It Can Happen To You!

Now Boaz said to her at mealtime, “Come here, and eat of the bread, and dip your piece of bread in the vinegar.” So she sat beside the reapers, and he passed parched grain to her; and she ate and was satisfied, and kept some back.  Ruth 2:14

He noticed her! Men are not always given to noticing things, sometimes we can be downright dense in that way. In Ruth we are told that age old story of man and woman. As Boaz first asks who this young woman is, and then tells her to come and sit at mealtime, the reapers no doubt do the  usual nudging and pointing to each other, knowing as everyone does who is not directly involved what is going on in this circumstance. And within a couple of chapters in scriptural time, they are indeed husband and wife. Awww! 

Of course, it will not escape your notice in reading the story that Boaz redeems Ruth, and the word is not used lightly in the scriptures either. It is a picture of Christ our Lord and His bride foretold in this story of the ancestors of Jesus. Redemption can happen to you! And it will, for our Lord Jesus has noticed you and me, and the time of the wedding comes closer with each passing day of this walk with Him. Our Lord has paid the price for us on the cross at Calvary. And now we wait for the proper time, because this most important of weddings cannot be rushed. Christ the Lord will be married to His betrothed, and every one to be saved from the world must be born, and grow and live. So when will the time be? I don't know, no man does. 

Rejoice, the time of our Redeemer comes quickly!

Bucky

A Week

“For after seven more days I will cause it to rain on the earth forty days and forty nights, and I will destroy from the face of the earth all living things that I have made.”  Genesis 7:4

Sometimes we may entertain ourselves with thoughts of the end times and how it would be nice to know the date. We may want to give some thought to being content with what God has given us by His word. Noah got a seven-day notice from the Lord. A week. Think what you or I might do with seven days before the destruction of all living things. A week. This is not an exercise to put your witnessing on the spot. You've done that. We know the time is short in a general way. This is about keeping faith in the Lord when suddenly the stress goes right to the top of the scale. A week? Was repentance a thing in Noah's time? Were prophets sent out to warn the world? Noah and the kids were busy loading animals right up to the fateful moment. Was there no time for prayer for the city down the valley, the town on the hill? Was prayer even a thing in Noah's time? A week...so long when we await something we desire, but so short when given notice of the world's end. 

Thank You, dear Lord, for the blessing of life in Your Son, Jesus!

Bucky

That Story Of Repentance

​So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them. Jonah 3:5

We often think of the great turns in the Bible such as, Paul meeting Jesus on the road to Damascus, or Gideon taking up the leadership of Israel in a time of oppression, but what about this city of Nineveh? Israel and Judah struggled for centuries to believe God, but Jonah walks into Nineveh one day and the entire city, great in extent, believes God! And as we read in our verse today, they did something immediately to show their belief. Word got to the king of Nineveh, and he sent out his word saying, "Let's repent!"

That such a great city can believe God and repent of their evil ways gives me great hope for a great nation of our time. Notice how the repentance in Nineveh began with belief in the people, what we would call a great awakening, then the ruler responded to the will of the people and led the city to repent. And God relented of the destruction that He had brought near to that great city. All of that started with believing what God had to say.

May our great nation believe God today,

Bucky

Freely Thanksgiving

And when you offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the LORD, offer it of your own free will.  Leviticus 22:29

The gathering at the annual feast begins to close toward the dessert, and as the main course dishes are picked up someone in a clear, loud voice offers up thanks to the host and hostess. Suddenly, everyone feels it...the obligation. I shall be impolite and rude should I not now offer up a thanks with the chorus, one thinks. Why did I purpose in my heart to wait until after the pumpkin pie? The next one anguishes.  Why are we all thinking in a Biblical idiom? Another wonders almost out loud. Yes, it has become the annual feast of the giving thanks obligation, and the Lord wants none of it. Freely giving gratitude to the Lord is the sacrifice our God calls for in our verse for today. Courtesy is a fine obligation to fulfill, but our Lord desires the genuine and freely-given thanks from the heart. 

Thank You, dear Lord, for the week of giving thanks!

Bucky

We Can Pray

With the force of a flood they shall be swept away from before him and be broken, and also the prince of the covenant. Daniel 11:22

One short trip to the news media sites of the world and the forces of the world become apparent. Just one me cannot stand up to the forces I see in the reports. And yet, we read from Paul's letter to Ephesus that there are forces in the spiritual realm behind and beyond those forces we can read about and see. So, do I add to my tiny force my brothers and sisters in Christ? Yes, but we together would no more slow down the forces of the world than just me alone. When the flood comes, as Daniel foretells, I am not even the smallest of impediments to its flow.

However, Daniel received the word of this prophecy from someone. And as we read in the prophecies throughout the Bible, there is this someone telling of how this force will act and where it will go and what success or failure it will have. That's the one I want to know. How do we contact that one when the forces try to overwhelm us? From the Bible we know who this one is, and He is God the Father who came to Earth in His Son, Jesus. And the method of our contact is of course that we can pray.

It seems such a simple thing, but simple is nice in a world grown complex. Pray with God and rest in His love!

Bucky

Where Strength Comes From

Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. John 14:10

Jesus shows His disciples and us in this verse a holy relationship with His Father and His Father with Him. And our Lord showed Himself completely submitted to the Father in authority. And then there was that bit the flesh does not want to read: the miracles of our Lord Jesus were done by His Father who dwells within. Sorry, old once-born flesh, there are no magical words or lengthy incantations we can gain to do miracles. In fact we see here that miracles are the works of God alone. But wait! Did not Jesus say that if we were to believe and not doubt, then great works would be done for us? How, O us of the shaky faith, will we ever come to not doubt without the Spirit of our Lord within us and complete submission to the Father? And did we miss the bit about 'for us'?

Have a great and faithful day in Christ the Lord, and Him in you too!

Bucky

Now That's A Name

And he answered him, “It is I. Go, tell your master, ‘Elijah is here.’ "  1 Kings 18:8

This sort of thing can only be done by someone whose name is known, at the very least known to this master. The pomp that appears in this verse shows us that this name is known far and wide though. If I walked up to the White House in Washington D.C. and stated my name in just this fashion, it would likely not get beyond the front door without some form of derisive laughter. Even if I tried to use Elijah's name, it wouldn't work as so many have been named after the prophet in the years since that time. However, in this time and place in the scriptures, Elijah the prophet of God had a name that carried a ton of weight. At this particular time in scripture though, the name of the Lord and His prophet was about to carry a lot more weight in Israel as Elijah was here to call out the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah to a little contest on Mt. Carmel. And we know where that went! There is however a name that is known even more than Elijah's.

Rejoice in the name of the Lord Jesus, He has a name that is known!

Bucky

Not By The Law

And by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.  Acts 13:39

Have you got the lusts of the flesh under ironclad control? Is your every moment obedient to the law of Moses? Congratulations, you and the Pharisees have much in common. I fear there will be a great shock when you meet Jesus though. The Pharisees were proud of their strict law keeping, but our Lord took issue with them and pointed out what the scriptures had to say about their merciless law enforcement and traditions. 

Then there was the rest of us, the once-born sinners who depended upon the mercy of Jesus to become reborn saints. A woman caught in adultery? Not only were we not qualified to throw stones, having done it by deed or thoughts ourselves, but we don't want to kill someone with rocks or by any other means. We want to sit there with Jesus and draw in the sand. Children would know exactly what our Lord was doing down there and would have been there with Him before us.

Yay, let's get down with the Lord and play in the dirt. 

Grace to you and me from our loving Lord Jesus and God our Father!

Bucky

A Wise Request

Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this great people of Yours?  2 Chronicles 1:10

A wise request as we know from our Bible training. And God acknowledged this request from the heart of Solomon with wisdom and knowledge, plus wealth, power, and honor. We do not get to rewrite the Bible histories, but rather we learn from them. One question does come to mind though. Could Solomon have asked to be relieved of the lusts of the flesh? Peter and Paul both went on about it in their letters. Jesus made us understand that even the thought of such was sinful. It seems like removing the lusts of that old man of the flesh might be a great relief to any of us. God could certainly do something like that, but that He does not do so speaks to a use or purpose for it that our Lord has in His plan for us. This struggle that we and Solomon face until we go to that eternal rest in Christ must therefore serve the Lord's good purpose too. 

Thank You, dear Lord, for the struggles of this day!

Bucky

Undecided Still

Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6

The news did not carry reports of the change some had promised. It seems that in many places the near balance in our voting remains. We are undecided still, it would appear, or perhaps we are just strongly decided in two opposite directions? However, in asking for some encouragement this morning, the Lord pointed out this verse to me. And does it seem to you like we have been here before? Election results such as this may lead many to wonder, "What purpose does my voting serve?" I guess at least it maintains the balance. The Lord has better words for us though, "Be strong and of good courage," He says to us as we face the challenges ahead of us this day. Even more encouraging is to not fear or be afraid of them, whoever your 'them' may be at this time. This is no idle command though, for the Lord your God and mine, goes with us and, no forsaking us is His assuring promise.

No matter who wins what office, God never leaves us!

Bucky

Crazy With Idols

A drought is against her waters, and they will be dried up.
​​For it is the land of carved images,
​​And they are insane with their idols.
  -- Jeremiah 50:38

There is just something in the air of an election time that makes me think of verses such as this one from the prophet Jeremiah. Drought, images, idols, we have it all in this nation, and the insanity as well. Does that make us stand out from among the other nations this year? Not at all! It was pointed out to me that at least four major river systems have historically low levels this year around the world. However on Wednesday, when or if the election does not go as some might think, then we may have a bit more insanity on our side for a brief moment. When we read further into Jeremiah's prophecy though, we see that this is not something any nation should strive to qualify for. Prophecies from the Lord about Babylon or Babylonia are something to avoid. Worship the Lord our God, rejoice in His Son, and reject idolatry.

Have faith in Jesus. He returns any day now!

Bucky

P.S. Vote too!

Look To Him

Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. Colossians 2:8

We appear to have a contest in this verse: the tradition of men and the basic principles of the world, against Christ. Those three accordings are not going to come to an accord. We have seen before how we are given one Spirit by Christ, and then the world and the flesh vie against it. And of course Jesus told us how many would choose the wider way toward destruction and few the narrow gate toward Him and life. Those who choose to believe in Jesus are always outnumbered it seems. 

But then, there is the Christ! He rose again on the third day. He is the Shepherd who laid down His life for the sheep. He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. He is the light and the life. We are outnumbered, but it surely doesn't feel like it when we look to Him. 

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”  John 16:33

Love to you in Christ our Lord,

Bucky

Worry Over The Faith Measure

For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. Romans 12:3

Do I have enough faith for the mission in front of me? It is interesting, even a bit amusing, that we must have faith that we have enough faith. Paul states that each of us has been dealt a measure of faith. Can I see that in drams, grams, ounces, or feet? And what would it mean to me if I knew that I had xx units of faith? The measure of faith that God has dealt to me tells me that to worry over it will not increase it. But instead this worry strains my faith a bit as worry is sin since Jesus our Lord commanded us not to worry. That one trips up many a saint who might think their sin is kept well under control. Then we ask about that worry over the faith measure. Ach, no!

Yes, in Christ have faith that each of us has enough faith, even if the measure seems as small as a grain of mustard seed.

Blessed Jesus live in me, please!

Bucky

Two Will Be

I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left. Two will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left. Two will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left.” Luke 17:34-36

Back in the dim ages of time, or when I was a teenager growing up in that little church on Oak Street, this passage terrified me. The pastor made clear to me that on no account did I want to be left behind. The terror of those words stayed with me until other business such as work and school brought me back to the world of reports and textbooks and all the stuff that work entails. Years later, and all or almost grown up, the big hit in the literary world was, Left Behind, the debut novel of the long series of books. Yikes! Here we go again. A few more years pass by and now I study the word of the Lord in earnest and try to make sense and apply passages such as this one. Taken where? What do I do to prepare? And terror of terrors, what happens to that one of each pair left behind?

My discovery for today? The mens and the womens are not there. Nope, the Greek word used was duo, and it means two or the twain (KJV). So, the married couples are not off the hook, it could be a man and a woman in bed, or two men, two women, two children, and so on. The prevention measure of only going out to the field with someone of the opposite sex, not going to work. A man never getting caught grinding grain? Nope, won't stop the taking away. Each of the examples given are normal daily activities of the time. So, perhaps we need to be prepared in a different way... His way.

Be saved. Be ready. He comes!

Bucky