your darkness.”

Keep the Son in your eyes,
Pastor Ben J Lahay
Galatians 2:20

Beyond Failure

Beyond Failure

Scripture Reading:

1 Chronicles 12:18 ...Peace, peace to you, and peace to him who helps you, for your God helps you...

Devotional Reading:

Life's occasional setbacks are simply the price that we must pay for our willingness to take risks as we follow our dreams.  But even when we encounter bitter disappointments, we must never lose faith.  Hebrews advises us that patient endurance is what you need now, so you will continue to do God's will.  Then you will receive all that God has promised.  These words remind us that when we persevere, we will eventually receive the rewards which God has promised us.  What's required is perseverance, not perfection.  I have battled all week long over tomorrow's special business meeting...striving for perfection, but this morning, the Lord showed me to let go and just continue following His lead; to persevere.


When we face hardships, God stands ready to protect us.  Our responsibility, of course, is to ask Him for protection.  When we call upon Him in heartfelt prayer, He will answer-in His own time and according to His own purpose-according to His plan; and He will do His part to heal us.  We, of course, must do our part, too.  And, while we are waiting for God's plans to unfold and for His healing touch to restore us, we can be comforted in the knowledge that our Creator can overcome any obstacle, even if we cannot.  Remember that failure isn't permanent...unless you fail to get up.  So pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and trust God.  Dr. Wiersbe said, "No matter how badly we have failed, we can always get up and begin again.  Our God is the God of new beginnings.  At tonight's business meeting, it is certainly time to build and time to begin again...trusting in Him to supply our needs!

 

Keep the Son in your eyes,
Pastor Ben J Lahay
Galatians 2:20