All Things to All People - Martin Wiles

I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some. 1 Corinthians 9:22 NRSVUE

Trying to be all things to all people can be exhausting. Our good friends had moved from Colorado. The wife was a native of Colorado, the husband a native of South Carolina. When Jan’s mother-in-law sent her to the store to get a loaf of bread, she assumed it would be an easy mission. After all, who doesn’t know what bread is?

A few minutes later, Jan called. “I don’t see any loaf bread.”

“You mean, the store is completely out of bread?” her mother-in-law replied.

“No, I see plenty of bread. There is just no loaf brand.”

I’m with Jan. In the neck of the woods where I grew up—the lower regions of South Carolina--bread was just called bread. At the most, I might say I was going to get a loaf of bread, but never did I refer to it as loaf bread. Since bread is cooked in loaves, calling it loaf bread seemed redundant. Then again, I didn’t grow up in Upstate South Carolina, where that’s a familiar term, just like hose pipe. I always knew it as a hose or a garden hose. After all, they are hoses, not pipes. Of course, I have sayings my wife, an Upstate girl, isn’t familiar with either.

As an early missionary, Paul probably also faced unfamiliar customs and terms. His goal was to find common ground with people, at least as much as was possible, without compromising the gospel message he preached.

Having grown up in church, I’m familiar with a host of “churchy” words others who haven’t grown up in church might find foreign—words like justification, sanctification, glorification, millennialism, vestibule, pulpit, and sanctuary. And the list goes on.

Like Paul, our mission is to share God’s love and offer of forgiveness with all people—regardless of nationality, race, language, culture, or social standing. Doing so means learning their language so we can modify, but not compromise, our Christianese. Then they can understand what God has done for them in Jesus Christ and accept his forgiveness. Otherwise, they will go on their merry way, not realizing how much God loves them or how much they need him.

Learn to find common ground with those who don’t know Christ so you can point them to his marvelous, gracious love.

Father, let me love others even as You have loved me. 

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing. No one escapes life's hurts, but we can move beyond them to hope and healing. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

A Family Tradition - Martin Wiles

Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit? But your ancestors did, and so do you! Acts 7:51 NLT

My family had many traditions. One was at Christmas. Mom either cooked a meal or prepared finger foods. When we all finished eating, we circled chairs among the furniture in the living room, and everyone sat. The younger members of the family busied themselves, passing out gifts. After the last gift was distributed, we selected someone to begin. They retrieved a gift, told whom it was from, opened it, and showed everyone what it was. Then, this same action was repeated in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction.

Our family has grown and changed. Some members are no longer with us because of divorce or death. Though the gathering is smaller, we continue the tradition, although in a modified form. For me, this tradition builds up our family. Since it is a slow process, it gives us time to tell stories and reflect on memories—especially when Mom takes ten minutes to open a present.

But not all traditions are healthy. Steven was a servant leader in the early church. When arrested for preaching about a resurrected Jesus, whom he claimed was God’s Messiah, he addressed the high council and gave them a history lesson. What brought down their wrath and resulted in his death was his accusation that they were repeating the traditional unbelief of their ancestors. Both had and were resisting God’s Spirit, who was pressing them to believe.

We had other traditions in my immediate home, along with the above Christmas tradition. Dad thought reading the Bible was important. We had family devotions, and I saw him and Mom read their Bibles daily as well, even down to the boring genealogical tables. My parents also thought praying was a good tradition. We boys were taught to pray before meals and before we went to bed. Talking to God was imperative. And even if Dad had not been a pastor, he and Mom would have made us attend church regularly and often. Any time the doors were open, we had to be there.

We should pass traditions that draw us closer to God down to our families but discard the ones that hinder the process.

Consider what family traditions you are establishing and passing along.

Father, guide me to godly traditions I can pass down through the generations. 

Tweetable: What family traditions are you establishing? 

I invite you to try my newest book, Mastering English Grammar Basics, in eBook or paperback. If you are an editor who wants to hone your grammar skills or someone who just wants to improve your writing or speaking, this is the book for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

Blind Guide - Martin Wiles

They are blind guides leading the blind, and if one blind person guides another, they will both fall into a ditch. Matthew 15:4 NLT

He stared at her until she got up and exited the building.

Spring had arrived, and it was time for our church to have one of its two annual revivals. This year, we had decided to have only one and to get a full-time evangelist. 

A lady in our church had recently begun a van ministry. Each Sunday, she faithfully picked up kids from the neighborhood and brought them to church. We never saw any of their parents—until one night during our revival.

A young mother with a small child walked in and took her place near the front. Her young baby was restless, the preacher was preaching passionately, and the mother was trying to quiet her baby. I saw irritation wash over the revivalist’s face as the mother continued to sit and listen while her baby whimpered.

Then it happened. He stopped preaching and gave her the “Aren’t you going to leave with that crying child” stare. After what seemed like an eternity of silence, she did. We never saw her or her child again. A potential believer was lost, and I was livid. 

I suppose the evangelist believed in the old adage that “children should be seen and not heard.” I wondered where he found that in the Bible, and I also wondered if he ever felt any shame over running off someone who needed—and wanted--to hear the gospel.

Those whom Jesus referred to as blind guides were not dastardly criminals, but the religious leaders. Ironic that He would call them that, but they were leading people astray with their traditions and added interpretations to God’s law. Jesus corrected them with scathing words.

Traditions can be good or bad, but even the good ones become bad when I elevate them to the same level as God’s Word and then make others feel guilty if they don’t obey them as I do. Doing this makes me and anyone else a blind guide, and our destiny is falling into a ditch. My hypocritical actions will lead others further from God, not closer to Him.

God wants us to disseminate His truth, not the interpretations or traditions we’ve developed to go along with it. His truth—and His truth alone--sets people free.

Don’t let your traditions or personal convictions hinder you from delivering God’s simple truth to others.

Prayer: Father, we thank You for Your truth. May we be faithful deliverers of it, with nothing added. 

Tweet: Are your traditions keeping others from God?

Looking for a wide selection of genres in inspirational books at discount prices? Click here to see selections.

Thanks to all our faithful followers who are "sharing" our posts--please keep it up! We also invite you to follow and like us on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Help us spread God's encouragement through his love lines.

Change with a Purpose - Martin Wiles

Yes, the old requirement about the priesthood was set aside because it was weak and useless. Hebrews 7:18 NLT

Change isn’t easy for most folks, but when it has a purpose, it’s easier to stomach.

Gossip had driven the previous pastor to another venue. During the interim period, the church had dwindled to around 30 faithful attendees. When a new prospective pastor was interviewed and invited to take the helm, he said, “Here’s what I plan to do if I come.” 

Change is difficult for any church, but small rural churches often find it even more challenging. But they knew if they didn’t change, death was just around the corner. They agreed to his goals and called him as their pastor. Soon, attitudes made a radical shift. People were excited about coming and about what was going to happen next. Perhaps because the changes had a purpose: to transform a dying church back into a living breathing organism that was making a difference for God’s kingdom.

The writer of Hebrews wrote to people who had inherited a several-thousand-year-old tradition: the Levitical priesthood. Men were selected from the tribe of Levi to tend to the Temple, offer sacrifices for the people, and make intercession to God on behalf of the people. Now God—through Jesus Christ—had changed all that. Jesus descended from the tribe of Judah, not Levi. The old system was good for a time, but it wasn’t God’s plan for it to last forever. 

Like most people, change for the sake of change comes difficult for me. I love time-honored traditions as well as the same old same old. Life is easier when I have a pattern, a routine. When something happens to uproot my norm, I often react with anger, confusion, depression, or resistance. But I can react with acceptance. 

Rarely does God work the same way during the entirety of our lives. His overarching plan for our life requires many changes along the way. Rather than resisting the changes, when we know they are coming from God, we should willingly accept, adapt, and conform. He is working out His goal for us and conforming us to the image of His Son. Resisting the changes God initiates can prevent our spiritual growth, put us at odds with others, and keep us from realizing the good rewards He is attempting to give us. 

When God sends change, accept is willingly.

Prayer: Father, help us accept the changes You send that are for our good and Your glory. 

Looking for a wide selection of genres in Christian books at discount prices? Use coupon MWiles for 20% off. Click here to see selections.

Thanks to all our faithful followers who are "sharing" our posts--please keep it up! We also invite you to follow and like us on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Help us spread God's encouragement through his love lines.

Straddling the Fence - Martin Wiles

And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, “How long halt ye between two opinions? If the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people answered him not a word. 1 Kings 18:21 KJV

At 12 years of age, my grandfather learned about straddling the fence.  

When my grandfather was only of middle school age, his father died. In a time period when women worked mostly at home and the man was the sole bread winner, this put the family in a precarious situation. Among three brothers, my grandfather was the only one who could take the reins. 

With the help of his Uncle Ransom, my grandfather got down from the fence and went to work. Taking care of a mother and several female siblings at 12 years of age wasn’t easy, but he knew what he had to do and did it. Quitting school in the sixth grade meant he’d never secure a job that would pay very much. And he didn’t. 

When he later quit farming, he took a job at the Paradise Ice Company in Orangeburg, South Carolina, where he worked the remainder of his lifetime. Though his pay lacked a lot to be desired, again he knew what he had to do and did it. 

Elijah wasn’t a fence straddle either. He summoned 450 prophets of the pagan god Baal to the summit of Mount Carmel and challenged them to a contest to see which god was God. Before the contest began, he asked the people how long they would hesitate between two opinions…how long they were going to live with a divided mind. 

Jesus once told people they couldn’t serve God and mammon. Mammon could be money or material possessions. But I can take anything and insert it in the place of mammon. I can’t choose God and Baal. 

Baal was a fertility god. Worshipping him allegedly brought prosperity and happiness. My Baal can be anything that proposes to do the same thing. 

God presents us with the same question Elijah did to Baal’s representatives: “How long will you live with a divided mind?” We must choose God as well as the things that represent His nature. We can’t serve Him and other gods. Nor does He want half-hearted service from us after we choose to follow Him. He wants our undivided loyalty—not a divided mind. 

Give God your all. He wants it—and deserves it. And when you choose to get off the fence, you’ll experience life as you never have before.

Prayer: Father, give us strength to follow you with all our hearts, souls, and minds. 

Looking for a wide selection of genres in Christian books at discount prices? Use coupon MWiles for 20% off. Click here to see selections.  

Thanks to all our faithful followers who are "sharing" our posts--please keep it up! We also invite you to follow and like us on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Help us spread God's encouragement through his love lines.

A Family Tradition - Martin Wiles

Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit? But your ancestors did, and so do you! Acts 7:51 NLT

Traditions can build up or tear down. 

My family had a number of traditions. One was at Christmas. Mom either cooked a meal or prepared finger foods. When all were finished eating, we circled chairs among the furniture in the living room, and everyone found a seat. The younger members of the family busied themselves passing out gifts. After the last gift was distributed, someone was selected to begin. They retrieved a gift, told whom it was from, opened it, and showed everyone what it was. Then in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, this same action was repeated. 

Our family has grown and changed. Some members are no longer with us because of divorce, death, or miles. Though the gathering is smaller, we continue the tradition. For me, this tradition builds up our family. Since it is a slow process, it gives time for stories to be told and memories to be reflected upon—especially when Mom takes five minutes to open a present. 

But not all traditions are healthy. Steven was a servant leader in the early church. When arrested for preaching about a resurrected Jesus who he claimed was God’s Messiah, he addressed the high council and gave them a history lesson. What brought down their wrath and resulted in his death was his pronouncement that they were repeating the traditional unbelief of their ancestors. Both had and were resisting God’s Spirit who was pressing them to believe. 

Along with the above Christmas tradition, we had other traditions in my immediate home. Dad thought reading the Bible was important. We had family devotions, and I saw him and Mom read their Bibles daily as well. Even down to the boring genealogical tables. My parents also thought praying was a good tradition. We boys were taught to pray before meals and before we went to bed. Talking to God was imperative. And even if Dad had not been a pastor, we would have been made to attend church regularly and often. Any time the doors were open, it was critical for us to be there. 

Traditions that draw us closer to God should be passed down to our families; ones that hinder the process should be discarded. 

What family traditions are you establishing?

Prayer: Father, guide us to godly traditions we can pass down through the generations. 

Looking for a wide selection of genres in Christian books at discount prices? Use coupon MWiles for 20% off. Click here to see selections.  

Thanks to all our faithful followers who are "sharing" our posts--please keep it up! We also invite you to follow and like us on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Help us spread God's encouragement through his love lines.