Throwback Tuesday - What Truth Does - Martin Wiles

What Truth Does

Determining the truth isn’t always as easy as one might imagine.

From the time I entered this world, I was taught to obey God’s standards. As I aged and could comprehend them better, my parents explained why I needed to do this or leave that alone. They never questioned God’s truth, nor did I…until I became an adult. Occasionally, the thought would race through my mind, “What if all I profess to believe is a lie or wishful thinking?” I once questioned an older man about this very possibility. He replied, “I’d rather live like I do and be mistaken in the end than live the opposite way and find out I was wrong.” Read more...

Tell us how you determine what truth is. 

Tweetable: Are you struggling with the truth?

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Follow the Leader - Martin Wiles

When you hear a sound like marching feet in the tops of the poplar trees, be on the alert! That will be the signal that the Lord is moving ahead of you to strike down the Philistine army. 2 Samuel 5:24 NLT

He led and I followed.

My brother loved to lead when we hiked in the mountains. Since he was younger, I sometimes had a hard time keeping up with him, and he’d often have to wait on me to catch up.

Following him led to some interesting circumstances. Once, I followed him to the top of a mountain and watched the path disappear. We had to backtrack. Another time, I shadowed him around a curve and had him almost run over me as he suddenly turned around. A mother bear and her cubs were on the trail. Still another time I trailed him to a yellow jacket’s nest in the middle of the trail. And who can forget the time I followed as we stepped over a log, only to find a snake lying on the other side.

One thing that never happened was that we got lost. We always arrived at our destination, sooner or later. One reason is that we had a guidebook which described the trail and gave us markers to look for along the way.

When the Philistines heard of David’s anointing as king of Israel, they mobilized their armies to fight against him. With wisdom and faith, David consulted his Leader before attacking them to make sure he did it the correct way. God gave him instruction that led to victory.

Whether I’m aware of it or not, someone is continuously following my lead. I may not know who follows—or why—but they remain, seen and sometimes unseen. My example is important. How I live my life, how I make decisions, and what paths I take.

Only as I’m led properly can I lead others. God graciously gives His Holy Spirit to those who chose to follow Him, which in turn gives us the ability to lead others in the right direction. David consulted the Lord before making a decision. How God actually spoke to him, we may not know, but God speaks to us presently through His Word, through the inclination of His Spirit to our spirit, through circumstances, and through others. When we listen, we’ll lead others in the right direction, and their lives will be richer for having followed us.

Who is following your lead, and where are you leading them?

Tweetable: Where are you leading others?

Tell us how you have led others. 

Prayer: Father, help us lead others in directions that take them to a closer walk with You.

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Having It All - Martin Wiles

The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right. Psalm 84:11 NLT

I wanted it—and it wasn’t bad. Now, all I had to do was figure out a way to get it.

What it was depended on my age and life situation. One thing I wanted was a Jeep Wrangler Sport. One with a lift kit, huge tires, a removable top, a large engine, and a loud exhaust system. This want extended back to my teenage years. I’m now approaching sixty, still want it, but still don’t have it. Nothing sinful about this want, so I wonder why God hasn’t given it to me.  

Then came the dream of the farm. I had a friend and two grandfathers who farmed. Farming was in my blood. I watched them love the land, ride farm equipment, and work their own time schedule. So I looked into buying some land, hoping to put a few cows on it. The house and farm implements could come later. None of my dreams materialized. Nothing sinful about that desire. But at this stage in life, I know that dream has slipped away too.

I also never imagined I’d rent my entire life, but that, too, seems a reality. What’s wrong with dreaming of owning my own home? Yet, here I am, approaching retirement age, and still renting, after having lived in church-owned homes almost all my working career. Seems as if God has let me down again.

The psalmist says God won’t withhold anything good from those who do right. I’ve done right, but there’s a whole lot of good He’s withheld. Should I be mad? Should I question the truth of Scripture? Can I trust what God says?

Well, I’m not mad, and I don’t do any of those other things either. God never promises to supply my every want, just my needs. A Jeep, a farm, and a house are all wants. Good wants, but wants nevertheless. And God has always met every need I’ve ever had. Never have I lacked a place to stay, food to eat, or clothes to wear.

God also looks out for my permanent good, not what I may want at any given moment. He gives me what I need to do His will and accomplish His purposes.

God is good every day and all the time. Trust Him for the good you need, not for the good you might want.

Tweetable: Are you trying to have it all?

Prayer: Father, we trust that You know what’s best for us and will supply those needs.

Tell us how you distinguish between wants and needs. 

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Flashback Friday - God on Call - Martin Wiles

God on Call

Sometimes it’s just impossible to get through to whom I want.

“You have reached….. For English press 1, for _____________ press 2.” I press 1. 

“If you would like to ______________, press 1, if not press 5.” I press 5.

“You have reached the main menu. For help with ____________, press 2, for help with ___________ press 3, for help with ____________ press 4, or for assistance with _____________ press 5.”

Now I’m stuck. None of these options relate to my call. Read more...

Tell us about a time when it appeared as if God had left you.  

Tweetable: Do you feel as if God won't answer? 

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The Greatest Giver - Martin Wiles

For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 NLT

She gave until she could give no more.

Born in 1910 of Albanian ancestry, Mother Teresa was one of the most highly respected women in the world. In 1928, she journeyed to Ireland and joined the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Six weeks later, she made her way to India as a teacher to study nursing and eventually to move into the slums of Calcutta, India—home to some of the most destitute people in the world. 

Here she founded the Order of the Missionaries of Charity, a congregation of women dedicated to helping the poor. The order organized schools and opened centers to treat the blind, aged, lepers, disabled, and dying. Under her guidance, a leper colony called Town of Peace was built.

Mother Teresa held international recognition for her charitable work among the victims of poverty and neglect. In 1968, Pope Paul VI called her to Rome to found a home there. In 1971, he awarded her the first Pope John XXIII peace prize. In 1979, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, recognizing her work in Calcutta. 

As much as Mother Teresa gave—and as powerful as her example was—she doesn’t hold the greatest giver prize. God does. Jesus states how much God gave: His one and only Son. And for a purpose: that those who believed in Him would not suffer eternal death but have eternal life.

No amount of giving I do compares with the giving God does, but this failure-to-compare doesn’t relieve me of the responsibility to give as much as I can with God’s help.

Giving keeps my life perspective in order. I love to receive from others, but receiving isn’t what life is really about. God gave—and gives—and in doing so provided an example for me to follow. Life is about touching others in His name: checking on a friend who struggles with addictions or broken relationships, visiting a shut-in, carrying a meal to an elderly person, mentoring a child who has no father figure in their life, paying a bill for someone who can’t. The list is endless.

Like Mother Teresa, God gave when He didn’t have to, but love motivated His actions. As it should mine. Nothing more. Nothing less. Just pure unadulterated love.

Let God show you how to put your love into action.

Tweetable: Have you accepted God's greatest gift?

Prayer: Father, create in our hearts a love for others and, most of all, a love for You.

Tell us about a great gift someone gave you. 

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