The Pastor's Pocket

It’s obvious if you just take a casual look around you, most of the Christians you see are not happy.  Why is that? Are there some “extra points” somehow scored by looking mean or angry all the time? Is the “serious face” commanded in scripture somewhere? Maybe I’ve missed it! No, the truth is, Jesus Himself taught the way to happiness. It’s in a balanced, right relationship with God, and understanding that relationship to be the key to real happiness. In Matthew chapters 5 through 7 we find the first lengthy message Jesus preached.  It’s called the “Sermon on the Mount”. In the first paragraph one word is repeated nine times. It’s the word “blessed”. That word means: Oh how very happy. It is a shame that somehow the devil has cheated the redeemed out of the right to their happiness!  We who are saved by grace, forgiven, filled with love and peace are convinced we are more “holy” if we go around with a frown on our face. True happiness has nothing to do with how much “stuff” we have. S

We must learn to live with an open heart and open hands. What do I mean by that? Living with an open heart indicates we are willing to obey God. Abraham, in Genesis 12, demonstrated this  open-heart approach when he made a move in response to God’s instruction.   Living with open hands indicates we are willing to share, to give what the Lord has blessed us with. In Genesis 22, Abraham demonstrated open hands by being willing to sacrifice his son Isaac.   All of us choose whether we will be containers or channels, resources or rivers. A container, or a reservoir, holds or stores something. A channel, or a river, allows whatever comes into it, to flow, to move on. God blesses us to bless others.   Blessings that come to us must flow through us. Stay open to the will of God, and as He blesses you, open your heart and your hands and share His love with others around you. ThePastor’s Pocket Pastor Bruce Freeman  

I John 5:3 says that God’s “commandments are not grievous.”  In other words, they are not difficult to obey for those who love the Lord. Christianity is not just dos and don’ts.  However, they are in the Bible for our benefit.  God knows that certain boundaries are needed for our well-being.  Moral, physical, and spiritual boundaries are given so that we might live full and abundant lives.   The truth is, when we put God first, we are happier.  When we follow the restrictions found in God’s Word, the quality of our lives is much better overall.  The Book of Proverbs is filled with wisdom ready to be harvested.  It also is full of dos and don’ts.  For example: Don’t envy the wicked (24:1). Don’t try to get even with people (24:29). Don’t boast of tomorrow (27:1). Don’t brag or praise yourself (27:2). Do fear the Lord (24:21).  Do love your enemy (25:21). Do discipline your children (29:17). Proverbs contains a host of other instructions that indicate your wisdom if you follow them, and

So how salty are we?  Jesus compared us who are saved to salt.  Salt has influence. Put it on any kind of food and it will change how that food tastes.  Jesus said in Matthew 5:13, “Ye are the salt of the earth”. As Christians, we are to be an influence on those around us. The “earth” goes way beyond our church family.  Jesus would have us to influence those beyond the walls of our church.   Here is a little guide you can use to measure how salty you are: ·          Do you believe in the potential of others? ·          Do you serve those who can’t serve you? ·          Do you love those who don’t love you back? ·          Do you give to others expecting nothing in return? ·          Do you reach out to anyone outside of your own church family?   It’s time we all reevaluate our level of saltiness.   How much influence do we have on those who desperately need to be touched by the love of Jesus?   Many in our world need salvation. If we are salty saints, we will impact some

God often moves us out of our comfort zones. He stretches our faith. Consider this; when Jesus called Peter and Andrew, in Matthew 4:18-20, the Lord simply said, “follow me”, and they immediately left the familiar and headed into the unfamiliar. From then on, they followed Jesus.   The same thing is recorded about James and John in Matthew 4:21-22. Both men had to make a major adjustment that affected the rest of their lives.  But Jesus gave them a promise in Mark 10:29-30, “There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my sake, and the gospel’s. But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time…; and in the world to come eternal life.” Nothing is more important than the will of God. Nothing! You might say, my job is important, my career is important, my family is important, my church is important, but I tell you again, nothing is more important than following an instruction from God, whatever that might be.  

I encourage you to read Acts 12:23 and Revelation 4 and 5. The Bible consistently warns us not to think too highly of what we do because God alone deserves the glory for whatever we become or attain. We live in a society that ascribes way too much glory to men.   Athletes that can hit home runs, drive a golf ball 300 yards, win races, or simply run fast; make millions of dollars and are made out to be idols and heroes.   Successful businessmen who make the top fifty “Forbes” list, glory in their financial clout and even in the Church we often see too much pride and think we have need of nothing.   On the average Sunday in America there are more people in stadiums, arenas, and racetracks than there are in churches.    The only one deserving of glory and worship is God!   No athlete, politician, musician, or minister anywhere could accomplish anything were it not for the Almighty who gives them their breath to breathe. Sure, we’ve gone to the moon, split the atom, and discovered DNA.  

Faith is the magnet that draws the attention of Almighty God.   I came across something interesting recently in Romans chapter 4. The whole chapter is about Abraham’s faith. How he believed God, and how he believed the promises that God gave to him. Verse 20 says, “he staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God”. I was struck by the word “staggered”. In my mind, I picture someone who is intoxicated. I’ve seen such people, haven’t you? Someone under the influence of too much alcohol staggers around, they are unstable, they wobble on their feet.  The scripture says Abraham “staggered not at the promise”. In other words, Abraham never wavered in his faith. His faith was stable, solid, strong, and unbending. He really believed what God promised him, that he would be the faither of many nations, and his seed would become innumerable (vs. 18). By faith, he trusted God to bring it to pass even though he could not see it at the time.  God