Our theme for this month: “Character and Integrity”

Our Bible verse for today: “We are afflicted in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair, we are persecuted but not abandoned, we are struck down but not destroyed.” 2 Corinthians 4:8 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “You can handle this.”

In yesterday’s devotional I made the statement that oftentimes a measure of our character is revealed in how we handle adversity. I cited the Apostle Paul’s example of how he had to deal with a lifelong affliction but he chose to overcome it and live a full and rewarding life anyway. In today’s verse we find him making another very firm and positive statement along those same lines. Paul was a strong man of character and he refused to let trials and adversity get the better of him. His is an inspiring example, and one the rest of us can learn from.

I’ve had the privilege and good fortune to know many other Christians who handled their difficulties and limitations just like Paul handled his. In a previous devotional in this series I told you about my friend of mine who is battling terminal lung cancer, and he’s handling it like a champ! He has an upbeat and sunny personality, he speaks in ways that are positive and encouraging, and he lives every day fully and to the best of his ability to the extent his circumstances allow.

I have another friend who spent thirty years in a difficult, physically demanding profession. As the years passed the demands of the job took a toll on his body. He had bad knees, a bad back, sore feet, and more. But he is a tough guy, a strong man, and his job involved an important public service that our community needed. So, he sucked it up, dealt with the daily pain, and continued to perform his job until the day he was eligible to retire. He never gave-in and he never gave-up.

My wife models that same kind of tenacity and perseverance. Almost thirteen years ago Linda had a major stroke that left her disabled. But rather than letting her disabilities defeat or define her she decided to overcome them and get on with life. She got herself a little black walker on wheels, put Harley Davidson stickers and flames on it, and moved off into the next season of life with vigor and determination. She’s like the Energizer Bunny and she never gives-up.

We do not have to be defined or defeated by our circumstances. Christian men and women of strong character deal with life as it comes. We do the best we can under the circumstances as they are, honoring the Lord and blessing others along the way. I pray that will be true of you, and of me.

God Bless,
Pastor Jim

Our theme for this month: “Character and Integrity”

Our Bible verse for today: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)

Our thought for today: “Just trust the Lord and keep going.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 is a very reassuring promise from God that can have several applications. For one thing when we’re faced with a decision we must make, if we will do our best to seek His will and to honor Him with our choices then we can trust Him to guide us. Even if we don’t feel as if we have a clear sense of direction, as long as our heart is right we can make our best decision, go forward, and trust that God will guide us as needed. It’s a great promise for decision-making and taking action.

But that promise also applies to the subject we began considering yesterday about how to deal with a problem or situation that can’t be solved and therefore must be managed. This would be a problem or situation (perhaps a health issue that’s long-term or even lifelong), and therefore we have to learn to live with it. In that case you could pray: “Lord, I don’t understand why you have allowed this situation into my life, and I don’t understand why you haven’t taken it away. But I do know that you are good and that your love for me is beyond measure, therefore I trust you completely. So even though I don’t understand, and even though I wish the situation was different, I’m resolved to honor you with the way I deal with it and I will do so for however long it lasts. I ask you to guide me and strengthen me today as I continue to do my best to handle this situation. Amen.”

Christian men and women of strong character and solid integrity just trust the Lord and do the right thing. Day in and day out, for as long as the situation lasts, even if that is a long time, even if it is a lifetime, they trust God and they keep going. This is perseverance in action (James 1:2-5). This is what it looks like to refuse to give-up or to give-in (Galatians 6:9). We resolve and remind ourselves that, “I will not give-up. I will persist and persevere no matter what.  I will trust God and do the right thing. I will just keep going.”

I encourage you to hang in there. Persist and persevere. Just trust God and keep doing what needs to be done.

More about this tomorrow.

God Bless,
Pastor Jim

Our theme for this month: “Character and Integrity”

Our Bible verse for today: “Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.” James 1:2-5 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “Some problems can’t be solved they can only be managed.”

My favorite verse in the Bible pertaining to endurance and not giving up during tough times is Galatians 6:9, “Let us not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up.” I love that verse because it is so upbeat and full of promise. If we hang in there and don’t give up, good things are going to happen. I think I can do that! With the knowledge that something good is headed my way as a result of this trial, I can hang in there. I will lean into this thing, slug it out, push through it, and come out the other end the winner!

But that seems to assume that this trial (whatever it is) is headed for a successful resolution. Sometimes that is the case. But not always. Some problems don’t get solved. Instead they have to be managed. Some problems are long-term, or even lifelong, and therefore no matter how long you hang in there and gut-it-out, you aren’t going to come out the other end of this tunnel to find the sun shining, the birds singing, and everything right with your world. What then? How do you handle that?

For the answer we turn to James, the brother of Jesus. His advice in James 1:2-5 seems a little raw compared to Paul’s in Galatians 6:9, and it cuts a little closer to the bone. There is no promise in this verse that the trial is going to end any time soon, or even at all. There are no lollipops or gumdrops in this picture.

Instead James tells us that learning to endure and persevere in times of trial helps to develop our character and it strengthens us spiritually. His lesson is that you will be a better, stronger, more mature Christian as a result of learning to live joyfully and victoriously with your trial, even if that trial turns out to be long-term, or lifelong.

Trials and tribulations come into every life. Most of them are short and easily resolved. But some of them are long-term or lifelong. Some of those trials will be your own, and some of them will belong to a loved one such as a spouse or a child. In that case it’s still yours because you have to walk through this with them.

Some problems can’t be solved, they can only be managed. This is such an important truth for Christians to grasp that we need to come back to it again tomorrow.

God Bless,
Pastor Jim

Our theme for this month: “Character and Integrity”

Our Bible verse for today: “Keep your life free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for he himself has said, ‘I will never leave you or abandon you.’ Therefore, we may boldly say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” Hebrews 13:5-6

Our thought for today: “Hold it loosely”

We’re fast approaching the Christmas season and one of the movies that will play frequently on television will be “A Christmas Carol”. It was written in 1843 by Charles Dickens as a short story. It is essentially a Christmas ghost story and it tells the tale of Ebenezer Scrooge, a miserly old man who has made a lot of money in business but who horded it his entire life. He denies himself many comforts and pleasures in order to save money; he shares nothing with anyone; and he pays his kind and faithful employee Bob Cratchit only a pittance.

In a dream on Christmas Eve Scrooge is visited by the ghosts of his former partner Bob Marley, and by the ghosts of Christmas past, Christmas present, and Christmas Yet to Come. Through it all Scrooge’s heart melts, he changes his ways, and he discovers the joy of giving as opposed to hording.

Scrooge’s problem wasn’t that he had a lot of money. The problem also wasn’t that he put an extraordinary amount of effort into earning money, or that he was diligent about saving what he earned. The problem was that he has in love with his money – he hoarded it. Scrooge did nothing good with the money he earned. Not only did he not use any of it to bless others, but he was cold, hard, mean-spirited, and indifferent to the suffering and struggles of others – most especially to that of his employee Bob Cratchit and Bob’s disabled son Tiny Tim.

In Hebrews 13:5-6 the writer urges us to keep our lives free from the love of money. He immediately follows that by telling us to learn to be satisfied and content with what we have, and to rely on the love and provision of God, who will never leave us and never forsake us. It’s all one continuous line of thinking – love God not money; be satisfied; trust in Him.

This is consistent with what Solomon teaches in the Proverbs, and with what Jesus teaches in the Gospels, and with what Paul writes about in his letters. We are to work hard to earn our money; we are to be good stewards of it once we have it; and we are to joyfully use it to help finance God’s kingdom-building work on earth and to be a blessing to others – especially to those in need.

Money is not the problem. Loving money is the problem. We are to use it not horde it. Men and women of character and integrity know how to use their money in ways that honors God and blesses others.

God Bless,
Pastor Jim

Our theme for this month: “Character and Integrity”

Our Bible verse for today: “No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in the concerns of civilian life; he seeks to please the commanding officer.” 2 Timothy 2:4 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “Honor the veterans”

Today is Veteran’s Day. It’s the day each year that we set aside to thank and honor those who have served our nation in the Armed Forces. This is different from Memorial Day. Memorial Day is a day in May when we honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation by giving their lives in the service of our country. That’s a far higher sacrifice than simply having served in the armed forces but still, serving at all is very significant too.

We in the USA are blessed to have the greatest military force the world has ever known – and I’m not just speaking of the gross tonnage of our bombs or the advanced technology in our fighter jets. I’m speaking of the intelligence, the talents, the commitment and dedication of the men and women who make up our armed forces. We have the best fighting force in the world because it is made up of the finest men and women to wear a military uniform in any nation in the world. Our people are the best!

We have an all-volunteer military force. Other nations rely on compulsory service to fill the ranks of their militaries, but in the USA every man and woman who wears the uniform does so because they want to. Not only are they there of their own free will, but they had to meet some high standards in order to get in. It’s a volunteer force, and it is a very good one.

Our veterans also serve sacrificially. That’s what Paul was writing about in 2 Timothy 2:4. For one thing, people in the armed forces voluntary surrender many of the freedoms enjoyed by ordinary citizens. They legally bind themselves to a contract of service that lasts for years. They also agree to submit to and be held accountable to a higher standard of laws known as The Uniformed Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). This is a much tougher and less forgiving standard of justice than what civilians are held to. Additionally, those in the armed services agree to do what they are ordered to do, and go where they are ordered to go, and stay there are long as they are ordered to stay – with no option of quitting. If you refuse to do what you are ordered to do you don’t get fired, you get incarcerated. And if you refuse to go where you are ordered to go, or if you refuse to stay once you are there, you don’t go home, you go to jail. And of course, men and women in the armed forces often find themselves in faraway places for long periods of time, often a year or more. Those places are often hostile environments where their lives are at risk.

I could go on but you get the picture. Those who are serving, and who have served, in our armed forces are special people, men and women of character and integrity. They deserve our respect and our gratitude.

I encourage you to make it a point to show your appreciation to a veteran today.

God Bless,
Pastor Jim

Our theme for this month: “Character and Integrity”

Our Bible verse for today: “In fact, when we were with you, this is what we commanded you: ‘If anyone isn’t willing to work, he should not eat. For we hear that there are some among you who are idle. They are not busy but busybodies. Now we command and exhort such people by the Lord Jesus Christ to work quietly and provide for themselves.” 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “Don’t enable bad behavior”

In yesterday’s devotional I made the statement that virtuous Christians care about others. I also said that character and integrity are often evidenced through acts of kindness, compassion, and mercy towards those in need. I even cited the example of Jesus as He ministered to the outcasts of society, and then I encouraged all of us to go and do likewise.

That lesson is certainly true, but there is a caveat that must go with it, a balance that must be struck. In our eagerness and enthusiasm to be a blessing to those in need we must be sure we truly are helping and not hurting. We have to be sure that our charitable acts of compassion are not in fact enabling bad behavior. Sometimes helping actually hurts more than it helps.

In 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 the Apostle Paul was writing about some people in the community who could work – they were capable, but they chose not to work. Instead, they were living off of the generosity and charity of others. They were taking advantage of the acts of kindness and mercy extended to them by kindhearted Christians, rather than going out and earning a living so they could take care of their own needs. In such a case Paul’s instructions to those kindhearted Christians was to stop feeding those people. The implication is that if they get hungry enough, they’ll get a job and buy their own food.

This was tough love in action, and sometimes tough love is exactly what the situation calls for.  It is love, but it is tough, and it is intended to motivate the other person to start doing the right thing rather than to continue taking advantage of others. We’ve all had encounters with people like this, people who go from person to person, from church to church, from helping agency to helping agency, getting what they can from this one, then moving on to the next one. My thought when dealing with such a person is often, “If you would put half as much effort into working at a job as you do trying to get stuff for free from other people, you would have a pretty good life.”

Sometimes the best thing we can do for the other person is to say “no”. And sometimes the test of our own character is our ability to use tough love when it is appropriate. Be wise enough to know when “no” is the right answer. Then be strong enough to stick by it.

God Bless,
Pastor Jim

Our theme for this month: “Character and Integrity”

Our Bible verse for today: “At that time Jesus healed many people of diseases, afflictions, and evil spirits, and he granted sight to many blind people. He replied to them, ‘Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news.” Luke 7:21-23 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “Have compassion on those in need”

This Sunday evening at Oak Hill Baptist Church is “Bread of Life Night”. It’s the Sunday each quarter when we hold our evening service at the Bread of Life Rescue Mission in downtown Crossville. At 5:00 some of us will lead the evening worship service while others are in the kitchen preparing the evening meal. Then at 6:00 we will serve the meal to the people living in the mission and to those who have come in off the street. After everyone has been served, we will sit down and eat with them. The menu this time is a “Crockpot Potluck”. Everyone is bringing their favorite Crockpot dish, so there will be a smorgasbord of selections.

The following weekend we will be going on our tri-annual mission trip to the coal mining region of eastern Kentucky. We partner with a little church up there by bringing them a large load of supplies to help them to minister to the poorest people in that very impoverished community. On this trip we will bring 125 boxes of food, each with enough food to feed a family of four for two meals. Each box will also have a family-size turkey with it. We are also bringing a supply of blankets, winter coats, and winter clothes.

Our goal in both of those cases is to come alongside and strengthen the efforts of Christians who are doing something good to build the kingdom of God in their community. They are preaching the Good News, leading people to Christ, and discipling them. Our assistance and resources are temporary in nature, but they do help to meet the immediate physical needs of hurting people, while our partners maintain a long-term presence for the cause of Christ in that community.

Meeting the physical needs of people first was Jesus’ model of ministry, and it is the one the Bible calls us to. Jesus directed much of his ministry efforts to the underclass, to the poor and the sick and the outcasts. The early church in Jerusalem did the same. They made the meeting of physical needs a prominent feature of their church life – whether they were taking care of their own, ministering to widows and orphans, or reaching out to hurting people in the extended community. The Apostle Paul modeled and taught this as well.

Character and integrity are often evidenced by acts of mercy and compassion. Virtuous Christians care about others. It’s a joy for me to be the Pastor of a church filled with kind and compassionate Christians who go out of their way to bless others. The character and integrity, the acts of compassion and mercy, routinely demonstrated by the members of our church are inspiring to me and I’m blessed to be a part of it.

I encourage you to show compassion to those in need.

God Bless,
Pastor Jim

Our theme for this month: “Character and Integrity”

Our Bible verse for today: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men …” Colossians 3:23 (NIV)

Our thought for today: “Christians should be the best workers”

Recently I read a description of a man’s job that was pretty bleak and depressing. Here’s how it was described: “He had a menial, dead-end job. They assigned him tasks non one else wanted – the “dumb work,” the dirty work, the dangerous work. They called him out at all hours of the day and night to satisfy the whims of his supervisors. He had little hope for advancement. In fact, he’d be lucky just to keep his job; plenty of others stood in line, ready to replace him. Whether he even lived or died mattered little. He was a first-century Roman slave.”

I know, I know, you thought I was describing your job. But no, that’s what life was like for the average Roman slave in the time of the Apostle Paul. Yet, such a man mattered to God, and his work mattered too. Paul wrote that as a Christian such a person was no longer just a slave, he was an employee of the Lord Jesus Christ! And that should make all the difference.

The Bible teaches us to approach our work as an expression of our faith. We can honor and even worship God by the way we perform our labor. Work was God’s idea. He invented it and He is the one who has commanded us to have a job and to pay our own way through life. Having a job, meeting your own needs and those of your family, is a good thing. Not only are we to do it, but we are to do it well.

In every occupation, in every workplace, Christians should always be the best employees. We should be the ones with the best work ethic. We should stand out as an exemplary employee because we are conducting our work as a means of serving our Lord and not simply to please a human boss. I encourage you to honor Jesus by the way you perform your job.

God Bless,
Pastor Jim

Our theme for this month: “Character and integrity”

Our Bible verse for today: “For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done for you.” John 13:15 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “Attitudes are caught rather than taught”

The disciples were inspired by Jesus. Oh, they learned from Him too – in that they listened to His words, memorized the lessons, and took them to heart. They also observed His conduct and modeled their own on His. So there was learning taking place for sure. But more than being taught by Jesus they were being inspired by Jesus. They wanted to be like Him and so they made an effort to follow His example. His passion for honoring the Father, His commitment to blessing others, His love for people, His willingness to sacrifice for the sake of others, all inspired the disciples to copy His behavior.

We read a similar account in Philippians 3:17 where the Apostle Paul urges his readers to consider his example of passion, faithfulness, and service, and to then follow it. Those that did accept Paul’s teaching and follow the example he set for them did so not so much because they were taught to, but because they were inspired to.

You’ve probably heard it said that racism is a learned behavior. It’s true. Babies aren’t born hating other babies because their skin is a different color. Children learn racist beliefs and behaviors from the adults in their lives whom they look up to and admire. Children are inspired towards racist attitudes because the people they are closest to, those they look up to and are most influenced by, are racist.

It’s really true that attitudes are caught rather than taught. That’s especially true when it comes to children learning from and being inspired by the adults in their lives, but it’s also true adult-to-adult. I’m sixty-five years old but I’m still surrounded by people I admire and whose examples inspire me to want to be a better man.

What attitudes are others in your life “catching” from you with respect to character and integrity? There are people close to you – children, teens, and other adults, who admire you and who are influenced by your attitudes and behaviors. How do they see you acting? What do they hear you saying? Are you a man or woman of character and integrity who others might want to be more like?

Attitudes are caught much more than they are taught. I encourage each of us to give careful thought to who we are, what we are like, and what it is other people see as they observe us and listen to us.

God Bless,
Pastor Jim