Reb Rev's Blog

“Servant” vs. “Slave,” is more than just a matter of terminology. It should be an attitude and a way of life for the believer. Slave” by John MacArthur, is a well documented work which outlines what the life of a slave of Christ would look like.

MacArthur outlines the implications of the lordship of Christ, His role in our purchase, pardon, and adoption. And, our responsibility in each aspect of that relationship.

I mentioned this work is well documented. Each chapter has a wealth of footnotes. There are many in-text references as well. Those, at times, are overdone.

The message of the book is an important one for the modern Christian in America. We have, collectively, a “me first” attitude toward life and sadly to our relationship with God. Prayer requests are often selfish, salvation is all about the “mansion on the hilltop,” and service is seen as optional.

“Slave” should be read with humility and an open heart, that we may be “doers of the word and not hearers only.”

I post these reviews as a member of Thomas Nelson’s Book Review Blogger Program. I receive a free copy of the book, but am not required to give a positive review.  Check it out at http://www.booksneeze.com

“A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, Loving favor rather than silver and gold.” – Proverbs 22:1

Many years ago, while driving in southwest Georgia, we had a flat tire. The tire was changed, but the spare was one of those little “donut” tires, so we made our way to a tire shop in my dad’s home town.

Being southwest Georgia in the middle of summer it was so hot the trees were whistling for the dogs, so I decided to take Eileen and Jared to a coffee shop so they could wait where it was cool.

The tire was fixed and as I went to pay, I realized Eileen had my wallet in her purse- several miles away. Well, here I was from out of town, out of state and no money. Not wanting to walk the several mile round trip to get my wallet, I asked he shop owner if I could take the car and drive over promising to come back – with no id, no money, no nothing as collateral.

In the process of explaining my predicament, I told him I was in town to visit my Dad. He asked who my dad was and I told him. “You take that car and go on, I know you’ll be back,” he said, “your Daddy is as honest as the day is long.” So, I went to get Eileen, Jared and my wallet, and drove back to pay for the tire.

My Dad’s good name was a treasure to him – and blessing for me, not only that day, but for many, many years.

The verse above tells us the importance of a good name. It is a blessing to inherit one, and a treasure to keep, not just for ourselves but for future generations as well.

“Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. – Proverbs 4:23

Exactly two years ago this week, I was waking up in intensive care at the Heart Center of Pitt County Memorial Hospital after my heart attack.

I’ve learned a lot since then and done some things I knew then I should have been doing. A lot of my diet was destructive to my heart health and I had to determine to make some changes to ensure I wasn’t hurting my heart.

While this is a truth physically, it is also true spiritually. What we take in, what we dwell upon, and how we “exercise” our heart spiritually either help, or hurt, our heart.

If we allow impure and destructive thoughts and ideas, we are taking in an unhealthy diet for our spiritual heart. When we don’t spend time in God’s Word, prayer, fellowship and acts of faith, we are failing to exercise and do the things which cause our heart to grow stronger spiritually.

The verse above reminds us that while there are a lot of important things we do, maintaining our spiritual heart health should be a top priority. After all, the heart is the center of our health.

My prayer for you this week is that you will indeed guard your heart with all diligence – and your life will be blessed as a result.

“His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’”
–              Matthew 25:21

The story is told of an old missionary who spent his entire life in the mission fields of Africa telling the story of Jesus. During those days, missionary support was meager at best and nonexistent at worse. But, struggling the best he could he stayed on the field.

In the latter years of his life, his wife died but he did not have the money to take her back to her home for burial, so he was forced to bury her in a makeshift grave near his home.

Finally, with his health, his money, and his family gone he scraped together enough for boat passage back to the States. As the boat entered the harbor, suddenly it was surrounded by fire boats spurting spray of water and tugs blowing horns.

As the boat docked, a band began playing and a crowd of people began shouting and waving their arms as a celebrity walked down the gang plank.

As he watched all this from the railing, this elderly missionary, knowing he was coming home alone, began feeling sorry for himself and began to pray something like this.

“Lord, I have given you all I have. I gave you my life, my family, my health. Now, at the end of my life, why couldn’t I be welcomed home with caring people who appreciate what my life has meant for the glory of God?”

Then, almost as if it was an audible voice, this elderly missionary felt God speaking to him saying, “Son, you aren’t Home yet!”

So often, we lose sight of the fact that we “aren’t home” yet. While in our work-a-day world, it seems “no good deed shall go unpunished,” the reality is no good deed shall go unnoticed – when it is done for the Lord.

“For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.” – I Corinthians 13:12

Our little dachshund, Hogan, has cataracts. We’ll be going to the vet again soon, but for now his vision is cloudy due to them. As I understand it, his eyes work just fine, but his vision is impaired because the lens is clouded.

I’ve noticed he is more cautious due to his lack of vision. He doesn’t venture as far and he hesitates when he does go out. All because he can’t quite see. One day soon, the vet will take those cataracts off and Hogan will see clearly what he can now only make out as shapes and shadows.

I’ve noticed he moves with more confidence if Eileen or I go with him. He seems to be comforted by our presence.

The Bible tells us our spiritual vision is clouded for now. There are a lot of things we see but can’t understand. There are some things we can only make out as shadows and shapes as it were with no real understanding.

One day, our vision will be made clear. We will see and understand. Things which perplex us now will make sense.

Until then, we can take comfort in knowing God sees it all, understands it all and is sovereign over all. And, He goes with His children. We can move forward in confidence and comfort knowing He cares for His own and will get us Home.

“Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart…” – Luke 18:1

I saw a church sign recently which read, “God moves mountains. Sometimes one shovel full at a time.”

As I pondered that thought, it occurred to me how often we want the whole mountain gone at once; so we can get to wherever it was we were going, or do whatever it was we were doing.

But, God’s schedule is seldom in synch with ours. Hence, the need for patience (which we recently discussed). When we pray for the mountain to be moved, and God chooses to do it one shovel full at a time, don’t forget He is still moving the mountain.

If a loved one is sick, and we pray for healing, typically we want that healing to take place now. But, what if it takes a year, or two, or more? Is God still not the author of that healing?

If you are praying for something – whatever the need – remember the One who taught us to pray did so with the intention we would persist in prayer and not lose heart.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” – I John 1:9

During a recent discussion with my cardiologist, we were discussing the type of stress test I would undergo. He said the problem with a nuclear test – the one where they shoot radiological dye into your vein to take contrast pictures of the heart function – was the effect of the radiological chemical builds up in your system over time. Obviously, this has serious negative effects on our body.

That came as a bit of surprise. I figured once it coursed through the veins, it would just go wherever old blood goes as it processes out of the body. Apparently not. It just accumulates, at least the residual effects do.

As I pondered that thought, it came to me that is what sin does. It just builds up in our spiritual “system.” It may not be visible, but it is there and those effects will eventually destroy us.

I guess there isn’t anything to do about the radiation, but thank God, there is a remedy for the sin! His name is Jesus. In our verse this week, we see the prescription and the cure. Not only are we forgiven, we are cleansed.

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” – James 1:2-3

I got a lot of comments and feedback on last week’s “Thought” on the need to be patient. Most of them had to do with the question, “how do we improve in that area?” So, I thought this week, we’d look at how the Bible says we attain the trait. But, first, a story…

There was once a young man who lived on a ranch. He got the idea one day that he wanted to grow to be the strongest man alive. He thought and thought about how to accomplish that feat, and finally came up with an idea.

One of the cows on the ranch had just had a young male calf. He went out the next day and picked the calf up, and walked around with it a bit. The next day he did the same thing. Then the next, and so on. Each day the calf grew ever so slightly, and each day the young man grew stronger, ever so slightly.

The days, weeks and months went by and as the calf grew into a bull, the young man was still able to pick him up and walk around, becoming the strongest man alive.

The Bible verse above tells us our faith grows – therefore our patience grows, just as our muscles grow, through being challenged and enduring testing.

We learn to be patient by learning to trust God. When we go through “small trials,” we often don’t even look to Him, or for Him. But, in every trial we should watch for His work. When we see how trustworthy and capable God is, our faith will grow. As our faith grows, we will grow stronger in patience – knowing there is nothing we face God cannot handle.

As my friend Steve Brown says, “God hasn’t failed anyone yet, and is He isn’t going to start with you.”

“Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains.” -James 5:7

We’ve all seen the little sign many folks have on their desk which says, “Lord, give me patience – and please hurry!”

That’s the way just about every feels at some point in life. It seems when we need patience, we need it now. And, there are so many areas of our life where this applies – our finances, job status, etc.

Interestingly, the verse above comes right smack dab in the middle of a passage about our relationships. We are told when it comes to dealing justly and decently with people – we need to be patient. If we think about this honestly – in this moment when no one else is rushing us – it is the way we all want to be treated. We don’t want people giving us burdensome tasks and wanting it done yesterday. We just want to be treated fairly and, well, with patience.

So, that’s the way we should deal with others.

Think of how much better our work life, home life, every other aspect of our lives would be if we are just a little more patient. Of course, the ultimate model for this is demonstrated toward us in the way God deals with us. Just think about THAT one for a moment!

“Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.-James 4:17

I have always wondered what it would be like to stick a key into a light socket. Don’t worry I’m not going to try it, I just wonder what would happen.

That was always one of the things we were told not to do as kids, and to the best of my knowledge, none of us ever did it. At least it never happened when I was around.

God’s commandments which prohibit certain behaviors and actions are a lot like the rule that kept us from probing electricity with a key – they are there to protect us. But, a lot of people look at the Ten Commandments” and think as long as I do/don’t do those, I’m good.

But, here in the book of James we find a powerful statement that makes our 10 “Do’s and Don’ts” approach to our relationship with God insufficient.

You see, God doesn’t want us walking around just avoiding things to stay on His good side. He calls and compels us to be actively, passionately living out a life which demonstrates to others our love for Him and His love for them.