Jeremiah 1:4-5 – “4 Now the word of the LORD came to me saying, 5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born, I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.” 

This is not meant to be political but biblical.  I could care less about the politics of this discussion but care a great deal about what God has to say about it and His view on the subject.  We read in Psalm 139:16 – “Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them.”

I feel compelled to ask, “If God knew us before we were formed in the womb and called us to whatever ministry or vocation we were to be called to, and if God saw our unformed substance and wrote in His book the days that were ordained for us when there were no days and not existence on earth, then When Does Life Begin?”

As I read these and numerous other passages in the Bible, I cannot help but conclude that life begins in God’s heart and creative mind. Therefore, I would conclude that as far as the fetus (baby) is concerned, it begins at conception.  You do not have to hold that view, but I do, and I am not afraid to advance that thought. I do not base it upon my own personal philosophy but on what I believe to be the Word of God.

Regardless of what you think on this matter and where you stand politically, you should place a high premium on human life as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. 

• If God knew us before we were formed or conceived and wrote the number of our days in His book, how can we devalue any human life? 
• If we cannot rise into the heavens or descend into the heart of the earth and escape God, how can we not know that He sees and records all that transpires on this planet? 

What we do and allow in this life will one day come before us as we stand before Him, and we will give account.  I tremble at that thought because I want to be sure I take God’s stance on every issue.  I have changed my views, theology, and philosophy more than once. I will experience a continual metamorphosis as I traverse this terrestrial ball and walk the terra firma we call Earth. 

I will defend the ‘unborn’ with every breath I have and will work to ensure that they are protected from senseless and needless butchery at the hands of amoral people.  It is not a matter of women’s reproductive rights. It is about life and God’s view of it. 

If we are creatures created in the “image” and “likeness” of God, how dare we treat the life of anyone and especially that of the unborn, as something that is of so little value that we can snuff it out based on ‘gender,’ ‘convenience,’ or even ‘malformations?”  

I plead with everyone to prayerfully consider what God says about life before you allow anyone, including me, to shape your opinion.  Please do not take what I say as the final word; study and examine the record for yourselves.  God will help you form a conviction, not just an opinion.

May God be with you as you go through your day!

Psalm 34:7 – “The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, And rescues them.”

The thought or image of angels surrounding God’s people is a theme that is repeated numerous times in Scripture.  Some find it difficult to believe, but I find it comforting and encouraging as I go through life.  It does not give me a false sense of worth or a license to walk with a prideful attitude or venture into arenas that the Spirit of God has not directed.

On the other hand, it encourages me when the Spirit of God directs my heart to attempt something or enter the spiritual battles of life.  I go knowing that the angels of the Lord are encamped about me, that God is watching over my life, and that God will send forth the heavenly hosts to defend, protect, and deliver me at whatever time. 

I feel like the three Hebrew children facing the fiery furnace when they declared, “God is able to deliver us, and if not, then we will just go home early.”  That is how I view the spiritual battles of life, knowing that I fear God [with reverential awe]and that His angels are encamped around me to rescue me.

If you know that the All-Powerful God is available and waiting to come to your rescue, you develop a much bolder sense of confidence than if you are unsure.  That is why I am so determined every day to face the day with the assurance that I am heading down the path God has chosen for that day. 

It is in my confidence that He has “ordered my steps” that I discover a boldness to proceed.  I am not saying throw all caution to the wind but exhibit the type of confidence that David had when he faced Goliath.  He told the emissary of hell, “You come against me with a sword and a shield, but I come against you in the Name of the Lord.”  Give me the name of the Lord anytime over man’s weapons, and I will feel quite confident that I will be the victor.

Therefore, as you go through this day, do not go in your power or might but in the Name of the Lord.  You will discover that you are going not only in confidence but also in faith.  I believe that God orders our paths, and as we follow His directions, we will achieve victory after victory.  Never allow man to intimidate you.  Never allow the powers of darkness to intimidate you.  Remember that God is greater than all our problems and fears. 

May God be with you as you go through your day!

Psalm 51:10-13 – “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit. 13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will be converted to You.” 

If anyone wonders why God would call David a man after His own heart, reading a Psalm such as this should explain it.  David had a penetrating desire for God, and his continual expression and demonstration of a willingness and disposition to “Seek God” demonstrates why God would say this of David.  He was passionate about God, and we find a guide for daily living as we consider what he said.

• Create in me a CLEAN HEART.

That is an expression of “total surrender” to God; otherwise, the Holy Spirit cannot control the heart. As it is “cleansed,” we are translated from darkness into light, and in the condition and position of “light,” we are separated from wickedness and uncleanness.  David was desiring to LIVE in God’s presence.

• Renew a STEADFAST SPIRIT in me.

David wanted his heart clean and his attitude and spirit right and steadfast.  He did not want to be easily swayed by the winds of adversity but wanted to be “rock solid” in God and through God.  That meant allowing God to have control of his life.

• Do not CAST ME AWAY from Your Presence.

Again, this expressed David’s desire to be “in the presence” of God all the time, where sin would be exposed and dealt with.  Uncleanness would be brought to light and washed away.  David continued to express his desire for God to “live in” and “through” him daily.

• And do not TAKE YOUR HOLY SPIRIT from me.

David was expressing his recognition of the work and ministry of the Holy Spirit, a work and ministry we must have to live this Christian life successfully.  Without the ministry of the Spirit of God, we would and will not be able to walk the walk.

Restore to me THE JOY OF YOUR SALVATION.

Salvation is “Joy,” David recognized that without the Joy of the Lord, which is our strength, he would succumb to the temptations of life, “cast away” his confidence, and stumble.  He longed for the “Good News” of God.

• Sustain me with A WILLING SPIRIT.

Oh, that we would have “willing spirits” and quickly respond to the Holy Spirit’s nudging whenever the Lord prompts or calls.

David then said, Lord, I will “teach” transgressors Your ways, and sinners will be converted to you.  As a result of God coming in and setting up residence in our lives, we “Spread the Good News.” It is not that maybe we will. It is a natural by-product of Salvation. 

If something is overflowing within you, you will let others know.  It will not be a labor or a chore. It will be as natural as breathing to “answer for the reason of hope that is within.”  If sharing what is in you is a chore, you might want to double-check what is within you. 

I am not talking about being someone who walks the streets or knocks on doors passing out tracts.  There is nothing wrong with that. I am talking about a natural and normal part of life: you share your faith as the opportunity and situation present itself.  You are “not ashamed of the Gospel” and rejoice in what God has done in you.  It is natural in the life of a person who is “born-again.”

May God be with you as you go through your day!

1 Timothy 5:17-19 – “The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, “YOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE THE OX WHILE HE IS THRESHING,” and ” The laborer is worthy of his wages.” 

If you consider the context of this passage, you will realize that it is not talking about “words of praise” for the pastor or elder of the congregation.  It is talking about Pay!  That is right, I said it: Pay!  I am not pastoring a congregation, so I can say this without any concern that anyone would think I am trying to gain something for myself; I am not. 

However, I would have no fear of saying it if I were a lead pastor in a church because it is truth, and I do not fear truth.  That being said, I would refuse to allow money to be the deciding factor in anything I did spiritually, and I have proven that in the past, as others can testify.

Paul taught Timothy to instruct churches, ministers, or leaders in the proper execution of their duties and responsibilities.  He was setting in order churches throughout the region, and this instruction was valuable. 

Paul told his son in the faith that an elder who “rules well,” those committed to and working hard at rightly dividing the word of truth ‘teaching and preaching.’  The phrase “rules well” does not mean to lord it over people but to care for the flock with the heart of a true shepherd. 

The ministry is not designed to be a hierarchy but a serving position. The particular passage that Paul quotes is from Deuteronomy 25:4, “You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing.” That is an emphatic emphasis that by God’s direction, the ox that is laboring should also be able to eat the fruit or grain upon which he is laboring.  

He also referenced the Lord Jesus’ statement in Luke 10:7, “Stay in that house, eating and drinking what they give you; for the laborer is worthy of his wages.”  There is no question that Paul was teaching that the pastor who performs his duties well is worthy of Double Pay!

Before you lose your religion, I am not telling you that this is something that the man of God should demand. Rather it is something the congregation should desire for him.  Most men of God would refuse to take that amount, but if they choose to accept it, there would be nothing wrong with it. 

I have a problem when a man of the cloth makes Mammon (money) his objective rather than the Gospel.  I have always believed that God would take care of my needs. I believe that I can take my petition to Him. I believe He will move on whatever hearts need to be moved upon to provide for me and my family, supernaturally raining it down out of heaven if necessary. 

I remember one occasion when I had a $500 need.  I had a debt due in a few days; it was $500, and I had $55.00 in the bank.  I was praying about the need and heard the whisper in my spirit saying, “Pay tithes on your need.”  I thought that I must be hallucinating because surely God would not be telling me to do something so outlandish.  However, the more I prayed, the more convinced I was that the Holy Spirit was directing my heart. 

On Wednesday evening, I wrote a check for $50.00 and put it in the offering, rejoicing! I knew that there would be no more money until Sunday, when I got paid again.  We never knew what that would be, but it had never been $500.00 and would not likely be that on that Sunday. 

I had to go into town the following day and had an individual walk up to me on the street, hand me something, and say, “God spoke to my heart to give you this,” then they turned and walked away.  I resisted looking at it immediately and waited until I had settled in my car. Then I opened the check, and it was for $550.00.  God had supplied my needs and given me back my $50.00 additionally. 

Church leaders have chastised me for not letting them know my actual needs.  They would, at times, with tears in their eyes, tell me that they wanted to take care of my family and needs.  I have had churches that took care of us royally, and I have been in situations when I was told that I would toe the line (which I could never do) or they would do to me what they had done to others and “starve me out.”  

My response then and now was, “God is my source, and He will take care of me.”  I never let money determine what I preached or how I treated people.  That being said, I believe churches that honor their pastors receive special blessings from God, and those that do not find leanness in their souls.

If you are an “ox muzzler’ stop and open your heart as God directs you to open your pocketbook. Greedy preachers and stingy congregations are not God’s desire! He wants preachers with servant’s hearts and churches with a spirit of generosity IN ALL THINGS!  God loves a cheerful giver, and it is impossible to outgive God!

May God be with you as you go through your day!