My Trojan Horse

I watched in surprise as ants marched into the kitchen from the dining room. Later on I found more in the living room. When I saw even more by the picture window in the living room, I thought that they must be getting in there. So I asked my husband to caulk outside. I even stuffed a small wad of steel wool into a hole.

A week passed. I had emptied several boxes of Kleenex to pick up dead ants. Drops of liquid ant killer lay scattered all over the living room, dining room, and kitchen floors. “What am I going to do? I can’t figure out where they are coming from,” I moaned.

Discouraged and frustrated, I knelt down in front of the fireplace to gather up more carcasses. At that point my eyes wandered toward a huge log stored on a brass basket. Then I saw it. An ant was crawling out a tiny hole in the log —then another—and another.

“Oh, no!” I yelled to my husband. “Get that log out of here!”

However he was in the bedroom and did not hear me at first. To my relief, he finally heard me and dumped the heavy log onto the front porch. Shortly afterward he carried it to the woods far behind our backyard.

Just like the fictional Trojan horse, my husband had carried that log into the house unaware of the ant nest inside it. Nevertheless the principle of the Trojan horse has been in force since the beginning of time. Satan appeared harmless to Eve. Yet he convinced her to eat fruit from the forbidden tree in the middle of the Garden of Eden. The result was devastating for humanity because now all of us are born in sin and spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1–3).

The Lord told Cain that sin was crouching at his door and desired to have him. Likewise, all of us are tempted to sin. Sadly, Cain gave in to the temptation and murdered his brother, Abel. James writes:

When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death (James 1:13–15, NIV).

My husband unwittingly brought an army of ants into our house. In the same way, yielding to temptation leads to a multitude of sins. Refusing to repent of those sins results in deadly consequences—everlasting punishment in hell, the place prepared for Satan and his demons (Matthew 25:41).

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The Planet Venus

In June 2012, thousands watched as the planet Venus passed in front of the sun. Although similar in size to Earth, it looked like a small speck of dust on the surface of the sun. Think how much smaller humans are than Venus.

David writes, “For he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust” (Psalm 103:14, NIV). Solomon laments, “All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return” (Ecclesiastes 3:20, NIV).

Comparing people to dust reveals how amazing God’s love is for rebellious sinners. When Adam and Eve rebelled against God in the Garden of Eden, they broke the bond of fellowship with their Creator. They doomed the entire human race to everlasting punishment. Moreover all of us have followed them in rebellion against the Lord. But God the Father was not willing to lose the fellowship of sinners. He sent his Son into the world to redeem us from the bondage of sin. Let us praise the Lord Jesus! He was willing to leave the glory of heaven for specks of dust. I think that is amazing.

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8, NIV).

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The Mighty Conqueror

Triumphant and victorious he appears,

And honour in his looks and habits wears;

How strong he treads, how stately doth he go!

Pompous and solemn is his pace,

And full of majesty, as is his face;

Who is this mighty hero—who?

Tis I who to my promise faithful stand,

I, who the powers of death, hell, and the grave,

Have foil’d with this all-conquering hand,

I, who most ready am, and mighty too, to save.

By Mr. Norris in Matthew Henry’s Commentary, Volume II, Isaiah 63:1–6, page 863.

On the day of vengeance, Christ battled Satan completely alone. The disciples had deserted him; even God the Father had. Standing alone and covered with blood, Jesus is “mighty to save.”

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for being my mighty conqueror and Savior. It only happened because Jesus was willing to leave the glory of heaven to come to earth as a tiny helpless baby. 

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The Invasion of the Beetles

While looking out my bedroom window, I had no idea what lurked between the blades of grass. I did see weeds, however. Since they bothered me, I decided to go outside and pull them up.

Before long, I spied a tiny beetle jumping in front of me—then another—then another. What is going on, I thought. Those tiny little creatures were hopping all over the entire yard; I could not get away from them. Maybe the drought this summer had encouraged them to multiply.

Believers are like those beetles. At Pentecost God saved 3000 people. When persecution broke out later, many fled throughout the Roman Empire. Thousands witnessed to their neighbors who then accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. In this way the church quickly grew.

The Lord has continued to work through ordinary believers to reach others for Christ. We may feel insignificant and tiny like those beetles. But God has a plan for each of us. By doing our part through the power of the Holy Spirit, God is invading our sin-cursed world and increasing his kingdom.

“In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace (Colossians 1:6, NIV).

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The Laws of Nations

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16, NIV).

The ancient nation of Israel was a theocracy in which God gave Moses very specific civil, ceremonial and moral laws. He gave Moses those laws in order to maintain order in that nation. The Lord also gave them those laws so that his people would realize how far they fall short of the glory of God. Each of them was a sinner in need of a Savior.

Every nation has its own laws. For example, some laws may be similar in Canada as in the United States while others may be different. Likewise, some of Jesus’ laws for the church may be the same as those for ancient Israel while others may be different.

However, this does not mean that we should not study the Mosaic Law. If we do this, we shall learn valuable lessons about God’s character. The Lord is very specific. He cares about every little detail of human life. He will not share his glory with anyone or anything else. Finally, he cares about the heart attitude of his citizens.

As believers in the new covenant, we rejoice that God does not change. He has a very specific plan for each one of us. Because of this, he cares about every detail in our lives. As God uses us to accomplish his purposes, he will receive the glory—not us. Moreover God cares about our heart attitude. What are our motives as we serve him?

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King Jesus

The writers of the New Testament understood that the new Covenant era and the priority of the Lord Jesus complement each other. The Old Testament Scriptures promised both the coming of the Davidic king and the new covenant. When Jesus died, rose again, and was exalted to heaven, he fulfilled both of those Old Testament prophecies. He became the promised Davidic King and the perfect sacrifice of the new covenant. For that reason, Jesus is the master of every Christian individually and also master of the church. We should be his willing and obedient slaves.

 During this new covenant era, the Holy Spirit is busy acting as the agent of Jesus to lead sinners to trust in Jesus for salvation. This includes an acknowledgement of Jesus as our Lord and King. After we are saved, the Holy Spirit continually encourages us to follow Jesus in obedience. He does this by teaching us to pay attention to Jesus’ words and actions. When we see how Jesus displays God’s character, we must take that as Jesus’ command to be like him. Moreover, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gives explicit commands for believers.

 The church should match Christ’s love for her by showing a corresponding love for his direction over her.

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The Tiny Chickadee

Bare branches swung erratically in cold March winds, strong enough to uproot some trees. Thankfully, in my backyard the wind only tossed some branches at the foot of one tall tree.

During the storm I spied a tiny chickadee clinging to a swinging branch. We are to be like that chickadee. The apostle Paul writes, “Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming” (Ephesians 4:14, NIV).

Believers must cling to the truth of God’s Word at all cost—not be swayed by false doctrine. Powerful winds could not dislodge that chickadee from its branch. Likewise, no evil will be able to separate us from God.

These days too many lay emphasis on unity at the expense of truth. This means that some people may think that they are saved when they are not. Instead of trusting on the shed blood of Jesus alone to redeem them, they add their own works or allegiance to their church. Counting on Jesus plus something else for salvation is a recipe for disaster.

Birds of a Feather

As a teenager I preferred summer. Now that I am older, I appreciate every season. During autumn God paints a kaleidoscope of colors in the forests of central Ontario. But he also instilled the instinct to fly south into many birds.

Look up into the daytime sky and you will see flocks of birds. It is a vivid picture of the well-worn saying, “Birds of a feather flock together.” They join forces in preparation for their arduous flight south. Gulls invade corn fields and peck at the shortened stalks. Canada geese grace the skies with their v-formations. Sometimes they fly in the wrong direction but they eventually head south. Starlings congregate together for company on their long journey. I spotted some birds lined up on telephone wires.

Soon all birds, needing to be in warmer climates, will be gone. Likewise, some day believers will rise at the same time to meet Jesus in the air. What a sight that will be!

“According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever” (1 Thessalonians 4:15–17, NIV).

Are you ready? Those who remain will face the judgement of God. The chance to repent and be saved will be gone forever.

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What Kind of Tree are You?

When we moved to our present house fourteen years ago, a tall tree grew just inside the driveway. Three thick limbs stretched up to the sky. One limb pointed toward our house, the second toward our neighbour’s, and the third toward the road. We thought a tree growing in the driveway strange. Yet we admired its grandeur.

I don’t know when the bark began to split. But I didn’t think anything of it. Eventually I wondered why there were so many carpenter ants at the base of the tree. When woodpeckers began to peck holes into all three limbs, I knew they were after the ants.

From a distance the tree still appeared strong and beautiful. Close up was a different story. Last winter woodpeckers had penetrated deep into the inner core, well past the centre of one of the limbs. Now we did not want to be responsible for a limb falling onto our neighbour’s house. The tree had to go. After the tree feller cut it down, we mourned because of the rotten interior. At some point a strong wind would have toppled it over.

That tree caused me to ponder the difference between believers and non-believers. At birth all of us are born in sin. Like the inside of all trees we are spiritually dead. “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God” (Romans 3:10, 11, NIV). That is why sin crouches at the heart of everyone, believer and non-believer alike. Sometimes our own fleshly desires tempt us. Other times it may be the world or Satan and his demons.

Like the tree whose bark split we are tempted to sin. Ants and woodpeckers try to pierce our heart. James cautions us, “When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death” (James 1:13–15, NIV).

Paul writes to believers: “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it” (1 Corinthians 10:13, NIV).

Have you acknowledged that you are a sinner saved by grace? If not, cast yourself on the Lord and cry for mercy. Jesus is mighty to save, and the Holy Spirit will guard your heart and mind.

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Fit for Faith

You’re invited to the launch celebration of Fit for Faith – 7 weeks to improved spiritual & physical health on Tuesday, October 11th, 2011.
To join the fun, please follow these simple steps:
1. On Tuesday, October 11th place your order for Fit for Faith through Amazon.com
2. Retrieve the Amazon Order Confirmation Number from your order.
3. Visit http://kimberleypayne.wordpress.com to discover all the gifts that can be yours.
4. Email your name & Amazon Order Confirmation Number to kimberleypayne [at] nexicom [dot] net
5. After submitting your information, an email will be sent to you containing the information to access the Bonus Gifts. Choose all the free gifts you like.
Note: Gifts and prizes are available only on October 11th

Kimberley Payne's Virtual Book Launch

Kimberley Payne, author and speaker, is launching her book Fit for Faith - 7 weeks to improved spiritual & physical health on Tuesday, October 11th at Amazon.com. You can help Kimberley achieve ‘best seller’ status by purchasing the book at Amazon.com on that day!

About the book:

This book unites physical health and spiritual health through a 7-week program to lose weight and develop a deeper relationship with God. It is a reference on cardiovascular exercise, strength training, prayer, healthy eating, Bible study, flexibility exercise and journal writing.

About the Author:

Kimberley Payne is a motivational speaker and author. Her writings relate raising a family, pursuing a healthy lifestyle, and everyday experiences to building a relationship with God. Through her work, Kimberley hopes to inspire women to live happier, healthier lives that glorify God. Kimberley is a former personal trainer and has worked in the designing and counselling fields of weight control, stress management, self esteem improvement and wellness programs. She enjoys recreational activities with her husband and two children near Peterborough, Ontario. You can visit her website at www.kimberleypayne.com


Bonus!
Buy Fit for Faith – 7 weeks to improved spiritual & physical on Tuesday, October 11th and receive loads of FREE gifts from many generous supporters.

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These free gifts are valid on Tuesday, October 11th only.


Disclaimer:
This Best Seller book launch has been coordinated with the help of the John 3:16 Marketing Network and many other generous supporters. The free gifts are deliverable electronically over the Internet or by email by individual authors and supporters. They are not in any way associated with, nor deliverable by, Amazon.com
 

The Circle of Life and Death

While visiting my son’s place, I loved to go to the park. Every day I hoped to catch a glimpse of a mother duck and her eight ducklings. One day I saw them again. After five weeks they had grown almost to their mother’s size.

Those ducklings reminded me of the circle of life and death. This cycle is quite obvious in the backwoods. For years a tall dead pine marked the edge of our cottage property. Then one day it fell. Soon another pine began growing in its place. Down the lake I recently spied a cedar tree growing several feet above the ground in the soil of a fallen tree.

Life begets death in this sin-cursed earth. How eager I am to live forever with God in the new heaven and new earth! There the redeemed will be of one mind—loving and serving God. The world, the flesh, and the devil will never be lurking in the shadows waiting to entice one to sin. All creation will rejoice and praise God forever.

I do not understand why some believers bought with the precious blood of Jesus look forward to utopia on this present earth. According to those people, life and death will still exist. Babies will still be born with a sin nature. Sure, Satan may be muzzled, but the flesh and worldly influences will still entice the unregenerate to sin. How can that world compare to the joyful realities in the new heaven and new earth?

For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea (Habakkuk 2:14, NIV).

I believe the Holy Spirit is speaking about the new heaven and the new earth, not this sin-cursed earth.

The Lost Ducklings

Emerging from the safety of the bushes, a mother duck waddled across the sidewalk to the upper pond. Eight tiny ducklings followed her into the water. At the time my husband and I were taking our grandson for a wagon ride at the park near our son’s house. Since we would be visiting them for awhile, we knew we would be giving him many more wagon rides.

Although the park had the usual playground equipment, it also had a walkway around two huge ponds. Between the upper and lower ponds lay a gentle slope with bushes and a waterfall. Our grandson looked forward to seeing the ponds because of the many ducks that lived there.

A couple of weeks passed before we saw the mother and her ducklings again. How much the ducklings had grown! This time the mother was leading her young to the water of the lower pond. The group slowly waddled down the hill toward the larger pond. The mother slipped into the water. Soon the ducklings followed her. I counted, “One, two, three…” “Two are missing,” I exclaimed. “What could have happened to them?”

We did not have long to wonder. Soon the two stragglers appeared in front of a bush near the upper pond and began to waddle toward the others. Immediately, two of their siblings climbed out of the water to join the stragglers. As soon as they met, the four ducklings waddled toward the water and slipped into the water of the lower pond. Then the whole family glided together through the glistening water.

What an excellent picture of how believers should support those in need, especially other Christians! Paul writes to the Galatians, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2, NIV). Moreover James urges, “Love your neighbour as yourself” (James 2:8, NIV). Those ducklings reminded me of how the church should operate. Peter Scholtes wrote the hymn, “They’ll Know We Are Christians by Our Love,” based on John 13:35. “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

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The Persistent Squirrel

Squirrels live in the woods behind my house. They must find enough food there. Yet a few years ago they discovered the bird feeder in our yard. Scurrying up the tree, they perched precariously on top of the feeder. Last year my husband moved the bird feeder to our over-sized obsolete satellite dish. When the squirrels managed to find it, we were amazed. We could not understand how they could reach it.

This year my husband saw a squirrel leap through the air from our neighbour’s tree, carefully walk across the mesh dish, and jump onto the top of the feeder. After eating some seeds and scattering others on the ground below, the squirrel dropped down onto the grass. I was glad my husband had witnessed that squirrel. Now we understood how those squirrels reached a bird feeder, dangling in the air.

Since we wanted birds to eat the seeds, not squirrels, my husband had a bright idea. He hung the bird feeder to the large arm at the back of the satellite dish. The next day he looked out our back bedroom window and saw a squirrel perched on the top of the feeder. We wondered how it could get there. What persistence! What danger! That squirrel knew what it wanted and risked falling from a high distance to get it. Those squirrels persevered to gain the prize—bird seed. God promises believers will persevere for the ultimate prize—eternal life with him. And he gives us the strength to do it.

The Apostle Paul viewed the Christian life as a race. Likewise, the writer to the Hebrews urged his readers “to run with perseverance the race marked out” for them (Hebrews 12:1, NIV). We do this by fixing our eyes on Jesus, who endured the shame of the cross for the joy to follow. “Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:3, NIV). Those whose spiritual eyes remain focused on Jesus will persevere to the end.

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