Posts by Steve Hall (Page 2)
BARNABAS, THE ENCOURAGER
Barnabas, known as “son of consolation” or “son of encouragement” was at the side of Saul as he went to Jerusalem. Because of what the disciples had heard of Saul and not believing that he had been converted, they were afraid of him but Barnabas was there to reassure that Saul (Paul) indeed had seen the Lord on the Damascus road and had been called by the Lord to do His work. There are times I’m sure that we could’ve used a friend like Barnabas, one who would stand by us when others doubted our integrity and questioned our motives. Barnabas, the encourager! How about you? Are you an encourager? Can you think of someone right now that may feel deserted and alone? Step out of your comfort zone and be a Barnabas!
FLEE FROM THE FOOLISH MAN
I have this verse underlined in my Bible. It has been a lifeline to me over the years as I interact with others and soon discover that the one I’ve been conversing with is for a lack of better words full of baloney! Leave! Never argue with a fool! He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience. Too many of God’s children have been influenced by the “foolish man”. This man is a simpleton or arrogant and thinks he knows much but in reality he doesn’t know what he doesn’t know!
HEAVENLY EYESIGHT
How’s your vision? 20/20? Well, it could be better! How about 50/20? Seeing life’s events through a Heavenly lens, just as Joseph did.
PRUDENT, NOT SIMPLE
The Hebrew word for “simple” doesn’t refer to a person with an intellectual deficit but one who is easily persuaded, gullible, naive, while a prudent man is one who is cautious or sensible. It behooves every person who claims the name of Christ to be prudent in this day and age where we are bombarded with every kind of falsity through a myriad of means. We must maintain a testimony for the unsaved to see that as Christians, we are not undiscerning when it comes to the issues we face in life. The current state of affairs has the world looking at Christians as mostly uneducated back woods snake handlers (read the news) who have a disdain for science. Let them see us as those who embrace science because we know the One who set the stars in place!
PROFIT IN LABOR
We’re living in extreme times. The pandemic, social unrest, crazy weather and eroding morals, ad nauseum! As a business owner, I have a lot of contact with other business owners and amongst the deafening cacophony that I hear across the four states that we service is difficulty in finding anyone that wants to work. I know, I know……not everyone that is out of work wants to stay out but the feedback I’m getting from business owners and managers is it’s nearly impossible to find help although there are many jobs available. I just want to emphasize what God says in our text, “In all labor there is profit….” God honors labor and it’s a honor to work and provide for our families. Work is indeed honorable and if one is physically able to be gainfully employed then one ought to be!
SPIRITUAL HOSPITAL
…..and health to all their flesh. Hearing, obeying and applying the Word of God is like getting a dose of medicine for whatever may be ailing you! Here’s the catch. You have to be present to hear the Word before you can obey and apply it! As your Pastor or Sunday School teacher prepares the sermon or lesson each week, contained in that sermon/lesson is life changing, heart healing, relationship restoring, sight giving, and soul saving medicine. Every time you are absent from the services, you are missing out on that medicine that will bring healing to you. One wouldn’t dare skip out on taking their heart medicine but that’s exactly what one does when they miss church services. And with every dose that is missed, that particular ailment that you’ve been dealing with only gets worse and festers (anger, jealousy, envy, hypocrisy etc.) You want to start feeling healthy again? Come to church….it’s really a hospital for sinners, not a resort for saints!
MOTHER’S DAY
Let’s be sure to remember, honor and praise our Mothers on this day that has been set aside to do so (and every day) for that matter. Give your mom a call, send flowers or take her out to eat. Thank her for all that she has done for you. If your mother is no longer with you, reach out and be a blessing to someone else’s mother who mav be alone and lonely.
DOES YOUR SPEECH GIVE YOU AWAY?
Betraying speech. Does your speech betray you? As Peter was denying Jesus, even to the point of cursing (certainly unbecoming of a follower of Christ) those who had been around him and heard him speak knew that Peter was a Galilean (they spoke with a burr), and that he was a disciple of Jesus. Here’s the twist, Peter was trying to deny Jesus but his speech gave him away . Of course, we would never deny that we’re followers of Jesus! Just the opposite, we try to persuade others that we’re followers of Jesus but again, does our speech betray us? Ponder that a spell, meditate on it. Do people listen to you talk and immediately know that you’re a Christian or is your speech peppered with words that reflects the world more that the church?
FROM GUTTERMOST TO UTTERMOST
From the guttermost to the uttermost! There is no one so lost that God cannot save them! You may feel that you’ve gone too far, have been too bad and God cannot forgive you. Nothing could be further from the truth! My friend, God is in the saving business and He’s reaching out to you today! Trust Him today and He will save you……from the guttermost to the uttermost!
HANDLING BAD NEWS
Breaking News….…Stock Market drops 1234 points, millions wiped
out…I’ve just received the news from the doctor….it’s cancer and it’s terminal…….I’ve been meaning to tell you, I want a divorce…….Sir, your son was in an accident today……..Mom, I can’t talk very loud, there’s an active shooter in our school…….Honey, I just backed the car into our neighbors car. And so it goes! Life is fraught with bad news and if it isn’t bad news then it’s fake! What we need is a hefty dose of Good News!