Dressing for the Occasion

Ephesians 6:11

Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Clothing fashions have changed over the past marking a change in the way we express ourselves. Some choose to stay with apparel from the past, while others keep up with the latest trends. When it comes to that special occasion, most will pick an outfit that brings out the best in them and honors the guest they are with.

Many times a young man or lady will spend hours getting ready for that special person on their prom night. The bride will spend days finding the perfect dress for the moment she has been waiting for. A young man will hurry home to clean up, change from his dirty work clothes, and spritz a spray of cologne on him to meet his date. The preparation is time consuming but the outcome is great.

When getting dressed spiritually, it is important to remember that we are not only preparing ourselves to look good in the world’s eyes, but we are demonstrating our desire to look the best for the one we love, Jesus. The armor of God not only takes time to put on and protects us from the wiles of the devil; it also helps us to look our best for the Master. So the next time you are getting dressed to impress that special person, or whether it is getting ready for work, remember to cloth yourself with the armor of God and Dress for the Occasion.

Louis Edwards

Quote

Dress has a moral effect upon the conduct of mankind. Let any gentleman find himself with dirty boots, soiled neckcloth, and a general negligence of dress, he will, in all probability, find a corresponding disposition by negligence of address.[1]

Sir J. Barrington

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[1] 6000 Sermon Illustrations by Elon Foster page 205 Ill. 1641

Destined to Fail

Text:

Proverbs 16:18  

Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

On April 10, 1912, one of White Stars’ crown jewels started its maiden voyage from Southampton England to New York.  Four days into its journey at 11:40 p.m. on April 14, the Titanic struck an iceberg that plunged it 12,600 feet to the bottom of the ocean in less than three hours.  More than 1,500 people became victims to a watery grave early that morning. 

The White Stars’ promotional flyer for the Olympic and Titanic boasted: “As far as it is possible to do, these two wonderful vessels are designed to be unsinkable.”  Thus giving way to the saying, “Not even God Himself could sink her.”

The tragedy of the Titanic lingers today.  Movies, documentaries, museums, and web sites remind us of the horrible event that took place over a century ago.  We often boast of the progress and achievements made in our lives while unaware of the iceberg of “Pride” waiting to sink us.

Although Captain Edward Smith received six warnings about the danger that lie ahead, his confidence in an “unsinkable ship” cost him more than his life; it cost the lives of others.  Let us avoid the chilling hand of “Pride.” The cost not only touches us, but it affects others as well.

Louis Edwards

Recommended Reading:

Isaiah 14:12-16

Quote:

A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you're looking down, you can't see something that's above you.

C. S. Lewis

Cleaning House

Text: Psalm 51:10

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

Growing up my mother was a stickler for a clean house; you would think that she had O.C.D. (obsessive-compulsive disorder) but she did not. She would make us clean our rooms, wash the dishes, vacuum the house and many other tasks she felt were necessary. Afterward, she would check behind us and see if it was to her specifications. If it were not to her satisfaction, we would do the job over. Looking back, I am thankful for her persistence because it has made us who we are today.

As a child of God, I often find myself trying to clean up the messes I have made only to discover my cleaning does not meet the approval of God’s. He sends in the Holy Spirit to check every crevice of my heart, and if He finds any problems, He is quick to bring it to my attention. Like my childhood days, at times, I am not willing to clean it up, but after it starts to affect my life, I ask Him to help me. 

 

It is important to listen to the instructions the Holy Spirit offers us. When we do, our life will be so much better, and others can see the difference. Someone once said, “We need to clean he cobwebs out of our heart.” A dear elderly saint spoke up and admonished, “No, we need to kill the spider that is in it.” Like the Psalmist mentioned, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”

Quote

Grace is God as heart surgeon, cracking open your chest, removing your heart – poisoned as it is with pride and pain – and replacing it with his own.

--Max Lucado, "Grace" (p. 10)

Louis Edwards

Speed Bumps

Text:

John 6:15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.

                                                                

On June 7, 1906, the town of Chatham, New Jersey, implemented the first speed bump. They were five inch raised crosswalks designed to slow down speeding automobiles and keeping pedestrians safe. Although, the top speed was only 30 MPH, it was effective in slowing down the motorist and it wasn’t long before others followed suite.

Today, our lives are set in the fast lane. We are being pushed to accomplish more in a day’s time than ever before. We have fast foods, supper computers, quicker cars, real time information at our finger tips, forcing us to consume every second of our life at warp speed. This quick pace, if gone unchecked will one day cause us to crash.

Jesus’ life and ministry was filled with task that kept Him busy every waking hour. He faced opposition, healed the sick, raised the dead, cast out demons, fed the multitude, and the list could go on. He understood the importance of slowing down and spending time with His Father. It allowed Him the opportunity to rejuvenate his body and recharge his spirit.

If we continue the pace the world sets for us, we may accomplish some things in life, but at what cost. The waning of love. Separation of family interaction and growth. A closer relationship with Jesus. It is important that we slow down and become more intimate with Him and our families. Like Christ, we need speed bumps in our lives to keep us from crashing or falling apart.

Louis Edwards

Dividends in Glory

Text: Matt. 6:19-20

      19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

      20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

  

    Dividends are wonderful thing when you see a large return in your investment. They are payments dispersed by corporations to their shareholders for their investments in that company. In the business world many have devoted most of their lives to achieve a sizable return on that effort. Some of them, like Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, Jeff Bezos and Michael Bloomberg have become multi-billionaires.

There is another group of investors that are looking for dividends that go beyond this world. Missionaries like William Carey, Adoniram Judson, and David Livingston, have devoted their entire life to serving Jesus Christ, while others like Nate Saint, gave theirs. Some investors will never make the headlines or be written down in history. They are the unsung heroes of the faith. They are the ones working behind the scene never looking for the spot-light.

When you look at the business world, and compare them to the heavenly investors, you may ask yourself, “Can’t I have the best of both worlds.” You can, but most good investors will capitalize on the return that gives back the most dividends. So chose the stocks that yield the greatest disbursement. Invest in heaven and receive dividends from glory.

Matt. 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

By Louis Edwards

God's Adjustable Wrench

Phil. 4:19

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

A mechanic has an arsenal of tools he can use when making repairs, but there is one implement at his disposal that will fit any nut or bolt, the Adjustable Wrench. Its ability to adjust to any size has made it a valuable asset to anyone who needs it.

As we go through life, there are times we are faced with situations we don’t know how to handle: finances, health, friends, family, and the list could go on forever. Often during those difficult moments, we try to manage them ourselves using the wrong tools and end up breaking more than we fix. It’s then we realize we should have gone to our toolbox, The Word of God, and used the proper tool.

The Lord Jesus has supplied us with the right tool for the right job, His Word. Tucked away between its covers, is an abundance of tools that make any situation we face in life much easier.  One of the gadgets that fit “all our needs” is Phil. 4:19. This verse is the adjustable wrench that will fit any problem we face.

So, the next time you’re faced with a situation, reach into God’s toolbox and use His Adjustable Wrench. I guarantee it will work better than any tool we fabricate.

Louis Edwards

Quote

It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.

Aristotle Onassis

The Peace Speaker

Mark 4:39

And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still.  And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

I remember some of my childhood days living in North Central Texas, a place known to most as Tornado Alley. On one particular day, my brother and I were playing outside. It was a typical hot Texas summer day. The sun pasted against a bright blue backdrop, little wind and no clouds in site. Little did we know about the storm that was brewing from the south.

Without warning, the winds began to pick up and a dark shadow covered our yard. As I looked toward the sky, I noticed the clouds rolled like a boiling caldron ready to bubble over. Large drops of rain pelted our body and sharp jagged edges of lightening flashed through the sky. That was one time mom didn’t have to tell us to come in out of the rain.

My brother and I stood on the porch and watched the pouring rain as it mingled with little balls of ice. The howling sound of the firehouse siren filled the air. I wasn’t shaken by the event until I heard mom’s voice shouting with urgency to get into the house. We all huddled into the bathroom and waited until mom felt it was safe to come out.

Later that evening after watching the news with my parents, I realized what had happened. Not far from where we lived, a tornado had touched down and destroyed several homes in the area.  Fortunately no one was killed or injured.

The disciples were spending another day with Jesus. As they approached the Sea of Galilee, Jesus instructed them to get into the boat; they were going to the other side. Entering the boat, they were unaware of the impending danger ahead.

A short distance into their journey, the winds began to pick up churning the sea tossing the boat from side to side. Waves crashed over the vessel threatening to send it to the bottom. The clouds rolled overhead in an angry torrent. Fearful for their lives, they called out to the master. “Master carest thou not that we parish?” (Mark 4:38) Jesus stood and said, “Peace be still…” and the wind and the sea stood still. The disciples couldn’t understand how one man could calm a storm.

Sometimes we face spiritual storms in our lives that pop-up without warning. They threaten to crush us and destroy the very foundation of our faith. They pound us relentlessly with waves of doubt and fear. They tear at us with the strong winds of discouragement. Just remember when these storms come into your life; you’re not in the boat alone, and Jesus is the peace speaker.

Louis Edwards