Wade McRoberts - Dead Man Not Walking

September 18, 2022September 18, 2022

God’s Requirement for Us

With what shall I come to the LORD And bow myself before the God on high? Shall I come to Him with burnt offerings, With yearling calves? Does the LORD take delight in thousands of rams, In ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I present my firstborn for my rebellious acts, The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:6-8, NASB)

Micah was a prophet in Judah “in the days of Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.” God sent His word to Micah concerning the future of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, both of which had turned their backs on the Lord. (Micah 1:1) The portion above comes during Micah’s indictment of God’s people, and a discussion of what God really expects of us. Yes, this applies to us today!

This segment begins and ends with questions. The opening question: “With what shall I come to the LORD And bow myself before the God on high?” Presumably the prophet is asking what he should bring for a sin offering, since that’s what his answer is. Burnt offerings, yearling calves, rams and oil were all prescribed as portions of sin offerings according to the Law of Moses. God required the firstborn of both man and beast to belong to Him. However, He mandated a substitute fee for the redemption of the firstborn human.

Micah 6:8 image. Found at Knowable Word, https://www.knowableword.com/2020/11/23/context-matters-do-justice-love-mercy-walk-humbly-with-god/

However, Micah responds that God doesn’t want any of these things. He wants our hearts, and the prophet responds with the final question: “[God] has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?” This is actually the fulfillment of what Jesus called the Greatest Commandments, to love God, and love other people. If we could concentrate on loving God and loving others, we would have no problem doing justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly with our God. Above all, He wants our hearts!

Worship: “I Love You Lord” and “I Exalt Thee,” by Gateway Worship

September 15, 2022September 15, 2022

No Other God

“Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts ‘I am the first and I am the last, And there is no God besides Me'” . . . . Half of it he burns in the fire; over this half he eats meat as he roasts a roast and is satisfied. He also warms himself and says, “Aha! I am warm, I have seen the fire.” But the rest of it he makes into a god, his graven image. He falls down before it and worships; he also prays to it and says, “Deliver me, for you are my god.” They do not know, nor do they understand, for He has smeared over their eyes so that they cannot see and their hearts so that they cannot comprehend. (Isaiah 44:6, 16-18, NASB)

In Isaiah 44, the prophet begins by extolling the blessings of Israel, and then discusses the futility of idols.

In the portion above, God is speaking (so pay attention!) Isaiah reminds Israel of God’s names, which also reflect what He does. Isaiah calls Him “the King of Israel”; Israel’s “Redeemer”; and “the LORD of hosts.” Then God reminds them, “I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God besides Me.”

Isaiah 44:6 image. Found at Knowing Jesus,
https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/God,-Uniqueness-Of

In the next section, Isaiah both makes fun of and expresses the futility of idols, and those who worship them. He speaks of a man who cuts down a tree. He cuts it into logs. With one, he builds a fire. He roasts his meal and warms himself with the fire. With another log, he fashions “into a god, his graven image.” He worships it. “He also prays to it and says, ‘Deliver me, for you are my god.'” Isaiah explains why the people of his era would worship their idols, and not the King of Israel: “They do not know, nor do they understand, for [God] has smeared over their eyes so that they cannot see and their hearts so that they cannot comprehend.”

Why does God do this? I don’t know! But He still blinds people from His truth, to fulfill His purposes. I don’t understand, but He is God, and I am not. My job is to trust in His love and His promises, and love Him and other people. My hope is in His name!

We have other idols today. They may not be inanimate statues that can’t speak, hear, or move, much less save, like our God can. An idol is anything that divides our attention away from worshiping the one true God. It could be baseball. What’s wrong with baseball? Nothing, as long as we still worship God, and take care of our families. There are many things that could become an obsession and divide our attention away from where it should be.

The Apostle Paul wrote, “We know that there is no such thing as an idol in the world, and that there is no God but one.” (1 Corinthians 8:4) There is only one God, there is none other. Let’s worship Him!

Worship: “You Are God Alone,” by Phillips, Craig
& Dean

September 12, 2022September 12, 2022

God’s Laws

Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You . . . Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. (Psalm 119:11, 105, NASB)

Psalm 119, author unknown, is very interesting. It’s entitled “Meditations and Prayers Relating to the Law of God.” The author tells of his delight of learning and following God’s laws. The psalm is a study in Hebrew poetry. Each stanza, composed of eight verses, begins with a subsequent letter of the Hebrew alphabet, so there are 22 stanzas. Nearly every verse mentions a synonym for God’s laws (law, precepts, testimonies, ways, statutes, etc.).

In the brief clip above, the author proclaims, “Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.” We have to study God’s word in order to know it, then make up our minds to follow it. Of course, we all sin. What’s important in scripture is that God sent His Son, Jesus, Who became sin for us, and took the punishment we all deserve. God wants us to follow His Son, and receive the forgiveness that can be found nowhere else!

Psalm 119:105 image. Found at Bibliatodo, https://www.bibliatodo.com/En/christian-pictures/your-word-is-a-lamp-for-my-feet-a-light-on-my-path/

The second verse above is, “Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.” It speaks of the value of God’s word. In context, in the time it was written, nighttime travelers had to carry a torch or some kind of lantern in order to see on paths that were often dangerous. Today we have paved roads and headlights, and we take them for granted. Comparing God’s word to precious light shows just how valuable it is to the author.

We should study God’s word. It’s important that we know His statutes so as to set an example to others. We have to know His laws before we can follow them to avoid the charge of hypocrisy, and attract others to be Jesus-followers. Our mission is to populate Heaven. We can’t do that unless we know God’s laws and try to follow them. We have to know Jesus!

Worship: “Thy Word,” by Amy Grant

September 9, 2022

Holy

Out from the throne come flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God; and before the throne there was something like a sea of glass, like crystal; and in the center and around the throne, four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind. The first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face like that of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle. And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.” (Revelation 4:5-8, NASB)

The Bible passage above is from the book of Revelation. The Apostle John was exiled on the island of Patmos, under persecution, and he says, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John.” (Revelation 1:1) The book contains messages from Jesus Christ to seven churches about their conduct, and then things which will occur in our future.

The passage opens with John being shown God’s Throne Room, and a description of the throne of God. Thunder and lightning come out from His throne. “A sea of glass, like crystal,” is in front. The description of the “four living creatures” is interesting, but so is their activity: “Day and night they do not cease to say, ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.'” They do not ever cease to praise God! And they say the same thing over and over again!

Revelation 4:8 Holy Holy Holy Is The Lord God Almighty (blue) — Revelation 4:8 image. Found at Knowing Jesus, https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Revelation/4/8

I’m reminded that a lot of church-going people are put off by music and songs that have repetitious phrases, over and over again. Me, too. UNTIL . . . Years ago during a sermon, a pastor noted that some congregants were complaining about such music. The pastor suggested that that’s what we’ll be doing in Heaven, and doing it for eternity. And then he said that if it bothers people, then maybe they’re not saved! Whoa! That made me think. C.S. Lewis put it another way: He said that God is looking for people who are comfortable in worshiping Him!

We followers of Jesus are here on earth as a dress rehearsal. We’re supposed to act as if we’re in Heaven. “Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” That includes praising God, and singing songs that praise Him. So let’s get practicing!

Worship: “Revelation Song,” by Kari Jobe
& Christ For The Nations Worship

September 6, 2022September 6, 2022

More Verses that Remind Me of Something

Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, But those who keep the law strive with them. Evil men do not understand justice, But those who seek the Lord understand all things . . . When the righteous triumph, there is great glory, But when the wicked rise, men hide themselves. (Proverbs 28:4-5, 12, NASB)

There is swearing, deception, murder, stealing and adultery. They employ violence, so that bloodshed follows bloodshed. (Hosea 4:2, NASB)

These verses again remind me of the lawlessness and lack of justice in our nation. The criminals are elevated above law-abiding citizens. Those who abide by the law are derided, those who break the law are lauded. There is no justice, nor is there peace. People who seek justice are ridiculed. In our biggest cities, crime and murders skyrocket as there is no accountability.

However, there’s Good News! There will be justice in Heaven to those who seek it on earth! Those who love Jesus will live to see true justice!

Worship: “Wishes,” by Out of the Grey

I’m sorry this is so short. I’m having computer issues.

September 3, 2022September 3, 2022

New in Heaven

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.” (Matthew 7:21, NASB)

We lost a giant of a man the other day. On Wednesday, 31 August, Brigadier General Dick Abel entered into heaven and the arms of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I, and many others, miss him.

He was a mentor, teacher, leader, coach, and friend to me and countless others. He had a successful career in the United States Air Force, and an after-career of extreme relevance. There is no telling of how many souls will be joining him later in New Jerusalem because of him.

The Bible verse above is significant. General Abel did “the will of [his] Father who is in heaven,” and assured himself of his place in the Kingdom. Not everyone will get to heaven, only those who have called upon the name of the Lord. Thanks to General Abel, many people have done just that.

Dick Abel has entered into God’s eternal rest. Rest in peace, Sir. See you soon!

Worship: “One of These Days,” by FFH

August 30, 2022August 30, 2022

Return to Me

“I smote you with scorching wind and mildew; And the caterpillar was devouring Your many gardens and vineyards, fig trees and olive trees; Yet you have not returned to Me,” declares the LORD. “I sent a plague among you after the manner of Egypt; I slew your young men by the sword along with your captured horses, And I made the stench of your camp rise up in your nostrils; Yet you have not returned to Me,” declares the LORD. “Therefore thus I will do to you, O Israel; Because I will do this to you, Prepare to meet your God, O Israel.” For behold, He who forms mountains and creates the wind And declares to man what are His thoughts, He who makes dawn into darkness And treads on the high places of the earth, The LORD God of hosts is His name. (Amos 4: 9, 10, 12, 13, NASB)

In my walk through the Bible, I’m currently in the period of the defeat of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah and the books of the prophets that foretold them (my study is chronological, as it makes more sense to me). Each time I read about this period, I’m interested in the parallels between ancient Israel and our own country. The passage above from the Prophet Amos reflects God’s warnings to His people, which were ignored, and led to calamities. Sound familiar? It should!

Amos was a sheepherder “in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam son of Joash, king of Israel.” (Amos 1:1) He was not a “professional” prophet, but God put prophecy on his heart to deliver to the people. This passage is an indictment on both Israel and Judah, which up to this point have been unfaithful to the Lord God.

Amos explains how God has tried to get their attention, and each time, He declares, “Yet you have not returned to Me.” God may be trying to get our attention as well through various trials and tribulations. “I sent a plague among you after the manner of Egypt.” We’ve had our own plague recently, called COVID-19. How did we respond? One thing we did was close all the churches. To date, this plague has killed over a million people in the United States. (https://data.cdc.gov, 29 Aug 2022) Among the survivors, it’s had physical, psychological, economic, and sociological effects. Have we returned to God?

Another calamity we see these days is weather-related phenomenon, usually blamed on global warming. Is the earth warming? The data suggests it is. However, God’s earth has gone through periods of heating and cooling since the beginning of time. It’s man’s hubris and pride to think he can do anything to affect the global temperature. But the more important question is, after all the floods, hurricanes, wildfires, tornadoes, and record temperatures, have we as a nation, returned to God? Is God trying to get our attention? One pastor said, “It’s not ‘global warming,’ it’s God’s warning!”

God wants our hearts. He tried long ago to get Israel to return to Him, and He wants us to do the same, both individually and as a nation. In the last segment of the text, God reminds us just Who He is: “He who forms mountains and creates the wind And declares to man what are His thoughts, He who makes dawn into darkness And treads on the high places of the earth, The LORD God of hosts is His name.” “Return to Me!”

Worship: “Return to Me,” by Don Moen

August 27, 2022August 27, 2022

Encourage One Another

Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end, while it is said, “Today if you hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts, as when they provoked Me.” (Hebrews 3:12-15, NASB)

The text above is from the book of Hebrews, author unknown. The theme of this passage is the encouragement of brothers and sisters in Christ so that they do not fall away from the promise that awaits them. Since “we have become partakers of Christ,” we shouldn’t be involved in sin. “But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called ‘Today.'” Why? “So that none of [us] will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” The author tells us to encourage each other today. We are not to wait until tomorrow, but to do it today. Tomorrow might be too late!

Hebrews 3:13 Warn Each Other Every Day While It Is Still Today (windows)09:16 — Hebrews 3:13 image. Found at Knowing Jesus,
https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Hebrews/3/13

The last quotation in the passage refers to the Israelites when they were wandering through the Sinai Peninsula enroute to the Promised Land. They hardened their hearts to the point where God vowed that none of them would enter His rest in Israel, except for Joshua and Caleb, and the sons and daughters of the sinners. The warning here is for us to not do the same. Instead, we are to encourage each other so as not to engage in sin.

We followers of Jesus are to encourage each other “Today,” and “day after day.” It seems we’re never to stop. The objective is to ensure “we” don’t lose the hope of God’s rest that awaits us in Paradise. That would be a shame.

Worship: “New Name Written Down In Glory,” by Charity Gayle

August 24, 2022August 24, 2022

Assured Victory

Then in the midst of the assembly the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, the Levite of the sons of Asaph; and he said, “Listen, all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: thus says the LORD to you, ‘Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s . . . You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out to face them, for the Lord is with you.” (2 Chronicles 20:14-15, 17, NASB)

In the verses above, King Jehoshaphat of Judah had been told there was an invading army to the east of Jerusalem, by the Dead Sea. The army was composed of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, all from the east of the Dead Sea and the Jordan River, and all natural enemies of Israel. The invaders are described as “a great multitude.” King Jehoshaphat calls an assembly of all Judah to Jerusalem to call upon the Lord to rescue Judah. He delivers a great prayer to invoke God’s help, and says, “We are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You.” (2 Chronicles 20:12)

This is exactly where God wants Judah: Totally reliant on Him! He had delivered Israel before in battles they had no business winning. God had cleared out the Promised Land, as He said, of the evil people who inhabited the land so Israel could take their place. He had punished Israel and Judah when they hadn’t trusted Him, like when they made alliances with evil nations, imported chariots and horses from Egypt, or taken a census of able-bodied men without God’s permission. God wanted Israel and Judah to be reliant on Him, and Him alone.

2 Chronicles 20:15 image. Found at Bible Grad,https://www.biblegrad.com/bible-bites/whose-war-is-it-anyway/

We join the text above. After the king’s prayer, Jehaziel, a descendant of prominent Levites, delivers a word from God: “Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s.” The battle is the Lord’s! Perfect! Further, “You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.” Judah would not even need to fight. What?

2 Chronicles 20:17 image. Found at Rise Up Victorious, https://www.riseupvictorious.com/blog/see-the-salvation-of-the-lord

Sure enough, Judah went out the next day to join the battle. King Jehoshaphat delivered a speech: “Listen to me, O Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, put your trust in the Lord your God and you will be established. Put your trust in His prophets and succeed.” (2 Chronicles 20:20) The king appointed singers to give praise to God, and placed them in front of the army. What they witnessed next was astounding: God threw the great invading multitude into confusion, so that they turned against each other, and slaughtered themselves! The battle was indeed God’s that day! As promised, Judah did not have to fight.

God wants us to have the same reliance on Him. He wants our total, unconditional surrender to Him so that we don’t count on anything or anyone else but the Creator of the universe. It’s awesome when we take time to consider: God fights our battles for us, if we only would let Him. “The battle is not yours but God’s!”

Worship: “Battle Belongs,” by Phil Wickham

August 21, 2022August 21, 2022

Last Days?

But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God . . . (2 Timothy 3:1-4, NASB)

This portion is from the Apostle Paul’s second letter to his son in the faith, Timothy. Timothy was still at Ephesus trying to right wrongs in the church there, and his mentor was writing advice. This is Paul’s last letter we have in our Holy Bible, as he was again imprisoned in Rome, and he says it doesn’t look good for him. In this excerpt he speaks of signs of the End Times, before Jesus comes back to earth for His people.

Paul begins with a prophecy: “In the last days difficult times will come.” He elaborates with the characteristics of the people of the times: They will be “lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.”

There Will Be Terrible Times In The Last Days - 2 Timothy 3:1-5 — 2 Timothy 3:1-5 image. Found at 316 Quotes,https://316quotes.com/terrible-times-last-days-2-timothy-3-1-5/

Does this sound familiar? It reminds me of the world around us. There is so much lawlessness and rebellion going on everywhere. “Wars and rumors of wars.” (Matthew 24:6) Chaos everywhere. Confusion. Are we in the Last Days? I don’t know, it sure looks like it. But . . . I remember at Sunday School or Bible study, hearing someone tell of a conversation with some senior members at his church. They were getting closer to the end of their lives, and they expressed disappointment that Jesus had not come back for them. They thought for sure that during their lifetimes . . .

The point is, since the beginning of Christianity, believers have thought they were in the Last Days. Paul’s list of evil traits is not new, not original to our generations; yet to us it seems that the evil around us is more pronounced and accelerating. Jesus said it’s not for us to know the hour or the day of His return, that only the Father knows for sure. So what shall we do while we wait for His glorious return?

Well, first we need to (in the words of CBN’s Gordon Robertson) populate Heaven. God knows how many souls will be in heaven at the end. If He tarries, it’s to get to that number. Second, practice. As believers, we’re in dress rehearsal for what we’ll be doing for eternity in heaven. And third (we’ll be doing this in heaven), execute what Jesus called the two greatest commandments: Love God and love other people!

Worship: “Love God and Love People,” by Danny Gokey, ft. Michael W. Smith