Monday, June 29, 2020

SIX PRINCIPLES FOR LIFE


        Billy Graham was one of history’s greatest evangelists. It’s impossible to know how many people were brought to Jesus by his efforts during his 7 decades of bringing the Gospel of Jesus to people all over the world. In his book, The Journey, Rev. Graham shared six personal principles for living which he expounded in 2007. I’d like to share those with you today.
        1.   MAKE IT YOUR GOAL TO LIVE AT PEACE WITH OTHERS. It’s impossible to do this with everyone in our lives. We can’t change their attitudes that must come from them. The key is to ask God if we are at fault, and if so, to confess it and seek His forgiveness. We’re not here very long on earth, so let’s not waste time arguing so much.
        2.  AVOID REVENGE. Why be a captive of the past? If someone has harmed us by breaking the law, we have the right to bring that person to justice, for our own good and the good of society. But hurting someone only because they have hurt us is destructive. We can’t change the past, but we can seek God’s forgiveness for whatever wrongs we have done. 
        3.  GUARD YOUR TONGUE. Use it for good instead of evil. Far too many relationships have been torn apart due to deceit or undue criticism. The tongue can and should be used for good, so let’s make that our goal. Don’t let unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful to build others up.
        4.  NEVER REPAY EVIL WITH EVIL. Evil acts or speech are sin that is like a cancer in our souls. Evil comes from Satan who is opposed to God. Why some people repeatedly choose evil instead of good is a puzzle, but God can replace evil and sin with love and kindness if we ask Him.
        5.  TREAT OTHERS AS YOU’D WANT THEM TO TREAT YOU. That’s the principle behind the Golden Rule. How different lives would be in we actually practiced such a simple idea. the Bible says, “With humility comes wisdom.” we all need God’s wisdom in our speech and dealings with others.
        6.  PRACTICE THE POWER OF FORGIVENESS. God’s Word tells us to hate the sin but love the sinner. This is the way God sees us. When we sin, we shake our fist in God’s face, telling Him we know better than He does how to live. But God still loves us and that’s why He sent Jesus to forgive us.

May the Good Lord bless and keep you this day.

Rev. Bob Tasler, www.bobtasler.com

Monday, June 8, 2020

OVERCOMING EVIL IN THE WORLD

        If you woke up this morning expecting things to be better, you’re in for a shock. Authorities tell us CoViD19 is still killing people, so we’d better do as they say. The riots have lessened, but the resentment and hatred are still with us. The stock market may be going up, but only because we’re going farther into debt. If you expected the world to be a better place today, you’ll be disappointed because the causes are all still there.
        Things might seem better if we were more realistic in our expectations. Riots will not lower the amount of hatred in our world. “Have-nots” still hate the “haves”, the Left still hates the Right and non-Christians still hate Christians. We could soften our terms, replacing hatred with resentment or discontent, but the feelings are still the same. Hatred is with us because there is evil within us. It’s been that way since sin first came into the world.
        People today hate to hear about sin. “It’s so negative!” they say, but happy feelings won’t make sad truths disappear. Indignation won’t change facts.
        Modern progress has hoodwinked us, saying if we just do the right deeds, say the correct words and adopt their attitudes, we can make the world into the kind of world it’s meant to be. “Social justice” is what the secular world believes we need. “Social Justice” will order the world correctly, and then humanity can make this planet a very good place, maybe even a perfect one.
        Someone once said, “You mean you can't eat that fruit? No, no, you won’t die. You’ll become like God.” That’s what humanism wants for us, to think we can be like God. But all we get is proof of sin - violence, riots, theft, looting and even murder. “Oh stop! You’re being negative again!”
        A few days before His crucifixion, Jesus was in Jerusalem telling His disciples what to expect. They saw big buildings, wealth and accomplishments. They were dazzled by the big city, but Jesus told them: “Don’t expect a wonderful life just because you follow me. Rather, expect tribulation and trouble.” 
        Apostle John recorded Jesus’ Good News:  “In the world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) Men or women, great or small, young or old - we're all mistaken if we expect to make the world perfect or even a really good place. Because of sin, that won’t happen! Evil will always rear its ugly head.
        Satan hates the goodness of God and wants to destroy His efforts. Satan wants to kill us all and defeat God. But it won’t happen - we have God’s promise of that! John wrote to early Christians, “The one who is in you [Jesus] is greater than the one who is in the world [satan].” (1 John 4:4). That’s Good News! We’re not in this confusing world alone. God is with us and will deliver us!
        May we all be encouraged today because the Savior who lives in us is greater than the Evil One in the world. All people will die, but all who trust Jesus will not die forever. We will be raised again to eternal life. Praise God for His mercies new every morning!
Life is good! Praise Jesus who makes it so by faith.
Rev. Bob Tasler, www.bobtasler.com

Monday, June 1, 2020

CHURCH DOORS OPEN AGAIN!

        Yesterday, for the first time since the epidemic moved leaders to close church doors for corporate worship, Carol and I participated with about 50 others in a regular Sunday worship service at our home church in Parker, Colorado.
        Praise God that our church doors here are again open for worship with friends, visitors and fellow members! The singing was great, the liturgy was comforting, the Gospel of Jesus was proclaimed, the Sacrament of the Altar was joyfully received, and the service was memorable. (Government guidelines were, of course, followed.)
        I’m sure I wasn’t the only one whose eyes brought tears of joy as we finally could be together again. True, it has only been three months since churches were closed, and yes, we could participate in recorded online services in our homes. But worship together with others is most beneficial, so we praise and thank God for His renewed gift to us.
        Lamentations 3 tells us, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies will never come to an end; they are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness!” It is my fervent hope that we Americans will always have, and never lose, our Constitutional right to freedom of religion. It is far more precious than we realize.
        As our worship concluded, we sang together, “Thank the Lord and sing His praise! Tell everyone what He has done. Let all who seek the Lord rejoice and proudly bear His name! He recalls His promises and leads His people forth in joy with shouts of thanksgiving - Alleluia, Alleluia!”
        We left there with thanksgiving that God has brought us back together. There are those in our nation and world who would close church doors forever and that would be tragic to us all. Thus, it is my fervent prayer of thanks to God, and a request that we shall always be allowed the privilege of meeting together for mutual strength and worship.

May our doors to corporate worship never again close, O Lord!

Rev. Bob Tasler, www.bobtasler.com