Seeking to Impress Others?

A businessman’s office wall was covered with award plaques and framed documents. On it was a diploma from Harvard Business School, a “National Salesman of the Year” award, and a letter from the President of the United States. A visitor was impressed by his honors and asked, “How did you manage to accomplish so much in such a short time?” “It really wasn’t that hard,” the man replied. “I have a sign-printing business.”

Hypocrisy is trying to impress others by pretending to be something that we’re not. Jesus called the Pharisees hypocrites because they performed their religious duties “to be seen” by men (Matt. 6:1). “To be seen” in Greek is theathemai which is where we get our word “theatre.” The actors on the Greek stage performed in the theatre and craved for the applause of their audience.

The Pharisees were religious actors, playing the role of a righteous person in the “theatre” of street corners, synagogues, and the temple. They longed for applause of people rather than the applause of God.

In the age of social media, seeking to be popular and please people is a danger for us as well. The apostle Paul said, “For am I seeking the favor of people, or God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ” (Gal. 1:10).

Don’t sacrifice what you know to be true for fear of what others think. Only one opinion matters. God’s. www.makinglifecount.net

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Making Life Count Ministries

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Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174

www.makinglifecount.net  Twitter: @KentCrockett

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How Do We Know The Titanic Really Sank?

The Titanic sank in the Atlantic Ocean on April 15, 1912, but how do we know for sure? No one alive today was there when it sank. So does that mean it never happened? Do you have to swim to the bottom of the Atlantic to see it with your own eyes before you will believe?

Approximately 1,500 passengers drowned but 700 people survived the tragedy. Those survivors were eyewitnesses to the accident, and newspapers recorded their comments about what they saw. No one living today questions whether or not the Titanic sank because we have a record of the eyewitness reports.

How do we know Jesus rose from the dead? Just like we know about the Titanic—through the eyewitness reports. Paul writes, "He was raised the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than 500 brethren at one time...then He also appeared to James and all the apostles...and He appeared to me (Paul) also." (1 Cor. 15:6-8).

But here's the real proof. The disciples were so convinced of His resurrection they were willing to die for Him. And most of them did. When they were threatened with death and offered their release if they would deny Christ, they would not renounce Him. 

Paul was beheaded. Peter was crucified upside down. Thomas was killed with a spear. James was executed with a sword. Phillip was crucified. They were so convinced Jesus was resurrected that nothing could change their minds—even torture and death.

Fact: Jesus did rose from the dead. He's worth following for the rest of your life. Can you believe it? www.makinglifecount.net

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BIBLE STUDY: Did Jesus die on Friday or Wednesday?

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Making Life Count Ministries

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Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174

www.makinglifecount.net  Twitter: @KentCrockett

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Will Anyone Have a Dirty Robe in Heaven?

After David committed adultery with Bathsheba, he wrote, “Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.” (Psalm 51:7). Why did he say “whiter than snow”? Even a fresh snowflake isn’t entirely white. On every snowflake you will find a tiny speck of dust that it picks up while falling. Even though it’s white, it’s not completely clean.  

Jesus shed His blood on the cross for a reason—it “cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). Not some sin. All sin. His blood is the only hope we have to be cleansed. Suppose you get a spot on your clothes. The cleaners use a chemical on it that’s stronger than the spot. Your sins make dirty spots on your soul. The only thing more powerful than your sins is Jesus’ blood.

The Bible tells us people in heaven are clothed in white robes (Rev. 7:13). Do you think anyone in heaven will be wearing a white robe except for one or two dirty spots? No one in heaven will say, “There were a couple of sins the blood of Jesus couldn’t get out.”

David is in heaven wearing a robe whiter than snow. “They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Rev. 7:14). Normally blood on a robe makes it red. But the blood of Jesus makes the robes white. Every saved person’s robe went through a washing machine at the cross. When Jesus washes you with His blood, no sin can stay of the robe. Have you been washed? www.makinglifecount.net

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Making Life Count Ministries

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www.makinglifecount.net  Twitter: @KentCrockett

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Your Battle Plan to Defeat Goliath

Many stories in the Old Testament teach us valuable lessons we can apply today. When David killed Goliath (1 Samuel 17), it teaches us about how to conquer our giant problems. Your Goliath may be a situation that you’re afraid to face or a problem that looks too big to handle.

Every Israeli soldier was afraid to face Goliath. "When all the men of Israel saw the man, they fled from him and were greatly afraid" (17:24). David was the only one who wasn't afraid and was confident he would win. Here’s how he did it.

1. Conquer your fear by placing your complete trust in God. Fear weakens your willingness to win. If a boxer is afraid before he steps into the boxing ring, he will lose the fight. David wrote, "When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You...In God I have put my trust, I shall not be afraid. What can mere man do to me?” (Ps. 56:3-4). He knew that trust forces out fear.  

2. Pray for God’s wisdom on how to proceed. Some people will give you wrong advice on how to fight the battle. King Saul tried to get David ready for battle by putting his bronze helmet and armor on him. David put on the armor and could barely walk (17:38-39). If he had tried to fight Goliath following Saul’s advice he would have been killed! But God knew the best way to defeat Goliath was with a rock and sling. The Lord will tell you the correct way to attack your problem—and it might not be the way it has always be done.

3. Remember God's faithfulness. As a shepherd, David had killed a lion and a bear that tried to attack his flock (17:34-36). Those were training exercises to get him ready for Goliath. He knew God would be with him in the fight because of His past faithfulness. He said, “Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, since he has taunted the armies of the living God” (17:36). When God calls you to do something, He will make it happen. “Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass” (1 Thess. 5:24).

David didn't take credit for slaying the giant but wanted the Lord's name to be exalted, "that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel" (17:46). Now go take down the giant you’re facing today so that God will be glorified. www.makinglifecount.net

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Making Life Count Ministries

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Are You in Bondage to Someone?

Have you ever wondered why God sent Moses to Pharaoh to tell him, “Let My people go”? The Lord could have led the Hebrews out of Egypt without getting Pharaoh’s permission, but God wanted to give Pharaoh a chance to “let go.” He needed to take his hands off the Hebrews and release them from slavery. 

If he had listened to Moses and let go, he could have avoided the 10 plagues. But stubborn Pharaoh didn’t heed God’s warning, so he had to suffer the consequences.

Many people today have Pharaoh-itis. They’re holding on to people in their minds that they need to let go. Here are some examples:
***They’ve been hurt by someone and won’t forgive. God tells them to let them go.
***They’re involved in unhealthy relationships. The Lord says to let them go.
***They’ve lost a loved one either by death or a breakup. God wants them to let go and move on.
***Some people are “controllers” and try to make everyone obey them though guilt trips and manipulation. God says, “Let My people go so that they might serve Me” (Ex. 8:1).

You can let people go by cutting the invisible string that connects you to that person. As long as the string stays attached you’ll be in bondage to that individual. Imagine taking a pair of spiritual scissors and cutting the strings in Jesus’ name. Tell the Lord you are releasing that person into His hands and the strings are no longer attached.

Now, if that person tries to pull strings on you, it doesn’t affect you because the connection has been broken. “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed” (John 8:36) www.makinglifecount.net

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Making Life Count Ministries

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Hate Yourself or Love Yourself?

Should you hate yourself or love yourself? Author Leanne Payne has said, "If we are busy hating the soul that God loves and is in the process of straightening out, we cannot help others. Our minds will be riveted on ourselves—not on Christ who is our wholeness.”

When Jesus said to hate your own life (Luke 14:26), He meant for us to hate selfishness. He did not mean to hate yourself as a person that God created. Jesus said to love your neighbor as yourself (Matt. 22:39) because you can’t honestly tell someone God loves them if you don’t believe it about yourself.

A prison chaplain told me, “Do you know why prisoners commit crimes? It’s because they hate themselves. And if they hate themselves, how can they love others? If they don’t have respect for themselves, why would they respect anyone else and their property? That’s why it doesn’t bother them to steal or kill. They don’t love others because they don’t love themselves.”

This chaplain knows how prisoners think because he too was once incarcerated. He killed someone when he was younger and was sent to prison. During his time in jail a chaplain told him about God’s love and led him to the Lord. After serving his sentence and released, he went back into prison as a chaplain. He now teaches prisoners they need to receive God’s love and accept themselves as His creation. Only then can they respect others.

God demonstrated His love for you by dying for you (Rom 5:8). “The love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit (5:5). When you allow God’s love to enter your heart, you will love yourself as He loves you—and then you can extend that love to your neighbor. Have you learned to love yourself? It’s not selfish. It’s what God wants. www.makinglifecount.net

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Making Life Count Ministries

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Every Decision is a Trade

When you make a decision it’s like making a trade—you give up something to get something else. You go to a furniture store, hand cash to the salesperson and walk out with a chair. You’ve traded your money for furniture. When you exchange wedding vows, you’ve decided to give up single life for married life. A wise decision is when you “trade up” and gain something better than what you had before.

To make a wise decision you must

1. Correctly determine the value of what you have and what you want. If you misjudge the value of either one, you’ll make a foolish decision.

2. Consider the long-term outcome. Instant gratification is short-lived while delayed gratification means waiting to get something much better.

Jesus told a rich young ruler if he would sell his possessions and give to the poor, he would gain “treasure in heaven” that would last forever (Mark 10:21). He was offering him something of much greater value. But the man didn’t believe what Jesus told him and walked away disappointed. Why? He misjudged the value of both what he had and what he would receive. He owned much property and didn’t want to give it up. He thought this short-term life was more important than the long-term next life. That was 2,000 years ago. Do you think he regrets his decision?

Esau traded his birthright (his inheritance) for a bowl of soup because misjudged the value of both his birthright and the bowl of soup (Gen. 25:32). He thought his inheritance was worth nothing and the soup extremely valuable. He was hungry (instant gratification) and said, “What use is the birthright to me?” Later he realized his foolish mistake and cried because he couldn’t get it back (Heb. 12:17).

The next time you need to make a decision think about the value of what you’re trading. Ask yourself, “Will I better off many years from now?” www.makinglifecount.net

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Making Life Count Ministries

P.O. Box 680174

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www.makinglifecount.net  Twitter: @KentCrockett

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