Treasure Hunt

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

By now, we have all heard about Michael Jackson, "The King of Pop".  The doctors are claiming that he went into cardiac arrest and died shortly after.  The Jackson family is demanding a 2nd autopsy to confirm the cause of his death. The fact remains ... Michael Jackson is dead.  He sold millions, and is reported to have had 13 songs that were #1 hits.  Most artists would consider it a successful career to have one song become a #1 hit.   The world is in shock, and many are completely devastated at Michael's death at the age of 50.  However, there is a truth that is more devastating and solemn than his death ... where Michael now is.  Reports have said that he was close to converting to Islam, thanks to his brother's efforts.  Nobody but the Lord truly knows where and what and who his heart served, but we do know that his life was anything but glorifying to God. People want to make Michael immortal, almost like he was a god, but we know that the Bible says that it is appointed for everybody to die, and then comes judgment.  "King of Pop" or not, without Jesus, there is no hope for Michael Jackson.  He built his treasure and fantasy land and made his music and videos with all of his heart.  Now, it's all worthless to him.  Salvation is the only important factor left for him, and without Jesus, that salvation is no longer available to him. Listen the Lord's warning in the verse at the top.  Be careful what you value and love and commit your life to.  Nothing will last for eternity, except those things done as unto the Lord and in HIs will.  Your heavenly Father loves you and wants you to let Him have the control in your life, that He may bless it and make it count!

Walk in the Light

1 John 1:7-If we walk in the light, as he is in the light . . . the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

Suppose a student chooses to test the effects of light and darkness on the growth of seeds for a science fair project. He gets some marigold seeds from the store, plants them in four Styrofoam cups, and waters them. He places two of the cups in a dark closet. The others go into a sunny window. In a couple of weeks, the seedlings appear. For a few hours, the plants in the dark and the ones in the light are quite similar. Two tiny green leaves break through the soil and begin to grow. Within a couple of days however, the plants in the closet turn yellow and begin to die, while the ones in the light grow and get more and more leaves. The experiment proves that plants have to absorb light in order to have the energy needed to grow, bloom, and make seeds.

The same is true of our spiritual lives. We need to live in the light in order to grow and become fruitful. Galatians 5:22-23 describes spiritual fruit as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These attributes are in stark contrast to the ones Paul listed as acts of the sinful nature: Jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambitions, envy, etc.
Let’s imagine a spiritual science fair project in which we try to become more and more kind. At first, we determine to observe how we act after a few days of listening to rap music that encourages rebellion and watching television shows that glamorize gang members who commit violent crimes. We may continue the experiment by hanging out with some kids at school who like to sneak around after dark to paint graffiti on the sidewalks in their neighborhoods. Would we become more kind or less kind after a week or so?

Next, let’s imagine that we do exactly the opposite for a couple of weeks. We listen to music that encourages us to love others in the same way Jesus did. We read accounts of young people helping others through short-term missions projects. We watch uplifting TV programs and movies. We might even volunteer to paint some classrooms at the local community center or play games with the children who gather there after school. Would we become more or less kind after a week or so?

Clearly, kindness could grow much better in the latter situation. We tend to become like the people we hang out with. So, if we hang out with mean and violent people, we will become increasingly mean. If we hang out with kind, generous people, we will become kinder. Living in the light means developing relationships with people who will help us become more like Jesus. We grow in godliness when we choose our friends based upon whether they have the kind of qualities God approves.

Those friends will be more likely to do what Jesus would and that will help us do the same. Good friends definitely help us walk in the light as Jesus is in the light.

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, you are the very best friend I could possibly ever want. You always love me and accept me. You even forgive me when I mess up. Please help me choose friends who will help me grow godly fruit in my life. Also, please me be the kind of friend who encourages others to become more like you every day. Amen.

Martha E. Menne

What's Growing Inside?

My wife, Christina, recently hit me with the most amazing news. She held up a note to me that read, "You're going to be a Daddy"! I will never forget that feeling of shock and sheer joy, knowing that my wife is pregnant with our first daughter or son. She has the smallest parts of a living human being growing inside of her, and it's something that I will never get used to. What a blessing!

Unfortunately, not all pregnancies are happy occasions with bright and hopeful futures. The Bible gives us such an example. I am referring to a passage in the 14th verse of the 7th Psalm. It states, "He who is pregnant with evil and conceives trouble gives birth to disillusionment."

We all have ideas, motives, dreams, plans, etc. growing inside of us. When the Lord is not the Director of our life and our hearts, sin is the primary resident that begins to grow inside of us like a baby would in a mommy-to-be. It starts out small and difficult to detect ... but it's there. Soon, if unchecked by the Holy Spirit, that sin begins to grow, and people begin to take notice of its effects on your walk and your life. You try to disguise it, hide it, so nobody will notice, but when that sin has come to full term, the gig is up, and the birth has arrived. The end result of that sin is death.

Jesus said in 1 John 1:9 that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We don't want that sin to grow and take over. Our lives should be giving birth to the fruit of the spirit because that sin is gone, and what is growing in us is the power of the Holy Spirit.

Peter said it well in 2 Peter 3:18, "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever! Amen."

Gods and Kings

Hopefully, the word, "Gods" catches your attention right off the bat. It should because we know that there is one God and one God only (Isaiah 44:6). He has revealed Himself in His Son, Jesus and has taken up residence in the heart of His followers through His Holy Spirit.

However, we live in a world that would not flinch at the mention of multiple gods or any other unbiblical idea. In the book, "Gods & Kings", which can be found in our Chapel Bookstore, and which I highly recommend, we see a glimpse in the life of King Ahaz. We see part of the sad story of this wicked king in the 28th chapter of 2 Chronicles.

In these verses, we see a man who, much like many people today, puts his trust in this world and his hope in other men and their worldly kingdoms ... but NEVER the God of the Bible. He chooses to serve dead, worthless idols, and turn away from the God Who loves him and wants to save him. Ultimately, as predicted, this proves to be his downfall. He provokes God to anger because he served other gods and false idols.

I encourage you to take a moment to read the 28th and 29th chapters of 2 Chronicles. The good news, and encouragement comes in the 29th chapter when King Ahaz's son turns back to the Living God and finds life!

May we all stay close to our God through Jesus and realize that it is His love that we were created to enjoy and live by.