A Tale of Two Thieves

"Father, forgive them, for know not what they do."

—Jesus

As Jesus hung on a wooden cross, on a lonely hill outside the city of Jerusalem, on a dark, desperate day 2,000 years ago, crucified at the hands of Roman soldiers, who were compelled to do so by Jewish religious leaders, He prayed for those who nailed Him to His cross, and for those who falsely accused Him—having  wrongly betrayed Him unto death.

Jesus was crucified between two condemned thieves.

As Jesus suffered in agony on His cross, He prayed for His executioners and accusers: 

"Father, forgive them, for know not what they do."

You can read the entire account in Luke chapter 23.

One of the thieves hanging on a cross next to Jesus was named Gesmas.

Gesmas had been convicted of his crimes, and was sentenced to death by crucifixion, which was the most heinous method of Roman capital punishment at that time.

As he looked at Jesus praying for His betrayers, Gesmas blasphemed Jesus, saying:

"If you are the Christ, save yourself and us!"

No remorse or repentance was in the heart of Gesmas. Only pride and unbelief. 

His heart was so hardened by his own hatred and arrogance, Gesmas could not see the goodness of this innocent Man, hanging on a cross next to him. Jesus praying for His killers only enraged Gesmas.

The second thief hanging on a cross on the other side of Jesus was named Dismas.

Dismas was also convicted of his crimes and was sentenced to death by Roman crucifixion.

However, as we read the account of the crucifixion in Luke 23, we see an entirely different response from Dismas, as he hears Jesus praying for His executioners and betrayers, and he rebukes Gesmas:

"Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong!"

Dismas was repentant. He acknowledged that his punishment was just. He confessed that he had received the due reward for his crimes. He also reminded Gesmas that his own capital punishment was well deserved.

But Dismas did not stop there.

He then turned to Jesus and called out to Him:

"Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom."  

Dismas addressed Jesus as "Lord."

He acknowledged that Jesus is Lord, and he acknowledged before all who stood by, that Jesus was innocent.

"We receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong!"

And Dismas also acknowledged Jesus as King.

"Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom."

Jesus—the King of kings and the Lord of lords—answered a remorseful and repentant Dismas:

"Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."

In his last remaining moments on earth, Dismas' first and final act of worship was to acknowledge and address Jesus as Lord and King. His heart was remorseful and repentant. He confessed that his punishment was just. He confessed his guilt before the Son of God, who hung next to him on a cross.

And the promise from Jesus was he would assuredly be with his Lord and King that very day, in a place called Paradise.

The two thieves represent mankind as a whole.

We are all guilty in the sight of God. We all deserve the same brutal crucifixion that Dismas and Gesmas suffered.

Jesus died on His cross for both of these guilty men. He died for the sin of all mankind. He died for you, and for me.

Which of the two thieves represents you?

Will you harden your heart towards Jesus?

Or will you turn to Him, confessing your guilt to Him, and acknowledge and address Him as your Lord and King?

Will you see yourself as deserving of hanging on a cross next to Jesus?

Are you Dismas?

Or are you Gesmas?

You have to choose.

A Tale of Two Thieves.

—God is Love, and Love Never Fails.

The Razor's Edge

"But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand; and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."

—Jesus

When I was a kid, my dad used to impart fatherly wisdom to me by saying things like, "Do you have to walk off of a cliff to know that it's going to hurt when you hit bottom?"

Another favorite was, "Do you have to stick your hand in the fire to know that it's going to burn?"

These are no-brainers, right?

So, why do we—who have repeatedly heard Jesus' sayings—still choose to play with fire, thinking that somehow, we will not get burned?

Here is wisdom:

"Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, the will he also reap." (Galatians 6:7)

Here's some more:

"There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." (Proverbs 14:12 and 16:25).

That last one is written twice, once in Proverbs chapter 14, and again, word-for-word in chapter 16. God repeated it for a reason. It's because this is the most common folly of man. You know what you are doing is not right, but hey, it seems right to you, so you plunge right in, diving into the deep end of the sin pool.

What "way" have you chosen in your life that may seem right or feel right to you, but you know it is contrary to what God's Word says?

You know what it is.

And the two-fold promise of God's Word is that the end result of your choice is the way of death.

Could be physical death. Could be spiritual death. Could be the death of your marriage, or some other valuable relationship. Could be the death of your career, Or it could be the death of your peace, or your joy.

But make no mistake about it—it's consequential 'end' is the way of death.

And here's the tricky part—if you continue down this path, knowing that the way you have chosen is against God—eventually, He will deem you past the point of no return; "beyond repentance" and He will give you over to your sin.

And you're done.

There's no turning back.

Don't believe me?

"Pursue peace with all people, and holiness; without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; lest there be any fornicator or profane person person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears." (Hebrews 12:14-17)

Esau was a profane man. He had this amazing inheritance coming from his father because of his birthright, but he gave it all up for a bowl of meaty stew. He sold his 'sonship' for a moment of pleasure.

And afterward, he painfully tried to take it back and repent. But it was too late for him. It was done.

How about you?

You know what is right, and what is wrong. And you know that the way you have chosen may feel right to you, but in your heart, you know God is against it.

You are walking on the razor's edge.

And the end of your chosen way is the way of death.

You are playing with fire.

Is it too late for you? Are you beyond repentance?

—That's up to you.

—God is Love, and Love Never Fails.

Guard Your Heart

"But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her, has already committed adultery with her in his heart."

 —Jesus 

The heart is central to all things.

I once heard an old pastor teach that a wife is the protector of her husband's heart. He quoted from the book of Genesis (chapter 2:21-24) where God made Adam, and then said, "It is not good for the man to be alone." He then put Adam into a deep sleep and removed one of his ribs. And out of that rib, God created Eve to be Adam's wife.

What physically protects the heart in the human body?

The rib cage.

That pastor said he believes the rib God specifically removed from Adam, and then made Eve from, was the rib directly over Adam's heart.

God specifically made Eve to be a companion to Adam—to be the protector of her husband's heart.

It is absolutely critical for all Christians that we guard our hearts.

And for those who are married, you are to guard and protect the heart of your husband or wife. For many years, my wife and I have had a saying about our marriage that we are, "two hearts that beat as one."

So, in the context of marriage, since the man and woman "are no longer two, but they are one flesh", when you guard your own heart you are, in a manner of speaking, guarding your spouse's heart at the same time.

Jesus taught that murder, adultery and every evil thing begins in the heart.

"For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornication, thefts, false witness, blasphemies." (Matthew 15:19)

As a new Christian, I remember the first time I heard the passage from Matthew 5 where Jesus says, "But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her, has already committed adultery with her in his heart" I thought, 'how can that be?'

How can you be found guilty of adultery simply by looking at a woman that way, but you haven't physically committed the deed itself?

It's because God looks at the heart.

"For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7)

If you hate someone in your heart, to God it's the same as committing murder. If you lust after someone who is not your spouse, Jesus said you have already committed adultery with that person.

The moral of the story, is we must constantly guard our hearts against all attacks and temptations from the enemy of our souls, who daily comes against us, trying to undo what good work God has done, and is doing in our hearts.

How do we do that?

First, we are commanded to flee from youthful lusts.

"Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart." (2 Timothy 2:22)

So, when sin comes knocking at the door of your heart, don't take a few minutes to examine it, and see if it's as bad as it looks. Get the heck out of there!

And then seek out, and spend quality time with other followers of Christ—with "those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart." God designed the Body of Christ to comfort, encourage and even admonish one another when needed.

Lone Ranger Christians don't survive for long out there, alone in a wilderness of self-sufficiency. Wolves or mountain lions always attack the weak or lone sheep at the back of the pack. There's safety in numbers. We need each other.

Also, we must walk in wisdom. As a wise old southern preacher once exhorted,

"If you know sin lies down that street—DON'T GO DOWN THERE!"

We all know what most easily tempts us and trips us up, and we know where it can readily be found. Don't go anywhere near it. The bible says:

"Therefore submit to God. Resist the Devil and he will flee from you." (James 4:7)

The first step is to submit (surrender) yourself—your heart—to God. In so doing, you have taken the most important step in resisting the Devil.

Some of the best advice I ever heard given to us as Christians, is that we are never to try and do battle with Satan on our own. He is way more powerful than we are. We need only cling tightly to Jesus, and always keep Him between us and Satan. By doing so, Satan doesn't stand a chance.

You don't have the strength in your flesh to resist the Devil. So, do what Jesus did; quote Scripture at Satan when he tries to tempt you.

"Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." But Jesus answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." (Matthew 4:3-4)

The Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword." (Hebrews 4:12)

The Word is also called the "Sword of the Spirit."

"Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God." (Ephesians 6:16-17)

Too many church goers today place far too little emphasis on the literal reading and observance of the Bible.  And they do so to their own hurt. If God says we can 'stand' in the face of spiritual attack by wielding His Word—the Sword of The Spirit—then why would people want to disregard the Bible as not being literal, or relevant for our modern culture?

What we feed our hearts with will determine what our hearts produce.

Fill your heart with God's Word, and mediate (chew on, digest) the things that are true, noble, just and pure.

But if I fill my heart with ungodly thoughts, entertainment, or images, then I am feeding the old sinful nature (the old man) and I will reap corruption.

"For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption. But he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life." (Galatians 6:8)

A friend once said it this way: "Your old fleshly nature is the black dog, and your new spiritual nature is the white dog. The one you feed is the one that grows."

Finally, the most important and powerful way to guard you heart is through prayer to your Father in Heaven.

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7)

The Bible is full of instances of "if's" and "then's."  God often exhorts us, "IF you will do this, THEN I will do that."

Do you want to have the peace of Jesus that far surpasses all understanding?

—Then don't worry about yourself. Be thankful to God and pray and ask Him for His wisdom and strength, and pray for the needs of others, and then He will give you the incomprehensible peace He promises you in His Word.

Do you want God to guard your heart and your mind through Jesus Christ?

—Goes without saying, right?

So, what do you do?

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

—God is Love, and Love Never Fails.

Day of Departure

"The time of my departure is at hand."

(2 Timothy 4:6)

Recently someone very dear to me found a friend of his, who he had just seen 30 minutes prior, slumped over in his chair, dead.

Gone.

Without warning, his friend stepped into eternity.

During the last few days I have had three extremely close calls in my business travels on the road.

In three separate instances, semi trucks suddenly drifted over into my lane when I was directly alongside them. I had nowhere to go and could only pray and hold on for dear life.

Had God not intervened, preserving my life, I would not be here writing this today.

The point is, none of us know when our day of departure will be.

Death can be so sudden, and it is final. There is no coming back.

"Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us." (Luke 16:25-26)

If you suddenly stepped into eternity today, do you know where you would go?

Are you absolutely sure where your final destination is?

"There is no heaven or hell! When you die it's all over!" you might say.

However, I believe that your conscience tells you otherwise.

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart." (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

Human beings are the only species in whom God has placed a conscience, and an innate conviction that there is indeed life after death. He has placed eternity in man's heart.

And there are only two choices when it comes to a person's eternal destination: darkness—or light.

The solution to this problem is good news indeed. And in two thousand years, the message has still not changed. Straight from the mouth of Jesus Himself: He is the way—the only way.

No matter how good a person you think you are, God will not judge you based on your worldly standard of "good." He will judge you according to His absolutely perfect standard of good—which is Himself.

But because of the love and grace of God, you can step into eternal love and light, instead of eternal pain and darkness—if you will open your heart to Jesus the Son of God.

The last six thousand years of world history proves that man, left to his own devices, will eventually destroy this planet and destroy each other. In a moral sense, mankind is clearly not evolving, but rather, devolving.

The real question is—do you personally know where you're going? 

Do you know absolutely know for certain where your final destination will be, on that day you step into eternity?

As my son did for me, call those near and dear to you today—don't wait—and tell them you love and appreciate them. 

Don't leave anything important unsaid.

...None of us know when our day of departure will be.

—God is Love, and Love Never Fails.

Oil and Water

"Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?" 

(2 Corinthians 6:14-15)

No matter how carefully you try to blend them, no matter how vigorously you shake them up, try as you might, oil and water just don't mix.

Their chemical makeup is different. Their molecules are different. 

They were never meant to blend together.

God, who is sovereign, has designed all kinds of simple illustrations, in normal daily things like oil and water not mixing, for our learning—to save us from a whole lot of grief and pain. 

I once heard a wise man say: 

"Sin is not bad because it's forbidden—it's forbidden because it's bad."

We see something or someone that may look perfect for us, and we go to great lengths to justify it to ourselves, and then attain it. On the surface, this perfect person for you may look like you've finally found your "soul mate."

A trap is a trap because it doesn't look like a trap. It looks good to the eyes. It looks sweet to eat. It will make us wiser. 

But it's still a deadly trap.

Just ask Eve.

"Oh, you're just being legalistic!" you might say. "Surely God will bless this relationship, because we're just so right for each other!" you might add. Or, "She'll change, if I just love her with God's love she'll hopefully want to be a Christian too!" you might reason.

Why do you think that God would give such a command that we should not be unequally yoked together with (married to, dating) an unbeliever?

"To deliver you from the immoral woman, from the seductress who flatters with her words, who forsakes the companion of her youth, and forgets the covenant of her God. For her house leads down to death, and her paths to the dead; none who go to her return, nor do they regain the paths of life." (Proverbs 2:16-17)

That last part is extremely sobering...

"None who go to her return, nor do they regain the paths of life."

Sin is progressive, and it's a very slippery slope. 

You may start out slow. "Oh, we're just making out, but we're not sleeping together!" you might say to yourself.

"Well, we're sleeping in the same bed together, but we're not having sex..." you might lie, trying to justify your sin to a concerned friend or parent.

And, speaking from personal experience, before you know it, you dove into the deep end of the sin pool and you can't get out. 

You're in way too deep.

Had the careless son only heeded the wise warning of his Father...

"My son, pay attention to my wisdom; lend your ear to my understanding, that you may preserve discretion, and your lips may keep knowledge. For the lips of an immoral woman drip honey, and her mouth is smoother than oil; but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. Her feet go down to death, her steps lay hold of Hell. Lest you ponder her path of life, her ways are unstable; you do not know them." (Proverbs 5:1-6)

In my own willful dive into the deep end of the sin pool of adultery, I did not heed the warnings from my Father to flee from the lips of an immoral woman. Her words were sweet as honey—music to my ears. Her convincing explanation that "God wanted me to be happy" were smoother than oil to my hurting heart, in the midst of a troubled marriage that wasn't very happy at the time.

But as the warning from my Father clearly states: 

"Her ways are unstable—you do not know them." And "Her feet go down to death, her steps lay hold of Hell."

I was so far gone in my own sin and rebellion against God and against my wife, that I was actually planning to marry this other woman, who I allowed myself to be convinced, was my 'soul mate.'  But it was a trap.

But, praise God, He kept speaking to my heart, drawing me to Himself, showing me that this other woman was a trap from Satan.

God gave my wife and I grace, love and forgiveness for each other, to come back together, and give our broken marriage to Him to fix.

However, had I not obeyed Him, the sad result would have been...

"His own iniquities entrap the wicked man, and he is caught in the cords of his sin. He shall die for lack of instruction and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray."  (Proverbs 5:22-23)

The man, or woman, who chooses to follow down the destructive path of sin and iniquity is caught in the cords of his or her own sin. It's like getting caught in a big spider web of your own choosing.

"Whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding; he who does so destroys his own soul. Wounds and dishonor he will get, and his reproach will not be wiped away." (Proverbs 6:32-33)

Spiritual death would have been my fate, had I walked away from God. It would have been impossible for me to get out of the trap I dove into, if I wandered past the point of no return—beyond repentance.

"For her house leads down to death, and her paths to the dead; none who go there return."

I was in so deep, I almost didn't make it out alive. 

It was only by the grace of God, and a lot of people praying for me, and a close friend who got in my face, who rebuked me, and shook me out of my sinful slumber—that I am still here today, happily married to my wonderful wife, and loving and serving God.

Many don't make it out alive.

If you will hear your Father's voice today, and heed His wisdom and instruction, then discretion will preserve you.

Don't make the same mistake that I made. You may think you've found your soul mate. He or she may look like the "perfect person" for you.

But if he or she is not a born again follower of Christ—and you are—you will only bring grief, heartache and destruction upon yourself and upon others, if you choose to continue down a path of sin that your Father in Heaven has warned you about, and commanded you not to pursue.

Oil and water do not mix.

-They were never meant to.

—God is Love, and Love Never Fails.

Our Need For Discernment

"Now the Spirit expressly says that in the latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy."  

(1 Timothy 4:1-2)

The Bible warns followers of Christ that in the last days, if it were possible, even the elect of God could be deceived. 

Jesus gave several warnings that many would "come in His name" and that we are to be on the alert, knowing false teachers and false prophets, or "false Christs" will come, and already have gone out into the world.

These deceivers are also referred to as "wolves in sheep's clothing." 

The photograph above is a telling portrayal of such a person.  At first glance, the face of a gentle lamb appears. But looking closer, beneath the surface, a scheming, ravenous wolf lies hidden within.

Have you run across people like this?

They are on the news every night.

They may be an eloquent orator, and appear at first glance to be a good person. They may say they are a "christian" and make a couple of public appearances at church at convenient times each year. They may be smooth talkers who say all the right things. 

But the Bible says we are "known by our fruit"—by the day to day produce of our life, our character, and our heart.

Paul writes to Timothy, his son in the faith, that the Holy Spirit expressly says that some who we thought were Christians will depart from the faith. These people have stopped going to church. They no longer read the Bible, nor do they care what it teaches. They do not fellowship with other followers of Christ. Their life no longer bears the fruit of someone who once professed to love and follow Jesus. They are selfish, proud loners who have gone their own way, not caring for, or serving others.

These apostates have given heed to deceiving spirits.

The religious world is full of materialistic, greedy, prosperity preachers and people who have found all sorts of false teachers to tell them what they want to hear. These people absolutely believe that the Bible promises them continuous health and wealth—conveniently forgetting that even the great apostle of faith—Paul—had a thorn in his flesh that God did not heal. And even the Lord Jesus—rich in love and mercy—said He did not even have a place to lay His head at night.

Deceiving spirits and teachers all want to cause you to stray from the Deity and simplicity of Christ. 

"He was just a god" they say, "but not The God."

Others say that "what He did on the cross was not enough." They say you can only be saved "after all that you can do."

And still others say that Jesus was "a good man, and a great teacher." But they say He was certainly not the Lord of Glory.

Paul warns us that these teachers are demonic in nature—"anathema"—cursed.

Other deceivers hide out in the political arena. They talk the smooth talk, making great speeches and promises, but somehow they always seem to fail to keep them. They are liars and hypocrites.

Or worse, these political charlatans try to pass themselves off as humble sheep—or followers of Christ—but the fruit of their personal beliefs and policies reveal them to be godless, wolves in sheep's clothing.

"But he seems like a good guy!" you may say.

"Good?" 

According to whose standards?

If Jesus were here on the earth today, would He approve of the policies and actions of these people?

"For the Word of God is living and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12)

Our need for spiritual discernment does not apply to just politicians or preachers. 

How about what books you're reading? Or the movies you watch? Or even the person you're dating, or interested in, if you're single?

One need remember that the Bible says that the "whole world lies under the say of the wicked one."(1 John 5:19)  

The whole world system—including world politics and culture—are manipulated and swayed by Satan; also referred to as the "god of this age." He is the diabolical madman—the "Oz" behind the curtain pulling the strings. Everything he is and does, is against God and His people.

When you watch that movie, have you ever considered who is ultimately behind the making of it? Have you asked yourself, "does this glorify God?" Better yet, have you ever asked God, "Lord, does my watching this movie bring you glory?"

My intent is not to single out bad movies. The point is, what are you using for discernment in your beliefs, choices, decisions, practices, views and opinions these days?

If it's not the Bible—the Word of God—I urge you to re-think your choices, and then turn back to God, asking Him for His spiritual wisdom and discernment, in these perilous times that we are living in.

"But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. From such people turn away." (2 Timothy 3:1-6)

Look closely at the kind of religious people that Paul describes in the above passage. They are selfish, self-absorbed,  "lovers of themselves." They are apostate, hedonistic "lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God." But they appear to be "good people." They have a "form of godliness" looking like a follower of Christ on the outside. 

But they are wolves in sheep's clothing. 

Jesus warned us of these kinds of people:

"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits." (Matthew 7:15-16)

They look and sound really good on the outside—but inwardly—in their hearts—they are ravenous wolves.

Before listening to that person's teaching, before going out with that girl or guy, or before voting for that candidate, have you prayed to God and asked Him for wisdom and spiritual discernment about them?

You have to ask your Father in Heaven first.

Father knows best.

"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him." (James 1:5)

Ask God before making any moves or decisions. Don't go by your feelings or even a 'gut reaction.' Test any "voice" you may hear by the Word of God.

—Do not give heed to deceiving spirits.

—God is Love, and Love Never Fails.

Act Like Men

"Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love." (1 Corinthians 16:13-14)

When you read the title to this post, I've obviously written it to men. But the spiritual principles contained within certainly are applicable for women as well. 

1.  We need to "Be on alert."

Peter the apostle writes:

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." (1 Peter 5:8)

Because the enemy of our souls is on the prowl 24/7, we must constantly be on alert, being sober and vigilant. God has established His men as "watchmen on the wall" (See Isaiah 62:6) to pray and be the protectors and providers for our families.

2.  We must "stand firm in the faith." 

It can get very lonely and wearisome spending so much time as a watchman on the wall, and you can't accomplish it by your own strength. Jesus said, "Without Me you can do nothing." We can only do so by faith—as Christ strengthens us. 

And let's face it—praying without ceasing is hard work. It's easy to spend 5 minutes of your day asking God to bless your finances or whatever you have on your shopping list for Him to provide for you. But God is not your divine Santa Claus. And He does not call us to pray a 5 minute shopping list to Him. No, you must "labor fervently in prayer" for your families, for this nation, and for one another. (See Colossians 4:12)

The key is, you have to ask your Heavenly Father for the strength that His Spirit supplies. Jesus was very clear on this:

"So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it shall be opened to you." (Luke 11:9-10)

3.  We must "act like men and be strong." 

This does not mean trying to be a macho man, attempting to lift 300 pound rocks above your head, attending assault weapon shoot-em-up fests, and crushing beer cans against your forehead. 

Acting like strong men who claim to be followers of Christ, means that the things that are important to God are important to you—and the fruit, or produce, of your life proves it. The Bible says we are "known by our fruit." 

The fruit of the Spirit should be manifest in your daily life.

"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy,peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." (Galatians 5:22-23)

How many of you demonstrate that entire list of the fruit of the Spirit in your daily life?

4.  Finally, and most importantly, "Let all that you do be done in love."

If we go to Bible studies four nights a week, and donate hundreds of dollars to missions, and serve as an usher at church, and even sell all that we have, to go up and down the highways carrying a cross for Christ—if it's not done sincerely, unselfishly, and in Christ's love—it means absolutely nothing to God. (See 1 Corinthians 13:1-3)

Here is what the love of, and for Christ looks like:

"Love suffers long and is ind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

Oh, and for all of you single or divorced men who are still "looking for the right woman"—any woman worth having as a wife, is looking for a man who is strong in Christ's love and faith—not strong in a worldly sense. 

The world's version of a 'strong' man is a whiskey drinkin', tobacco-chewin', cage fighter, who wears camo t-shirts and drives a huge 4x4 truck. 

But a man who is strong in Christ humbles himself and wages battle in the Spirit by loving and praying for the needs of others, before he even thinks about his own needs.

A man who is strong in Christ also walks what he talks.

If you can quote Bible verses and say "amen brother!" to a good message at church, but you never actually take the time to reach out to someone in need, then you are a spiritual impostor—just another religious poser.

You can't just look like a man of God—you must act like one.

Jesus demonstrated His love for people at great personal cost and inconvenience.

—How about you?

"Let all that you do be done in love."

—God is Love, and Love Never Fails.