So You Want A New God?

Good morning and welcome to Our Daily Walk.

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“And God spoke all these words, saying: ‘I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before me.’” Moses wrote that in Exodus 20:1-3.

It seems improbable that the children of Israel would want to follow anyone other than God, but they did. Even as Moses was receiving the commandments from God, the people convinced Aaron to make a golden calf for them to worship. “We want a new god!” they proclaim.

Obviously they didn’t appreciate all that God had done and was doing for them. In the time that Moses was gone, the people tired of the true God, and desired a new one. It seems as if they could not wait to fashion a god in their own image.

We see similar instances throughout the Bible, so the concept is not really new. But it is still disturbing when we see anyone who dismisses God in favor of a manmade variation of Him.

Our entertainment today is filled with inaccurate and belittling depictions of God, Christianity and generally all things righteous. Not content to take God’s name in vain, some are looking to refashion God into something that people of today would want.

I’ve heard people say that they just couldn’t believe in a God who would ever send anyone to hell, would destroy the world by a flood, would destroy cities because of recreational sex, or would banish Adam and Eve from the garden of Eden for making just one mistake.

People have their own ideas of what their god should be like. They want that god to conform to their norms and desires, not the other way around.

But then it is nothing new for people to fashion their own god. Aaron failed in his leadership and faithfulness. Instead of reprimanding the people, he actually led the effort to make the golden calf which they later worshipped.

By the time Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal they outnumbered him several hundred to one. These false prophets had led the people away from God and caused them to sin greatly. But on Mt. Carmel, Elijah provided the ultimate evidence as to which god was real. Their god, Baal, was nothing but a product of their imagination. But Elijah’s God, the real God, was willing to prove Himself to the people that day.

Why do people desire a new god today? Many see God as “out of touch,” “boring,” “too set in His ways,” “antiquated.” They yearn to draw from the pageantry, mysticism, rite and emotion of other religions, and to incorporate them into worship to God. They long to give God a “makeover” in order to portray Him as more acceptable in a world that is growing increasingly godless.

Simply put, they are ashamed of this God. They loathe His intolerance of other gods and religions, and they desire their new god to be one of the many, not presuming to be the “only” one.

Some religious groups throughout this nation have already succumbed to the demands of having a new god. Their new god is not fashioned out of gold, nor is it exotic and foreign. It is simply a man-made variation of the one true God, with all of the “offensive” parts taken out.

Theirs is a god that soothes the conscience of the sinner without removing the sin. Theirs is a god that sacrifices the blessings of eternity for the fleeting pleasures of right now. Theirs is a dangerous god. Beware!

On Our Daily Walk today, may we never be tempted to fashion God into something we desire. Rather, may we diligently seek Him, worship Him, honor and obey Him in all the ways that He desires. May we never seek a new god, for we are already blessed to know the only God!

Our thought for the day: “God can do without us, but we cannot do without Him.”

May God bless you on your daily walk.

© Our Daily Walk, Mike Baker, 2007. Permission is granted to copy these articles provided they are not sold and the author's name and copyright are included.

Eliminate The Evidence

Good morning and welcome to Our Daily Walk.

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A miscarriage of justice. That’s what some people call it. A man is arrested for a crime that he committed. The evidence against him is overwhelming. The witnesses who saw him do this thing are ready to testify against him. But then it happens. The key evidence somehow is lost. The witnesses have all been coerced by the man’s friends into changing their stories. The man goes free. Why? Because the evidence against him had been eliminated.

Criminals know that evidence can be devastating. That’s why they spend so much time in trying to eliminate it. They wear gloves to prevent leaving finger prints. They wear disguises to keep people from recognizing them. They work their deeds in the dark to cover their evil ways. They simply do not want any evidence around.

The Bible speaks about some people who sought to eliminate evidence that they didn’t like. Those who are evil are against God and will stop at nothing to draw people away from God and away from righteousness. God’s ways exposes evil ways. That’s why those doing evil hate the light of God’s word.

At times during the ministry of Jesus the Jewish rulers plotted to overtake Jesus or even kill Him. They feared His popularity. But this fear was not limited to Jesus. John records a plot relating to Lazarus. He, of course, had died in Bethany and Jesus called him out of the tomb four days after he had died. The news of this resurrection quickly spread to nearby Jerusalem and a great number of the Jews began to seek after Jesus because of this miracle.

Listen to this reading from John 11:45-48.

Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him. But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things Jesus did. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, “What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation.”

The Jews seemed convinced that Jesus was very powerful—enough so to work many signs or miracles, not just the raising of the dead. They realized that left unchallenged, Jesus would continue to draw the Jews to Himself and that would eventually eliminate their own roles and places of importance.

The Jews were really in a dilemma. If they openly acknowledge the powers of Jesus, they would have to admit that He was the Son of God. But they could not refute the miracles that had been seen by so many—especially when that miracle was a man who was raised from the dead.

Verse 53 states that from that day forward the Jews plotted to kill Jesus. But they didn’t limit their target only to Jesus. John 12:9-11 tells that while Jesus was at a meal in Bethany the Jews plotted to intervene.

Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.

So their tactic was to try to eliminate the evidence. With no Lazarus, the story of his resurrection would certainly fade. And, they reasoned, if they eliminated Jesus then His followers would also soon disband. But their assumptions were incorrect.

To the Jews of that day, Jesus and His disciples were a threat to their ways and they sought to eliminate them. Instead of accepting Jesus as the fulfillment of prophecy, they rejected Him in order to preserve their earthly standing.

Friends, many people today will attempt to eliminate the biblical evidence of morality, salvation and righteousness. It goes against their earthly agenda. It threatens their ability to sin without guilt. But no one can eliminate the Word of God. It will be the standard of our eternal judgment whether we accept it or not. That evidence is indisputable, unchangeable, eternal.

On Our Daily Walk today, may we determine to learn something from the Bible each day. May we become so acquainted with the evidence in God’s word that no one will ever be able to eliminate the truths that God reveals.

Our thought for the day: “Prejudice is an unwillingness to be confused with the facts.”

May God bless you on your daily walk.

© Our Daily Walk, Mike Baker, 2007. Permission is granted to copy these articles provided they are not sold and the author's name and copyright are included.

The Message Changes Us

Good morning and welcome to Our Daily Walk.

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A story was told of a preacher who was very concerned about reaching the lost of his community. He had pondered how he would be able to reach some of the people who had no use for religion at all. As he examined all of the possibilities, the preacher decided that he would just go where the lost people were and try to blend in as much as possible. He reasoned that if he was successful in becoming their friends and being more like them that he would be more effective in reaching them for Christ.

His plan seemed reasonable but it certainly did not fit every situation. One of the spots that the preacher went to reach the lost citizens of that town was to the local bar. At first he just sat around, awkwardly attempting to make small talk. But before long he was able to recognize all the regulars and he became familiar with many of their problems.

He explained his frequent trips to the bar as being a part of the Lord’s work in reaching the lost. But before long the preacher, in an attempt to further blend in, began to also consume some of the drinks as he conversed with the patrons of the bar.

The preacher’s noble goal of reaching the lost was compromised due to his lack of proper reasoning and judgment. He had willingly placed himself in a position of temptation and jeopardy on almost a daily basis. By the time he began to drink with the others, drinking seemed to be just the normal thing to do. In the end, it was the sinners who converted the preacher instead of the other way around.

A church marquee sign once read, “We don’t change the message, the message changes us.” As Christians we submit to the wisdom and direction of our Lord and we willingly allow our lives to be changed by the words of the Master.

Paul stated in Romans 12:1-2, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

At the conclusion of that same chapter in verse 21 he stated, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Friends, many good people have been lured away by the wiles of the devil. His attractive packaging of sin has caused the majority of the world to fall for his trap. But God desires that we should not be like the world, rather we should be transformed into instruments for His service.

Notice also that Paul’s words include the actions of renewing our minds and overcoming evil with good. These are actions for the faithful child of God. If we do not actively live our religion, we will soon be without it.

So how would you assess your situation with God today? Have you been conformed to this world or transformed into a faithful follower of God? The choice is totally up to you. God wants you to obey Him, but He will not stop you from following after other gods if that is what you desire.

The preacher who fell to temptation had a good idea—find the lost where they are and minister to them. But in his failed effort to reach the lost, he compromised the message and in the end the wrong party was changed.

We must always be mindful of the lost and do all that we can in order to reach them. But we must be careful not to fall to the temptation to change or compromise that great message from God.

On Our Daily Walk today, may we frequently compare our life to what God expects of us. May we seek out ways to transform our sinful life to a life of righteous living. May we resist the temptations to conform to this world.

Our thought for the day: “The longer you look at temptation, the more liable you will be to fall for it.”

May God bless you on your daily walk.

© Our Daily Walk, Mike Baker, 2007. Permission is granted to copy these articles provided they are not sold and the author's name and copyright are included.

Heard Anything Good Lately?

Good morning and welcome to Our Daily Walk.

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In a typical day most people behave, obey the laws, love each other and generally do what is right. But what do we see at the start of the newscast or on the headlines in the paper? It is generally bad news. Murder, robbery, tragedy, infidelity, scandal, lies. After such a steady diet of bad news we may even forget that most people really are good.

Bad news sells newspapers. Salacious details of marital infidelity and deviant behavior draw huge audiences to daytime talk shows. Reality programs on TV are geared towards the sometimes brutal and unloving elimination of contestants. And don’t even get me going on the behavior of athletes and celebrities!

We live in a society that thrives on bad news and scandalous details. Gone are the days when the good guys always won and when common sense morality guided our actions. People actually root for the bad guys today and call it entertainment. Wouldn’t the world be a better place if we heard more about good things than bad things?

It would appear in many ways that our world has been turned upside down. What was universally rejected as sinful behavior years ago is now openly flaunted as acceptable.

Rejection of the traditional family model in favor of quick divorces and co-habitation promised free love, fewer hang-ups and more happiness. But instead we have record levels of broken homes, children without parents, rampant spreading of diseases, etc.

We live in a nation with unrivaled wealth, freedom and standards of living. But these do not guarantee righteous living. True happiness and satisfaction of life can only come through obedience to God. If our world would have followed God’s instructions we wouldn’t be in the shape that we find ourselves in today.

Unfortunately the appetite we have developed for bad news is not restricted to entertainment or news. A few Christians seem determined to know only the bad things about others. Granted, sin must be confronted and corrected, but I speak here more in terms of gossip, backbiting and other speech that is not intended to improve a given situation, but rather to exploit and expose it.

Just like in the news, the majority of people will be good, do well, and live honestly. But the ones who gain our attention are usually the ones that have done something wrong.

Listen to what Paul says in Ephesians 4:29, 31 and 32.

Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.

Earlier in verse 15 Paul encourages us to speak the truth in love. Of course, sometimes that truth may hurt as it is told to others, but when it is delivered in love and with the right motivation a worthy goal can still be reached.

Paul struggled with how some would react to his admonitions and corrections. In Galatians 4:16 he said, “Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?” Surely Paul never intended his words to be malicious or purposely hurtful. Yet he recognized that if his good intentions on correction were not clearly demonstrated the people could turn and consider him an enemy.

Friends, don’t be drawn into Satan’s plan to devour one another with our speech. Rather, seek out the good in one another. Jesus died for each one of us and God is patiently waiting for all of mankind to repent and obey. That’s good news for a world full of bad news. Have you heard anything good lately? Use it for edification!

On Our Daily Walk today, may we seek to be encouragers of others as we speak the truth in love, correct with gentleness and persuade others to find the grace of God in the gospel of Jesus Christ. May we set our minds to let our words be used for good, whether in correction or praise.

Our thought for the day: “The man who cannot be angry at evil usually lacks enthusiasm for good.”

May God bless you on your daily walk.

© Our Daily Walk, Mike Baker, 2007. Permission is granted to copy these articles provided they are not sold and the author's name and copyright are included.

Thank God

Good morning and welcome to Our Daily Walk.

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An act of giving a gift is treasured much more by the giver when the recipient says, “thank you.” Just that small reply is a sign of appreciation, an acknowledgment of the one who gave. We do an excellent job most days in showing our appreciation to others for what they provide, and this should also include thanking God for all that He has done.

One area that always needs our attention is expressing our thanks to those around us. We often take for granted the good that people do on a regular basis. Instead of praising a son or daughter for always putting away their dishes, for example, we may focus on correcting them for not doing something properly or in a timely fashion. Even though their good efforts far outweigh their mistakes, our messages to them can be seen as overly negative and without appreciation for the good that is being done.

Studies have shown that when positive feedback and reaffirmation are given freely to employees, children and others, the result is less stress, more productivity and fewer mistakes.

I don’t think that people purposely want to stress the negative. I just think that sometimes we may forget to say “thank you” for the positive things.

Many of Paul’s letters begin with a thanksgiving to God for the people, their faith and their good works. While reading these words one is drawn to the fact that Paul’s act of thanking God was a continuous one, not just a single occurrence. Here are some of Paul’s thoughts.

In Romans 1:8-9, Paul says, “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers.”

In 1 Corinthians 1:4-5 we read, “I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge.”

Philippians 1:3-6 says, “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

Colossians 1:3-4 states, “We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints.”

Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3, “We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father.”

To his younger preacher friend, Paul writes in 2 Timothy 1:3, “I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day.”

Finally in Philemon 4-6 Paul says, “I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers, hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints, that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.”

What joy these people must have felt to read and hear that Paul was praying for them in such a way! Friends, I encourage each of us to not only thank God for our blessings (which certainly includes one another), but also that we may follow Paul’s example and also tell one another that we are praying for them, thanking God for the blessing that they have become in our lives. I thank God for each and every one of you. Thank you for being a blessing!

On Our Daily Walk today, may we take the time to purposely thank someone for doing something good, especially if it is something that they are doing on a regular basis. May we make it our habit to tell others when we are praying for them. May we learn to always say “thank you” especially to God.

Our thought for the day: “A thankful heart enjoys blessings twice—when they’re received and when they are remembered.”

May God bless you on your daily walk.

© Our Daily Walk, Mike Baker, 2007. Permission is granted to copy these articles provided they are not sold and the author's name and copyright are included.

It Depends On You

Good morning and welcome to Our Daily Walk.

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“Well, what do you want to do?” the question was asked to the young wife. “Do you want to make this marriage work or do you want to continue in the other direction and call it quits?” The husband looked on patiently waiting for an answer. His devotion to the marriage was quite evident. Forgiveness was available. Reconciliation was within reach. “It depends on you,” the counselor said.

The above exchange is fiction, yet it is played out over and over before counselors and ministers. A relationship is in trouble. Communication has deteriorated. Repairs are available, but both parties will have to agree if the healing and reconciliation are to take place.

Paul writes concerning personal relationship in Romans 12:18 when he says, “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” This entire chapter in Romans is full of tremendous advice concerning the Christian life. Our lives are to be presented as living sacrifices and we are to be transformed into what God desires rather than to be conformed to the world. Our attitudes toward others should be full of love, respect, affection. Our response to those who persecute us should be blessing instead of cursing. This is one chapter that all Christians should read frequently.

Although most Christians would desire to be faithful to all of these instructions, many will find themselves falling short in their attitudes and actions concerning personal relationships. It isn’t easy to be patient while being wronged. 1 Peter 4:12-19 gives us a glimpse into the inevitability of persecution and the fact that we should not be ashamed, but rather glorify God through our sufferings.

One Christian is wronged by another. A choice is to be made. Should he confront the brother one on one as Matthew 18:15 says and seek a quick resolution, or should he instead tell his friends about the offense and build a sympathetic following? Will he choose to be forgiving if the offending brother seeks reconciliation as Luke 17:3-4 commands? Or will he choose to withhold forgiveness and hold the offense against his brother in perpetuity? Jesus said in Matthew 6:14-15 that our forgiveness from God is linked with our willingness to extend forgiveness to others.

The Bible is quite clear on how personal conflicts should be resolved. If you read Matthew 18:15-17 and Matthew 5:22-26 you will see that both the offended and the offender have responsibilities. The offended has an obligation to seek out the offender and attempt to bring about a resolution. Likewise, the one who has offended others is called upon to seek reconciliation with his offended brother before he offers his worship to God. Although these actions are difficult they are still within our power of choice. Remember, as much as it depends on you, live in peace.

Failure to resolve these conflicts can lead to other sins and problems in life. When reconciliation is not desired, relationships will die, factions will arise, and unity will be abandoned.

Reconciliation without forgiveness is impossible. And withholding forgiveness when an offender repents and requests forgiveness endangers the eternal destiny of the offended. The wise path to choose is the one that allows you to settle issues as they happen and to remember them no longer.

As Paul mentioned, we are to seek to live in peace with others “as much as it depends on you.” Dear friend, in many cases you hold the key to reconciliation. Use it frequently. Forgive, restore, reunite, repair, encourage. Seek peace and treasure it when you find it. A better world awaits and it just may depend on you!

On Our Daily Walk today, may we make a list of people who have angered, offended and hurt us. May we also make a list of people who are angry with us. Then with prayer, humility and determination, let us approach these others with the goal of reconciliation, healing and forgiveness.

Our thought for the day: “Forgiveness saves the expense of anger, the high cost of hatred, and the waste of energy.”

May God bless you on your daily walk.

© Our Daily Walk, Mike Baker, 2007. Permission is granted to copy these articles provided they are not sold and the author's name and copyright are included.