A Captive Conscience - Martin Wiles

But then David’s conscience began bothering him because he had cut Saul’s robe. 1 Samuel 24:5 NLT

My conscience spoke … but I didn’t listen.

My conscience had been programmed with the right stuff. Mom and Dad made sure of that. They took me to church every time the doors opened. I heard Daddy preach the Bible, and I listened as teachers told me Bible stories. At home, my rules mimicked God’s commands, and discipline followed if I didn’t adhere to them. I also experienced the positive side of God’s commands as I enjoyed love from my family that parroted God’s love.

Then I became a teenager, and things changed. I didn’t enjoy the rules anymore. And suddenly, Mom and Dad seemed overbearing. I wanted to get away … to do my own thing. Having friends who felt the same way didn’t help. Bad company can corrupt good morals. I didn’t stand for the right but reveled in the wrong.

As I enjoyed my bad behavior, my conscience bothered me. I knew my behavior was wrong and displeased my parents, my teachers at church—and God. At the moment, I didn’t care.

Eventually, my conscience got the better of me. I confessed, repented, and turned back to the way I knew was right. This soothed my conscience and made life more pleasant.

Like me, David listened to his conscience. David served as a warrior in King Saul’s army, but God had also chosen him as the next king. The prophet Samuel had anointed him as such when he was only a shepherd boy herding his father’s sheep. As David’s military conquests increased, so did Saul’s jealousy. Now, David ran, and Saul hunted him.

As Saul entered a cave to use the bathroom—a cave David and his army hid in—David crept up behind him and cut off a small portion of his robe. That’s when his conscience kicked in. Even though Saul reigned as a cruel and ungodly king, God had commanded that the people support the king. David apologized to Saul.

Our conscience makes up a part of humanity. God works to help us know the difference between right and wrong. When we choose the wrong, God convicts us. If we don’t listen, the conviction—and discipline—grows. Years of rejection can lead to a seared conscience. One where doing wrong doesn’t bother us anymore. A dangerous place.

The right response to God’s conviction is repentance and confession. When we do this, things between us and God are righted again. He can use us in His Kingdom’s work, and we will once again enjoy life.

Our conscience can be our guide only when we have programmed it with God’s commands and principles. Why not do that so your conscience can guide you properly.

Prayer: Father, give us the courage to program our consciences with the right things.

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Flashback Friday - Balanced - Martin Wiles

Balanced

Time comes in the same increments for everyone.

So be careful how you live… Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Ephesians 5:15-16

Flipping and tumbling across the floor didn’t concern me. Even bouncing off the trampoline and flipping over the horse beam didn’t tax my nerves. Watching her swing round and round on the bars only made me a little nervous. What set my nerves on edge was the balance beam. The other gymnastic activities my daughter performed could have resulted in injury, but the balance beam appeared the most dangerous. Walking, jumping, and flipping on a piece of a narrow slither of wood simply didn’t seem safe. Happily, she never injured herself. Read more...

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A Glad Reunion - Martin Wiles

And people will come from all over the world—from east and west, north and south—to take their places in the Kingdom of God. Luke 13:29 NLT

I made the trip—all in the name of a cedar chest.

I thought I had inherited all the family treasures that any family member had left—until my dad’s sister called. She wanted to know if I wanted my great-grandmother’s piano and night table, as well as my grandmother’s cedar chest. Of course, I did. Although my wife and I are downsizing as I near retirement years, we are hanging on to family heirlooms.

I called a friend who has a truck and asked if he and his wife would drive us two hours away to get my treasures. I had my doubts we’d be able to get the piano—doubts that proved true. Old pianos either take a forklift or six good men to lift. We had neither. But I did get the cedar chest, the table, and a laundry hamper full of old pictures.

But the greatest joy of the trip wasn’t the treasures. That came in getting to see my aunt, my uncle, and my cousin. Nine years had passed since I’d even talked with my aunt and uncle, and I hadn’t seen my cousin in as many years. Since we had always been close growing up, this was the treasure—and the joy—of the trip. 

Jesus taught about a narrow door, Himself, through whom all people must enter if they want to experience another joyful reunion at the end of time. A reunion where all who have believed in Him from the beginning of time will live together forever while enjoying the presence of God and the angels.

Seeing the One face to face who died for us will be joy enough, but other things will make this heavenly reunion pleasant also. The things that separate us on earth will disappear. One hundred miles separate me from my cousin, and ninety miles from my aunt and uncle. The same amount of space separates me from the place I love to go more than anywhere else: the mountains. But prejudice, selfishness, greed, social class, and other things can also separate.

Our eternal home will also know no sorrow, tears, pain, or sin of any variety. This, too, will make it joyous. We will surely have a feast of food, but the greater feast will be worshiping and praising the One who gave His life that we might have forgiveness.

Have you made plans to attend the greatest reunion ever?

Prayer: Father, thank You for providing the greatest reunion ever.

Tweetable: Are you anticipating the greatest reunion of all? 

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Rejected - Martin Wiles

Absalom did this with everyone who came to the king for judgment, and so he stole the hearts of all the people of Israel. 2 Samuel 15:6 NLT

Frankie experienced something he never wanted: rejection.

Frankie remembered the day well. The day his wife said, “I don’t love you anymore.” Then she proved it by leaving him and their two children. As if that rejection wasn’t bad enough, more followed. Frankie pastored churches in a denomination that frowned upon divorced pastors … almost ostracized them, in fact.

Frankie sent out hundreds of resumes to churches. Nothing. He finally decided to take a job outside of church work, and for the next six years, he worked diligently in areas he didn’t think God had called him. Then he remarried. His new wife wanted him to pastor again. More resumes. More rejections. Nothing seemed to have changed, until one church took a chance on him and called him as pastor. But even there, some members rejected his leadership because he had been divorced.

Like Frankie, I remember rejection as a child. I wasn’t the most athletically built boy. Nor was I interested in sports. So, when Physical Education class took place, and the teacher chose two team captains to pick teams, I was always the last one selected. Rejection hurt then … as it does now.

King David knew rejection too—and by one of his own sons who decided he wanted to be king. He brown-nosed the people, who eventually turned to him as king and rejected his father. Absalom eventually ran his father out of town.

The reasons others may reject us vary. Often it concerns our appearance, jealousy, or our likes and dislikes. Sometimes, it’s because they see others rejecting us, so they just follow suit. Acceptance is one of our basic needs and when others don’t accept us, it hurts … deeply.

God gives us good news though. He never rejects us. When we turn to Him, we find Him turned to us. He loved us enough to send His Son to die for us, and He accepts us based on what Christ has done on Calvary.

Acknowledging our hurt is beneficial. So is realizing that not everyone will ever accept us. Jesus was perfect, but rejected by many. But amongst others’ rejection is God’s acceptance, and His is the only real acceptance that matters. His acceptance allows us to experience peace and fulfillment in life.

Seek to live at peace with others, but more than that enjoy the acceptance of God.

Prayer: Father, thank You for accepting us, even when others reject us.

Tweetable: Have you been rejected? 

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Throwback Tuesday - Strength in Unity - Martin Wiles

Strength in Unity

We can accomplish more together than we can apart.

Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. Ephesians 4:3 NLT

A charter member leaves the church because children are allowed to play games in the family life center. A group splits and forms their own church because they didn’t like a decision made by the majority. A member spreads vicious rumors about one of the church’s leaders even though they are false. A member disagrees with the majority’s decision on a matter but becomes a thorn that spreads dissent in the church. Members fight over the style of music, the color of the carpet, or what color to paint the Sunday school rooms. A young Christian leaves the church when the church decides they won’t continue in a community fellowship because it is interracial. Just a few of the situations I’ve encountered in my church journey. Read more...

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Seeing with God’s Eyes - Martin Wiles

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7 NLT

Vision problems have haunted me since I was a young lad.

At the tender age of ten, I received my first pair of glasses. Many changes in lens’ strength followed through the years—and many different styles of frames. Later in life, I added drops to stave off glaucoma and dry eye disease.

But my blurry vision didn’t prevent me from seeing some things I wish I hadn’t: pride, prejudice, greed, hate, abuse, crime, jealousy, selfishness, misplaced priorities. Nor did blurry vision keep me from viewing some things I was glad I had seen: love, kindness, sacrifice, selflessness, joy, peace, self-control.

Sometimes, I don’t see what I need to see, and God must correct my vision. Such as He did with Samuel. King Saul was done. God gave Samuel the prophet the responsibility to choose the next king from among Jesse’s sons. Quite naturally, Samuel thought he’d find the next king among the most handsome or athletically built of Jesse’s sons. God corrected him. David—the youngest, the one who tended the sheep—was God’s choice. Samuel took an outside-in approach in the selection process while God took an inside-out approach.

God hasn’t changed His method of looking at people—us included. When we acknowledge what Christ has done on Calvary’s cross—paid for our sins—receive the gift by faith, and follow Him in obedience, God forgives our sins and clothes us in the righteousness of Christ. We are saved by Christ’s righteousness, not our own.

When God looks at His children, He sees Christ’s righteousness. We are no longer dirty sinners, but saints. Our situation should not lead to pride, however, because our position has nothing to do with us but everything to do with Christ in us.

Knowing this helps us view others differently as well. Instead of seeing others as we often see them—with all their faults and failures—we can view them as God does us. Masterpieces in the making. People with unfulfilled potential. And when we see them this way, we love our neighbors as we do ourselves.

Ask God to help you see others—and yourself—as He sees them.

Prayer: Father, thank You for seeing us as we are in Christ, not as we would be without Him.

Tweetable: How's your eyesight? 

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Enjoy the Meal - Martin Wiles

When I discovered your words, I devoured them. They are my joy and my heart’s delight. Jeremiah 15:16 NLT

I love to eat … the wrong things.

I remember when McDonald's first opened a restaurant in my hometown. Back when they still counted the number of burgers they served. Back when a hamburger was twenty-five cents, and a cheeseburger was thirty cents. Back when I could still eat as much as I wanted—and still not gain weight. I loved all their burgers, but especially the Big Mac and the cheeseburger. Then came Hardees and Burger King. I ate there, too, but nothing pleased my palate like McDonald's.

Pizza Hut also had an establishment in my hometown. On Saturdays, while I bagged groceries at the local Piggly Wiggly, my friends and I would head here during our lunch hour. We’d all share a nice juicy pepperoni pizza.

Then I fell in love with Little Debbie. Dad always said he hoped there would be ice cream in heaven. I hope Little Debbie has at least one manufacturing plant there. Anything Little Debbie produces, I love. Out of date? Doesn’t matter. Calories? Not so good. The fifty-cent honey buns I’m fond of boast a whopping 350 calories.

But when you’re eating what you shouldn’t, who looks at calories? Doing so ruins the enjoyment. When Dad began having heart trouble, the doctor told him he needed to cut out his daily intake of ice cream. He said, “Doc, I’ve been eating ice cream all my life, and I plan to keep eating it.” And he did, although he did cut down on the serving size.

I feel the same way about the stuff I shouldn’t eat for health reasons. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve cut way back on the unhealthy foods I enjoy and focused more on eating healthier.

Some healthy foods I just can’t stomach. God’s Word isn’t one of them. Jeremiah devoured God’s words. They were like a fire in his bones he had to savor … and then deliver to others.

Sometimes, God’s Word is bitter, such as when it convicts me of an action or attitude I shouldn’t have. Or when it instructs me to do something I don’t care to do. But when I change and obey, God’s Word becomes as sweet as one of those Little Debbie items.

Enjoying a meal of God’s Word entails believing it’s inspired or authored by God. Otherwise, we’ll take it or leave it as it suits us. We need it to sustain our spiritual life. If we don’t eat a regular diet of it, we’ll dry up and miss out on God’s best. I never leave any of a Little Debbie when I’m eating one, and I shouldn’t of God’s Word either. All of it holds importance.

God’s Word changes our lives when we’re intentional about eating it regularly. Be intentional about making it a normal part of your diet.

Prayer: Father, lead us to desire Your Word above all other things.

Tell us what meals you enjoy, but shouldn't.  

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Flashback Friday - The Source of Strength - Martin Wiles

The Source of Strength

What we rely on for strength can sometimes disappoint us. 

Saul replied, “But I’m only from the tribe of Benjamin, the smallest tribe in Israel, and my family is the least important of all the families of that tribe! I Samuel 9:21

My middle brother is a weight lifter. Not a professional. Just a regular lifter of lead. Initially, he lifted weights to boost his self-image. When younger, he was skinny. I suppose he grew tired of being picked on and decided to take action. When he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s, he was even more determined to heft the heavies. His upper body strength and build are impressive. Weight lifting is the source of his strength. Read more...

Tell us about a struggle you have faced, yet found hope. 

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I Thought I Wanted It - Martin Wiles

Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden?’” Genesis 3:1 NKJV

The one thing I thought I wanted was the one thing I wasn’t supposed to have.

My husband and I lived in a beautiful garden with every kind of fruit and vegetable we could imagine. Water rose from the ground each night and watered everything. No weeds or insects ate away at the things in our garden. No grass where it shouldn’t be. Everything was perfect … pristine. 

Every evening, God showed up to talk with us. We couldn’t see Him, but we knew He was there. We could feel Him in a way we couldn’t feel anything else. We loved our little walks and talks.

My husband and I loved our little garden—it actually wasn’t that small. It seemed to go on forever. God gave us one rule: we couldn’t eat fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. We didn’t understand why, but surely one rule wouldn’t be that hard to follow so we didn’t question Him.

As I picked fruit one day—not alone, but my husband was in another section of the garden—a serpent appeared … and talked. “Did God really say you couldn’t eat fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil?” he hissed.

“Yes, He did,” I answered.

“There’s nothing wrong with eating from it. God just doesn’t want you to know everything as He does.”

The one thing God hadn’t given my husband and me: complete knowledge as He had. I wanted it. Imagine being able to know all things, not just what we discovered on our own or what God told us.

So, I ate. As soon as I took the first bite, I knew I had messed up. And I blew it further when I offered my husband a bite and he took it.

Things changed between us and God after that. God had warned us about temptation, but I thought I was strong enough on my own to handle it. I found out differently, although too late. God kicked us out of the garden. Our work changed. Weeds grew. Childbirth hurt. My relationship with my husband changed.

What I thought I wanted I really didn’t. What I wanted was for things to return to the way they were. Although God booted us out of the garden, He forgave our foolishness. Then and every time thereafter. God didn’t send the tempter or make me give in. I should have depended on God. He would have shown me the way out. After my first mistake, I discovered that.

I’m sure I’ll mess up again. It’s my nature to want what I shouldn’t … things that aren’t good for me … things that will wreck my walk with God. But no matter how often I mess up, I know God will always forgive and give me another chance.

Prayer: Father, give us the desire to want what You want for us, but thank You for forgiving us when we don’t.

Tell us about something you thought you wanted. 

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Spreading the Good News - Thomas Brown

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you
will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. Isaiah 43:2 NIV

One day, as I sat at my piano, I found myself frustrated with the sound of my music 

I had not practiced for weeks, and I found myself having to review the basics again. I was troubled and thought about how this relates to my Christian walk with Christ. As I sat there and reflected, I realized if we stop doing things it just becomes a habit. Even our good habits can become bad habits just by stopping the good habit. 

The same happens if we stop reading our Bible. Starting again will be harder than it was to stop. Especially since the devil does not want us to read Scripture. 

In Bible times, some kings were strong believers in the one true God, but some were not. Although there were many martyrs, some are better known. But all were killed for believing in Christ. Some were stoned to death and others were killed by other means, but they all died because they believed and publicly preached the gospel—something the Bible tells us to do. 

We should imitate those who died for their faith. We need to keep telling others about God’s love. This is part of God’s command to us.  

Think of at least two people you can tell about God’s love. Little things can make big things happen.

Prayer: Father, give us the strength to spread the good news of Your love and to invite others to come to You.

Tweetable: Are you spreading the good news? 

Thomas Brown is a middle schooler at Greenwood Christian School in Greenwood, South Carolina. He has one brother and a dog named Lucy. He has lived in nearby Abbeville all his life and hopes one day to visit Alaska.

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Throwback Tuesday - When I Don’t Ask - Martin Wiles

So the Israelites examined their food, but they did not consult the Lord. Joshua 9:14 NLT

He who doesn’t ask may very well not receive.

As a budding writer, I wanted to attend a writer’s conference sponsored by the person who had given me my first true opportunity to be published. The cost of the conference was reasonable, but my funds were scarce. I expressed my desire to the editor and host, and she graciously told me about a well-known author who granted a limited number of scholarships to conference attendees who had the desire but not the money. I filled out the required scholarship request and was granted the money. Had I not asked, I would have remained home and lost the opportunity to attend meetings that honed my writing skills.

I can ask for money, time, directions, advice, pity, and a slew of other things, but if I don’t ask for God’s guidance I’m doomed from the start. Joshua didn’t and was. He had two major victories under his belt, but terrified deceivers had slipped into the camp and requested friendship. The Israelites didn’t question their story or consult God. Sadly, they belonged to a group God had instructed the Israelites to destroy lest they infect his people with sinful lifestyles.

Not asking God’s guidance sets me up for failure. I may succeed according to someone else’s standards, but I won’t by God’s. When I launch into life without consulting God, I also demonstrate selfishness. Life becomes about me rather than him and others. My priorities and goals become jumbled. By default, leaving God out of my decisions reveals an underlying belief that he may not even care about what I’m facing presently or in the future. Satan’s temptations then become more tantalizing.

The treasury of heaven’s blessings is mine for the taking—but only if I ask for God’s guidance. Seeking his advice in all matters means I’ll more often than not experience his best. By regularly consulting him, I’ll begin to see life’s events from his perspective rather than my own. Are you checking with God about your daily affairs?

Prayer: God of mercy and love, prompt us to consult You about every decision we make—major or minor.

Tell us about a time when God has answered your prayer. 

Tweetable: What haven't you asked for? 

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The Breaking Point - Martin Wiles

Hannah was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to the Lord. 1 Samuel 1:10 NLT

What I wanted the most, I couldn’t have.

Life stunk … at least the part that kept me from having a child. I had heard about women in a neighboring country aborting their children. I suppose just because they thought having a child would inconvenience their lifestyle. I couldn’t imagine. I wanted a child so badly I couldn’t imagine terminating a pregnancy just because of inconvenience.

I tired of the gossip and of the busybodies running their mouths. “Did you hear Hannah can’t have a baby. Such a shame. I can’t imagine.” I knew what they really thought. They thought I had committed some secret sin, and God was punishing me by not letting me have a child. I admit, sometimes I wondered that myself, but deep inside I knew better.

The fact that my husband had another wife who made fun of me too didn’t help. Living in a house with another woman and her children was almost more than I could stand. I considered leaving, but where would I go and how could I support myself. Helping care for children who weren’t my own only made me want children even more.

My husband didn’t understand. Sure, he did things for me he didn’t do for his other wife. Little extra things he thought would help ease my pain. I appreciated his efforts, but they didn’t take away my grief. I wanted my own child. Nothing he gave me … no extra attention he showed me … would make up for a child.

Every year when our little family traveled to the Tabernacle to make a yearly sacrifice to God, the other woman would make my life miserable. Finally, I reached my breaking point. After we all left the Tabernacle, I decided I’d return. The old priest sat nearby, but I didn’t talk to him. I went straight to the altar and poured my heart out to God. “God, I haven’t sinned on purpose. You know I love You. If You will give me a son, I’ll give him back to You so he can serve You all the days of his life.”

I was scared to pray out loud, so I just whispered. The old priest accused me of being drunk, but I told him it was just the anguish and embarrassment speaking.

I must admit, I was surprised when God actually answered my prayer. I know He doesn’t always answer prayers the way we want Him to, but this time He did. So out of appreciation—and to keep my word—I took my son, when he was old enough, back to the priest. And, of course, he remembered me as the drunk woman who wasn’t really drunk.

Sometimes, God just lets us get to the breaking point before He breaks through.

Prayer: Father, when we reach our breaking point, remind us You are there with us.

Tell us about a time when you reached your breaking point. 

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Tears Tell the Tale - Martin Wiles

Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them. Luke 7:38 NLT

When the tears trickled from his blue eyes, we all knew.

Although my grandfather attended the little white Methodist church every time the doors were open, Dad, Mom, and I wondered about his relationship with Christ. Other parts of his lifestyle seemed to say he didn’t have one. So when the strokes started coming—and it didn’t seem he would recuperate—Mom decided to do something about it.

Pappy was a relatively young man when the first stroke hit. I’m sure the years of heavy drinking and smoking had taken their toll. The stroke brought a little paralysis on one side. Then several more followed. By the time it was all over, his entire right side was immobile, and he could not speak. My grandmother had to help him walk. He could mumble words but none we could understand.

When it appeared his end neared, Mom decided to ask him about his relationship with Christ. Tears puddled in his eyes and then streaked down the side of his face. He couldn’t tell us he had asked Jesus to forgive his sins and be his Savior, but the tears evidenced he had.

Luke records an instance of another person whose tears also told a tale. Jesus enjoyed a meal at the home of one of the religious leaders. As they reclined at the table and enjoyed the meal and fellowship, a prostitute ambled in, walked over to Jesus, let her tears fall onto His feet, and wiped them off with her hair as she adorned His feet with perfume.

Simon, the religious leader who had invited Jesus, objected to this “sinner” touching Jesus. Jesus lovingly rebuked the Pharisee for not washing His feet and then told him that the woman’s tears told a tale—one of repentance, confession, and forgiveness.

Some of us cry outwardly and some inwardly. Some don’t mind when others see our tears while others think it “unmanly” or “unwomanly” to let others see us cry. Whether we show them or not, tears are one way we show gratitude for what God has done for us through His Son on Calvary’s cross. Tears also reflect our sorrow over sin or other unwise decisions or actions we’ve taken. Cross words. Unjustified anger. Unforgiveness. Selfish acts.

Cleansing comes when we confess our sins to Christ, and there is nothing wrong with letting our inward cleansing show with outward tears. They reveal the state of our hearts.

Don’t be afraid to let tears show the state of your heart.

Prayer: Father, may our tears show us and others the true state of our heart.

Tell us about your favorite family tale. 

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