repent | Revelations From The Road

Show Your Fruit

November 8, 2008 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given November 8, 2008

As I went out and about running errands for my wife this morning, I was reminded by the Holy Spirit that I was a representative of God. And, as His rep, I was to conduct myself in such a way as to make the boss look good. If I was rude to the associate at the cell phone store, (like the lady next to me was), it would be a bad witness for Christians as many people know I am one. But, how do people know we are Christians without us wearing a sign? ( Here’s Your Sign). I submit we must show our fruit.

Jesus said, “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” John 15:8. Notice Jesus said, “showing yourselves to be my disciples”. So, if we’re bearing fruit, it should show, we shouldn’t hide it. Now, you know there are Christians who have a lot of leaves but upon closer scrutiny, you find no fruit.

Remember the story of the poor old fig tree? I used to feel sorry for that tree but Jesus wanted us to learn a lesson here. “Early in the morning, as he was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered” Matthew 21: 18-19. From a distance, (in the church pew, etc.), that tree looked good but when Jesus examined it more closely, He found it lacking. When He put it to the snack test, when He made demands on it to perform as it was created, it failed. And what happened to it? Jesus spoke to it and it withered, leaves and all!

Jesus won’t wither us when we fail to perform as we were created. He shows us mercy and grace. If you have compromised your faith recently, hidden your fruit, or haven’t even taken care of your roots, repent and let God prune you, (ouch!), so your fruit will flourish and people will see that you are one of His.

Total Trust

October 26, 2008 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given October14, 2008

On day two of our recent trip to China to visit our son, we ventured out into the streets of Hong Kong with our tour-guide son to eat and see the sights. We had previously had his help in navigating the trip from the airport and we felt confident in his hands. As we hailed taxis, ordered meals, dealt with store clerks, and followed his lead in the city, I realized something profound. In that strange city and culture, my wife and I were almost totally dependent on our son to survive. We were definitely out of our comfort zone and we felt it.

A question came up inside me, “Could you depend on Me in this situation to get you through?” It floored me! I considered myself to be one who trusted God for everything but I had to answer, “I don’t know, Lord.” I realized I wasn’t as far up the trust ladder as I thought I was. I know God was with me, “I will never leave you, nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5, but I just wasn’t ready to put my total trust on Him that day. Am I a bad person for that?

But then as I repented and asked forgiveness, I thanked God for providing my son to help us in this situation. Then it hit me; God sent His son to show us all how to survive in any situation and part of that was letting my boy fill in while we were here in China. What a great God! “Even when you’re old, I’ll take care of you. Even when your hair turns gray, I’ll support you. I made you and will continue to care for you. I’ll support you and save you.” Isaiah 46:4 (God’s Word Translation).

You know, in the United States, in our home towns, we are in our comfort zone and it’s easy to trust God. But sometimes, even here, we get in an uncomfortable place and God wants us to trust Him for deliverance. Being in China made me appreciate God’s love. I have moved up a rung on the trust ladder.

Out Of Darkness

August 31, 2008 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given June 3, 2008

On this day, I saw a guy in a dark room, wandering around searching for the way out. He is bumping into things in the darkness and desparately wants to get out of there. Someone offers to lead him out but there is a catch. The guy thinks, “Oh no, what am I going to have to do, promise, or give up to have this person show me the way out?”

The requirements are these: To join the person’s group, get all the free benefits of membership, work for the head of the organization, live in his mansion, receive authority, power, etc. and be treated like the boss’s son. What a deal, huh? Who would refuse an offer like this? To be led out of darkness and get all these great rewards to boot!

This offer is made every Sunday in churches all over the earth, on numerious television programs, at crusades, in homes, at work, all over the world…and people are saying, “Uh, no thanks, I’ll just keep wandering around here in the dark and maybe I’ll find my own way out.” How sad! “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:, Colossians 1:13“.

Jesus or some of His followers are desparately trying to lead some out of darkness. Are you one of them?

Freedom

May 25, 2008 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given May 18, 2008

Freedom in worship is a hard thing sometime. Depending on what denomination you are involved in, you may be totally free or not free at all. I’m reminded of King David being free in worship: “David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the LORD with all his might, while he and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouts and the sound of trumpets. 2 Samuel 6: 14-15“. He didn’t care who saw him or what they thought, he was going to worship his God for the things He had done.

My church is one that encourages freedom in worship and many are, especially the youth. Most will clap their hands, raise their hands, and even move a little. Even though I’m one of the “older” generation, I love praise and worship and even sing on the praise team and consider myself pretty free in worship. However, God showed me a contrast this day in church.

We have three praise teams and mine was not leading this day so I was in my regular seat worshiping God with the congregation. I was clapping, raising my hands, and getting into the worship. I noticed a family nearby where the father and teenage son were pretty ridged. The son was tapping his hands on the back of the seat in front of them so I could tell he wanted to do more but seemed hindered to do so. The dad stood still. I prayed for them to be free.

I lead the morning prayer too so I made my way up to the front during the third song and behind the stage, where it’s dark, to await the end of praise and worship so I could lead in prayer. In the darkness, behind the curtain, as I participated in the last worship song, I was in tears at the wonder of my God. He spoke to me there and said, “You aren’t really free either. See the difference between your worship here and out there?”

Oh man! It was like night and day! I saw that it did matter to me what “people” thought. No one was looking behind the stage and I let go and worshiped. It was a revelation to me. I had to repent.

Jesus said to worship God, “in spirit and in truth. John 4:24“. I will think of this today as my praise team is not leading and I will be in the congregation again. Lord, make me free to praise you and be pleased with my response to your presence. Amen.

Slippery Road

October 30, 2007 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given October 29, 2007
While walking back to my truck from my Monday night class last night, I was talking to God about the times I mess up. You all mess up too, don’t you? Well, I do sometimes and I was asking God why I slip and fall occasionally. His answer was simple and one, that if someone else would have said it to me, I would have said, “Well, duh!”.

God’s answer was, “You slip and fall because you choose to walk on a slippery road.”. I had to say, “Yeah, that’s right.”. The times when I slip and fall are the times when I venture into areas that I know are slippery. The slippery surface doesn’t just suddenly appear in front of me, unavoidable. I usually make a choice to go there or not, to think something or not, say something or not, or to do something or not. My choice!

God has told me from His Word, “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, Isaiah 30:21“. God constantly tells me which way to go but it’s MY choice whether to follow His path or go off on my own. ” In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:6“. When I wander off the path, I’m onto slippery ground and will probably slip and fall.

But, because He loves me so much which I don’t really understand why, God is always there on the right path waiting to take me back and continue the journey. But again, it’s MY choice whether to repent and get back on track or not. With God’s help, I will not set foot on those slippery surfaces today. Amen?