Plague

The Plague of Sin

Leviticus 13:45-46

"And the leper in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be rent, and his head bare, and he shall put a covering upon his upper lip, and shall cry, Unclean, unclean. All the days wherein the plague shall be in him he shall be defiled; he is unclean: he shall dwell alone; without the camp shall his habitation be."

God spent much time and detail telling the children of Israel how to deal with the plague of leprosy. Leprosy was a very infectious disease in those days, and they had no cure for it. Leprosy was a disease that would literally rot the body. Those who had it knew that their life was short because nobody could survive it because there was no cure, God told Moses that those who had leprosy must be taken without the camp and dwell alone for the rest of their life. The affects of leprosy on a person's life were very tragic.

In the Scriptures, leprosy is a type of sin. When you look at what leprosy did to a person's body, you will find that sin will have the exact same affect on a person's life. With leprosy being a type of sin, the verse above shows us the lasting effects that sin will have on a person's life.

First, sin will make you sick that you have committed it. You may think that sin will be fun, but it is only fun for a time and afterwards there is regret. Certainly sin can offer a great time, but it never tells you how it will leave you. Don't fall for the lie of sin. Sin will leave you feeling sick, and you will regret the moment that you accepted its invitation.

Second, sin will change your appearance. Leprosy changed the appearance of an individual in many ways. One of the ways it changed their appearance was when their limbs would fall off. Another way it changed one's appearance was that they had to cover their upper lip so that people knew to stay away from them. It is amazing to me to see how sin ages those who live its life. You look at those who lived right and you will see a stark difference from those who've lived a life of sin. You may enjoy your appearance now, but if you choose to live a life of sin it will change that innocent young look to a hardened old look. The best way to look young is to live a right life, for a life of sin will age anyone.

Third, sin will make you an outcast. Those who had leprosy had to be placed without the camp and cry, "Unclean." Whether or not we like it, sin always leaves a mark on one's life that will cause them to be an outcast. I know, Christians are to be in the restoration business, but the fact is that many who chose sin's offer live the rest of their lives feeling like an outcast.

Fourth, sin will leave you all alone. Those who had leprosy lived without the camp for the rest of their life. Christian, sin will always leave you lonely. Those who lured you into sin will leave you when you have nothing more to offer. Sin has lonely effects. If you want to grow old and be happy, then you would be wise to live a right life, for if you don't you will find yourself all alone.

I cannot caution you enough about sin. Many times it seems that as a preacher I am preaching to the wind as some won't listen and think that they can live in sin and it affecting them. You are no different than anyone else. Sin is a plague that will dig deep and without damage your spiritual and physical life. Don't listen to sin! Heed God's warnings and do right so that you can avoid the loneliness and heartache of sin.

Providing

Providing For Your Own

1 Timothy 5:8

"But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel."

This chapter begins by God telling the church how to take care of the widows. God made it very clear that the children are to take care of the widow; however, when there is no family to take care of the widow, then the church needs to do its best to make sure her needs are well cared for.

In the verse above, God shows that the best way to deal with this problem of taking care of widows is for the husband to provide for her, even when he is gone. God makes this such a strong statement that He says a man who doesn't provide for his own is "...worse than an infidel." An infidel is an unsaved person who is untrustworthy. God was not just talking about a person not being saved, but He adds to the degree by saying they are untrustworthy. This means that if a Christian man does not provide for his wife to the day of her death, then an untrustworthy lost man is a better person than he. I believe providing for your own means several things.

First, a man who provides for his own is a man who leads the home spiritually. Notice that God compared the person who doesn't provide for his own to an infidel. That means the man should lead the home by getting saved. It is sad when a man is a hard worker, but won't get saved. Sir, do you realize that if you were to die that your wife and children will never see you again? Part of taking care of your own is to take care of your eternity. If you are not saved, then you need to care for this.

Second, taking care of your own implies that a man is trustworthy. Part of being an infidel is being untrustworthy. Every man should be someone who can be trusted. When you say you are going to do something, then be sure to find a way to follow through. Be trustworthy in your marriage vows. Don't give your wife a reason not to trust your fidelity. You can provide security to your wife by being trustworthy in every area of your life.

Third, a man should be the bread winner of the home. We live in a society where it pushes the woman to be the bread winner of the home. God never intended for it to be this way. God intended for the husband to be the one who earns the living to pay for the bills and daily needs. Every man should do everything in his power to earn enough money to pay the bills so that it allows his wife to stay at home to care for the children.

Fourth, a man should also take care of his wife when he is gone. The context of the verse above is mainly talking about providing for your spouse after your death. That means you should make sure that you have a good retirement program. There is no better time to start preparing for retirement than now. You may be starting later in life, but later is better than never. Furthermore, I think it is wise to have life insurance. A life insurance policy will go a long way in making sure your wife is cared for when you are gone. Talk to a qualified person about this topic as there are many views about life insurance. Moreover, I believe you can provide after you are gone by setting up a revocable living trust. This will help you to be sure that when both husband and wife are gone that their assets are cared for a manner in which God would be pleased.

I certainly understand that sometimes adverse circumstances can mess up your plans, but you should do your best to make sure to care for all of these areas. The government is not responsible to care for your family. You are! Let this devotional spur your concern about making sure that you are preparing for all of these areas.

Stablished

Stablished in the Faith

2 Thessalonians 3:3

"But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil."

One of God's desires for every Christian is to be established in life. What the world does not understand about the Christian life is that if one will live it, they will be a person who is established in every area of life. The Christian life is not some weird lifestyle by which people live, but it is common-sense living to help people be established so they can achieve great things for God.

The word "stablish" is the same word we use for established. Four times in 1 and 2 Thessalonians you will find the word "stablish." God gave us the Word of God to establish us. These four verses show what a person must do to establish their life. Let me say that if a person will follow these things in business or in their career, they will also be able to establish themselves in these areas.

First, holy living will help a person to be established. 1 Thessalonians 3:13 says, "To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints." Notice that holiness is a part of being stablished. Holy living is setting yourself apart for the purpose of serving and pleasing God. It is living a life blameless from sin. Let me help you to look at this through different eyes. Unholy living will cause you to be unstable in life. If holy living establishes us, then unholy living makes us unstable. Living your life according to the Word of God causes you to be stable for everything you do will be right, which will make you stronger. Don't listen to the lies of the world. Listen to the Word of God and live the holy life that God commands you to live. Doing right always causes a person to be more stable.

Second, 2 Thessalonians 2:17 shows us that comforting the hearts of others will help you to be established. The reason it will establish you is because you are no longer living a life for yourself, you are living for others. When you live for others, you are not concerned with how you are treated. You are concerned with making sure others are treated right. This will cause your surroundings to have less turmoil caused by selfish living. Live your life to help others, and you will find yourself becoming a pillar among those you are around.

Third, 2 Thessalonians 2:17 also shows us that good works will help you to be established. There are many who can talk about all the things they don't do, but what things are you doing? Christian, it is not enough to do away with the bad works of your life, but you must replace those works with good works. When you do good works, then you are setting the foundation for a healthy future.

Fourth, the verse above teaches that staying away from evil will help establish you. Evil is doing wrong with the intent to hurt someone. Don't ever do anything with the intent to hurt someone. Evil always causes instability. For instance, gossip is evil. Gossip is done to hurt people. Don't ever let a desire to destroy someone enter your heart.

Last, James 5:8 shows us that a resolute belief that Jesus is coming again will help establish you. The reason it establishes you is because it gives you a confidence that what you are doing will eventually be repaid. It will keep you from jumping from one thing to the other. Let me assure you that God will reward you one day. We don't know when that day will come, but you can rest assured that Jesus is coming again, and that all that you do and go through in life will eventually be worth it all. If you keep the hope that Jesus is coming again, then you will find a stable life.

Resurrected

Living the Resurrected Life

Colossians 3:1

"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God."

Living the resurrected life is the life that God wants every Christian to live. When we live the resurrected, we exemplify the life God wants the world to see. It is in this life where you will find the greatest joy. It is in this life where you will find satisfaction. When you read Colossians 3, you see that the resurrected life consists of many things.

First, the resurrected life will have the right dreams. The verse above says, "...seek those things which are above,..." Your dreams should be the dreams which God wants you to have. Your dreams should not be selfish, but they should be that for which you were made. Every Christian should get their dreams from God if they want to live the resurrected life.

Second, the resurrected life will have the right affections. Verse 2 says, "Set your affections on things above,..." Christian, from where do you get your enjoyment? Your enjoyment should come from doing the things of Christ. Your greatest pleasure should come from serving God. The resurrected life will cause you to seek pleasure in serving Christ.

Third, the resurrected life will cause you to have the right actions. Verse 5 says, "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth;..." The resurrected life will be filled with actions that are pleasing to God. You will never live the resurrected life by doing wrong and going to the wrong places. When you allow the flesh to dictate what you are going to do, then you will not experience the resurrected life. The resurrected life will only come by not allowing your flesh to dictate your actions. You must act right at all times if you want to enjoy the resurrected life.

Fourth, the resurrected life will give you the right attitude. Verse 8 says, "But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth." Your attitude as you serve the LORD should be one that glorifies God. The resurrected life is not filled with an attitude of anger. It is not filled with an attitude of wrath and malice. Oh, how we need Christians to get back to living the resurrected life so that their attitude will be one that the Saviour would want them to have. The best way to change your attitude is to live the resurrected life.

Last, the resurrected life will cause you to talk right. Verse 8-9 says, "...filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;" Notice that filthy communication and lying will not be a part of the resurrected life. Christian, if you want to exemplify the resurrected life, then be careful how you talk. Don't let dirty jokes and filthy language come from your lips. Don't allow lying to be a part of your life. The resurrected life will cause a person to talk in a wholesome manner, always telling the truth.

One of the greatest needs that this world has is for Christians to live the resurrected life. God intended for you to live the resurrected life when you got saved. He did not save you so that you can go back to living a life that leads to death. Be sure that your life is one that represents your salvation, and that life is the resurrected life.

Good Works

Saved Unto Good Works

Ephesians 2:10

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."

One of the greatest areas of disagreement in religion is in the area of whether works has any part of salvation. There are many people who believe that a person must be good to get saved. There are others who believe that a person must be good and accept Christ to be saved. Then, there are others who believe that you must accept Christ and live a good life in order to keep your salvation. Finally, there are those who believe that salvation comes from accepting Christ as Saviour, plus nothing and minus nothing, and that works have no part in salvation because all the work needed for salvation was done by Jesus Christ in His death, burial and resurrection.

According to the Scriptures, the last belief is right. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." You will notice that God specifically notes that works have nothing to do with salvation. In other words, you can't be good enough to get saved, and you can't be good enough or bad enough to keep or lose your salvation. Salvation is given to us by God's grace. All a person must do to get it is to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour.

However, you were saved to do good works. The verse above states that when you got saved, your salvation was the work of Christ and that the reason He saved you was to do good works. You will notice that you were not saved by works, but you were saved to do good works. Works has nothing to do with obtaining or keeping salvation, but they have everything to do with having good fellowship with Jesus Christ.

Let me explain this thought more clearly. When I was born into this world, I had nothing to do with my birth. My birth happened because of my parents. When I was born, my relationship with my parents was established. In other words, my relationship with my parents was established because of them. I could do nothing to establish a relationship with them; however, whether I have good fellowship with them is totally dependent upon how I live. If I obey them and do what they tell me to do, then our fellowship with each other will be great. On the other hand, if I rebel against their rules and do what I want to do, my lifestyle will strain my fellowship with them. Notice, though my fellowship is strained, my relationship can never be severed. My works only deal with the quality of fellowship I have with my parents.

This is exactly what works has to do with salvation. Your relationship with Jesus Christ was established because of Him. You could do nothing to save yourself, only Christ could do that by dying on the cross and rising again from the dead. Your relationship with Christ was established when you accepted Him as your Saviour; however, if you want your fellowship with Christ to be unrestrained, then you need to do the good works that He saved you to do. Your works determine the quality of fellowship you have with Christ, they have nothing to do with you getting saved or staying saved.

Christian, you were saved to serve Christ. Don't hurt your fellowship by not doing good works. The reason you should be actively involved in serving Christ is so that you can have good fellowship with Him. Don't let works of unrighteousness prevail in your life, for they will strain your fellowship with Christ. Instead, every day your life should be filled with the good works of righteousness. If you do this, you will find that your fellowship with Christ will be sweet and enjoyable. If you will daily do the works that you were saved to do, then you will have the fellowship with Christ that He wants to have with you.