GOD'S DEFINED TIME

Over the last two or three years as God kind of slowed us down from going abroad six to seven times (that is every other month) a year and resting us I often thought about how we operate in God for a specific time while fulfilling a specific function (pastor, missionary, etc.) for a defined period. When we headed over to Germany back in 1996 we had no idea we would be pastoring a wonderful church and it would grow and many people would be changed by the word of God. We never thought we would be traveling in ministry to the four corners of the world sharing the good news of the Gospel message, but we did. We never thought Beholding His Glory would be birthed, we never thought we would see the failures and victories in so many lives, but we did. When I think back to all God did (the church in Germany, the traveling, the lives that were changed ours included) all I can say is, “This is the LORD’S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. 24This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalms 118:23-24) Now this is the very thought “this is the LORD’S doing” I have been thinking about as I reflect over the seven years of ministry while living in Europe. Before moving to Europe we were faithful in prayer, studying the Bible, in church activities (attendance, leadership, and service), doing whatever we could do to draw closer to God, but there was no special anointing on our lives. I guess with accepting a special call comes the special anointing. To be brutally honest during this time I really struggled with my faith and with relationships within the church we were attending seeing the lackluster approach to God and the blatant hypocrisy in many lives (even in the church leadership), but in spite of all of this God had a plan for our lives and wanted us to move to Stuttgart, Germany. As I look back over my 24 years in the U.S. Navy I can see how God did many things (assignments, education, favor from seniors) to help lead us along the way He wanted us to go. I remember the church we were attending had a huge going away party (after Sunday service) for us and they even gave us a nice plaque, but while playing softball (at the party) from left field the pastor (he always called me elder) yelled to me in center field, “elder where do you think you will be attending services next Sunday?” And I yelled back, “I do not know probably a chapel on base.” Well little did I know (because of my faithfulness to church and God’s plan for our lives) going to the chapel on base would be the beginning of the unfolding of what God had for me, our family, so many other lives those seven years in Germany, and even all that God is still doing today with Beholding His Glory. Now all of this was not our intention; our intention was to travel to Europe and enjoy our years raising our kids like most American military families who move to Germany. My military intention was to be the very best Naval Officer in the world, but God had other intentions. When we started up (at the Lord’s wishes and on Karen’s birthday) Christliche Gemeinde Stuttgart I naively and foolishly thought all of my co-workers in my office were going to join our church, but was sadly disappointed with they rejected me and me as a pastor. I found out quickly (and painfully) religion is much thicker than friendship. Karen says I am more loyal to other people than what they are to me and she is right I can name relationship after relationship of over 30 years, but that is okay with me I would rather err on the side of other’s presumption and give my friendship than not to be honest and forthright, God expects nothing less. When I think back to our seven years in Germany how could I not think of our four kids. They were raised a lot in their formative years during this time and I will be honest they endured many long church services (some four hours plus) and many things they did not really understand (an international church overseas is much different than a church in the States), but in the end today they all would say they are much better off for the experience living overseas and the lessons they learned in God. It is kind of funny how when we come to the Lord we do so because we have some intentions in mind for us well guess what, God too has some personal intentions of His own for our lives. Often we come to the Lord thinking we will have some kind of fire insurance from hell or we will get God to give us some things (like money, spouse, car, house, better health, etc.), but this all is wrong thinking, all wrong apostate religious thinking like a religious cancer that is destroying the Body of Christ. In Jeremiah we read his heart, “For I know the thoughts (plans or intentions) that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts (plans or intentions) of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 12Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:11-13) Usually our plans, intentions, or thoughts are selfish and our motives are self-seeking, but God has eternal holy purposes, His intentions are for the betterment of our soul and a desire to bring us to an expected end, which is also another intention of His.

Now the longer I walk with the Lord and the more I see even in the lives of others in Christian ministry and leadership I am ever the more convinced God has specific jobs for us to do, for a specific time, and no matter how much we kick or scream we cannot start our mission until we qualify or have been approved for the next thing He has for us to do. I see now this was what was going on with us in the church we were attending and through the many years of service to God. Now we all have the duty and responsibility to share the good news of the Gospel message to everyone we come in contact with, but that does not constitute a ministry. Sharing the Gospel message with everyone we come in contact with is an expectation God expects of us. Doing or not doing this has nothing to do with our salvation, but it has everything to do with whether God can trust us to fulfil the plans, thoughts, and intentions He has for our lives. If we critically look at the lives of key people in the Bible we will see this spiritual principle in action. In the Old Testament we read about Adam serving God in the garden for a specific time and place, but after he sinned things changed significantly. For most of Noah’s life he was a man who just love and honored God; he was qualifying and being approved at this time to be able to build the ark and save his family (mankind) and the animal kingdom, but after that he was back to just loving and honoring God while living out his life. Abram who later became Abraham was the same way. Before he was called out of Ur of the Chaldeans and before he became the father of many nations, and all of the many wondrous things he allowed God to do in his life he just loved and honored God. After God was finished with him he went back to running his family and loving God. Moses’ life can be divided into three 40 year periods: the first 40 years he served in the courts of the Egyptian pharaoh (as an Egyptian Prince) mighty in word and deed becoming learned and wise in wars and affairs of state, in his next 40 years God had Moses on the back side of the wilderness shepherding sheep. Do you know how dump sheep are? And how they stink? It took God 40 years to get Egypt out of Moses and when Moses stood before all mighty God, “And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.’ (Exodus 4:10). And his last 40 years God used him to lead his people out of 430 years of bondage and all recorded in the Scriptures that Moses allowed God to do. For two-thirds of Moses’ life he was being qualified and being approved for the last one-third of his life. Isaac and Jacob’s lives were the same in character and service. I really like Joseph’s life it followed this same spiritual principle. Before Joseph became Zaphnath-Paaneah (second only to Pharaoh in all the world) so that he could save the entire Hebrew nation (including the birth line of Jesus) and the world he first had to qualify and be approved in enduring ridicule and shame from his father and brothers, being sold into slavery in Potiphar’s home, and going to prison because of false charges. And us today? Now the Bible does not say how Joseph ended his days, but it does make a statement about his faith, “And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence.” (Genesis 50:25) In the New Testament we see this spiritual principle continued. In the life of John the Baptist John lived a normal life before he was called to be the voice crying in the wilderness, “to make straight the way of the Lord.” His life was lived to fulfill a certain time and a certain mission in God’s eternal plan. In the case of John he never stopped baptizing and never followed Jesus so God had to put him in a place where there was no water, prison. Even today in Israel you can find some of John’s disciples still baptizing in the Jordon River. The same held true in the lives of Jesus’ Disciples. Before their encounter with Christ they were fisher men, a tax collector, a doctor, all living their daily lives, but once they really met Jesus their lives were changed and they served for a specific time and all had a specific function in God’s plan. One of my favorite examples is Saul who later became Paul. Saul was in Bible School and God called him out (go figure) before God could use him. Even having a face-to-face encounter and Jesus speaking to Paul was not enough God still had to take him to the wilderness for three years (qualifying and approving him) to put his word in Paul’s heart. Even Jesus our Master and example was qualified and approved by the Father in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross. There is a specific time of ministry and during this time there is a special time of favor and even at times a supernatural anointing. I have seen it and I have felt it, now that does not mean after we pass through this specific time we will lose our anointing oh no just the contrary, we will receive of God what we need next (even by way of supernatural anointing) to do what He wants us to do. Why do we think God is just going to give us things so that we can store them up for a rainy day? God does not give us His power and ability to just have His ability and power, oh no my friend God (like His faith) gives us His power and ability to do the things He wants us to do when we need them during our specific time. And I am here to let you know when it is over it is over. When God closes a door it is best to keep the door closed. I have seen many Christian friends try to keep things going that God was doing in their lives, but God was not in it. One thing for sure, if it starts in God there will be an end time in God. Realizing this spiritual principle often will take a lot of the pressure off of people to perform. They identify with what God has done in the past or what He is doing now and cannot see themselves in any other kind of service for God. I still say God pours us out from vessel (function or ministry) to vessel and as we grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Christ Jesus He uses us and what we have learned of Him to share Him with the world and even uses us beyond our abilities and power. Paul speaks of the Church at Corinth, “For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; 4Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 5And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.” (2 Corinthians 8:3-5) We will never be able to give ourselves to others unless we first give ourselves to the Lord. And how do we do that? In that specific time and place of ministry we often find victory and failure maybe both at the same time, but for sure we will always find suffering. And why? Because shared suffering always builds unity and comradeship within any army. Written by David Stahl

OUR SELFISH SELF

Lately Karen and I have been occupied house hunting. What a wonderful surprise from the Lord, our land lord of eight years informed us we (two weeks ago) had 30 days (but he graciously gave us 60 days) to find a new home because he was going to sell it. What a shock and bewilderment to our routine our world was turned upside down for awhile, but when we got our orientation back things just started to work out for us. Now when things like this happen in our lives (and they will God loves us that much) we must not be moved and run around like a chicken who just lost their head, but relax, slow down, and be not moved. I think the best example I can give for us to be is like a camel or maybe a turtle. Camels and turtles just lumber along, plodding on, and nothing really excites them nothing really moves them, but they get to their destination in due time without all of the stress and worry. We must keep our mind stayed on Christ to be able to have the peace in our heart to make correct decisions. Did you know when we get all stressed out over things in our lives it is really an admission of lack of faith and confidence in God? We are saying (because of our stress and worry) God cannot handle this situation in our lives. God is not able to take care of this circumstance it is too big I have lost my trust in God so I will lose my peace of mind. When we lose heart and faith in God we also lose our peace of mind. Our peace of mind is only found in our trust in God. Isaiah tells us, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” (Isaiah 26:3) The word “stayed” here means fixed or focused, halting in one place. Our mind must be fixed on God as we halt in a place of trust and confidence in God. Did you know if we draw back from God at this time we will lose His presence and direction for our lives? It is not God has abandoned us, but we have left the place of staying and lost the perfect peace of God. You will never know what I am talking about until you for yourself drifts from this place in God and I promise you my friend serve God long enough and you have this to look forward to. Sadly we move or drift from God here because of our selfishness. We do not (I include myself here) want to lose what we want; our flesh screams to stay alive and will do everything in this world to live, but we must allow God to put our flesh to death. Even Paul had struggles in this area. In Romans we read, “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.” (Romans 7:18-20) Success or failure in God does not depend on conquering the devil (Jesus has already defeated him), but depends on us allowing God to strengthen us with might in the inner man so that we can conquer our flesh. James tell us, “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” (James 1:14-15) Now it says “his own lust and enticed.” This lust (and not wanting to lose what we want) is in our flesh, it is a part of our character, our attitudes, our motives, and we must allow God to strengthen us through His dealings and judgments in our lives if not we will not be able walk in the victorious Christian life God has for each and every child of His. By keeping our focus on God we will be in God’s perfect will and have God’s peace even though the storm rages around us the storm within us is stilled. God does not lead us into defeat oh no my friend God always leads us into victory. This is a divine spiritual principle we must learn to be able to come into the victorious Christian living God desires for our lives.

Often when we talk about God’s peace we often talk about God’s will for our lives. I cannot begin to tell you the number of people that have asked me to pray for God’s perfect will for their lives. Well . . . guess what, God’s perfect peace is God’s perfect will they are one in the same. Praying for God’s perfect will is nothing more than not really believing God knows what He is doing. We have already determined God does not lead us into defeat, His destination for our lives is always victory, if you are looking for defeat you will have to find it somewhere outside of God. Now follow me closely here. Where ever we find ourselves, as long as we are not over in willful sin (and we know it), then we are in God’s perfect will for our lives. All we need to do is continue in what we are doing and if God changes His direction for our lives we just flow with whatever God is doing. His peace is there, even though all hell is coming against us, and we rest in Him. His will for our lives is there and we rest in Him. There is no need to pray and fast for God’s will. How could it be anything different? No struggle or guessing just resting. All we have to do is to keep looking at Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;” (Hebrews 12:2)

While house hunting I made a discovery that really surprised me. We looked at many houses, but we were looking for a home, there is a big difference, but in all of the new houses the master bathroom was grand and spacious: whirlpool or jacuzzi tubs, separate shower, double sink vanities, soft toilet seats, fancy lighting, all of the bells and whistles. But in the older houses the master bathroom was small and plain: usually a combination garden tub and shower, a base toilet and only one sink. I could not get over the difference, then it dawned on me how today the most important room in the house is the bathroom how we like pampering ourselves in the shower or soaking in the tub with music, candles, and perfume water. But not so in times gone by. In the past the most important room in the house was the kitchen and/or dining room. This is where the living of the day was discussed, where relationships were strengthened, where noses were counted, and where we would eat together, laughing and sharing. In new houses today the kitchen and dining room have been made smaller to make room for bigger bathrooms. I discovered in this how selfish we are today, how we want our time spent alone to be spent in luxury and ease. How we go after ease and comfort; in all of these pleasures our selfish self just screams to be pampered and pleased. All of this is nothing more than our selfish self wanting to exalt itself and push out from “under the mighty hand of God.” I wonder what the “mighty hand of God” looks like? Peter tells us, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” (1 Peter 5:6-7) The “mighty hand of God” for Joseph was his brothers, Potiphar, and the Egyptian prison. What does the “mighty hand of God” look like in your life? Do you even know? I doubt it is a huge hand coming off of heaven, but it is probably some situation or circumstance in your life that God wants you to humble yourself in. You know we have a hard time discovering what the “mighty hand of God” looks like because we like to add a “s” to “care.” Verse seven reads, “Casting all your care (not cares) upon him; for he careth for you.” Cares are things like houses, cars, money, a job, health, happiness all of the things we think we are entitled to and try to twist God’s arm into giving us. But “care” is the attitude of caring for things. Peter was telling us we are to cast the attitude of wanting things from God on Him because “he careth for you.” God knows what we want and God knows what we need. Our focus is not to be on what we want or even what we want God to give us, but our focus is to be on what God wants to give us. God knows we need a house. We do not have pray and fast about getting a house all we have to do is be fixed on God and allow His peace to grip our hearts to such a degree we will be in “perfect peace” and able follow His will. Our selfish self wants to do the religious things; pray and fast, lay prostrate on the floor before the Lord (Charles Haun told me many Bible School students would do this, but they were not before the Lord they were somewhere else), but that is not what God is after. God wants us to allow Him to kill our self our flesh so we can walk with Him. Micah helps us here, “Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? 7Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 8He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” (Micah 6:6-8) Our ability to humble ourselves will be the same measure we will be able to walk with the Lord. Written by David Stahl

COMPASSION, MERCY, AND GRACE

The longer I go with God the more I see how we easily substitute meanings of words and precepts. Now for some words this is not a big deal, but when we start talking about words that affect our concepts such as compassion, mercy, and especially grace our substitution can cause great problems with our understanding of critical Biblical truth and if this does happen my friend we will get off track faster than anything I know. Now I am talking from personal experience. Recently (say over the last two years) the Lord has opened my understanding to some teachings (that were not quite right) from some friends that may take me and God some time (with some heartache) to get me back on track with the right precepts. And if we get our precepts wrong my friend then our daily concepts (the basis of Godly character) will be wrong. This area seems to be a major battle for us in allowing God to form His character in us. We must be careful to who and what we open our spirit to. Also something I have learned over my many years, especially while living in Germany, words matter. The words we say reflect our understanding to certain truths and they reflect the intimate workings of our character. Here is where I often can have troubles. For example let us look at three words: compassion, mercy, and grace that are often miss used or substituted for each other, but in reality these three words have different meanings and their projects are different in precept development and application.

Now compassion is not mercy or grace, compassion is a human feeling or emotion of sadness or pity for someone (friends) or something (animals). Compassion is something that is most often self-generated that touches our emotions and can easily move our spirit and decision- making. Anything that moves our heart (especially quickly) we must be very careful with. Compassion is not necessarily a Christian characteristic. I know many non-Christians who are very compassionate, but know not the Lord. Mercy is not compassion or grace, mercy is a power of our self will to forgive (ah another word we often substitute) or to be kind. When Karen and I take our dog for a walk we have compassion and mercy on the earthworms (we call the Brethren) we find dying on the sidewalk by picking them up and putting them safely in the grass. Mercy is like compassion it is most often self-generated that touches our emotions and can make us feel good about ourselves when we do something right. Mercy can make us feel good, but mercy like compassion is not necessarily a Christian characteristic. I know non-Christians who can show mercy to people, even earthworms. Now please do not misunderstand me here compassion and mercy need to be a part of our character. Micah asked, “Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? (Micah 6:7) and then answered his own question, “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” (Micah 6:8) What great advice for today knowing how the worldly religious church has forgotten, it is not about doing for God, but becoming something in God. Here we see it is not about working for God, but becoming (Ephesians 2:10) the work of God. Jesus was great at not talking about compassion, but being moved by it. In Matthew we read, “But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.” (Matthew 9:36) Fourteen other times in the Gospels we read where Jesus was “moved with compassion” and if the Master was compassionate should not His servants? And grace is not compassion or mercy, only grace is grace. Grace is the love and favor God shows toward undeserving man. Grace is God not giving us something we deserve. In Romans we read, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24Being justified freely by his grace (not our grace or good works) through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:’ (Romans 3:23-24) The Gospel truth is; “we all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (we all deserve to be found guilty and punished) and the rest of the Gospel truth is we have “justified (Strong’s #1344, to render righteous) freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:” God’s grace (His love and favor for us) renders us righteous (right relationship with God and man) and the more we allow God to work in our inward man and bring us to the spiritual place of seeing what sin has wrought in our lives and how sin destroys every relationship and every area of our lives the more grace we will be able to walk in. Grace and this deeper work of God (some call it sanctification, but few people teach it) is for everyone, but everyone does not receive grace and fewer Christians receive the promise of sanctification. Jesus died on a cross so that all can taste of the goodness of eternal life that is now on earth and into eternity, but sadly everyone will not “taste and see that the Lord is good” and will spend their eternal life separated from God and in hell. In spite of Jesus’ sacrifice many will be lost (their choice) and remember salvation is for only those who accept it. Here are two big differences between grace and compassion or mercy. Grace is a free gift from God “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 23For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:22-23) And the second truth is before we can receive grace we must be judged and found guilty. A blameless or innocence man needs no grace. Isaiah tells us, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6) Grace is for only guilty people who stand in the way of God’s judgment, but we do not like to admit we are guilty. Never forget, great is the man in God who knows his strengths, but far greater is the man in God who knows his weakness. But God cannot look the other way to sin, He must deal with it. For God and us looking the other way from sin is not compassion, mercy, or grace oh no, sin must be judged and sentenced in our lives before God can extend grace to us, but who wants to be called a sinner? That is easy, only the one that want to be saved. My friend God does not just forgive sin as most denominational religions teach. Oh no, sin must be dealt with by God. Most denominations teach just walk the aisle, repeat some words (the sinner’s prayer may sound good, but the precept or concept is nowhere in the Bible), and God will forgive you of your sins, well that is not true and that is also why there are so many would be Christians who do not live a Godly life and do not reflect the character of Christ and why because they are not saved. They have been deceived by man’s plan of salvation. John tells us in 1 John, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” (1 John 1:9-10) The word “confess” here means to agree what God is saying about us is true and that is Romans 3:23. Our confession must be of our own words and out from a broken and contrite (crushed and ground to powder) heart condition not by another’s words. With the sinner’s prayer the one thinking they are confessing is just agreeing with the words of another person. And my friend, make no mistake this is a painful process (you may even cry) in our lives when we begin to allow God to show us our heart and what sin has wrought in our lives. Listen to the words of Paul, “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 21I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 22For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 23But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.” (Romans 7:18-25) Do you hear the pain and anguish in his words? Do you hear the cry of Paul’s heart here? If not then you have missed the truth of his words and you have missed the work God was doing in Paul. Funny, how Paul answered his own question “who shall deliver me.” In verse 25 Paul tells us, “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

In Malachi we really see what happens when we get our precepts wrong or when we substitute the meaning of a word for another. When most Christians think of the Book of Malachi they think here it comes again; the pastor is going to beat us over the head, again, over our poor tithing, but Malachi is a very fascinating Book. It only talks about tithing a little bit, but the rest of the Book is about Godly character and what God expects of us. In Chapter one we find the people bringing impure sacrifices to God, “For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts. 12But ye have profaned it, in that ye say, The table of the LORD is polluted; and the fruit thereof, even his meat, is contemptible. 13Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the LORD of hosts; and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand? saith the LORD. 14But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, saith the LORD of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen.” (Malachi 1:11-14) Now some people would say that is okay; the people are having a tough time making it and God does not really expect unblemished and unspotted sacrifice as He commanded. The people and even the priest turned their heads to the truth of God’s words. Today many pastors are turning their heads to the truth of God’s words: so that seats and offering plates will be filled, so that their plans and agendas can be fulfilled, so that their church can climb up the denominational ladder, but just like in Malachi God wanted nothing to do with sin and folly. You can read what God told the priest in Malachi 2:1-9, it was not pretty. Believe it or not the priests were being compassionate and even giving mercy to the people, but that was not what God was after. We can be compassionate and give mercy all day long to people, but if what we do for people does not line-up with what God’s word says and what He expects of us then we are doing more harm than good. We must learn to “speak the truth in love,” if not we do not really care about people. Now I will tell you this is a very tough thing to do. In my family for the last eight years or so Karen and I have been holding the line with the truth of God’s word and it has cost us dearly, but that is okay. I believe my father is in heaven today because Karen and I held our ground with God’s word, a small price to pay for my father being in heaven. We must never forget grace was not free, it cost Jesus His life and for us to be able to have more (than just salvation) of this wonderful gift of God it will cost us something too. The more we can humble ourselves before God and man the more grace we can behold. Written by David Stahl