A Secure Path

While we live, even though the world is in the power of the evil one, we have hope God who gives life and can empower us to overcome. We have a firm foundation and we have an anchor that will secure no matter how intense the storms of life may be. We can sing: “We have an anchor..” “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols”(1 John 5:20-21). At Rock City Gardens near Chattanooga, Tennessee, a swinging bridge provides a path across a deep chasm between two bluffs. As I followed my children across the bridge, my daughter froze. She wanted a firm foundation; she sensed no security. Only my presence and coaching gave her the confidence to trust the bridge and reach the other side. We crave safety and predictability in our relationships. We don’t want a swinging bridge. We don’t want to navigate the swamps of depression and fear. We want firm ground, preferably concrete pavement, underneath our feet in our relationship with family, with friends, and with God. Though the cables strain, they are secured by the Savior’s hand. He coaches us and he guides toward safety; he demonstrates concrete love. Will you keep yourselves from idols? Will you trust the true God and eternal life? Will you say yes to the concrete love of Christ?

August Attire

The month of August these days ushers in thoughts of school and academic requirements, professional sports and the appropriate attire to match team allegiance, hot weather and working air conditioning. Recently at the church where preach, as we discussed 1 Timothy chapter 2, we considered what Christians should do and what we should wear as we seek to live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity. The first consideration was to pray, to worship, with “holy hands,” backing up our claims about Jesus and our efforts on his behalf with a lifestyle and attitude that demonstrate dedication to him. Pray, the apostle wrote, without arguing and disputing. The second consideration was to attire oneself with “good works,” not because they save you, but because God has prepared good works for Christians to do (Ephesians 2:10). Be known for dressing modestly in this way, rather than wearing jewelry, expensive clothes, or wearing braided hair. Strangely, we tend not to describe jewelry and expensive clothes as being immodest. We are more likely to describe them as “church clothes.” What Paul is pointing out in 1 Timothy is that wearing of clothing for attracting attention, whether attracting sexual attention or identifying with idolatrous or immoral causes, distracts us and others from serving Christ and one another. Christian women (and men, too) should be known for what they do for Christ more than for what they wear (or don’t). The Bible doesn’t provide us a detailed dress code by providing approved hem lengths for women or grooming procedures for men. The way we dress does send a message, and we can send messages that confuse others about what we believe by what we wear, but the Bible focuses more on our attitudes and our actions as we serve Jesus. So, as you engage in your August activities, how will people know that you follow Christ? Do your activities communicate that you are dresses in appropriate Christian August attire?