Posted by John L. Rothra on June 29, 2006 under Devotional/Teaching | 
July 4th is the day the United States celebrates its birth. We set off fireworks, eat barbeque, and enjoy activities with friends and family. While all the revelry abounds, many forget the history which led to the birth of our great nation. Beginning with the Pilgrims, who were originally members of John Helwys’ church in northern Europe, who came to this part of the world seeking the chance to worship God as they chose; later, the founding Fathers, in a desire to have a place where they could worship and live without pressure from tyrannical governments, fought for and formed the United States.
What makes this nation so unique? It is the freedoms we enjoy. The founding fathers, led by their faith and dependence on the Bible, wanted us all to have the freedom to worship or not worship, however we choose. This freedom came at a great cost, though. It was not easily won. During the Revolutionary War, 217,000 lost their lives and 6,188 suffered nonfatal injuries. That does not include the deaths of those from other countries or any Native American deaths. What a cost in lives for the freedom we enjoy today! From the Revolutionary War through Gulf War, 42,887,714 people have lost their lives. Over 42 million people have died, not including wars or battles since the Gulf War, defending the freedoms we enjoy today.
While American freedom is wonderful, it is not true freedom. The wars fought, the losses suffered, and the laws of this land cannot guarantee true freedom. All Americans, and all people worldwide, are still slaves, despite the wars. We are all slaves to sin. True freedom comes when we are set free from the slavery to sin. Without this freedom, people live according to their own selfish, sinful desires. Don’t believe it? Just turn on the news. Watch television shows about police videos or the most wanted criminals. Turn on the local news. Walk down the street. What do you see? Burglary, murder, and other violent crimes. We all are guilty of other wrong things: lying, lust, stealing (including that pen or piece of candy). As humans, we try to justify our sin by calling it diplomacy, political correctness, or ‘white lies.’ No matter what we call it, God calls it sin. It is wrong.
All of us at one time or another wants to sin. We want to go faster than the posted speed limit. We want to not tell the sales clerk she gave us too much change. We want to tell our friend that little lie. We figure it’s okay because ‘it feels good’ or reason that ‘whatever the other doesn’t know doesn’t hurt them.’ While others may not know of the sin, God knows of the sin. We are slaves to sin.
We can be truly free; we can be free from our slavery to sin. But just as the freedoms Americans enjoy come with a price, freedom from sin also comes with a price. But it does not take over 42 million deaths to gain this freedom. This freedom only cost one man his life. Jesus laid down his own life to pay for this freedom. Unlike those millions of people who died in war, Jesus did not remain dead. Jesus rose again on the third day. Over 500 people at one time saw the risen Lord! What a miracle! Jesus died and rose to pay for our freedom.
If you are a Christian, meaning, you believe in your heart that Jesus died and rose again, and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord (master and ruler of your life), then you have two freedoms to celebrate this July 4th. Celebrate your American freedom, but also celebrate your freedom in Christ!
If you are not a Christian, then today is your chance to gain true freedom. God said there is a penalty for your sin and that penalty is death. You can either pay this penalty on your own for eternity or you can accept Jesus’ payment for you. It’s your choice. Jesus did this for you. Not just for mankind, but for YOU! He loved you so much that he died for you. When Jesus said “it is finished,” he was also saying “this blood is for you.” You don’t have to do anything to be saved. There are no rituals or processes. No works are required on your part. All you have to do is accept this free gift God is offering to you. Will you accept that gift and experience true freedom?
To accept Jesus into your heart and be saved, pray this simple prayer.
Scriptures to meditate on this Independence Day:
Isaiah 61:1
John 8:30-36
Romans 6:5-7
Romans 8:2
Galatians 5:13-14
Source of casualty numbers: “America’s Wars: U.S. Casualties and Veterans.” InfoPlease.com. http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0004615.html
Posted by John L. Rothra on June 18, 2006 under Devotional/Teaching |
This Father’s day, I want to remind everyone there is a gift available to whomever will accept it. This gift isn’t given to fathers, but from a father. As you celebrate your fathers this weekend, whether it be through a telephone call, spending time with family, or watching a ball game together, remember your Heavenly Father.
God sacrificed His own son for you. Jesus died a cruel, violent death on a wooden cross. Why did he die? God said that we all have sinned, meaning we’ve all done something wrong, no matter how we try to justify it. The punishment for our sin is death. God didn’t want us to have to die for our own sins, because we cannot pay that price. Payment must come by the death of a perfect sacrifice. Jesus was that perfect sacrifice. Jesus’ death paid for our sin. Those who accept Jesus, believe in him, are saved. They are accepting that payment for their sin. Those who do not accept that free gift are still facing judgment. And in order to pay for our sin ourselves, it takes eternity.
God desires that you be saved. He wants you to accept His free gift to you this Father’s day. He loves you so much that He sacrificed Jesus, the perfect lamb of God. But Jesus didn’t die and stay dead. Unlike other gods or religious prophets of other gods, Jesus rose again. On the third day, just as he promised would happen, God rose Jesus from the grave. This real, physical resurrection defeated the power of death to hold us. This provides us eternal life in heaven with God. This is part of this great Father’s day gift offered to you.
Do you know you’ve done things wrong? Are you perfect? Only perfection is allowed into heaven. If you are not absolutely perfect, do you believe you can go against the rules and still get into heaven? Do you believe a perfect God will make an exception for you and allow imperfection into heaven?
You cannot earn your way into heaven. You cannot work your way into heaven. But you can still get there if you are willing to accept Jesus into your heart. When you do, you become covered by Jesus’ perfection and are then able to get into heaven. This free gift of love is offered to all. Will you accept Jesus today?
To accept Jesus into your heart, pray this simple prayer:
Dear God, I have sinned. Forgive me of my sins. I believe Jesus, your son, died for me. I believe he rose from the dead. I commit my life to you. I believe you are my savior and my Lord. Please come into my heart and my life today. Thank you for saving me. In Jesus name, Amen.
If you have any questions, or have prayed this prayer accepting Jesus into your heart, please tell us. Also, please find a local Bible-believing church in your area and begin attending. If you just became a Christian, welcome to the family!
Happy Father’s Day!
Posted by John L. Rothra on June 3, 2006 under Devotional/Teaching |
While in LifeWay the other day, I noticed there are many signs around the store displaying this year’s Father’s Day theme: Honor Your Father. I thought for a moment about this and wondered if there was an intentional double meaning within this phrase. It reminded me of three different pieces of scripture:
- the commandment “honor your father and mother” (Exod. 20:12, Deut. 5:16, Eph. 6:2);
- the greatest command, what is called the ‘Shema’ in Hebrew, to love God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength [or mind]” (Deut. 6:5, Matt. 22:37, Mark 12:30, Luke 10:27);
- the instructions for children to “obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right” (Prov. 6:20, Prov. 23:22, Col. 3:20, Eph. 6:1).
Is the theme “Honor your Father” about honoring God, honoring your earthly father, or honoring both? I would say both, but with a limit. What does that mean? Children are to honor their early father. Even if the child is 44 and the the father is 67, the child is still to honor the father. The child is to also honor God. Honoring God always comes first.
So, how can a child honor both their earthly and heavenly fathers? Let’s take this one at a time.
First, honoring God means doing two things. It begins by accepting Jesus as your savior. All of us have sinned. The punishment for our sin is death. God took that punishment upon himself when Jesus died. This was done completely out of love for us. Jesus overcame death when he rose on the third day. We have a choice of either accepting God’s love, believing in our hearts the Jesus rose from the dead, and confessing with our mouths Jesus as our savior and being saved; or we can reject God’s love and face the punishment on our own. I ask you to please accept God’s love.
The next thing we can do to honor our heavenly father is growing up spiritually. Just as a newborn must grow and learn, so must a Christian. Get involved in a Bible-preaching, evangelistic church. Participate in Bible studies. Read your Bible daily. Do everything so that it glorifies God. Tell others what Jesus did for you.
Second, honoring our earthly father means loving him in the same way God loves you both. Share your testimony with your father. Take care of him when he needs help. Obey him when he instructs you. Learn from him. Mostly, show him how much God loves him by what you do and what you say. Be the servant to him that Christ was to his apostles in the upper room: willing to do the lowliest of low tasks when needed. As said above, glorify God in everything you do with your father.
Have you talked to your father lately? Either of them? If your father is no longer with you, then focus on honoring your heavenly father: God. If your father is still with you, call him up. Don’t let personal pride, egos, vendettas, or other disagreements come between you and him. Such arguments do not honor your father or God. They stem from pride, selfishness, and a lust for things of this world (all are sins against God). Repent and show your father God’s love, not your wrath.
Honor your father today. Honor your father this week. Honor your father this month. Honor your father this year. Honor your father all your life. Honor your father.
Posted by John L. Rothra on June 1, 2006 under Site Updates |
The newest look of the blog has been tested in both Firefox and Internet Explorer and works well in both. While it slightly different from the main ministry website, it maitains many basic design features, including the blue navigation feature and title logo. This should be the last major retrofit of the website for a while. Enjoy the site! Be sure to subscribe, post a comment, or link to us. God bless you!
