Bringing Sons To Glory

Scripture Reading: Hebrews 2:9-11

Recently I was reminded of a song that is so expressive in its wording and powerful in its imagery that it is becoming one of my "top ten" favorites. Most of my top ten spots are held by the famous hymn writer Charles Wesley. This songwriter however, evokes some of Wesley's words in his famous hymn, "And Can It Be." This newer song is entitled, "The Father's Love," by Stuart Townsend. There are many great phrases that describes the Lord's passion for our salvation, but one caption in the first verse, echoing the roots of its words from Hebrews, says volumes: "Bringing many sons to glory." Before I go on, here is the first verse by Townsend,

How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory

Imagine and involve your mind in the context of this last stanza. Does it impress upon you the awesome love with which we are loved? Satan has a way of turning our heart's attention from the awe of this love, by dangling some worldly fancy. How sad it is to lose ground in relationship to the supreme love of God for some foolish thing or idea that will ultimately betray us. God never stops loving us. But isn't it more than a tragedy to think of all He went through to secure our salvation and for us not to love Him and worship Him? Let's pick apart the phrase and spend a moment exploring the concepts behind the words.

The concept of "Bringing,"
God sent His Son on a precise mission. A mission no one could undertake but Jesus. If you want to put a human parallel to the ministry of Christ you could aptly say that Christ was the Author and top Person of the Divine "Search and Rescue" operation that targeted mankind. Jesus Christ not only came into the world to die for us, but He also promises us that we will be "taken," or "brought" to His eternal home. It is awe inspiring in itself to understand how little we have to do with our own destiny! But the greatest issue of love is found not only in the searching, but the rescue. Searching does no practical good unless the victim of sin is found, and then brought out of his or her desperate surroundings into safety. We may not see it, but all around us are forces of darkness attempting to drag us down and discourage us from looking and helping those outside the fold of God. Let us press onward as He did. Not that we can save anyone, but we are left in the world to be His "search parties" in seeking the unredeemed. What love there is in bringing! A favorite Greek word of mine is "euongolizomai" meaning "the one who is bringing good tidings." This is what and who we are, those who bring. For if nothing good is brought, then nothing can be found to rescue.

The concept of "many sons."
The King James often uses a dual gender meaning in a masculine sense. The verse can be rightly translated as sons or daughters. The emphasis here is on the quantity, "many." Note that not all called to from the search light of the Gospel will desire to be rescued. However Christ is determined and willing that not one should perish, so He plays no favorites either. His chief desire for you and I is that we might desire to be with Him. Christ for sees the end of all things and the condemnation that awaits mankind. Fortunately Heaven's halls will be lined with those who said, "yes" to Christ's saving hand. The fervency of Christ's desire sweeps through the ranks of the living on earth and the dead of the earth in the physical sense. When Christ returns, He first will let his Calling unto the saints take a faster than light stroll through the cemeteries of the world. He will sweep through and not forget to raise anyone who placed their trust in Him. He remembers that prayer of faith said hundreds of years ago or perhaps days ago. He remembers each man, woman and child's name and according to I Thessalonians 4:13-18 they shall all be changed and brought together with those who are living. Speaking of living ones, not one of them who has their faith in Him shall be left on the Earth. The concept of "many sons" will be seen throughout the skies as the once dead of the ages and the living are all united again, just as He said. This is His Joy.

The concept of "to glory."
We discussed glory two weeks ago. It's a subject inexhaustible by the mind of man. Sufficient to say, we know it is the express desire of Christ to clothe us with His glory. To give us all the rights and privileges of the greatest Royal Family that ever reigned. What we shall be in physical form we do not know, but we know from John's first epistle, we shall be like Christ, and that is definitely more awe inspiring than anything we can envision. His Glory is His Home and now it will be ours! No one has come so far as the wretched mess of a sinner who exchanges his or her filth for the most purest robe of righteousness there is. Christ is not stingy. He desires each of us to share with Him. He even desires that we reign with Him! He desires the most ultimate existence that no science fiction author can dream up, nor any philosopher can theorize on. The love is perfected in us. The measure of His goodness is weighed on the scale of our sinfulness. No one commits more sin worthy of death than others, for all have been condemned. But put Christ and His desire for our glory on the scale, and the weight of His love dispels and buries our sin in the grave of "non-remembrance."

When we consider how wretched we are and how merciful He is, it cannot be thought adequately on how loving God is towards us. We see only the earthly disasters, God foresaw the eternal disasters.

Guard against carnality and cynicism. Drifting away from God will dim your sight of this awesome phrase and reality in the Scriptures.

If you know Christ, you are the very target of that Divine power that sought you and bought you from the condemnation of sin. Take some time this week to reflect on the Supreme Sacrifice for your soul. It is most probable that we cannot take it all in of who we were and what God has done. If we could take it all in and have perfect understanding, it may be that salvation through Christ would be an unappreciated favor, not, the most grandest, sophisticated, hope bearing mission that ever was made: Bringing You, bringing me, to Glory.

Father, how we thank You for not exercising Your right to turn away from us in our sins. You turned away from Your Son for us who were no sons or daughters, but became such as we believed on Christ. Thank You for Jesus. Help us not to be religious in our walk with You, but lovingly related and connected to Your heart. Thank you in advance for the home that awaits us with You, and all the saints for all times. In Your Gracious Name, Amen.

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Blessings Beyond Words

Scripture Reading: Psalm 100



The more I grow as a Christian the more I realize that the words, "Thank You," are such weak ones to deliver to our Provider. This doesn't mean we stop giving thanks, but it seems God deserves so much more, some greater memorial of praise to Him. Some discourse of deeper and greater expressions of our gratitude that goes far beyond "thank you." Unfortunately, many times this mortal tongue is bound by its known vocabulary. However, we see that the offerings of our thanksgivings are far greater than the words we say when it genuinely comes from a heart that showcases true gratefulness and joy to God. The illustration here at the left is one I never have seen before of the Pilgrim's First Thanksgiving. But the image on the man's face (standing in prayer) so reads well his heart that should be the outpouring of our heart to God. There is many faces to be studied in this painting. Each face typifies an attitude common to mankind. There is one face though that is either curious or disturbing. Notice the man at the end of the table to the right. While everyone else bows in prayer, the man here is looking away. I haven't figured out if he is not having anything to do with the thanks offered to God, or, if he is curious to know what makes these other people give thanks like they are. Either way, it shows that some folks aren't acquainted with our God as we believers are.

Believer's have so much to be thankful for. This should be noted in three areas of the Psalm reading for today. I trust you are clicking on the link or opening your Bible to read these. Psalm 100 is the second Psalm I learned in Christian grade school. The verses have stuck with me ever since. The declarative statements in the latter part of this Psalm contain blessings that are ours and that no one can take away. Note these three areas that Christians ought to be extremely thankful beyond words for.

For the Lord is good. This may sound like something we have known and have a firm grasp on since Sunday School days. Its obvious, its review, its...........the key doctrine the Devil attacks when beating down the Christian's heart. When I reread this passage I sort of liken this last part of the Psalm to perhaps a father on his deathbed giving the last pearls of knowledge and wisdom he can impart to his children before he goes to meet God. These three elements are essential in his mind for the road left to trod by his offspring. THE LORD IS GOOD. We should be thankful that the God we serve has a heart of goodness towards us. God could have chosen to afflict us every day with torment and that for no purpose. He could have never made any room in His heart for you and me. God was under no obligation to send His only Son to die for us. God did not have to provide your turkey in the oven either. The blessings of God are manifold and countless. It is difficult though to see this when our lives are given so many months left to live by a doctor, or when your "secure" employment just got its termination notice, or when your child totally abandons the precepts and principles of God's Word for some other desire. None of these things are light things. They are real and they happen. But the Lord is good. Though God blesses us immensely, the complete expression of this thought will completely be understood in glory. When we finally see all that He has prepared for us and all that He kept us from in this world, then we shall fully know the meaning and find a greater voice of uttering our thanksgiving.

Secondly, His Mercy Is Everlasting. This would take longer to articulate in words than you have time to read or I have the description to write. A verse I am constantly reminded of is Lamentations 3:22, "It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not." I often wonder how close I have come to being vaporized by God's Holiness in light of my sin. Thanks be to God that the precious blood of Jesus stands in our behalf, not as a license to continue in sin, but a payment for that sin that should condemn us. If we really grasped how black stained sinner's we are then our lips would never cease to thank and praise Him for His unfailing mercy. The mercy of kings and people have shown that there is a condition or a very thin limit to their "mercy" towards an offender. The thing that makes God's mercy so far more powerful and different than that offered by a man is unfailing, unsearchable love. Unredeemed man forgives in obligation to a standard or law. Christ has no sense of obligation, but a love that tears His heart to see us chained and condemned in sin. Friends the gulf between obligation and love are wider than the span of the universe itself. You and I are loved and therefore have His mercy. That is certainly worth all our thanks and praise, as feebly as this old tongue can say.

Lastly, His Truth Endures to All Generations. Again, I can't describe the perimeters of this fact. The key word is "endures." The truth of man lasts only as long as it suits man. Human truthfulness is in a constant state of change. Things that were once true are now replaced. Nothing in this world is fixed or stable. Suppose God emulated man in this point. One minute saved by grace, the next minute grace really wasn't enough! Can you imagine the total despair we would all be in! His Truth not only endures, but endures to ALL generations. Every people of every decade since time began have the same promise that God doesn't change. What He promises to one people of His love, salvation, grace, etc. He grants to all people. God is not in the business of playing favorites. It is true that He has chosen Israel for His own, but the offer of salvation is made manifest to both Jew and Gentile. There will be no segregation in Heaven. The same Lord is rich unto all who call on Him (Rom. 10:12). Imagine a society where the standards are righteous and nothing can corrupt them. No dependence on a political party, empty promises, failing motives, etc. This describes the effect of God's Truth. God's Truth totally enacted in the Millennial Kingdom, of which we as believers will all enjoy.

In conclusion, we haven't spent much time talking about the traditional thanksgiving list of blessings, like family around us, good food, warm homes, etc. All of this is most worthy of thanksgiving to God. But consider this. If the three points of this Psalm were absent from God's character, we would have little to celebrate. In deed all that we have in this life and in the life to come all hangs on these three points. If God were not good, we would live in mortal torment and be subject to divine affliction every day. If God were not merciful, we would all be in Hell right now. If God's truth was not everlasting our world and very lives would be in more chaos than we could imagine.

Ponder a moment in your heart the meaning of this Psalm in your life. As you sit down at the dinner table this week, look around and see the evidence of Psalm 100 all around you. We know that God desires true gratitude and thankfulness of the heart. Lip service alone He does not desire. Remember the older man in the picture. See his face, study his pose. Incorporate that in your heart of thankfulness. Words need to be spoken, but the outpouring of your heart is what God delights in. Read the Psalm at your table this Thanksgiving. Express your heart from it to your table guests and families. Show Christ's love for you in a tangible way. Blessings beyond words are ours everyday.

Heavenly Father, Provider of all the good things we have. Our words are so feeble compared to the magnitude of your blessings. All we have is by Your hand and we're so grateful. Help us to expound that gratitude in our hearts. May Your Name be praised for all Your works towards us. Help us not to be complacent in thanking You. Forgive our offenses, heal our hurts, and nurture us with Your peace. May we show it towards others as You have shown it to us. We praise Your Name High King of Heaven, Provider, Savior, and so wonderfully our Friend. Amen.

The Slough Of Despond

Scripture Reading: Luke 15:11-24

It has been said that John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress was second in popular book sales only to the Bible. I am not sure of that contest now. However, if you have never read the allegory I would challenge you to do so. It is the tale of a Christian's plight through this world. People and places he encounters all have allegorical names. Such as Mr. Pliable who represents a fair weather friend, or, Evangelist who represents the persons telling of the Good News of the Gospel. The City of Destruction denotes the places of this world slated for judgement. So on we could go. The book starts with Christian, the main character, having a burden on his back (sin) and desiring salvation sets out to find the Wicket Gate and the path to Eternal Life ending in the Celestial City (Heaven). Now if you're not familiar with the story I can assure you it is most Biblically sound. The writer Bunyan wrote it while in an English dungeon of which he was put there for preaching the Gospel.

The first hardship Christian encounters is the Slough of Despond. This is a term so described by Bunyan as:

"It is the low ground where the scum and filth of a guilty conscience, caused by conviction of sin, continually gather, and for this reason it is called the Slough of Despond."

Christian falls into this Slough and sinks under the weight of his burden of sin on his back. He does this by not heeding the stepping stones the King (Jesus) put in the slough as a way of escape. Near to drowning, and left by his temporary companion "Pliable" Christian is rescued by a goodly man named "Help."

The Slough of Despond is interesting in two ways to me.

The first, we find that the Slough of Despond is a place of discouragement but can also be a place of remembrance pointing to thankfulness. Though the Lord does not at all wish us to dwell in sin and be languished with its guilt and shame, we ought to remember our guilt only long enough to give us a fresh renewal of Christ's salvation. He paid All He had so you and I would not be forever drowning in our own muck of sin. Drowning is a horrible thing, but more so when its in mire. I have fallen in quicksand once. Fortunately there was a strong branch I grasped held of to pull me out of the mire. Such a Branch is the Righteous Branch, of whom the Strong arm of the Lord extends to everyone in trouble. It reminds us of just how gracious our Lord is by making an escape of a humanly inescapable horror.

This next short paragraph is speculative. This is just me talking. Opinion. Nothing more. But I have for some time wondered at the thought if when we reach the portal's of Heaven, when we receive our glorified un-cursed bodies, once we have encountered every wonder there is, even to the point of seeing the Savior's wonderful loving face, will we completely and fully, 100 percent appreciate and fully recognize all that was paid on our behalf for such a salvation as we have? I wonder if at sometime, NOT that we are in any means unappreciative or apathetic of our Supreme Benefactor, but will it be when we shall see the hordes of the Lost (those who refuse to accept Christ as Savior, not a Christian who has committed a sin) have their final judgement pronounced on them, cast into the Lake of Fire, hearing the agony of our lost friends and even family as they disappear forever into that great cauldron of suffering simply because they refused the Strong Branch that wanted so desperately to save them. Will it be then, LITERALLY seeing what could have and should have been our fate too, then appreciate so great a salvation to its fullest? Will we then run to bosom of our dear Savior and thank Him in joyous weeping? Reminding us of His price for our salvation by the gentle touch of His Hand on our shoulder, we feel the scab of the nail prints that He bore for us.

The second point is that this Slough of Despond can be instrumental in working out our own need for restored fellowship. When we sin, it cost us inwardly and outwardly. Sometimes Christians refuse out of pride to admit to our sinfulness. The mire has to sometimes rise to uncomfortable levels around us before even we cannot go any longer in denial of sin. Is there some burden of sin you have, perhaps something you have been dealing with for a long time? Perhaps its something that no one but you and God knows about. The prophet Jonah tried such a ruse to run away from God in refusing to own up to his prejudice about going to preach revival to Ninevah. Jonah's Slough of Despond was worse than a mud bog, but in the literal digestive tract of a large fish (let your imagination take over). But it was good for Jonah because it made him come to realize that his sin and the all seeing eye of God cannot be dismissed in secrecy. I urge you if your in a situation that keeps making your life miserable, to let it go, repent and turn away and out of Slough.

The Slough of Despond was aptly named. Despond is that emotion or state in which deep depression and lack of joy flows freely. There are other causes for this same emotion, but when it is Sin, its clear to the Christian. Despond will crowd you, choke you, stifle your life until we are brought to the place of confession and repentance. We can be so glad that "Help" (Christ) stands ready to forgive and pull us out of the mire we have made for ourselves. Not only did Help pull Christian out of the mire, but He put Christian back on the right road that leads towards Heaven. We can be assured that Christ will do no less for us too.

Watch for the Slough of Despond, avoid its clutches, but gaze for a slight moment and remember that those who are by choice languishing in Despond can be freed as you have been. To go a step deeper, perhaps the Lord would use you to rescue someone from that state today. I do not mean that we can offer salvation to the Lost in the sense we do the saving, but we can encourage and lovingly confront a failing brother and by the Lord's permission help to lift them out of the mire, pointing them to Christ who is their Benefactor.

Father, thank you for rescuing our poor helpless souls from the Slough of Despond. We do not deserve such kindness. We ask You to help us to avoid the pitfalls of life that lead to miry bogs. If we find ourselves trapped inside one such bog, may it not take long to call to You for help and forgiving lift us out. We pray for a brother or sister living in some form of sin. Help them not to desire the filth any longer. May today be the day, like the prodigal, they will arise and head towards the Father. Thank you for Grace, greater than our sin. We love you Lord. In Your Name, Amen.

Central Is Never Busy

Scripture Reading: Psalm 69:30-34

In my last post I mentioned I like old things, particularly old hymns and songs that are mostly forgotten. Out of these hymns there are certain phrases that makes wonderful sermon and teaching topics. Cliff Barrows, the choir and song leader for Billy Graham, once remarked that good hymnology makes wonderful theology. Though a lot of songs are not completely theologically structured, they have good references to Biblical principles. The reference we are going to look at today is one of prayer.

The old hymn we're looking at is "The Royal Telephone." by Frederick Lehman 1919.

The lyrics are extremely clever in their analogy to our open line of communication to our Father in Heaven. We as Christians have an always "open line" direct with Heaven at any time or any place in the world. The question is, how often do we use it or take advantage of such a privilege? Let's look at some privileges and one urgent suggestion that we should appreciate about our "connection" to Heaven.

First of all, we have no intermediate operator. It used to be back before even the dial telephones that one would have to call the operator to speak to whoever they wished. Later on there were, and I suppose still are, direct line phones. When I think of such, I am reminded of the "red" phone that you would see in the movies of the 60's era, where some secret service man would pick it up and the call without dialing would go immediately to the Oval Office of the President. This "hot line" is exactly what we have with God. We need no priest, no pastor, not anyone to connect us with God. That is one of the greatest blessings we have over all other false religions. You can talk to God anytime without any interference or anyone listening in. Prayer is a personal matter and is not limited by the greatest joy of the soul to the greatest sorrow of the heart. Direct line always.

Secondly, there are no busy signals. Before the advent of "call waiting." we would be constantly annoyed and upset when the buzzing of a busy signal was heard. This was due to either the phone being off the hook purposely or accidentally, or, the person on the other end talking only to someone else. Maybe today you feel like God hands you a busy signal or has too many voices to listen to. We cannot judge God with human means. We cannot understand how He can listens to millions of voices every second and yet heed and understand each one as if they were singularly it. But He does. God stands open and willing to listen to you the believer. You're not bothering Him. The sum of all the world's urgent needs are but a trifle to His Omnipotence. God has never had more than He can handle. The line is open.

Thirdly, there are no charges to be paid. Ever since there were telephones, there have been monthly fees. Now with cell phones, those fees include roaming and data charges too. It can be expensive if not overwhelming. The Devil would like to discourage us with the lie that because we are not as Holy as God, or, because we did not do a great job in the Christian life yesterday, that God cannot and will not hear us. We have to work our way back and earn His trust and ear. No. Do we sin? Yes we do. Does God forgive? Yes He will. Does God act like a tyrant in keeping us down with earning anything? No He does not.

A completely interesting side note about the lies of Satan. Whenever Satan accuses God of being whatever, fill in the blank, and tries to discredit what God says and promises, Satan is only trying to mask himself, because his discrediting accusations towards God is really and truly the way he acts towards his own children, the unbelievers.

The blood of Jesus Christ takes away our need to pay for our sins and earn confidence with God. God sees us as He sees Christ, pure and blameless. He sees us as we will be apart from the world and these fleshly bodies. The Bible does say that we must repent of our sinful practices to restore our fellowship with God, but that is a far cry from trying to win it back. You are His freely, and He is yours freely.

Fourthly, there are no dropped calls. This sort of correlates with what we just talked about with the difference that God is not in the business of "hanging up" or losing you because of anger or some hostility. Cell phones are notorious for losing a call right in the middle of usually something important. One moment you have a full signal, the next you might as well be in a cave. As you talk to God in prayer you have His full undivided attention. In fact, God delights in us talking to Him. He wants a personal dialogue with us. So He will not drop you or leave you stranded. Once you are connected to Him in Christ through salvation, its like having a heavy anchor chain from His throne to the depths of your world. No element, no trial, no doubt or no sin can sever the connection.

Finally, the urgent warning. Prayer is a privilege, and being constantly connected like a line telephone is a great privilege. However, the greatest tragedy of prayer is that its only seemingly used when disaster strikes. This speaks and smells of deep carnality on the part of the believer. Of course, we can freely and always should turn to God in prayer when a tragedy strikes, there is never any shame in that at all. What I am saying is, prayer is supposed to be a constant connection in the good times as well as bad. We are never in need of more prayer to God for us than when we find ourselves in the times of prosperity and plenty. It is such times that we sort of feel free from depending and thanking God for all we are and have. When times are easy we sort of feel like we can do this thing called "life" on our own with no Divine Assistance. How awful we treat God by not giving Him but a sentence prayer in the fields of plenty, but give Him a screaming scroll in the times of agony. How great His love is! This was case with Israel so often. In fact if the Old Testament could be summed up in one thought it would be that God tried and tried for Israel to acknowledge Him and His love everyday, and the same from them to Him.

Spend every day thanking Him, Praising Him for Who He is towards you, Bless Him with praises of song, and speak to Him words of your love as you hear words of His.

Central Is Never Busy.

Father, help me and all who read this to appreciate this awesome privilege of prayer. We can't fathom its full blessing, but we do know what it is like to feel lonely and cut off by people in the world. Thank you that You do not treat us this way and that we can come to your listening Ear and that You not only desire to hear us, but delight in it as well. We hold the attention of the God of all that is, help us to fully realize this everyday. Thank you for not being too busy to talk to us. In your Name, Amen.

The Inner Diamond

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 3

If you lived in Charleston, WV before 1980 you will cognitively remember the old Diamond Department Store. The former Diamond was a seven story building downtown that employed up to about a thousand workers give or take during the holiday rush. Photos of The Diamond are rare, this is the only one I know of on the Internet. It was West Virginia's largest department store sort of reminiscent of a small scale Macy's in New York City. When you watch the classic holiday movie "Miracle On 34th Street" you sort of get the idea of what it was like. Retail fashion life in Charleston revolved around The Diamond. If you wanted to get something nice, have a big shopping trip, eat lunch, see the Christmas glitter and glamour, then The Diamond is where you went. Being from a small town, when I would go to Charleston (the big city for me) my first look at stuff like Escalators, huge clothes displays, something called a Mezzanine, elevators that had operators in them (anybody remember that??) all had its roots in that store. Kids were drawn there because the top floor was touted as "Santa Land" during Christmas. Trains, planes, whatever the toy fancy was back then could be found there. I say all that to say people were attracted to the store for what was on the inside.

We are very attracted to what we find to be genuinely inside. Actually, for an art deco style building, The Diamond wasn't immensely beautiful on the outside. It had a many small show windows, but no real defining architecture. It was big and tall, but outwardly not remarkable. This describes what we as Christians are like to many people we meet. Outwardly, we may not be the most handsome or beautiful, but folks should be attracted to us for what they find inside pouring out of us. I can't remember too many people standing outside The Diamond exclaiming how much they enjoyed shopping there, that was reserved for the inside, for there was the attraction. Granted the first things drew in outside shoppers were the things on display in the windows. In our Christian lives we need to have on display the work of Christ. That should be some of the following:

• Life that is different in attitudes and values than what the world proclaims


• A spirit that is meek towards others and serving as well


• Desire to share openly with others what Christ has done


• A peace and joy that transcends what this world has to offer


• Sense of love for fellow believers and a song of praises to God on your lips

Mankind is looking for what he or she knows is not being offered in the circles of lost people and worldly philosophies. Even though they may mock and scorn, even persecute Christians, they still know that what we have is something they want. This something is not known to them properly, so we must show them by our lives (Matthew 5:16)

Next, we as believers in Christ need to provide a welcome and friendly response to those outside the Faith. Whether you could afford to shop there or not, on a cold winter day, The Diamond was a nice place to come in and be warmed. The lunch counter upstairs served hot soup and other things to help bite the chill of the air. Christians likewise need to be hospitable to unsaved folks as well as to some of our own brethren. This sounds like a no-brainer but it is often difficult due to social upbringings, church teachings, and other formative values. I struggle with these issues as much as anyone of you do. The point is that even though we struggle, we are to be making positive progress towards hospitality. This is an area in which my church really strives in. The church even has a "Hospitality Team" that does so much to make newcomers and everyone else feel welcome. If folks look at our lives and judge Christ by our own actions, what does that say for the job evangelism is doing? The fact is we show others how we want Christ to be shown. Christ Himself does not change and conform to what we want Him to be, but to a person who knows nothing of Christ, then our image in their mind equals His image. Therefore it behooves us to be our best for this reason. Do others see your life as at the very least approachable, kind, and hospitable? Is there anything that makes them want to come to your church by what they observe its members doing?

Lastly, though whatever happens to our outward person, out inner person must not go into decline. My facts may be a bit off, but The Diamond was open from about 1903 to 1983. The building was getting harder to take care of and there was something new in town--a mall--namely the current Town Center Mall. The Town Center had a multitude of stores, more eating places, more open environment and The Diamond sort of faded into the shadows. Now a days you can drive past the old building and it looks the same as it did years ago, but inside the story is much different. The building is now completely renovated and holds nothing of its former glory. It is now State of West Virginia government offices. This sad change, in my opinion, is what happens when Christians begin to lose sight of their God, begin to fall into worldly carnality, and dabble in practices un-befitting to a believer. In fact we can let our lives stray from the Lord that we become unattractive to everyone. We no longer are a show window of what God is doing, because we don't let it be known. We no longer have an inviting spirit because there is not much in us that is cheery or lively. We don't even have much impact because we have let some other course of life hinder our testimony. Spiritual decline is rampant. It doesn't mean that we are lost all over again, but it does mean that we are not pleasing God and that we are not actively helping to advance His Kingdom. What a contrast to what He desires of us! When we see the signs of our spiritual decline we must:

• Pray for a fresh desire to please and serve God


• Ask God to forgive our selfish behavior


• Look for new ways to increase our awareness of His service

Are these things easy to do? The answer depends on how much and long we have strayed. The good news is that Christ will always take us back! Have fallen prey to decline? Ask Him to lift you out of it.

The outer Diamond building still stands, but it is what was inside, the inner Diamond, that attracted. Let's ask God to help us this week to be that inner attraction that will lead others to Himself and glorify Him.

Father thank you that you love us when we were unlovable. Thank you that the Holy Spirit dwells within us, making us better than we ever could be ourselves. Help us Lord not to lose sight of the attractiveness of Christ in our hearts and lives. Help us to reach out to people and show them directly or indirectly that there is a difference in knowing you. When our lives decline due to sin that is all around us, lovingly bring us back to the point of restoration so that we may sparkle as diamonds do. Thank you for loving us and helping us, in your Name. Amen.