A Thought for the Day

I was doing my quiet time today and this really hit me hard. Think about it some...

James 4:7-8 - ⁷ So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ⁸ Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.

Why do we tun to God for somethings, and not in all things? Why do we try to live our lives on both sides? We must wash our hands of all evil things, so that we can give our loyalty to only God.

When you go throughout your day, think about the things that you are doing. Are you submitting (humbling) yourself to God or to Sin in that situation? Are you resisting the devil, or allowing him to have a say in your life? Think about this.

In Christ's Love,

Anthony DiGeorgio

Anthony's Challenge of the Week: Be Encouraged!

Sometimes I spend hours upon hours trying to think of a story or a situation in my life that I can use to help illustrate a point I want to make. Ask pastors/reverends/ministers about it. Ever notice how they always seem to have a story that fits? Sometimes I just can't think of a good story to fit my point, and it takes forever.

This week I didn't have that problem, because I can think of hundreds of times I have been in need of encouragement. Every one of us has those stories - times when we were broken and tired physically, emotionally and spiritually. Sometimes we tell ourselves: "If only someone would encourage me. If only someone would give me a boost."

Sometimes things happen - sometimes a lot of things - that seem to drain us. The death of a family member, the "big breakup," losing a job or a hundred other things. These things almost always seem to just pile up an accumulate, and we just don't know what to do. We just... need something, some one.

I like to consider myself pretty close to God. I have a long way to go, no doubt about it, but the Big Guy and I have a pretty good relationship. That being said, sometimes it is just hard to turn to Him for help, for support. In fact, the more discouraged I get, sometimes the harder it seems to focus on God. It is like the discouragement has clouded my vision, making I hard to see the truth I know.

Psalms 34:18-19 - The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are

crushed in spirit. A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all.

God is and will always be the ultimate encouragement. Know this: That no matter what happens, how terrible things seem to be turning and how much you think you can just not do it on your own, God is there! He is close to the broken hearted - it is as if when you hand fallen, he kneels next to you, holding His hand out in an offer to help you out. Sometimes it is hard to see that hand through the tears and the pain, but He is there! Accept the hand!

Not only that, but God has given us other Christians. The Bible tells us that we are all members or the same body, so when on part is hurting, the whole body feels the pain. We are to help and support and encourage each other. One of the kindest things someone had ever done for me I remember as clearly as it was yesterday.

I was going through a very tough time in my life. I didn't tell anyone - I was holding in all the pain, hurt and despair. No one, as far as I had known, was any the wiser - they had no idea. In fact, I always seemed extremely happy. Anyway, one day a man at my church handed me a small, folded piece of paper when he shook my hand. I knew him, but not extremely well. He didn't say anything, but gave me a kind smile. I opened it and read the simple, powerful message. It said something along these lines:

"Cast your burden on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be moved. - Psalm 52:22

I have and will always be praying for you.

Love, One who also struggles"

I didn't start crying, but I had wanted to. The note seemed to open a flood gate that I had built in my heart. That night I went home and spent a long time praying, giving my burden to God. I had heard that verse before, had known it... but for some reason, being reminded of it by a fellow Christian just broke me down. The following day was my first day free from the slavery of the despair I had been experiencing. It was the first time in what seemed like months my spirit was renewed.

If you are at a point where you are doubting or experiencing a situation where you are discouraged know that you are not alone. You do not have to struggle by yourself. Not only do you have the body of Christ here to support and love you, but you have the creator, the Father - God.

Be encouraged! Be encourages because, no matter what you are going through, God is right there to help you. Be encouraged because, whether or not people of this world acknowledge and thank you for what you do, God knows. So don’t grow tired while doing good! Be encouraged because you have a body here on Earth that is going through some of the same things you are – you are not alone. That is where despair comes from, the thought that we are alone – but we aren't.

John 16:33 - These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

In Christ's Love,

Anthony DiGeorgio

Anthony's Challenge of the Week: Prayer!

Last year I attended the Word of Life Bible Institute, as did some of my fellow bloggers on this site. Part of the program of this particular school is a summer ministry with their youth camp. Just about everyone involved with Word of Life gets involved with the camps during the summer. It is a hard time- you work extremely long hours six days a week, and don't get much time for yourself. I was a counselor, and our job was to be with the campers 24/7, six days a week.

We slept in the same cabin, ate with them, swam with them when they wanted to swim and got the opportunity to be a part of each of their lives for that week they were there. I could speak for hours on it, but that isn't the point of this blog (just to note, I love all of my campers!). So, here is the point:

There were a lot of people who needed prayer. Everyone was tired, and everyone was seeking God's wisdom with every decision they were making. We wanted to be true to God for those we were ministering to. I had a list of people I prayed for. Good friends, some of the leadership, and those who had specifically asked for prayer.

But there were also times when God would make me think about someone, and I would pray for that person. It happened once where God put this guy on my heart, let's call him Joe (not his real name). Now, Joe seemed to be fine. He was, in fact, one of the more inspirational guys at the camp who seemed to have everything going just fine. He seemed to be strengthened, in fact. I had this desire, though, to pray for him. I did, for almost a week straight. It was odd for me, because there were so many people who seemed tired and worn who I thought needed specific prayer more than he did.

A few days after I started praying for him I went up to Joe and told him that I had been praying for him, that God had laid it upon my heart to do so. Joe then told me about a situation that had come up in his life that was really draining him, and that the prayers had been needed. I was once again washed in awe, hearing of God's providence.

So, what's the point, you ask? Well, sometimes we tend to only pray for the needs we see, the things people ask us to pray for. We sometimes think it might even insult a person if we pray for them without permission. Sometimes, though, even those thing which seem strongest need prayer. Even those people who seem to just "get it" can use our intervention on their behave. Paul illustrates this in Colossians Chapter 1:9-12:

^"9 So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. ¹⁰ Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. ¹¹ We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, ¹²always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light."

So when you go throughout your Christian walk, know that sometimes God asks us to pray for those things or people that appear strong. Do not forsake praying for someone or something, either, simply because no one has asked you to! The Bible tells us to pray without ceasing (1 Thes 5:17). Though, don't forsake praying for those things you normally pray for. Just remember those things you don't usually think of. :)

In Christ's Love,

Anthony DiGeorgio

Picture © not to me.

2 Sides of the Coin: The Issue of Choosing Salvation

Oh, That's Where My Fork Went

Have you ever been traveling and come across a fork in the road? What did you do?

You either picked it up, or you left it.

You made a decision, didn't you?

Yup, you used good old free will and decided either to leave that fork there or pick it up and add it to your illustrious “Forks of the World” collection. Yup, good old free will.

Or was it that free?

Was your decision exempt from external authority, interference, pr restriction?

Yes! No! Maybe?

Well, let's think about that. If to be free means to be exempt from external authority, interference, and restriction then if your choice was exempt from external authority, interference, restriction it would be free! But was it exempt from external authority, interference, restriction?

Let's think of it in a different way.

Can you order a taco at McDonald's? Of course not. So when you enter McDonald's is your will free or are you a slave to the will of McDonald's? When you enter McDonald's you submit yourself to the authority of McDonald's and the restrictions of their menu. Thus inside a McDonald's you have no free will. You have a limited will, one that is defined by the rules of the arena.

But do I have the freedom to choose within that arena?

In theory, yes. In practice, no.

How can this be. At McDonald's I have the freedom to choose from anything on the menu, correct?

Wrong. You can only choose what you can afford. If you order a value meal, and you only have $1.06, then you are limited to only the items on the dollar menu. So now your will is limited not only by the arena, but also by your abilities.

But certainly I must have the freedom to choose whatever I may as long as it is within the arena and within my ability.

Wrong again. I don't mean to be so negative, but *shrugs*. Now that your arena and ability have whittled down your choices, there are two more factors: desire and consequence. This one is tricky; so I will explain. Desire in this instance means that of greatest importance to you: living, breathing, etc. Desire is complimented and refined by consequence. You “choose” that which will give you the desired consequence. The two are essentially the same.

Now, let's get back to the menu. Your arena and ability have limited you to just the dollar menu. For the sake of illustration lets say you have the choice between french fries or a grilled chicken wrap. You know that if you eat the french fries you will be consuming large amounts of harmful fats and excess calories, but it taste amazing, while the grilled chicken wrap is better for you, it just doesn't have the same flavor as french fries. You will “choose” which ever one fits your desires. Thus desire (and by association consequence), further limits your will.

There is one point I want to clarify. I only used the McDonald's theme for the sake of unity with my spiel, but drug addiction is a much better example. Those people sacrifice everything for their one overriding desire. Now back to your regularly scheduled blog.

I don't understand. What are you trying to prove? Is this world really materialistic? There is a theory that says the only thing that exists is matter; that all things are composed of material and all phenomena (including our decisions) are the result of material interactions.

Well yes and no.

Yes in that the only thing that exists is God; all things are created by Him and all phenomena (including our decisions) are the result of divine mandate. But this isn't true in the fact that God is not matter.

Why is this important?

Because this singular fact is the background to the glory of grace. Without it, grace would be tarnished by the vainglory of works. If we could choose, then we would become worthy of grace because we choose it. Choice would be the deed by which we could claim worth. Thus salvation would be by works, not grace.

What does all this mean for our faith?

You tell me, leave comments or questions, and I will be sure to respond promptly.

Sincerely,

Andrew Hughes

Picture © Bluefishrun at Devianart.com: http://bluefishrun.deviantart.com/

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Is God the Puppet Master?

Have you ever watched a puppet show? The basic idea behind a puppet is easily understood - the puppet master is able to control every movement of the puppet with his/her hand. The puppet (Pinocchio excluded) has no ability to control any aspect of what it does. When it comes to salvation, this type of control is often attributed to God. That He is the puppet master, and humans have no ability to accept or deny salvation. Rather, He controls their "choice." Today we'll be looking at salvation and, using the Word of God, trying to decide the place of human "choice" as it pertains to salvation.

Eph 2:8-9 - ^{8 -} For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: ⁹Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Often the "human" part of choice is thrown off by some because they believe it to be a work. Obviously, Eph 2:8-9 states that we are not saved by any works of our own; so truly, that line of thought is not flawed. There are no works we can do to "earn" salvation. Rather, we are saved through faith, and salvation is a gift of God.

So, is "having faith" a work? Let's look at a few other scriptures talking about salvation:

Acts 16:31 - So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household."

Romans 10:9 - that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

These scriptures are echoed quite a few times in the New Testament. From what these and other scriptures teach, salvation comes from: Believing that Jesus came to the Earth, died for our sins (1 Cor 15:3) and was raised from the dead on the third day. We must believe this. Rom 10:9 then adds to this, stating that we confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe, and we will be saved.

So from these an other scriptures we understand that we are to believe, confess and have faith (Eph 2:8-9). The latter of these is interesting, because faith can be translated as "trust." I don't know about you, but if I command someone to have faith or trust in me, I want them to make tat choice. For indeed, if God were to make the "choice" for us, would it truly be us having "faith" or "trust" in him? He doesn't want puppets. He wants willing beings who love and trust in him.

Just to reiterate the importance of faith/trust:

Galatians 2:16 - "knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified."

So, is "choosing" a work? I don't think so. Works, when spoked about while pertaining to scripture, are things that people thing they do to earn their own salvation. There is nothing we can do to earn our way into heaven, and we don't have to, because Jesus has paid the price. We are not justifying our salvation by saying we choose, but rather our salvation is justified by what Christ has done. When we accept the salvation that God has offered us, we are not doing anything to earn that gift, but are rather accepting the work that Christ has done.

Look at it like this: Say you needed some money to pay off money you owe to, say, the IRS. It's a huge amount of money, and no matter what you do yourself, all the work you do and all the people you borrow money from, you just can't pay it off. Then some rich, generous guy who you don't know walks up to you and holds out a wad of cash that would cover your debt. All you have to do is take it, he say. Now, you didn't work for that money at all. You didn't do anything at all to earn it. He earned that money, and now he is offering it to you, so that you can pay off your debt and be free from it. He choose to give this gift to you, and all you have to do is choose to accept it.

Free will when it comes to salvation is sort of like that. Jesus did all the work for salvation. He did everything, and all he asks is that we believe that he did all the work, and have faith in Him. By accepting that and having faith, we are indeed choosing, but it is not a "work" as Ephesians chapter 2 warns us of. Remember that it all rests on Jesus. That it was his atoning sacrifice that gave us the freedom from sin, if only we would believe; have faith. He paid for it, He did all the work for it. We only have to accept it, to choose it.

Thank you, Jesus, for giving me this free gift.

In Christ's Love,

Anthony DiGeorgio

Suggested reference: http://www.biblelife.org/election.htm

Picture © Electronic Arts / Godfather Video Game