Are You on Auto-Pilot?

I have a morning routine when I arrive at my office. After getting my laptop connected and turned on and other things situated, I sit at my desk and put on my reading glasses. Not thinking and not paying attention, I placed my reading glasses over my regular glasses. (Eye roll. Chuckle.) This morning I was on auto-pilot.

Do you ever find yourself living on auto-pilot? Not really thinking, not really paying attention, you just drift through life.

That’s not the best way to live life. That is a terrible way to live a Christian life.

Offering practical advice that applies to every aspect of life, Solomon pointed to the ants that work diligently for provisions. He warned…

A little sleep, a little slumber,

a little folding of the arms to rest, and

poverty will come upon you like a robber;

your need, like a bandit.

—Proverbs 6:10-11 (HCSB)

The simple point is that it is wise to be alert, think ahead, plan, and prepare, like the ants.

Jesus taught His disciples to be alert and ready in numerous teachings, such as, in...

• Matthew 24 & 25
• Mark 13:33-37
• Luke 12:37-40
• Luke 21:34-36

[I did not list these passages to prove a point, but in hopes that you will actually look them up, read them, and give them a little thought. It's worth the time.]

I knew of a preacher who carried brief notes for a sermon in his billfold in case he was needed on short notice; and a song leader who carried a preselected list of songs. Both men showed forethought. They were alert to the possibilities and prepared for an uncertain situation.

Near the end of several of his letters, the Apostles Paul urged his readers to be awake, sober, and alert. Check out the following Scriptures...

• 1 Corinthians 16:13
• Ephesians 6:18
• Colossians 4:2
• 1 Thessalonians 5:6 & 8

[Likewise, I didn't list these passages to prove a point, but in hope that you will look them up and read them and give them some thought.]

The Apostle Peter urged his readers:

Prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 

—1 Peter 1:13

The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. 

—1 Peter 4:7

Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 

—1 Peter 5:8

There may be times in which you are just trying to get through the day. The schedule is full, life’s challenges are many, circumstances are not working out satisfactorily more than they are. You might shift into auto-pilot just to get through. Even so, God expects us to be awake, alert, sober-minded, and ready for action.

You may need to respond to spiritual danger, or respond to needs, or pray. You ought to be alert to opportunities to let your light shine.

Jesus offered:

Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 

—Matthew 11:28

And yet, that did not mean for us to check out and go to sleep spiritually. Finding rest in Jesus actually gives you confidence so that you can boldly live in service to the King.

If you’ve been on auto-pilot...isn’t it time you wake up? 

Be watchful. 

Be ready. 

He’s coming back!


Mark Stinnett

November 26, 2023

A Handy Guide to Hate

One: To hate something or someone (this is really about hating someone), you must first settle on a distinction that differs from YOU. (It’s all about YOU!) The particular distinction is immaterial. It could be ethnicity, nationality, political stance, age, clothing preferences, automobile choices, music preferences…anything.

Two: Once you’ve decided on a particular category of distinction, you heighten your skills of observation. You take notice whenever those who are NOT a part of your distinctive group say foolish things, make poor choices, or fail. You also take notice when those of your distinctive group do and say things that you approve.

Three: You verbalize your disapproval of the other group and mock their mistakes and failures even if there is no connection between their group identity and their failures. At the same time, you champion the successes of your distinctive group even if their success has no connection to your group’s identity.

Four: Make subtle biased suggestions to those outside of your group to influence them to embrace your viewpoint. Be patient and look for opportunities to persuade them to come into your distinctive camp. One important aspect of your evangelistic efforts is to frame your comments in terms of ‘us’ and ‘them’ so that your intention is clear, but your language is indistinct. That makes denial of hatred easier.

Five: If you have kids, by all means indoctrinate them to embrace your prejudices and to follow your example so that your ideals will be perpetuated into the next generation.

Hint: Social media offers a broad range of tools to spew your hatred without ever using the word hate. 

Bonus: Social media comes with the protection of the sacred first amendment.

I hope that my sarcasm is apparent.

One of the most confusing things about our current society is that some of the most forceful haters are those who oppose hate.

What can a Christian say and do?

On one occasion Jesus was asked about the greatest command. In his extended response He said that the second great command is to love your neighbor. A man challenged Him asking, “Who is my neighbor.” Jesus responded with the well-known parable of the Good Samaritan. He set the parable up beautifully to expose and diffuse hatred. The good man who extended selfless assistance was a Samaritan, one among a distinctive group hated by the Jews. Two beloved Jews were featured, a priest and a Levite. Both ignored the man in need.

A priest was normally engaged in the offering of sacrifices and services in the temple while the Levite was involved in other services relating to the temple. Both were numbered among the religious elite in Jewish society.

So, the hated Samaritan was presented in a good light as one offering help. Yet, the accepted holy men were seen as uncaring.

Let’s not forget the injured man. In the parable he is faceless and unidentifiable. The Samaritan responded on the basis of need, not any distinctive category. He saw a person; he saw a need.

When Jesus concluded, He asked who proved to be a neighbor. It was obvious, the one who showed mercy. When Jesus said, “Go and do the same,” He gave us a peek into the heart of God, who is not fond of haters. God approves those, like the Samaritan, who respond to people and needs...with no distinctive categories.


Mark Stinnett

November 19, 2023

Running with Her Back to the Lord

His family ran to the mountains for safety. He had been warned by God’s angels that Sodom was to be destroyed almost immediately. His two married daughters were with him; both husbands stayed behind. His name was lot and his wife was also with him...sort of. She was physically moving in the right direction, just as the Lord directed. Yet her heart was still in Sodom.

Perhaps she longed for friendships left behind, her neighborhood, or the shops in the town’s marketplace. Perhaps she longed for her house or the creature comforts she was forced to abandon. Perhaps she thought about their family’s wealth in money, animals, grain, and other belongings that would be forfeited.

Is it possible that she felt a degree of anger? 

Having been uprooted so abruptly and being forced to leave her life behind, she may have been angry at Lot, or even God. Whatever she felt, it was more than she could bear...she turned and looked back.

We remember Lot’s wife...pillar of salt.

When a person turns toward one thing, he must turn away from another. For Lot’s wife, turning toward Sodom meant turning away from her family, from safety, but more importantly, turning away from God himself.

Some Christians walk like Lot’s wife. They think they walk with the Lord. They intend to walk with the Lord. They appear to walk with the Lord. They appear to love fellow Christians. They do religious things and speak religious words. Yet, their hearts are facing a different direction. As a result they naturally walk with their backs to the Lord while facing their heart’s desire, their own personal Sodom.

Lot’s wife may illustrate people in general. A person’s head can turn this way or that, yet eventually, every individual will turn to face the object that is of greatest value in their life. It will become evident in the way that a person spends his time and money, in his conversation, in the places he goes, in his entertainment choices, and in the choices that influence the overall direction of his life. Ultimately, every individual will square his body and turn to directly face his god/God.

A Christian may reflect on his life by looking back from time to time. However, the one whose face is forever turned to Christ turns back only to reflect; only to learn, never to yearn.

To remain faithful to God we must individually make a conscious decision each day to set our gaze on Jesus. We do this by listening to the voice of our God in the scriptures. We do this by talking with Him in prayer, leaving our worries and weaknesses at His feet, and by asking for his assistance to fill the voids in our lives. We do this by associating with His people. We do this by keeping our future expectation (hope) in the forefront of our mind.

Facing our God, our simple and willful cry…

“I surrender all.”

Mark Stinnett
November 12, 2023

(Read the biblical account of Lot and his family and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19.)

"...In Jesus' Name"

Centuries ago a commander in the king’s army approached a cottage and called for all the sons of the family who were old enough to fight in battle. The parents released their sons and the sons went willingly – The commander had come in the name of the king!

In that example, we understand that the word of the commander was not his own, but rather the word of the king. The family did not see the king’s face or hear his voice, but they recognized the king’s authority and responded accordingly.

As Christians, we have been given the right to approach God and make requests in the name of Jesus, our King. In a prayer, when we say the words, “in Jesus’ name,” we are not casting a spell or a charm. There is no magic that compels God as if we have power over Him by speaking the right words in the right order on the right occasion.

In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I will request the Father on your behalf; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from the Father. 

 —John 16:26-27

In this statement Jesus assured His disciples that in His absence they themselves would have the right to speak to God. “In Jesus’ name” was not a new rule for ending prayers, but the way in which the disciples of Jesus would identify themselves when approaching God in prayer.

Does God know you?

“Yes, of course,” you reply.

Yet, in what way?

Without Jesus you are no different than any other sinner. God gives no special privileges to one sinner over another. So, as a sinner you have no expectation that God would respond to your words or my words when we speak on our own, that is, in our own name. Would we dare to approach God to speak to Him face-to-face in our name?

Without Jesus we are rebellious sinners. As humans we broke the original relationship the Creator had with his created. We are unholy.

However, God does recognize Jesus. So, when Christians approach God, speaking in the name of Jesus...God springs forward to listen, to give gifts, to protect, to assist, to forgive. He responds to those He loves, and He loves those who are clothed with Christ, those who have devoted their lives to Jesus the King.

_________________________

Do not take lightly the words that you speak in prayer to God. The words, “...in Jesus’ name,” are not added to a prayer as a command. Nor are they magic as if to control or manipulate Deity. Nor are they a trite ending to our prayers like an “excuse me” after a sneeze (just good manners).

When we pray we ought to remember that we have been given the privilege to speak to God, but in Jesus’ name. Considering that privilege, we ought to give thought to the content of our prayers. When we speak to God in Jesus’ name, the things we say ought to reflect the will of our Savior, and not our self-centered will. Then, when we stand before God, we stand with the assurance that Jesus spoke of. We can be confident that God will listen and respond to those who come to him with a heart of humility and faith...

...In Jesus’ name.

Mark Stinnett

November 5, 2023